Kroatien Rundreisen
Reise Bestseller
Explore Croatia
Croatia: Sibenik & the Kornati Islands
Highlights of Dalmatia
Croatia Sailing Adventure: Split to Dubrovnik
Croatia Sailing Adventure: Dubrovnik to Split
Cycle Croatia
Croatia: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Croatia Coastal Cruising: Dubrovnik to Split (Peregrine Dalmatia)
Croatia Coastal Cruising: Split to Dubrovnik
Balkan Adventure
Transport in Kroatien
Wo immer möglich, nutzt Intrepid die Möglichkeiten des Nahverkehrs und die traditionellen Verkehrsmittel, die in der Regel weniger umweltbelastend sind, kleine einheimische Betreiber unterstützen und viel mehr Spaß machen. Je nachdem, auf welcher Reise Du Dich in Kroatien befindest, kannst Du Dich freuen auf:
Bus
Keine Reisebusse hier! Wir reisen wie die Einheimischen durch Kroatien, mit einem lokalen Bus. Es ist eine billige, zuverlässige und authentische Art, sich in dem Land zu bewegen.
Fähre
Erstaunliche Aussichten und schneller Zugang zu den Inseln – was gibt es Schöneres, als mit der Fähre die herrliche kroatische Küste zu entdecken?
Die beste Reisezeit für Kroatien
Die kroatische Hochsaison ist zwischen Juli und August, mit Temperaturen zwischen 25 und 40 Grad an der Küste. Generell kann man sich aber von Mai bis Oktober auf viel Sonnenschein einstellen, weshalb diese Zeit sich besonders gut eignet um die schönen Strände und Inseln Kroatiens zu besuchen. Das Landesinnere kann im Winter bei niedrigen Temperaturen und Schneefall sehr kalt werden. Der Winter an der Küste ist milder und es regnet häufiger.
Kulturen und Bräuche
Im Allgemeinen sind die Kroaten sehr stolz auf ihr Land und ihr kulturelles Erbe. Während dies im Alltag nicht offensichtlich ist, wird das slawische Erbe des kroatischen Volkes bei Festen und Nationalfeiertagen, wo Städte und Dörfer mit Trachten, Volksmusik und Festen zum Leben erweckt werden, noch deutlicher. Während der Großteil der kroatischen Bevölkerung römisch-katholisch ist, gibt es auch Gruppen von Menschen, die sich als serbisch-orthodox, muslimisch, protestantisch und jüdisch identifizieren. Nach Krieg, Not und häufigen Erdbeben haben die Menschen in Kroatien viel Nationalstolz und eine starke Verbindung zu ihrem Land und ihrer Familie. Es ist durchaus üblich, dass Großfamilien zusammenleben und Kinder bis ins Erwachsenenalter in der Nähe ihrer Eltern bleiben. Zeit mit der Familie wird als sehr wertvoll angesehen, so dass die Arbeit selten in die Familienzeit mitgenommen wird. Das bedeutet, dass die meisten Menschen Wochenenden und Feiertage mit Familie und Freunden verbringen.
Essen und Trinken
Intrepid glaubt, dass eine der besten Arten, ein Land zu erleben, das Essen ist! Ob Du nun einen Imbiss an einer Straßenecke probierst, eine preiswerte Mahlzeit essen oder richtig schlemmen möchtest – es gibt unzählige Möglichkeiten, aus denen Du wählen kannst.
Die Lage Kroatiens sorgt dafür, dass die Nahrungsmittelmöglichkeiten phänomenal sind. Mit vielen frischen Meeresfrüchten, Obst und Gemüse können die Besucher griechische, italienische und ungarische Einflüsse bei vielen ihrer Mahlzeiten herausschmecken.
Was Du in Kroatien unbedingt probieren musst:
1. Meeresfrüchte
In den Küstenstädten oder auf den Inseln kannst Du die besten Meeresfrüchte übrehaupt probieren. Prstaci ist eine gute Wahl für Muschelfans. Brodet ein herzhafter Fischeintopf, welcher sich fast überall findet. Octopus, Tintenfisch, Sardinen und Hummer sind ebenfalls leicht zu bekommen.
2. Wein
Das kroatische Klima ist ideal für den Weinbau, also nutze die Gelegenheit, Weine aus traditionellen Rebsorten zu probieren. Probieren solltest Du unbedingt Dingac, Plavac, Malmsy und Babic.
3. Fleisch
Vegetarier haben es in Kroatien schwer, da Fleisch in diesem Teil der Welt extrem beliebt ist. Diejenigen, die Fleisch bevorzugen, werden es lieben, Lammbraten, Rohschinken, würzige Schweinswürste und gegrillte Spieße aus Rind- und Hühnerfleisch zu probieren.
