Tour Croatia+ trip
Experience Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia through different lenses - staying close to the civilization yet having that off-the-beaten path overall feel to it. Breathe in the freshness of several national parks, have a bit of fun and derive some cultural delight during a few pitstops in cities along the route and treat your soul and your palates to some pampering and local food as well as wine tastings on secluded estates fully integrated with nature.
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Waltz your way through Vienna before you get to enjoy the quaint feeling of Klagenfurt and the Austrian lake Wörthersee, the customs and the mountains there in the Eastern Alps. Prepare to be introduced also to Slovenia's fairy-tale Lakes Bled and Bohinj and explore the magical walkways, waterfalls, trails and lakes of National Parks Plitvice Lakes, Krka, and Paklenica. Indeed, this side of Europe beats with a unique pulse. From the cobblestone streets to medieval towns and amiable family estates, get to know these three friendly countries in a responsible manner, helping local communities all the while learning about the local heritage treasures: from Klagenfurt’s old night guard tour, to the olive groves around inland Istria, fortified Motovun, Opatija’s promenade and stylish architecture, all the way to nature’s mazes and pathways with some of the clearest and finest waters in Slovenia and Croatia. End the trip with an espresso on a coffee place terrace of the Split “riva”, i.e., boardwalk or promenade. This Croatia, Slovenia and Austria tour takes you through some of the gems and off-the-main-route Central and Southern European locations, exploring the stunning forests, parks, rugged mountains, brimming rivers, and gorgeous coastlines all testaments to the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, but most of all a testament to Mother Earth and its masterpiece work of “art”. Discover the effects of the past on the present, both historically and geologically and allow yourself to be present and live in the moment.
After a day full of nature, hiking, food and wine, use an afternoon for wellness and relaxation
Taste the local food - Austrian delicacies and desserts, Slovenian local dishes, and Croatian highly acclaimed olive oil and wine
Feel close to the civilization yet secluded and safe in the romantic atmosphere of family-owned estates
Triglav National Park is located in Julian Alps and was nominated as one of the seven new wonders of the world
Here you can learn a few interesting facts about each of the locations you are about to visit.
Vienna
It is also the "City of Music" as many composers lived here, such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms, Mahler, and Schoenberg, to only name a few. Still today, the Viennese Philharmonics, the Vienna State Opera, or the Vienna Boys Choir are some of Vienna's internationally most important cultural testimonials.
There will be no lack of fascinating stories about the Habsburgs during your Vienna stay (such as the emperor couple Sisi and Franz Joseph), marriage and burial rites, or the history of the Sachertorte and Viennese coffee houses. In these traditional coffeehouses it is quite easy to just relax, to enjoy local or international specialties, or to simply read newspapers (including the foreign ones). In recent years, a modern coffee house generation and culture has developed as well, with trendy interior designs and hip music by DJs - coffee house tradition combined with modern trends.
Klagenfurt and Wörthersee Lake
Klagenfurt as Carinthia's capital, is ideally located near Wörthersee lake, one of Europe’s largest and warmest Alpine lakes. Carinthia is among Austria's best kept secrets, a beautiful region with over 200 splendid lakes and a landscape marked by high peaks and chiselled valleys. Perfect slopes and great snow conditions for skiing trips, plus top spa, and wellness hotels for summer retreats, make this province an Austrian paradise in any season.
Klagenfurt is an 800-year-old town that boasts one of Austria’s more noticeable historic town centres and has been thrice awarded the prestigious Europa Nostra Diploma for its lovingly restored arcaded Renaissance courtyards with today’s modern boutiques, trendy bars, and authentic beer gardens located within.
Lake Wörthersee, or Lake Wörth, is the largest lake in Carinthia, and it is also, due to its climatic conditions, one of the warmest Alpine lakes. In summer, the water reaches temperatures of 28°C (82°F). In wintertime, when the lake freezes, it becomes one of Austria's largest skating rinks and a beautiful sight to enjoy. Situated in a depression in the mid-Carinthian hill country, the lake is surrounded by breath-taking mountain peaks. The view extends all the way to the Karavanks Range to the South, and to the hilltops of the Ossiacher Tauern mountain ridge in the North. In addition, there is also great access to Lake Wörthersee’s Eastern bay, an illuminated running track, a challenging fitness course at Kreuzbergl mountain, a golf course, and great setting for some sailing.
