Croatia & Slovenia

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Travel to cities, mountains and islands in Croatia and Slovenia
Embark on an adventure starting in Split, where Gothic monuments set the scene. Journey through the unspoiled beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park and wander the historic streets of Zadar's Old Town. Then, travel on to Zagreb, Croatia's bustling capital. Crossing into Slovenia, immerse yourself in the enchanting landscapes of Bled and experience the vibrant city life of Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, known for its green spaces and lively atmosphere. This trip is packed with forest hikes, scenic vistas, medieval architecture and authentic local cuisine, offering a deep dive into the ancient cultures of both Croatia and Slovenia.
4.7
61 reviewsStart: Split, Croatia
End: Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
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- Explorer
- Physical rating
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Why you'll love this trip
- Experience Split's Gothic monuments and the vibrant life within Diocletian's Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city's bustling streets.
- Visit Zadar to wander its ancient streets and enjoy an exclusive visit to a local Benedictine monastery, where you'll taste award-winning produce and learn about their traditional way of life.
- Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park, wandering through its network of lakes, waterfalls and forests, followed by a visit to a nearby NGO preserving historical cultural crafts.
- Immerse yourself in Ljubljana's lively atmosphere, surrounded by green spaces and vibrant cafes, and walk around Bled, a picturesque town nestled on a lake with a fairytale island church.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Dobro dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure starts in Split with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly the soul. Situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's the second- largest city in Croatia. Split grew out from Diocletian's Palace – and while some cultures might have preserved the palace as a museum, Split thrives as a dynamic city where locals live and businesses thrive within its walls. After the meeting, maybe head out for your first taste of Dalmatian cuisine with the group.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Split - Fish Market - Free
- Split – Highlights of Split Urban Adventure - EUR64
- Split - Marjan Hill Hike - Free
- Split - City Museum - EUR4
- Split - Gallery of Fine Arts - EUR5
- Split - Ethnographic Museum - EUR3
- Split - Cellars of the Diocletian's Palace - EUR8
- Split - Ivan Mestrovic Gallery - EUR12
- Split - St Domnius Cathedral and Tower - EUR10
- Split - Archaeological Museum - EUR8
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
This morning, you'll travel by local bus northwest to Zadar. For centuries Zadar was the capital city of Dalmatia, and the city's rich heritage is visible at every step. An important coastal town, the musical steps of the ‘Sea Organ’ on Zadar's waterfront express its important relationship with the sea. Trace marble streets through the Old Town and discover Roman ruins in amongst medieval churches. Enjoy some local food and drinks in a city that’s home to a vibrant café culture. Zadarsko pivo is a light beer with a very pleasant taste, just a little bit bitter, with a rich flavour. After, maybe treat yourself to a gourmet meal at a contemporary Croatian restaurant. Try njoki (lamb in red wine) with Dalmatian ham and rocket salad, or opt for the popular choice of fresh tuna carpaccio or a fillet in scampi sauce. Also try the famous liqueur, Maraskino, made from locally-grown maraschino cherries according to a centuries' old secret recipe. This unique drink was a favourite at European imperial and royal courts and has been produced in Zadar since 1821.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Zadar - Leader-led orientation walk
- Zadar - Museum of ancient glass - EUR6
- Zadar - Gold and Silver of the city of Zadar Museum - EUR6
- Zadar - Archaeological Museum - EUR5
- Zadar - Cathedral Bell Tower - EUR2
- Zadar - Church of Saint Donat - EUR4
- Zadar - St Anastasia's Cathedral - Free
- Zadar - Roman Forum - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Head out of the city this morning for a special experience at the farm of the Benedictines of St. Mary. This order leads a secluded life, believing that working on the agricultural land brings them closer to God. During your visit, you'll taste some of the award-winning jams, liqueurs and juices produced in the monastery. Sample high-quality olive oils and wines with cheese and bread, then take a tour of the property. As you walk around the orchards, you'll learn about how the nuns live, the fruits grown on the grounds and how their products are produced. After some time to explore, you'll head back to Zadar in the afternoon, where you'll have free time. Maybe try the famous liqueur, Maraskino, made from the locally grown maraschino cherries. This unique drink was a favourite at European royal courts and has been produced in Zadar since 1821.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Zadar - Nunnery & farm visit
Travel inland this morning to your next base in Grabovac and visit Plitvice Lakes National Park – an Eden of waterfalls and lakes. Fed by the Bijela and Crna Rivers, the waters tumble from tree-lined ridges through dense forests. Sixteen lakes fed by underground springs are split into the upper and lower lakes. The upper are in the dolomite cliffs, where water weaves in and out of the karst, dropping dramatically down to the lower lakes. This interplay of water, rock and plant life creates a dynamic landscape. Look out for over 120 species of birds, including hawks and owls, and butterflies that transform the park into a riot of colour. After, visit Licko Petrovo Selo – a small village next to the park with a local NGO that focuses on preserving the historical art of woolly men's underwear. Take a short tour of the NGO and hear about how they preserve this important part of their cultural heritage (and maybe even buy a warm souvenir to take home).