4. Trüffel
Für diejenigen mit teurem Geschmack ist Kroatien ebenfals ein Paradies. Das Land ist ein großer Produzent von seltenen Trüffeln, insbesondere von weißen Trüffeln. Man findet sie in Salaten und Nudelgerichten in den gehobenen Restaurants Kroatiens.
5. Käse
Kroatien produziert viele hochwertige Käsesorten, die Reisende auf Märkten, in Geschäften und Restaurants im ganzen Land finden können. Paski Sir ist ein scharfer Schafskäse von der Insel Pag und ist der bekannteste Käse Kroatiens.
Die Top 10 der geschichtsträchtigsten Gebäude Kroatiens
1. Mariä Himmelfahrt Kathedrale
Diese große neugotische Kathedrale, eine der meistbesuchten historischen Stätten Zagrebs, wurde seit ihrem Bau im 13. Jahrhundert mehrmals renoviert und rekonstruiert. Mit massiven Zwillingstürmen, einem Marmorinterieur und einer 800 Jahre alten Schatzkammer ist dies ein monumentales Meisterwerk.
2. Kirche St. Donatus
Die Kirche in Zadar gilt als eines der eindrucksvollsten Beispiele frühbyzantinischer Architektur und wurde bereits im 9. Jahrhundert gebaut. Seine vereinfachte, runde Bauweise ist ganz anders als andere Gebäude in Kroatien, was sie besonders sehenswert macht – besonders in einem Land mit so vielen Kirchen und Kathedralen!
3. Kroatisches Nationaltheater
Der 1895 erbaute Nationalschatz in Zagreb ist ein tolles Beispiel für neobarocke Architektur. Besucher, die das Glück haben, hier ein Opern-, Ballett- oder Klassikkonzert zu erleben, können von der luxuriösen Ausstattung bis hin zur exzellenten Akustik alle Details genießen.
4. Diokletianspalast
Als eine der Hauptattraktionen Splits gilt dieses UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe als einer der besterhaltenen römischen Paläste der Welt. Der weitläufige Komplex beherbergt viele schöne Beispiele romanischer, gotischer, Renaissance- und Barockarchitektur. Die Besucher können hier Innenhöfe, Marmorbögen, Säulen, Tore und Mauern aus verschiedenen Epochen bewundern.
5. Kathedrale St. Lovro
Diese Kathedrale, 30 Minuten von Split entfernt, ist bekannt für ihr markantes romanisches Portal, das von einem der berühmtesten kroatischen Bildhauer, Radovan, geschaffen wurde. Mythologische Kreaturen und biblische Gestalten sind stark vertreten. Heilige, Löwen, Sirenen und Zentauren schmücken die spektakulären Eingänge.
6. Rektorenpalast
Auch als Dubrovnik Museum bekannt, ist der Rektorenpalast ein beeindruckendes Gebäude an sich. Mit aufsteigenden Bögen, historischen Möbeln und einer großen Treppe stiehlt der Palast den Exponaten des Museums die Schau.
7. Dubrovniker Synagoge
Die Synagoge von Dubrovnik soll die zweitälteste Synagoge Europas und die älteste noch in Gebrauch befindliche sefardische Synagoge der Welt sein. Obwohl sie häufig von Erdbeben und Kriegen beschädigt wurde, steht dieses kleine, aber gut gepflegte Bauwerk heute aufgrund seines historischen Wertes und seines einzigartigen Designs noch immer.
8. Marco-Polo-Turm
Der Marco-Polo-Turm von Korcula ist zwar nicht das aufwendigste oder opulenteste Gebäude in Kroatien, hat aber eine große historische Bedeutung. Es wird vermutet, dass Marco Polo in dieser mittelalterlichen, ummauerten Stadt geboren wurde. Der nach ihm benannte Turm erhebt sich über der Stadt als Erinnerung an sein Erbe. Klettere nach oben für einen phänomenalen Ausblick und Panoramafotos.
9. Franziskanerkloster
Mit Kreuzgängen aus dem 14. Jahrhundert, aufwendig geschnitzten Säulen und einer markanten, skulpturalen Fassade beherbergt dieses Dubrovnik-Wunder auch die drittälteste Apotheke Europas, so dass Du Dir bei der Besichtigung der Sehenswürdigkeiten ein Rezept ausstellen lassen kannst.
10. Trakoscan Schloss
Diese schöne Burg im Norden Kroatiens war vom 13. Jahrhundert bis in die 1940er Jahre bewohnt. Mit allen guten Dingen, die ein Schloss haben sollte – einschließlich Verlies, Jagdsaal und Turm – ist der Besuch hier wie ein Schritt zurück in eine Zeit, in der Burgen nicht nur historische Denkmäler, sondern auch Orte zum Leben waren.
