Hiking and natural beauty

7:00 departure: Munich – Varaždin 6 h 30 min, 554 km, arrival 16:00 (incl. 2 hour break)
6:00 departure: Stuttgart – Varaždin 8 h 30 min, 759 km, arrival 17:00 (incl. 2 hour break)
7:00 a.m. Departure: Nuremberg – Varaždin 7 h 15 min, 639 km, arrival 3:30 p.m. (incl. 1.5 hour break)

Arrival in Varaždin in the afternoon, accommodation in the hotel, early dinner
Evening Tour of Varaždin, Croatian “Vienna”.

The city of Varaždin is located in the northwestern part of Croatia on the right bank of the Drava River.
Varaždin reveals itself to the guest as a rare urban pearl. To this day, Varaždin has retained some important features of Croatian “Vienna” as a city of baroque, music and flowers.
The biggest attraction of Varaždin is the fortress called “Stari grad” – Old Town.

As the operetta “Countess Mariza” by Emmerich Kálmán ​says”: “Come to Varaždin”

Breakfast, Varaždin – National Park Risnja 2 h 30 min, 217 km

Risnjak National Park, the Risnjak massif with the white of its rocks, rises dominantly above the green of the Gorski Kotar forests. Beautiful views stretching from 1528 m above sea level to the Kvarner Bay, Istria and the Julian Alps in neighboring Slovenia will remain in the memory of every visitor.

We immediately go to the “Leskova Educational Trail”, the Leska Educational Trail is a simple and well-groomed circular route enriched with educational boards. Hiking can be enjoyed by everyone as it is also suitable for children, the elderly and those with poorer health and physical condition. It will take you through a lush forest, across meadows, along a stream and through the village of Leska. The educational boards contain interesting information about flora and fauna, forest communities and natural features of Gorski Kotar.

Lunch break in Risnjak National Park (individually).

We go to the source of the Kupa river. The National Park says it in one sentence: “The source of the Kupa River is one of many unsolved karst mysteries, one of the most powerful, longest and deepest Croatian springs. The hiking trail “Razloge – Kupa Spring” is the most popular trail leading to the spring. It takes about 30-45 minutes one way.
Butterflies occupy a very important place in the valley of the river Kupa, therefore the whole valley is called “Butterfly Valley”. You will surely remember it forever as you will experience one of the most beautiful scenes: a multitude of carefree and playful butterflies, sheltered in their own pristine nature.

Late afternoon, Risnjak National Park – Delnice 40 min 25 km

The town of Delnice covers the central area of mountainous Croatia.
The richness and beauty of the city are most evident in the pristine nature that surrounds it and is an integral part of it.

Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Breakfast, Delnice – Plitvice Lakes National Park 1h 40 min, 113 km

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest, oldest and most visited national park in Croatia. And on top of that, it’s the only one to have made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. Why? Mainly because of its rich flora and fauna and sixteen magical turquoise lakes with numerous cascades. The beauty of this national park is truly unique and that is why more than a million people from all over the world visit Plitvice.

Visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park with a lunch break – individually.

Plitvice Lakes National Park – Biograd na Moru 1h 50 min, 156 km.

Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Biograd na Moru: the town is situated on a small peninsula and mainland. The economy is based on agriculture, fishing and tourism.
Thanks to its location on the most indented part of the Croatian Adriatic coast, this area offers excellent opportunities for nautical tourism and shipping like few parts of the Mediterranean.
Besides its cultural and historical heritage, Biograd is also known for its beautiful beaches and picturesque bays.

Breakfast and off we go to the port, a ship is waiting for us for a trip along the islands of the Kornati National Park and to the Telašćica Nature Park.

National Park Kornati – the stone pearls of the Mediterranean.
A stone labyrinth of eighty-nine islands, islets and cliffs in the sea – these are the Kornati. The Mediterranean’s most rugged archipelago is seen from the air like a string of stone beads. The dry stone walls on the islands are silent and constantly testify to the hardship of human labour on the barren land full of stones, but surrounded by the turquoise blue, crystal clear sea.

Lunch on board.

We anchor off the island of Dugi otok in the bay “Mir (Peace)” and head towards the Telaščica Nature Park.
The salt lake “Mir” is located in the south-western part of the Telašćica Nature Park. The lake is located in a narrow part of the mainland between Telašćica Bay and the open sea. Its length is about 900 m and its maximum width is about 300 m. The maximum depth is 6 m. The lake is salty because it is connected to the sea by underground channels. Its salinity is generally higher than that of the surrounding sea, due to the marked evaporation and closure of the lake.