- Guesthouse (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
- Licko Petrovo Selo NGO visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Continue to Croatia’s capital and largest city – Zagreb. Full of parks and squares, Zagreb is a laidback place, proud of its coffee culture and the perfect spot to wander. Follow your leader on an orientation walk when you arrive and then enjoy some free time for the rest of your time here. Maybe join one of the many free walking tours in the city and engage with a local here to learn about their daily life or browse the city’s stunning neo-baroque and gothic architecture. You could check out Tkalciceva Street’s lively social scene or head up Medvednica Mountain, where the views stretch as far as neighboring Slovenia on a clear day. To live like a local, maybe head to Zagreb’s open-air markets where you’ll find all kinds of fresh vegetables, nuts, honey and liqueurs.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Zagreb - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Zagreb - Museum of Broken Relationships - EUR7
- Zagreb - Mirogoj Cemetery - Free
- Zagreb - Cathedral - Free
- Zagreb - The Croatian Museum of Naive Art - EUR5
- Zagreb - City Museum - EUR4
- Zagreb - Lotrščak Tower - EUR3
- Zagreb - Funicular - EUR1
This morning, take the train and cross the border to Ljubljana. One of the smallest capitals in Europe, Ljubljana makes up for it by also being one of the greenest and most vibrant cities on the continent. Follow your leader on an orientation walk and ride the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle for panoramic views of the city. Dubbed the ‘dragon city’ due its ties to Greek mythology, you’ll likely spot dragon symbols scattered about. Ljubljana, home to 50,000 students, is known for its lively nightlife. Explore Metalkova for an alternative vibe or the Old Town for its historical charm – or ask your leader for their recommendations.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Ljubljana - Castle and Funicular
- Ljubljana - Leader-led walking tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
Embark on a day trip to Lake Bled this morning. Your leader will guide you on a scenic walk that passes some impressive 19th century villas, including the residence of the former Yogoslav president ‘Marshal’ Tito – now known as the hotel Vila Bled. The rest of the day is free for you to explore all that Bled has to offer. If you’re feeling active, consider renting a paddleboard and taking a trip around the picturesque island. Alternatively, you can get on a Plenta boat ride – a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman – and reach it that way. From there, climb the 99 steps to St Mary’s Church and ring the wishing bell. Be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake, which isn’t hard – nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims theirs is the best. Return to Ljubljana in the evening and perhaps round your group together for a final dinner.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Bled - Walk around Lake Bled
- Bled - Day Trip
- Bled - Mountain Bike Hire - EUR25
- Bled - Pletna Boat Trip - EUR14
- Bled - Castle - EUR15
- Triglav National Park - Bus and Cable Car Trip to Mt Vogel - EUR32
- Triglav National Park - Emerald River Adventure (full day) - EUR110
- Triglav National Park - Vintgar Gorge - EUR10
- Triglav National Park - River Rafting - EUR45
- Triglav National Park - Canyoning - EUR85
- Triglav National Park - Guided Mountain Bike Tour (4 hours) - EUR95
- Triglav National Park - Kayaking on Sava River (3 hours) - EUR85
There are no activities planned for the final day and you can depart your accommodation at any time. For those who wish to stay in Ljubljana, reach out to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
6 breakfasts
Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)
- Zadar - Leader-led orientation walk
- Zadar - Nunnery & farm visit
- Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
- Licko Petrovo Selo NGO visit
- Zagreb - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Ljubljana - Castle and Funicular
- Ljubljana - Leader-led walking tour
- Bled - Walk around Lake Bled