Reiseinformationen für Kroatien
Auf einen Blick
- Hauptstadt: Zagreb (930.000 Einwohner)
- Einwohner: 4,4 Millionen
- Landessprache: Kroatisch
- Währung: HRK
- Zeitzone: Sarajevo, Skopje, Warschau, Zagreb (GMT +01:00)
- Ländervorwahl: +385
Geografie und Umwelt
Kroatien hat gemeinsame Grenzen mit Bosnien und Herzegowina, Slowenien, Ungarn, Serbien und Montenegro. Das Land profitiert von mehr als 5.000 km Küstenlinie entlang der Adria. Neben dem Festland hat Kroatien auch viele Inseln, einige bewohnt, andere nicht. Kroatiens Landschaft ist sehr vielfältig und variiert von flachen Ebenen bis hin zu niedrigen Bergen und Hochebenen, Kalkstein-Karstfelsen, Feuchtgebieten, Seen und Zypressenwäldern. Naturschutzgebiete und Feuchtgebiete beherbergen große Populationen von Zugvögeln, Hirschen, Fledermäusen und Bären. Die Besucher werden auch sehen, dass ein großer Teil des Landes für die Landwirtschaft genutzt wird, wobei vor allem Weinberge, Lavendelfelder, Olivenhaine und Obstgärten in ländlichen Gebieten weit verbreitet sind. Die kroatischen Städte haben es geschafft, ein hohes Maß an Charme zu bewahren – mit Kopfsteinpflasterstraßen, alten Häusern, historischen Plätzen und historischen Gebäuden, die von der heutigen Bevölkerung bewahrt und noch immer genutzt werden.
Geschichte
Frühe Geschichte: Archäologische Funde deuten darauf hin, dass das Land, das heute als Kroatien bekannt ist, schon seit der Steinzeit von Menschen bewohnt wird. Die geographische Lage Kroatiens ermöglichte einen großen Einfluss von Stämmen und Menschen aus verschiedenen Kulturen und Gruppen, die ihre Spuren hinterließen. Im Laufe der Jahrhunderte haben Griechen, Römer, Kelten, Hunnen und Goten das Gebiet besetzt. Das erste Königreich Kroatien wurde 925 gegründet. Im 12. Jahrhundert bildete Kroatien eine Union mit Ungarn, wobei ein ungarischer König als Führer beider Gebiete eingesetzt wurde. Im 15. Jahrhundert verlor Kroatien Gebiete an das Osmanische Reich und kam in späteren Jahrhunderten wieder unter ungarische Herrschaft. Von diesen vielen kulturellen Einflüssen zeugen die Architektur, die Küche und die archäologischen Ruinen im heutigen Kroatien.
Aktuelle Geschichte: Kroatien, Slowenien und Serbien bildeten 1918 eine Union, um das Königreich Jugoslawien zu gründen.Im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde dann der unabhängige Staat Kroatien gegründet. Am Ende des Krieges 1945 wurde Kroatien zur Sozialistischen Republik (innerhalb der Sozialistischen Föderativen Republik Jugoslawien, zusammen mit Bosnien, Serbien, Slowenien, Mazedonien und Montenegro), wobei die Verfassung von 1963 versuchte, die Spannungen um das Machtgleichgewicht zwischen Serben und Kroaten abzubauen. 1980, nach dem Tod von Präsident Tito (Gründer des modernen Jugoslawiens), führten wirtschaftliche und politische Schwierigkeiten (zusätzlich zu den regionalen Spannungen in anderen Teilen Jugoslawiens) zu einem Beinahe-Zusammenbruch der Regierung. Es folgten Jahre des Konflikts, der Polarität und der politischen Unruhen. Das Referendum von 1991 führte zu einem überwältigenden Votum für die Unabhängigkeit, weshalb Kroatien und Slowenien im Juni desselben Jahres die Unabhängigkeit von Jugoslawien erklärten. Viele bewaffnete Konflikte folgten und dauerten bis 1995, was zu großen Verlusten an Menschenleben und Vertreibung führte. Die letzten zwei Jahrzehnte waren eine Zeit des Friedens und der Versöhnung für das kroatische Volk. Das Land wurde für den Tourismus geöffnet und die Regierung hat sich darauf konzentriert, dem Land weiteres Wirtschaftswachstum zu sichern. Kroatien ist 2013 der Europäischen Union beigetreten.
Shopping
Kroatien besitzt eine interessante Mischung aus malerischen Freiluftmärkten, modernen Einkaufszentren und angesagten Bekleidungsboutiquen.
Vergewissere Dich bei örtlichen Zollbeamten, ob Du bestimmte Gegenstände in Dein Heimatland mitnehmen darfst.