Free time for individual exploration and swimming.

Return in the evening, dinner, overnight stay.

Transfer Biograd na Moru – viewpoint “Visovac” (part of Krka National Park) 1h 15 min, 89 km.

We start an easy hike from the Visovac viewpoint.

When we arrive at our destination, the first stop is at the monument of Croatian king Petar Svačić. Here is a beautiful viewpoint Visovac. A short break and a little more driving. We get off the bus on the bank of the Krka River, we continue on foot. In total we will hike 4 hours. Don’t worry, the walk will be pleasant and relaxing. We move on the hiking trail Roški slap – Visovac, the intermediate station is the fortress Kamičak.
The Kamičak Fortress is a medieval fortress located on an inaccessible rock on the left bank of the Krka River. In the Middle Ages, Kamička belonged to the powerful noble family Nelipić.
According to legend, the remains of the court of the last Croatian king Petar Svačić († 1097) are located at the foot of the Kamička.

The trail takes us to the 650-year-old Skelin Mill, which has been preserved in its original form with elements of modernization. The mill has a collection of old authentic objects and four original millstones.
Right next to the mill is the Kristijan farm, where delicacies from this region await us. Good Appetite.

We continue to Roški slap, then to “Oziđane Pečina”. This prehistoric site is located at the top of a gorge above Roški slap and numerous traces of human habitation have been found (fragments of ceramic vessels, stone artifacts, human skeletons…).

After this location it is only a few minutes walk to the Hotel Roški slap. refreshment break. Our bus is waiting for us, which will take us to the town of Sinj (1h 20 min, 70 km)

Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

After breakfast we set off to explore the town of Sinj, Sinj Fortress and the “Alkar” museum.

Sinj is a famous Marian shrine, the Church of the Miraculous Mother of God of Sinj dominates the main town square. The image of the Miraculous Mother of God of Sinj occupies a special place in the hearts of Sinj residents.

The remains of the old town, which Sinj residents simply refer to as the town, still faithfully watch over the town of Sinj centuries later. There are 14 Stations of the Cross on the path leading to the fortress church. Each station is a work of the most famous Croatian artists. We descend again to the town of Sinj.

The three-century-old knight game “Alka” is unique, so the Museum of Alka in Sinj is an attractive and modern institution of cultural heritage. During the tour of the museum you can see the original uniforms, equipment and weapons… A special attraction of the museum is the life-size representation of the Alkar procession and the multimedia reconstruction of the Battle of Sinj from 1715. “Alka” is in the Inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World, and the museum received the European Community’s Prize for Cultural Heritage – Europa Nostra.

Lunch and onward journey, just half an hour drive to Klis Fortress.

Klis Fortress is one of the most complete examples of fortress architecture in Croatia. It is in a strategically important position. Due to its strategic location at the junction of Split with Zagora and Bosnia, it has been a struggle for supremacy for centuries. Klis Fortress is one of the most famous fortresses in Croatia and was first mentioned in the 5th century, but it mainly owes its fame to the period of the Turkish Wars.

After sightseeing of the fortress we drive to the city of Split, hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and the largest Dalmatian city. The history of Split has lasted for 17 centuries since Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to build a palace on this peninsula where he would spend the last years of his life in peace. The palace slowly developed into a city that today attracts people with its rich tradition, great history and beauty of natural and cultural heritage.

Diocletian’s Palace and the entire historical core of Split have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, not only because of the exceptional preservation of the palace itself, but also because the palace and its city continue to live to the fullest. Historical layers from ancient Rome through the Middle Ages to the present day. Strolling through the ancient city you can travel through time, best examples of ancient architecture such as the peristyle, mediaeval Romanesque churches and Gothic palaces, Renaissance portals of noble houses, baroque facades to modern architecture…
It’s no wonder that the people of Split like to describe their city with the words “Nima Splita do Splita” (“There is no Split like Split”).

Split is much more than a magnificent architectural backdrop. It is a city where you can enjoy top gastronomy and wines.
So we explore the city on a walking tour of Split with wine tasting and Dalmatian delicacies.

Free afternoon, dinner, overnight stay.

Split – Munich 9 h, 857 km (without a break)
Split – Stuttgart 11 h 30 min, 1094 km (without a break)
Split – Nuremberg 11 h, 1074 km (without a break)