Tour Overview
| Duration | 5 Days / 4 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Croatia — Split, Plitvice Lakes, Hvar, Korčula, Dubrovnik |
| Price From | $1,295 per person (twin share, 4-star hotels) |
| Tour Style | Private Land & Sea — Hotels + Ferries |
| Best Season | April — October |
| Data Source | TourRadar / local operators 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Split & Plitvice Lakes — Croatia’s Natural Wonder
Morning departure from Split. Drive inland to Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO, 2.5 hours). Plitvice is Croatia’s most visited natural attraction and one of Europe’s most beautiful parks. The park consists of 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, surrounded by beech and fir forest. The lakes are constantly changing — travertine (calcium carbonate deposited by moss and algae) builds new barriers daily, altering the flow of water. Walk the wooden boardwalk trail through the Lower Lakes (approximately 3-4 hours): the boardwalks float directly over the turquoise water, with waterfalls on every side. The color of the water — an intense turquoise that shifts to emerald green to deep blue depending on minerals and sunlight — is so striking that early visitors accused the park of dyeing the water (they hadn’t — it’s entirely natural, the result of calcium carbonate and microorganisms). The Veliki Slap (Big Waterfall) at 78m is the park’s tallest. Return to Split. Overnight in Split.
Day 2: Split to Hvar — Catamaran Across the Adriatic
Morning: guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace (as described in the cruise tours). Afternoon: catamaran ferry to Hvar Town (1 hour). Check into your hotel. Afternoon exploration: climb to Fortica (Španjola Fortress) for sunset, walk through the Renaissance old town, and enjoy the waterfront. Overnight in Hvar.
Day 3: Hvar — Pakleni Islands & Lavender Fields
Morning: water taxi to the Pakleni Islands (20 minutes). Spend the morning swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing at palm-lined beaches with water so clear you can count pebbles 10m down. The Pakleni archipelago (21 islets) is Hvar’s playground — each island has a different character, from beach clubs to secluded coves. Afternoon: drive through Hvar’s interior — the island is famous for lavender (lavender fields bloom in June-July, filling the air with fragrance), ancient olive groves (some trees are 1,000+ years old), and stone villages like Velo Grablje and Brusje where time seems to have stopped. Visit a family-run winery for a tasting of Hvar wines — Plavac Mali (the robust red), Bogdanuša (the crisp white native to Hvar), and prošek (the sweet dessert wine made from dried grapes, similar to Italian vin santo). Return to Hvar Town. Overnight in Hvar.
Day 4: Hvar to Dubrovnik — The Coast Road
Morning catamaran back to Split, then drive south along the Adriatic Highway (Jadranska Magistrala) toward Dubrovnik. The road hugs the coastline, with the sea on one side and mountains on the other. The drive crosses through a narrow strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Neum (the only Bosnian coastline — 20km — an unusual geopolitical quirk). Arrive Dubrovnik in the afternoon. Walk the city walls (the 2km circuit) — the ultimate Dubrovnik experience. Evening: Stradun and farewell dinner. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 5: Dubrovnik & Departure
Morning: cable car to Mount Srđ for the panoramic view of the Old Town, Lokrum, and the Adriatic. Visit the Homeland War Museum. Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport. The Adriatic’s magic — its clarity, its islands, its stone cities — leaves an indelible mark.
Included
- 4 nights 4-star hotels (Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik)
- Daily breakfast
- Plitvice Lakes full-day tour with guide & entrance
- Split Diocletian’s Palace guided tour
- Hvar Fortica entrance
- Pakleni Islands water taxi
- Hvar wine tasting
- Dubrovnik city walls ticket
- Catamaran tickets: Split-Hvar, Hvar-Split
- Private transfers (Split-Plitvice-Split, Split-Dubrovnik)
- Airport transfer