Einkaufsmöglichkeiten in Kroatien
1. Lokale Produkte
Wenn es Dir erlaubt ist, Lebensmittel in Dein Heimatland mitzunehmen, dann nutze die Vielfalt der köstlichen Gourmetprodukte der kroatischen Märkte. Honig, Oliven, Käse, Wein und Lavendelprodukte sind eine gute Wahl, um die lokalen Bauern zu unterstützen.
2. Traditionelles Handwerk
Bestickte Tischdecken, handgefertigte Puppen und Spitze von der Insel Pag sind tolle Geschenke für Freunde zu Hause.
3. Naturkosmetik
Entdecke natürliche Seifen, Körperbutter und Duschgel aus Zutaten wie Olivenöl, Ziegenmilch, Lavendel, Mandelöl und Seetang.
Festivals und Feierlichkeiten
Festival der Tanzwoche
Dieses Fest des Tanzes und der Bewegung findet in Zagreb jedes Jahr statt. Mit einem vielfältigen Angebot an zeitgenössischem und traditionellem Tanz von einheimischen und internationalen Tänzern und Choreographen unterstreicht das eklektische Programm die künstlerische Vision vieler, die zusammenkommen, um ihre Liebe zum Tanz zu feiern.
Dubrovniker Sommerfest
Klassische Musik, Theater, Tanz und Oper verbinden sich zu einem bereichernden Programm mit Veranstaltungen, die im Freien in der Umgebung von Dubrovnik stattfinden. Kroatien bietet perfekte Bedingungen für Auftritte im Freien.
Internationales Folklorefestival
Dieses wichtige Festival, das jedes Jahr in Zagreb stattfindet, trägt zur Erhaltung der kulturellen Vielfalt bei, indem es traditionelle Tänze, Kostüme, Musik und Kunsthandwerk aus der ganzen Welt fördert. Die Besucher können alles sehen, von afrikanischen Trommeln bis hin zu traditionellen kroatischen Tänzen und bulgarischen Bands.
Gesundheit und Sicherheit
Intrepid nimmt die Gesundheit und Sicherheit seiner Reisenden ernst und setzt alles daran, dass Reisen für alle sicher, unterhaltsam und angenehm sind. Wir empfehlen allen Reisenden, sich vor der Abreise bei ihrer Regierung oder nationalen Reiseberatung nach den neuesten Informationen zu erkundigen.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Ist Trinkgeld in Kroatien üblich?
Während Trinkgeld in Kroatien nicht obligatorisch ist, gilt es dennoch als höflich, Servicemitarbeitern in Restaurants und Cafés ein Trinkgeld von 10-15% zu geben, wenn nicht bereits eine Servicegebühr in der Rechnung enthalten ist.
Wie ist der Internetzugang in Kroatien?
Reisende können in großen Städten auf das Internet zugreifen. Kleinere Städte, abgelegene Gegenden und ländliche Dörfer haben möglicherweise einen schlechteren Zugang, also bereite Dich darauf vor, wenn Du die Stadt verlässt.
Kann ich mein Handy/Smartphone in Kroatien benutzen?
Die Mobilfunkabdeckung ist in städtischen Gebieten im Allgemeinen gut, kann aber in ländlichen Gebieten deutlich weniger zuverlässig sein. Stelle sicher, dass das globale Roaming auf Deinem Telefon aktiviert ist, bevor Du ankommst.
Wie sind die Toiletten in Kroatien?
Westliche, Wassertoiletten sind in ganz Kroatiens der Standard.
Was kostet...?
Eine Tasse Kaffee im Café = 5-15 HRK
Ein Bier in einer Kneipe = 20 HRK
Eine kurze Busfahrt = 20 HRK
Ein einfaches, preiswertes Essen = 50-80 HRK
Kann ich das Wasser in Kroatien trinken?
Leitungswasser gilt in Kroatien als sicher zu trinken, aber aufgrund des unterschiedlichen Mineralstoffgehalts können manche Menschen Magenverstimmungen durch das Trinkwasser bekommen, wenn sie es nicht gewohnt sind. Besser ist, gefiltertes Wasser zu finden.
Werden Kreditkarten in Kroatien akzeptiert?
Kreditkarten werden von Einkaufszentren, Hotels und großen Restaurants weitgehend akzeptiert. Kleinere Gasthäuser, Geschäfte und Cafés akzeptieren keine Kreditkarten, also stelle bitte sicher, dass Du immer ausreichend Bargeld bei dir hast.
Wie ist die Verfügbarkeit von Geldautomaten in Kroatien?
Geldautomaten sind in Großstädten leicht zu finden, in ländlichen und abgelegenen Gebieten jedoch weit weniger verbreitet. Stelle bitte sicher, dass Du ausreichend Bargeld bei dir trägst, bevor Du Dich in abgelegene Gebiete begibst, da Geldautomaten hier selten sein können.
Brauche ich eine Reiseversicherung um nach Kroatien zu reisen?
