Croatia Capital, Lakes and Islands Tour Zagreb to Dubrovnik 9 Nights

This tour links the four things most people want from a first trip to Croatia: the capital, the lakes, the islands and Dubrovnik. It is private and independent, for your own group of two or more, with no coach group or escort. Every hotel, transfer and ferry is arranged for you, and guided walks in each main town give you a local introduction before you explore on your own.

You arrive in Zagreb on any day and have two nights there, with a guided walk through its baroque streets, parks and hidden courtyards. Then you drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park for a guided walk on the wooden paths past its 16 lakes and more than 90 waterfalls, stopping in the UNESCO town of Trogir on the way to Split.

The coast and islands make up most of the trip. In Split you join a walking tour of Diocletian's Palace before the ferry to Hvar for two nights, with a guided walk through Hvar Town and its historic theatre and a free day for the beaches, the village of Jelsa or the vineyards at Ivan Dolac. A ferry takes you on to Korcula for a night in the walled old town, and then you finish with three nights in Dubrovnik: a guided walk of the Old Town and its walls, plus a whole free day for Lokrum Island or the Elaphiti Islands.

There are two hotel levels. The Standard version uses mostly 3-star hotels close to the old towns, and the Classic version uses 4-star hotels throughout. Both include breakfast every day, all transfers and ferry tickets, Plitvice entry and the four city walks. It suits couples and families who want an easy island-hopping trip with no packing and unpacking of boats, and time to settle into each place.

Route: Zagreb - Plitvice - Trogir - Split - Hvar - Korcula - Dubrovnik