Pyramidenkogel - At 100 metres tall, it is the highest wooden viewing tower in the world.
The construction comprises 16 immense, elliptically arranged, larch glulam supports and 80 diagonal steel braces. The actual structure is 67 metres high. Resting on this is the tower head with the two highest viewing platforms and the ‘Sky Box’. The ‘Sky Box’ (on the 9th floor) is entirely glazed, giving it protection from the elements…
Bled
Bled is nothing short of an image of paradise. This tourist gem known worldwide is located on the edge of the Triglav National Park and was nominated one of the seven new wonders of the world. It is distinguished by a mild, healing climate and thermal springs of lake water.
The Bled castle - dates to 1004 when the German king Henry II conferred the estate of Bled on Bishop Albuin of Brixen. The first castle was built by the bishops Brixen around 1011 for defence reasons. During the Middle Ages additional towers were built and the fortification system with the wall and lifting tower above the ditch were upgraded.
Double structure is typical of the castle with its fortified main section intended for the residence of feudal lords, and the exterior part with the units for servants. In 1511, the castle was strongly damaged by and earthquake, but it was later rebuilt in the manner as it is today. The castle is decorated with the images of coats-of-arms, painted in fresco art technique, some are engraved in stone.
Bled island - The most recognisable symbol of the island is the Church of the Mother of God on the lake with a long and interesting history. You can explore interesting island buildings such as the bell tower, provost's house, small hermitage, and other locations.
The wishing bell is popular with many visitors who come by “pletna” boat to the island. When they ring the bell, they recommend themselves to the Mother of God and express their wishes and requests for her to hear them and protect them.
Opatija
Opatija is a quaint little coastal town in the Northern Adriatic known for its promenade, splendid hotels, villas, and restaurants. The town was built in the 19th century as a summer and health tourism resort for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy.
Istria
Continental Croatia meets the Adriatic Sea in Istria, the heart-shaped, 3600-square-kilometres peninsula in the country's northwest. Its bucolic interior with rolling hills and fertile plains attracts foodie- and culture-focused visitors to Istria’s hilltop villages, rural hotels, and farmhouse restaurants, besides its highly acclaimed coastal areas (Rovinj, Poreč, Pula, to name a few...)
Motovun - is a captivating, fortified town perched on a 277m hill above the Mirna River valley. The setting is astonishing, fairy-tale worthy, and a large part of its appeal is in the lost-in-time views over the green and lush valley. The damp and dark Motovun Forest also has a storytelling quality as it contains hidden treasure in the form of Istria's famous truffles (both black and white).
Grožnjan - medieval town of artists and music, located only twenty minutes from Umag on the coast. It is a dreamy and hilly location with terraced olive groves and vineyards and is a sandstone elevation formed by the down-cutting action of two streams, Kanistran and Pistion, on the ground. Small and closely built houses, and the castle are a clear testimonial to its Medieval past, nowadays adorned with several tiny arts and crafts shops, art galleries, cafés, and charming bistros.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Nestled in the embrace of the surrounding wooded mountains are sixteen smaller and larger crystal turquoise lakes, Plitvice Lakes are interconnected by foaming cascades and deep falls. The park includes the headwaters of the Korana River in an area surrounded by dense forests and is additionally ornamented by several caves, springs, and flower-filled meadows, which show the vast diversity of flora and fauna in the national park.
Paklenica National Park
Stretched over 145 kilometres and creating a natural barrier between inland and coastal Croatia, the rugged summits of the Velebit Range are an impressive and remarkable sight. Paklenica National Park takes up 95 square kilometres of limestone mountains and boasts some of Croatia’s most dramatic mountain views and observation points. It is ideal for the trekking enthusiasts; you can do some serious hiking there but also take it down a notch by doing a bit of climbing or just ambling along one of the many streams or mountain huts located along the route.
Krka National Park
Another stunning park with numerous waterfalls, the location of Krka National Park, close to the Dalmatian part of the Adriatic coast makes this a popular place worth visiting. Its 17 cascades stretch over 800 m of the riverbed. The water foams and leaps over barriers, sparkling with a turquoise tint in the calmer parts.