Auf jeden Fall. Alle Passagiere, die mit Intrepid reisen, müssen vor Reiseantritt eine Reiseversicherung abschließen. Deine Reiseversicherungsdaten werden vom Reiseleiter am ersten Tag der Reise eingesammelt. Aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Art, Verfügbarkeit und Kosten der Gesundheitsversorgung auf der ganzen Welt ist die Reiseversicherung ein sehr wichtiger und notwendiger Bestandteil jeder Reise.
Welche Feiertage gibt es in Kroatien?
- 1 Jan New Year’s Day
- 6 Jan Epiphany
- 17 Apr Easter Monday
- 1 May Labour Day
- 15 Jun Corpus Christi
- 22 Jun Anti-Fascist Resistance Day
- 25 Jun Statehood Day
- 5 Aug Victory & Homeland Thanksgiving Day
- 15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin Mary
- 8 Oct Independence Day
- 1 Nov All Saints’ Day
- 25 Dec Christmas Day
- 26 Dec St. Stephen’s Day
Bitte beachte, dass diese Daten für 2017 gelten.
Verantwortungsbewusstes Reisen
Intrepid setzt sich dafür ein, dass Menschen, Kulturen und die Umwelt respektiert werden. Es ist wichtig, sich daran zu erinnern, dass das, was im eigenen Land akzeptabel ist, in einem anderen Land möglicherweise nicht angemessen ist. Bitte versuche während Deiner Reisen immer rücksichtsvoll zu sein.
Tipps für verantwortungsbewusstes Reisen:
- Nimm Rücksicht auf Kroatiens Bräuche, Traditionen, Religion und Kultur.
- Vermeide aus Gründen des Umweltschutzes den Kauf von Wasser in Plastikflaschen. Verwende lieber eine wiederbefüllbare Wasserflasche.
- Entsorge Abfälle immer mit Bedacht, auch Zigarettenkippen.
- Wenn Du auf Märkten verhandelst, bleibe ruhig und behalte ein Lächeln im Gesicht. Es soll doch Spaß machen!
- Lerne die Landessprache und scheue Dich nicht, sie zu benutzen – einfache Grüße helfen, das Eis zu brechen.
- Kaufe lokal hergestellte Produkte. Die Unterstützung lokaler Handwerker hilft, das traditionelle Handwerk am Leben zu erhalten.
- Bitte frage vor dem Fotografieren die Personen, auch Kinder, um Erlaubnis.
- Verzichte bei Gemeindebesuchen oder Gastfamilien auf Geschenke und gebe kein Geld an Einheimische.
Die Intrepid Foundation
Die Intrepid Foundation bietet Reisenden die Möglichkeit, den vielen wunderbaren Gemeinschaften, in die wir reisen, etwas zurückzugeben. Mit einer Spende an die Intrepid Foundation kannst Du etwas für die lokale Bevölkerung tun – in den Bereichen Gesundheit, Bildung, Menschenrechte, Kinderfürsorge und Schutz von Wildtieren und Umwelt.
Weitere Informationen findest Du hier: https://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/
Reviews
Great overview of Balkans. I learned so much about the war, which has been really life changing for me. Rich cultures and warm resilient people. The changing landscapes were beautiful.
Amazing trip. Lots of history. Well organised. Great leader and local tour guides.
Great people, good itineraries, smaller footprint.
Very good introduction to the Balkins, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a highlight it really is a little treasure in the world that are less known.
A fantastic way to enjoy the culture and understand the history of the Balkans.
Make sure you have a key each if sharing accommodation with someone you have not met before as I found on the Croatia part of my trip my room mate was not over friendly and we came and went at different times.
Intrepid is one of those tours that allows independence when you want it or group style tours at other times. It was fantastic to catch up with the group at night when you had a free day and talk about all the wonderful places you went and can recommend others to go if they have time. The tour leader Meike really made our trip super special by being approachable, friendly, courteous and agile with the group to ensure we all had such a fantastic trip. Thank you!!
Great itineraries, great leaders and like-minded travellers to share the trip with.
THE BALKAN TOUR GIVES ONE AN EXCELLENT IDEA OF THE HISTORY, CULTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE BALKAN STATES. I WILL DEFINITELY REPEAT THE BALKAN TOUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND I CAN RECOMMEND IT TO ANY WOULD-BE TRAVELLER.
This was a fun trip through a beautiful part of the Dalmatians that a lot of people don’t see from a cruise boat. We had a fun crew of various ages with positive guides. The gear was functional and the rides all had an element of work that made the nightly refreshments all the more worthwhile. Make sure you do a bit of hill work before you arrive or consider the E-Bike as an alternative.
