Jewels of Croatia - Manchester

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Croatia, a Mediterranean paradise boasting stunning scenery, azure-blue waters, ancient towns, palm-lined squares, and magnificent forests with rushing waterfalls. Join us on an all-inclusive two-week holiday as we delve into Croatia's rich history and discover the awe-inspiring scenery at multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites and enjoy our excursion programme staying in stunning locations, including the island of Hvar.What's Included?
Includes- Return flights to Split- Airport taxes & luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)- Airport transfers in Croatia- 14 nights in hotels as specified in Croatia (JG3+ & JG4 rating) on an all-inclusive basis:- Buffet breakfast, lunch & dinner- Free bar (including beer, wine, soft drinks & a selection of spirits open for 12 hours daily)- Porterage- Excursions to Trogir, Split, Vrboska, Tucepi & Omiš- Guided island tour of Hvar- Guided walking tour of Split- Services of a tour managerGoing Solo departures available. Please contact us for further information. Enjoy a holiday with like-minded people looking for similar travel experiences.NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON GOING SOLO DEPARTURES*Please note all optional excursions are available to book in resort

Itinerary
ItineraryDay 1We fly to Split and transfer to the Hotel Medena, close to Trogir, where we spend the next four nights.Day 2 - TrogirAfter breakfast, we spend the morning exploring nearby Trogir, a picturesque town that sits on a small island and is known for its charming mix of Renaissance and baroque buildings. The town centre's striking Venetian architecture has seen it be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making Trogir a must-see destination that can be easily explored on foot. Later, we enjoy a leisurely afternoon at our hotel.Day 3 - Optional excursion to Šibenik & Krka Waterfalls*Our optional excursion takes us to Krka National Park, one of the most famous and popular natural wonders in the entire Balkans, an area barely spoilt by mankind. The National Park features natural trails, workshops, exhibits, and watermills. The Skradinski Buk Waterfall is the most famous in the Krka National Park, standing at 46 meters and cascading down 17 steps. Many visitors swim in shallow areas and enjoy a splash and a paddle in the cool, refreshing waters.Afterwards, we stop at Šibenik, a historic town on the river Krka, to see the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James and St. Michael's Castle.Day 4 - Day at leisureFree time to relax around the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the local resort area.Day 5 - Split & Hvar IslandWe start the day with a guided walking tour of Split, the second largest city in Croatia. The Old Town is full of historic charm and boasts medieval streets, cobblestone corners, stunning promenades, and baroque monuments. During our tour, we explore some of the most iconic sights in the city, including the UNESCO-protected palace of the great emperor Diocletian, the mausoleum (now an impressive cathedral), the medieval Venetian castle, and more.Later we take a scenic ferry ride to Hvar Island, our base for the next six nights the Labranda Senses Resort in Vrboska.Day 6 - Day at leisureFree time to relax around the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the local resort area.Day 7 - Hvar Island TourWe take a guided tour of Hvar - known as one of the top 10 most beautiful islands in the world! Our tour begins in the stunning harbour town of Jelsa with its stunning harbour, before moving on to see the Stari Grad Plain - an 80-hectare agricultural colony, the picturesque village of Vrboska, also known as the 'Little Venice of Croatia', the tranquil village of Brusje and the medieval towns of Stari Grad and Hvar. We finish our tour with a visit to Tvrdalj Castle, formerly the summer residence of Croatian poet Petar Hektorovic.Day 8 - Optional excursion to Korcula Island*On our optional excursion, we enjoy a catamaran ride to Korčula which boasts one of the most beautiful old towns in Dalmatia. Often called 'Little Dubrovnik' because of its fortress-like appearance, Korčula old town is still surrounded by its 13th-century fortifications, built by the Venetians. This island is known as the birthplace of the famous sailor and explorer Marco Polo.Day 9 - Optional excursion to Tomić WineryWe take a short ride to Jelsa in the southern part of Hvar Island for a visit to Tomić Winery, considered to be one of the best wineries on the island. The wines produced here are considered to be of a very high quality due to the island's unique microclimate.Day 10 - Day at leisureFree time to relax around the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the local resort area.Day 11 - Optional excursion to Zastrazisce*Today's optional excursion takes us to Zastrazisce, a rural village in the Eastern part of the island. We explore the Illyrian fort atop Vela Glava, which played a crucial defensive role in the island's history, as well as the two towers built by the Andelinovic family as protection against Turkish pirates.Day 12 - TucepiThis morning we say a fond farewell to Hvar and take the ferry back to Split. From here, we journey to Tucepi, where we stay for the next three nights at the Bluesun Neptun Hotel.Day 13 - OmišWe travel to Omiš, a small town at the mouth of the emerald-green Cetina River. Here there be pirates! Or there used to be, at least. The town was once home to the Pirates of Omiš in the 13th and 14th centuries, who used Sagittae, very fast boats, to raid traders along the Adriatic coast. They would then retreat into the Cetina River where larger ships could not follow them. Nowadays, Omiš is a popular tourist destination and the Old Town is dotted with historical landmarks such as the fortress Mirabella, a 13th-century edifice. Another place worth exploring is the Ffortress Starigrad, located at the mountain peak behind the Old Town.Day 14 - Optional excursion to DubrovnikOn our last optional excursion of the holiday, we visit Dubrovnik in the far south of Croatia. This old city is known for its red roofs that contrast beautifully with the azure waters of the Adriatic. It's included in UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its historically significant old town, which features stunning medieval architecture. Explore the beautiful streets or pay a visit to the filming location used for King's Landing on the popular TV series, Game of Thrones.Day 15We check out of our hotel and transfer to Split airport for our flight home.Hotel
Labranda Senses Resort, Vrboska, CroatiaJG3+ ratingJust 50 metres from the sea, the Labranda Senses Resort in Vrboska offers excellent facilities alongside an equally outstanding location on the beachfront. The resort features a wellness and spa centre, as well as bookable recreation and water sport activities. The contemporary and stylish rooms are en suite with a balcony or terrace. All rooms have a flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, minibar, fan and beach towels.Bluesun Neptun Hotel, Tučepi, CroatiaJG3+ ratingThe newly renovated Bluesun Neptun Hotel in Tučepi is located on the beachfront and is a short distance from the town centre. The hotel offers outdoor pools, pool bars and a restaurant. All rooms are en suite with a private balcony, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a hairdryer and direct dial telephone.Hotel Medina, Trogir, CroatiaJG4 ratingClose to Trogir, the Hotel Medena is well-situated for our tour and one of the most famous hotels in the area. Hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, pebble beach, air-conditioned restaurant, beach grill restaurant, aperitif bar and pizzeria. Sports facilities include six tennis courts, handball and basketball courts plus mini-golf and more. All meals are buffet style. Standard rooms are all en suite with a bath and include air conditioning, phone, satellite TV, balcony, hairdryer, mini-fridge, safe and free Wi-Fi.Hotel RatingJG3+ ratingJG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.JG4 ratingAccommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.