The island of Visovac, where a monastery from the 18th century is to be found, is one of the main attractions in the park. Taking one of the excursion boats is a great way of making your way through Krka National Park and getting to know it better. Also do take notice of the famous Skradinski buk (waterfall) and the same name Skradin town where the sea water meets the crispy Krka River.
Split
Split’s most striking landmark would be the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today it constitutes the heart of the old city of Split. You can visit there the Ancient Cellars and the Peristyle, the central square of the palace and later proceed to the Cathedral of St. Domnius, one of the most beautiful on the Adriatic coast, take notice of former Roman Temples, the famous Golden Gate, and the statue of Grgur Ninski - a revered Croatian bishop. Gelato and coffee places on the famous Split “riva” (waterfront) are there to remind you to truly “carpe diem”.
Land at the Vienna International Airport. Transfer to your boutique 4-star Vienna hotel. Check in and some time to relax or grab a cocktail or drinks. Welcome to the Austrian capital – an imperial capital of arts, with several renowned museums, housing world-famous pieces of art: from the Museum of Art History, with the world's largest collection of Bruegel paintings, to the Austrian Gallery Belvedere, exhibiting masterpieces of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
Dinner on your own at one of Vienna's acclaimed restaurants. Overnight.
Following breakfast and check-out, you will experience the orientational walking city tour of Vienna. This interesting city walk offers you an initial overview of the history and the structure of this Austrian metropolis. It takes you through the most beautiful and most elegant streets, passing by the most famous sights of the city. It focuses on the Hofburg Palace, residence of the Habsburgs for 650 years, and the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the landmark of Vienna.
Coffee break with optional snacks or dessert in beautiful Vienna on your own is next if you wish, before departing for Wörthersee area in the Austrian region of Carinthia and its capital Klagenfurt in a car or minivan. Check-in at a local 4-star hotel followed by an old town tour.
During this history walk, the guide will accompany you and share the heritage information on Klagenfurt’s monuments and most notable sightseeing attractions. The tour would start at Dr. Arthur Lemisch Platz and would take you, in about 90 minutes, to the most beautiful places and sights in the city. It Is safe to say that in the end, there will not be much that you will not know about the history of this beautiful city surrounded by a lake and mountains.
Evening is off to unwind and have dinner in your Klagenfurt hotel or local restaurant. Overnight.
Breakfast the Alps style followed by a boat trip on lake Wörthersee. It does not really matter if it is spring, summer or autumn, lake Wörthersee shows its true colours in the best possible light throughout the entire year. Clear, turquoise coloured water and increasingly warmer temperatures positively invite you to take a trip on one of the local boats. And that tower that you have seen from your boat tour – it is the viewing tower on Pyramidenkogel and your next stop. In 2013, the reconstructed viewing tower was opened on the summit of Pyramidenkogel, at 851 metres above sea level.
Lunch at the hotel and some time to relax and freshen up before your night watchman / guard tour with tastings of regional products included. Walking through dark narrow alleys in the historical centre of Klagenfurt you will be accompanied by the night guard on his "dangerous" tour. He was an outcast, supposed to be in league with the dark forces of the night, a kind of an ancient police service and equipped with his horn, his dangerous halberd, and his lamp...at that time the only light in the dark and narrow alleys in the medieval centre of Klagenfurt.
Unknown and frightening stories will be told of medieval times in this Southern Alps region, those of tower guards, executioners, gravediggers at the bottom end of society and of respected nobility on the other side of the urban life.
Through these tales you will enter the world of the so called „good old times “, when the people were not able to read nor write and were still living in a world of superstition. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast followed by hotel check-out and departure for the neighbouring Slovenia and its enchanting Bled location. Visits to Bled Castle, Lake Bled, and Bled Island on “pletna” boat with your local guide will fill up your day before you check in later in the afternoon to your 4-star Bled hotel. Lunch or snack on your own at one of the Bled sightseeing locations. This Alpine lake with the only island in Slovenia has been a world-renowned must-see location for centuries, impressing guests with its natural beauty, legends of fairies, and special wellness powers to restore the health and well-being. If time allows some wellness and spa time that will open your appetite for dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast first thing in the morning and then head with your local guide to the Vintgar gorge for a light to medium hike followed by lunch on your own on Bohinj Lake. Radovna River has carved a plunging gorge, which is nowadays one of the most popular natural attractions in the direct vicinity of Bled. The gorge is 1.5 kilometres long, up to 100 meters deep and its sides narrow completely in places. Pretty wooden galleries only a few meters above the water level are arranged for a perfect view of the gorge and can serve as a great refreshment in the summer months.