This trip we rated up amongst our best trip with Intrepid and this was our sixth. Our tour leader was excellent with all parts of the tour running like clockwork, well done Alan. Croatia and Slovenia are stunningly beautiful and our trips to Plitvice Lakes, Postojna Caves and Bled were unforgettable. We highly recommend this trip.
A great trip with sensational scenery and history. Such a varied lot of countries. Great food and locals with a sense of humour.
The Balkans is a trip not to be missed. The history of the area is incredible, recent and sad but we need to learn from this. The people are resilient and welcoming. The surrounds are stunningly beautiful and truly breathtaking. A must do trip
Touring Croatia by sail boat was a fabulous way to experience Croatia’s culture, and beautiful landscape. The tour enabled us to see a variety of islands and to visit some local treasures. Loved every second!
an ideal way to see the glorious Croatian coast, visiting out of the way islands and swimming in crystal waters
Loved this sailing trip- offered a new experience and was a great way to see lots of Croatia! I enjoyed staying on the boat, I shared a cabin with another solo traveler and we could use bathroom facilities either on the boat or in the marina. Also had plenty of free time to explore each island.
I completed the 14 day tour from Dubrovnik to Lake Bled and it was an excellent itinerary. Plenty of different experiences, some free time to allow for downtime or solo exploration of most of the destinations. Croatia is a beautiful place and all of the guides and people we encountered along the way were nothing but friendly and welcoming – beautiful people! Plus lots of delicious food… I wish I was heading back soon
This trip offered a good mix of historic cities, cultures and countryside in a short 4-week period. There was a fair amount of walking in the hot summer sun (end May to June) and I wished I had brought along more changes of light clothings and ditched the heavier ones.
Loved this trip. It had a great mix of history and scenery along with some fascinating cities.
Do a bit of research on the area, for example find out about public transport routes and options. Travel light best.
Pack light and Back packs are useful.
Suggestion: visit Pula by day but sleep in Rovinj wich has much more charm and nice relax streets to walk
This trip is a perfect combination of historical sights, natural beauty, unusual destinations and activities, and structured vs free time. Each time I travel with Intrepid, it just gets better and better!
This tour delivered way more than I had expected. I learned a lot about the history of former Yugoslavian countries, ate local food (burek is not to be missed!), Sarajevo was a wonderful surprise and is a place that will stay with me forever! And Montenegro too!
Just. Book. It.
Great introduction to the region. I would have liked longer in Sarajevo, but I guess I’ll have to go back!
Intrepid small groups ensure ease of movement and access to interesting sites and local communities in keeping with Intrepid’s travel ethos.
This is a great trip to explore the Dalmatian coast with little sailing experience required. We had a great group who were easy to get along with and make decisions making meals and excursions fun for all! Great mix of independent exploring and group time. This was my first intrepid trip and it was great. Agility on a boat is helpful as well as shoes with grip.
Trip was well organised, accommodation was comfortable, contact with local people informative, local guides were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly, provided meals good, local information and advice valuable, always felt safe with mini bus drivers and tour leader, Ivana, great.
This was a brilliant trip, visiting lots of places in a short time but at a good pace. A great introduction to the Balkan region and I would definitely recommend it.
To maximise your time in Eastern Europe, this trip is ideal, as it packs in so many significant locations, you options provided at each location are world class.
This trip was awsome-it was made so by the group I travelled with as well as Vlad our group leader. I came to this trip with limited exceptions of the countries I was visiting. I left falling in love with the Balkans and am already planning my next trip back to Sarajevo!
The right number of travellers per group (small group of about 14 people). Efficient in the planning and organising of the trip.
If you want a soft adventure that ticks all the boxes of sun, food, wine, activity and amazing scenery, Cycle Croatia is the tour to do. I was blown away by the beauty of Croatia, but strongly recommend an e-bike for the less athletic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend to any traveller seeking to explore Croatia and Slovenia. Bled is an amazing place and Plitvice is heaven on earth!
I am so glad I chose the Intrepid Cycle Croatia tour! Cycling through vineyards, along the coast and through small villages was such a lovely way to see the less travelled routes of Croatia. The hills of Croatia are very steep so be prepared for some epic exercise but the multiple swim and food stops in crystal clear water and at local farms and restaurants make it all worth while! We had the opportunity to try many delicious home grown oils, olives, wines and meats and the tour guides put so much effort into ensuring everyone had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend Intrepid cycle tour, particularly with Duje and Tomi!
Sailing the Adriatic is everything you dream of. New destinations, new friends and new adventures are guaranteed.
Trip was intetesting and enjoyable. Tour leader could be more knowledgeable. Good number/variety of optional extras.
This was an amazing trip, showing the true beauty of Croatia and Slovenia. If you are lucky enough to have a wonderful tour guide like Dinko you will have a trip of a lifetime.
This was an amazing trip, showing the true beauty of Croatia and Slovenia. If you are lucky enough to have a wonderful tour guide like Dinko you will have a trip of a lifetime.