- Bled - Day Trip
- Split - Fish Market - Free
- Split – Highlights of Split Urban Adventure - EUR64
- Split - Marjan Hill Hike - Free
- Split - City Museum - EUR4
- Split - Gallery of Fine Arts - EUR5
- Split - Ethnographic Museum - EUR3
- Split - Cellars of the Diocletian's Palace - EUR8
- Split - Ivan Mestrovic Gallery - EUR12
- Split - St Domnius Cathedral and Tower - EUR10
- Split - Archaeological Museum - EUR8
- Zadar - Museum of ancient glass - EUR6
- Zadar - Gold and Silver of the city of Zadar Museum - EUR6
- Zadar - Archaeological Museum - EUR5
- Zadar - Cathedral Bell Tower - EUR2
- Zadar - Church of Saint Donat - EUR4
- Zadar - St Anastasia's Cathedral - Free
- Zadar - Roman Forum - Free
- Zagreb - Museum of Broken Relationships - EUR7
- Zagreb - Mirogoj Cemetery - Free
- Zagreb - Cathedral - Free
- Zagreb - The Croatian Museum of Naive Art - EUR5
- Zagreb - City Museum - EUR4
- Zagreb - Lotrščak Tower - EUR3
- Zagreb - Funicular - EUR1
- Bled - Mountain Bike Hire - EUR25
- Bled - Pletna Boat Trip - EUR14
- Bled - Castle - EUR15
- Triglav National Park - Bus and Cable Car Trip to Mt Vogel - EUR32
- Triglav National Park - Emerald River Adventure (full day) - EUR110
- Triglav National Park - Vintgar Gorge - EUR10
- Triglav National Park - River Rafting - EUR45
- Triglav National Park - Canyoning - EUR85
- Triglav National Park - Guided Mountain Bike Tour (4 hours) - EUR95
- Triglav National Park - Kayaking on Sava River (3 hours) - EUR85
This trip generates 31 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
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Before you book you should know
- Please note that the Croatian coast is characterised by its hilly and mountainous terrain, resulting in numerous steps throughout the landscape, which some may find physically demanding.
- Summer temperatures can exceed 40°C in many visited regions, requiring sun protection, layered clothing for heat, and ample hydration; consider peak season pressures along the Croatian coast from July to mid-September and note that European hotels often have single beds that can be pushed together.
- If you have more time to explore the region you can extend your trip by starting your travels in Dubrovnik and exploring the Dalmatian Coast. Check out our trip 'Dubrovnik to Bled' (trip code ZMSUC). Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip.
- Pack lightly for this trip as you'll need to carry your own bag, aiming to keep it under 15 kg (33 lb). Opt for a backpack or a shoulder bag for convenience, ensuring it has straps suitable for cobbled streets and stairs, and bring a bag for essentials on day trips.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Art Hotel Annex
Slobode St. 41
Split
21000
CROATIA
Phone: +38 521302302
Description
Art Hotel in Split is located only a fifteen-minute walk to the most important Split tourist attractions,and Diocletian’s palace. The Art Annex Depadance is located in the back of the main building only 5 meters away. The Depadance contains a total of 26 rooms, part of which is located on the ground floor and the other part on the first floor. Rated three stars, all rooms offer free wifi, LCD TV, bathroom with shower and hair dryer, and all other toiletries.
Instructions
Art Hotel in Split is located only a 15-minute walk from Diocletian’s palace and the rest of the famous old part of town. The Split International Airport (airport code SPU) is 30 minutes by taxi from the hotel. You can take airport shuttle bus that is around 8 EUR to the main bus station. From the ferry terminal, main bus and train station you can walk about 25 minutes or take a bus line to the hotel. Taxi is on average 10 EUR.
If you have pre booked an arrival transfer from Split Airport (SPU), your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name. In case of flight cancellations, flight changes, severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +38 95 550 0014.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available on this trip with no exceptions. Availability is limited due to small properties we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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