Afterwards you will get to enjoy a walk to the Savica Waterfall. Late afternoon is dedicated for some spa or wellness time and relaxation plus dinner at the hotel. Overnight and some good night sleep before you depart for Croatia the next day.
Late breakfast, followed by check-out and drive in your private car or minivan to Opatija, little yet charming town with Austro-Hungarian empire architectural and historical influence in the north of the Croatian Adriatic Coast. Check into a 4-star Opatija hotel, lunch on your own in one of many town's acclaimed restaurants. Afternoon and evening off for drinks and walk along the beachfront known as the Opatija promenade. Dinner on your own at one of the Opatija's local taverns or bistros, followed by an overnight at your hotel.
Breakfast. Next is the visit to the Istrian hinterland gems – Motovun and Grožnjan, with an olive oil and wine tasting at one of the local wineries in between the two locations. On this Istrian road trip, you will be able to take a myriad of pictures of the small, fortified, and picturesque hilltop town of Motovun, deep in the Istrian countryside, followed by a stop at the Grožnjan church and a walk to the top of that quaint small town with an array of charming art galleries and colourful cafés. Lunch or snack on your own in one of these towns coupled with an optional coffee break and desserts in one of the local cafés. Your driver will take you back to Opatija in the evening, where you can enjoy dinner on your own at one of the Opatija's local taverns or bistros. Overnight at your Opatija hotel.
Earlier breakfast followed by a check-out from your hotel. The private drive is next, destination – the unique and world-renowned National Park Plitvice Lakes and its 16 crystalline lakes that tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. Tour of the Park, broken down by a snack or coffee break on your own at the Park.
Later, check in at the local Plitvice hotel or resort. Time to relax and enjoy the hotel's trim hall, sauna and jacuzzi or recreational areas. Unwind with an evening off and dinner at your hotel. Overnight.
After breakfast you will check out from the hotel and the driver will then take you down south to the Adriatic coast, stopping for a light 2-hour hike at the National Park Paklenica and the mountain range there. The Park is south of the Velebit mountain range, the largest in Croatia, and covers an area of just under 100 square kilometres.
Enjoy next a lunch pitstop at Ramića Dvori mountain hut or similar with local and homemade delicacies and, if it is hot, a a cool natural pool for refreshment. You will hike back down and continue with the drive from Starigrad to the Middle Dalmatia coast. Agrotourism Kalpić or similar is the rustical homestead for the next day or so. It has found its place nearby Krka National Park, just a grasp away from the old Dalmatian town of Šibenik, in the village called Radonić. Check in at this family-owned estate, followed by a welcome schnaps and food tastings of the family Kalpić local food products. Evening is the perfect time for you to enjoy this intact nature and the homestead surroundings before turning in for the day. Overnight.
Rich buffet breakfast with homemade and seasonal products will start your day off right, followed by check out and visit of the Krka National Park. The Park lies about 10 km inland from Šibenik. Named after the powerful Krka River, the Park includes two thirds of the river itself and its top attractions include the stunning waterfalls, with the famous Skradinski Buk falls which are one of Croatia’s most famous and photographed sights. Lunch or snack on your own at or outside the Park.
Late afternoon drive towards your final stop will end in Split and a boutique or a smaller 4-star hotel there. Check in there, followed by dinner on your own in the Split centre or within the Diocletian Palace walls at one of the Dalmatian „konobas“ i.e. taverns where you can enjoy the local, authentic „pašticada“ meat dish with gnocchi or delicate fish array with organic Swiss chard and some top wine selections from the region. Overnight stay in your Split hotel.
Breakfast will be at the hotel, followed by a morning orientational tour of Split before your flight from Split International Airport. Split is a wonderful place to experience the Dalmatian life as it is really lived. This energetic city has just the right balance between tradition and modernity, while the slow Mediterranean pace can be felt at every step of its cobbled streets. You will experience the interior of the Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments, and you will be able to, time-permitting, visit or be a patron of dozens of lively bars, restaurants and shops thriving inside these old walls where Split has been standing for thousands of years. Private transfer will be organized for you to the airport, followed by check in and departure to your home country. Bon voyage.
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