Explore the unexplored . Take the road less travelled / off the beaten track
Explore the unexplored . Take the road less travelled / off the beaten track
This was one of the most well organised and smooth trips I have been on. The group leaders were brilliant and Croatia is stunning to cycle through. I loved every second of it . The hills were big though so make sure you are prepared.!
For anyone with a weak stomach, the Balkans and in fact any European trip is good because you can drink the water from the tap anywhere.
Vienna to Dubrovnik was an excellent way to learn about the history – both past and more recent – of this area. Our guide was knowledgeable, and facilitated our learning. The extra options were diverse and ranged from hikes to cooking class. Travel by public and private transport was interesting.
Well balanced fantastic trip saw. All the sites. Good balance relaxation and sightseeing. Had a great time
This trip was amazing. Cycling was the best way to see beautiful Croatia. 1 of the rides was quite challenging but there is the option to get a lift in the support vehicle. Recommend this trip highly!
I would highky recommend travelling without intepid.. small groups with a real experience of the culture of different companies. Travelling with like minded people gives opportunity to meet new friends from other parts of the world whether you are travelling solo or with a partner or friend no matter your age.
Just awesome!
Great trip ,with a fun bunch of people and a great Skipper. Visited great places ,ate great food ,enjoyed the freedom to do your own thing or stay with the group . Thoroughly recommended as long as you don’t need all the comforts of home.
A great way to travel. It’s always a small group, you get to know everyone well. We love that everything is organised for you, you just have to turn up. Itinerary is fantastic in that you see so much you wouldn’t know about otherwise and the tour leaders are so well informed and there’s no other way to travel for us.
Balkan Adventure is wonderful insight into countries that have had immense heartache and aspects of this a period are told to us at grass root levels. Apart form this, consider the fabulous local foods, interesting customs, friendly people and the beautiful scenery (Montenegro is gobsmackingly beautiful). I feel privileged to have seen a glimpse into this part of the globe.
Definitely particle in the Balkins trip. Amazing scenery, history and food. Value for money.
A lovely way to visit the Balkans and learn about the local history of the former Yugoslavia from knowledgeable local guides.
Intrepid lets you experience a country not just look at it!
Unfortunately because of the nature of this trip the key is the guide. Some trips the locale is enough. But here the key is information. All the leaders may be as good as Dinko for this trip. But I have no way of knowing that.
Intrepid is an easy way to travel and meet other people, we have loved all the guides we have had and an amazing time. The accommodation has always been clean and sometimes a little bit different which we love. Real value for money.
The tours we have done was excellent with absolute amazing tour leaders that made such big difference in outcome of the experience we had
Intrepid is a very good provider with a balance of organised and free time and undertakes responsible tourism.
I had a fantastic time. The only thing I would suggest is to give more information regarding the quarters that people would be staying in, and about the food on board. I didnt have a problem, but I imagine some people may.
Amazing trip, exceeded expectations. Great group and skipper. Loved it
The trip is amazing and you really get a feel for the culture and sailing! You must be happy to help with preparing food and cleaning up. Definitely bring cash (kuna) as thr skipper makes excellent recommendations for local and tradtional food. Plenty of free time to do your own thing but also some wonderful evenings with fellow travellers. The cabin is small…definitely no hard suitcases!
Our tour of the Balkans was excellent. Our tour leader had a lovely sense of humour and revealed to us the beauty of the region irregardless which country we were in. The group consisted of 8 people and we all loved travelling. Intrepid Takes the energy out of organising a trip and through their specialised guides and programs allows the group to have unique experiences. For me travelling up into the mountains in Montenegro with ice on top of the mountain and having lunch at an organic farm was the highlights of this trip.
I really appreciated the smaller group size and the flexibility of the itinerary. Intrepid makes an effort to put you in the right location to enjoy the surroundings without the crush and rush of a large organized tour.
The Balkans are a fascinating part of the world to explore – incredibly beautiful with so much history and so much personality; Sarajevo really blew me away, inspiring, tragic, diverse and those cevapcici…!! Be prepared to be stunned in many ways. This tour gave a great overview and spent just the right amount of time in each place with plenty of varied activities. Ivana brought the whole thing together and the group really was a little family by the end of the 15 days. Book this trip!
An excellent trip, with the opportunity to spend quality time on the lovely islands of Korcula and Hvar – which provided many blissful swimming opportunities. The day trip from Hvar to the Blue Cave was the highlight of the week – spectacular, along with a day trip from Split to Krka with its beautiful green pools and waterfalls. There was a lot of delicious food and wine enjoyed along the way!
The guide makes or breaks a trip like this and luckily for us, Vladimir was a champ. The Intrepid travel experience is a great,small group ,authentic way for people to travel who cant be bothered to work it all out for themselves.
