Highlights of Croatia

Our tour starts today in Zagreb, Croatia's red-roofed capital. As European capitals go, Zagreb doesn't experience the same tourist rush as many of its counterparts, and you can still explore its quaint, cobblestone streets without the crowds. A hub of art, culture and history - with a budding restaurant scene, to boot - the city is a somewhat unexpected gem.

For those arriving on time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 9pm for a welcome meeting. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Zagreb at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Franjo Tudman Airport Zagreb (ZAG) which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to stroll along the pretty streets of Gornji Grad (Upper Town) or take the funicular up from the main street (Illica) - it's the shortest cable car in the world!

This morning, we'll set off to explore Zagreb on foot. Famously called a city of museums, the capital has more museums per square foot than any other city in the world, as well as plenty of neo-baroque and art-deco architectural delights, rubbing shoulders with more hard-edged socialist buildings. The city's centrepieces are the Gothic Zagreb Cathedral and 13th-century Saint Mark's Church.

After lunch, we'll drive to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Croatia's premier tourist attractions. We'll spend the day wandering along the well-marked trails of the sprawling reserve, which follow the course of 16 crystal blue-green lakes on their dramatic and cascading descent over 92 travertine barriers and waterfalls. Over the millennia, the waters of these lakes have dissolved the limestone rock and carved out the valley in which they now lie. Through the sedimentation of calcium carbonate and the work of special kinds of algae and moss, travertine has been deposited to form the natural dams that separate the lakes. This dynamic process continues with new falls breaking through the travertine barriers and constantly changing the look of this iconic national park.

Our tour leader will guide us on a circuit which leads from the upper lakes, taking a ferry across Lake Kozjak and then following the path twisting between the lower lakes. Every turn leads to awe-inspiring scenery and yet another stunning waterfall. The walk is mostly on wooden promenades and takes around three hours - comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Following scenic backroads, we'll set off towards the northern Dalmatian Coast and the ancient capital of Dalmatia, Zadar, today. We aim to arrive around noon and, upon arrival, there'll be free time for lunch and to wander the Roman streets. The Church of Saint Donatus, which is considered to be the symbol of the city, is worth a visit, along with the unique experimental musical instrument on the seafront, known as the Sea Organ.

In the late afternoon, we'll continue to Sibinek, this charming town, nestled in a sea inlet has a more tranquil and local feel than the bigger coastal cities. From the waterfront, steps sweep up the World Heritage Site of St James Cathedral and from here you can explore the compact centre of thin alleys and passageways.

This evening, you might like to sample seafood specialities on the Riva, a seaside promenade. The locally caught fish is a popular choice, served alongside grilled vegetables. Alternatively, you could give the black risotto a go - this tasty, traditional Dalmatian dish is coloured with squid ink and has other seafood in it such as mussels

We wouldn't be ticking off the highlights without hopping across the island Croatia is famous for. So, today, we'll explore the pristine nature and cultural heritage of the Sibenik archipelago.

Taking the public ferry, our first stop is Zlarin Island, only 6 kilometres/3.7 miles long and 2 kilometres/1.2 miles wide. The picturesque marina, with its crystal-clear water, is occupied by a wide variety of boats and the interior of the island is packed with fruit trees including fig, lime and pomegranate. We'll visit the Croatian Coral Centre and have some free time to walk along the waterfront and enjoy the beaches.

Our next stop is the car-free island of Prvic, one of the most beautiful and smallest inhabited islands. We'll have lunch in the charming fishing village of Prvic Luka. After visiting the Faust Vrancic Memorial Centre, we'll take an afternoon walk (lasting around 30 minutes) across the island to see the old Dalmatian stone houses in Prvic Sepurine.

We'll head back to Sibenik on the ferry departing at 6.20pm.

After breakfast this morning, we'll drive along the twisting Dalmatian coastal road to the charming medieval harbour town of Trogir.

On arrival, we'll have some time free for lunch and sightseeing. Trogir has a rich history that dates back to the 3rd century BC, with a delightful collection of cobblestone squares and medieval architecture, and a Romanesque cathedral that is considered one of the most exquisite in the entire Adriatic. What makes Trogir such a delight to wander around is its meandering alleyways, filled with cafes and restaurants and its elegant riverfront promenade, which leads up to the Kamerlengo Fortress, a 15th-century edifice with imposing battlements and a huge octagonal tower.

Continuing to Split, we'll check in to our hotel and begin our explorations with a guided walking tour to see the Diocletian's Palace and Old Town. Emperor Diocletian built the palace at the turn of the 4th century, and it quickly became the heart of the city. The Roman emperor was buried here, and it later became the world's oldest Roman Catholic cathedral, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. We'll wander through the intriguing maze of narrow cobblestone streets, where pre-Romanesque churches nestle alongside Gothic chapels and take in the peristyle (central square), cathedral and subterranean halls, too.

This evening, you might like to take the opportunity to stroll along the Riva, Split's seafront promenade, and stop off in one of the restaurants or bustling cafes along the way.

After an early breakfast, we'll transfer to Split Port to catch the ferry to Dubrovnik (a journey of around 4.5 hours). The fast passenger ferry is a comfortable way to travel between Split and Dubrovnik, it's air-conditioned and there are toilets and a bar onboard. The ferry calls at Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Mljet islands before arriving in Dubrovnik, so you'll get to see these sights along the way.

Upon arriving in the walled city of Dubrovnik, it's a short transfer to our hotel for check-in and then the afternoon is free. Like many Croatian cities, Dubrovnik has seen its share of conquerors and settlers, each adding their own contributions to the city as it stands today. Extensive renovations during the 1990s and into the 2000s have meant that the city is excellently preserved.

This evening, there is an optional sunset hike with our tour leader to Srd - a hill overlooking Dubrovnik Old Town, returning by cable car (ticket not included) or on foot. This optional walk covers 3.5 kilometres/7.4 miles and is expected to take around 90 minutes.

Our hotel is located in the sought-after Lapad peninsula with its beautiful promenade where you can find lots of local restaurants and bars. If you'd prefer to have dinner in the Old Town, you can easily reach it by bus or taxi.

The best way to uncover Dubrovnik's wealth of monasteries, museums and historic buildings is on foot. So, this morning, we'll head out on a walking tour of the Old Town, led by a historian. We'll take the public bus from our hotel to the Old Town,tarting from Pile Square on the eastern side of Dubrovnik, we'll snake our way through the maze of narrow streets and lively piazzas to take in the Sponza Palace, housing the city's archives, and the intricately carved baroque church of St Blaise. Continuing through the main thoroughfare of Stradun, we'll walk down the Jesuit Staircase, perhaps better known as the 'Steps of the Great Sept of Bailor' used for the 'Walk of Shame' scene in Game of Thrones. Finally, we'll end at the magnificent Rector's Palace, another filming location and also an incredible example of Gothic architecture in its own right.

This afternoon is free for you to discover more of the city at your own pace. Highlights of Dubrovnik include walking the city walls (full or half loop) or taking the cable car to Mount Srd to get a view above the Old Town. If you want to walk along the Dubrovnik City Walls, we suggest you buy a Dubrovnik Card which gives you access to many sights as well as public transport around Dubrovnik.

Alternatively, you could take a boat ride to Lokrum Island Nature Reserve. This idyllic island has an ancient Benedictine monastery at its heart, forest walks, and its own mini 'dead sea' to float in.

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Dubrovnik.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Dubrovnik at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) which is a 35-minute drive from Dubrovnik.