The guide makes or breaks a trip like this and luckily for us, Vladimir was a champ. The Intrepid travel experience is a great,small group ,authentic way for people to travel who cant be bothered to work it all out for themselves.
Intrepid is a perfect balance for the experienced traveler. They handle all the logistics, and leave you free to get out and enjoy in an authentic environment. Its like traveling on your own, but with the camaraderie of a small group and the local wisdom of a native leader. Tons of fun.
This trip provided a fascinating insight into the tragedies of the Balkan wars as well as the amazing mountain and coastal scenery of Montenegro and Croatia. Highly recommended.
Intrepid is great for single travellers who like the small group experience and some freedom at destinations to do his or her own thing.
Please read the detailed instructions as there are normally additional expenses such as meals , tours and trips for tour guide
A wonderful way to see a spectacular place and learn sailing skills on the way
Sailing the Croatian Islands is the only way to go!! In one word…AMAZING!
Absolutely brilliant and very well organised! No stress involved just book pay and enjoy
Intrepid trips are great value for money. Great destinations, small groups, lots of things organised for you but still with so many options on free days to site see. Great way to travel safely especially if you lack a bit of confidence in non English speaking countries.
Excellent experience overall. Highly recommend Intrepid tours.
This was the best holiday Ive ever had! Definitely give it a try. The cycling was amazing with spectacular views and experiences along the way. Our tour leader was also very knowledgeable about the area and kept us safe on the road, and our driver was always punctual and kept the biking equipment well maintained. Everything about this trip was great. I would do it all again.
A really well organized and well lead trip. Plenty of new experiences to be had and new friends to meet. I had not done this type of trip before so I was a bit apprehensive. But go for it – you will not be disappointed!
Typical Intrepid tour, superbly led by Ivan with a good balance of guidance & personal time. Note I was surprised multiple times by vendors that accept cash only, perhaps bear this in mind when considering currency requirements. Perhaps Ljubljana could be added on to this trip? Trip has my full endorsement.
I really enjoyed this trip. Lovely sailing from one beautiful place to the next. Time to swim, relax and explore. Going home very chilled out.
Great company with good ethos and well trained and informed staff.
This is a trip that everyone would enjoy, sailors or not! There’s nothing like swimming in the waters of the Dalmation Coast and the peacefulness of travelling under sail!
The sailing was a perfect trip to discover the Dalmatian coastline. With the boat we were able to visit a lot of places not easy accessible. Out guide Bruno was very knowledgeable of the area and had excellent suggestions on activities on each island.
The whole experience was amaing. Best to go before peak time.
If there is ANY tour that you’re going to do, pick this one!! It is phenomenal and if you’re lucky enough get Dinko as you’re tour guide – i promise, you will not be disappointed! Every city is incredible, every meal is better than the next and you really get to experience the culture of the region and understand the resilience of the people in trying to put the tragedy of the past behind them!! I loved this tour so much – i can’t wait to go back.
First time i have travelled overseas by myself. So decided to travel with Intrepid which was amazing and was great to travel with a group and felt very safe. Did Balkan Adventure then backed it up with Best of Morocco but totally different experiences. Would highly recommend both tours. Both tour guides Dinko for Balkan adventures and Abdul for Morocco were exceptional guides. I was very impressed with the whoke tours.
Well worth the effort. Enjoyable, relaxing & informative.
Intrepid provided just the right balance of guided touring and personal opportunity for our trip through Croatia and Slovenia. A great small group experience for anyone of any age.
Intrepid provided just the right balance of guided touring and personal opportunity for our trip through Croatia and Slovenia. A great small group experience for anyone of any age.
Credit cards can be used but don’t expect to make it through the trip with credit cards only. On the islands cash is used much more. Other than that clean, safe and beautiful. Enjoy!
A Croatian sailing adventure is an absolute must for anyone travelling to this region. Had such a great time exploring all of the islands, eating some of the most amazing seafood and enjoying the local wine and olive oil. Sunshine, sailing, swimming and seafood. Life on the boat was definitely good.
The sailing adventure is a great way to experience full on relaxation, beautiful clean water to swim in and great islands to visit. You can choose to be active on the island or just relax, it is your choice. I suggest a good book to help pass the time sailing between islands. A holiday that is stress free.
Croatia exceeded expectations, it’s a modern vibrant country with a huge history. Split was particularly amazing and a great way to end the trip.
Provided you can handle the compact living on a yacht this is the best way to see the Croatian islands, visiting not only the major destinations but also locations not accessible by larger ships
I would recommend anyone to take this sailing trip from Split to Dubrovnik. The beautiful locations can only be seen by taking a trip on a boat if this size.
Ive been blessed with a passionate Croatian father who talks constantly about the country. Now I can say I get it!… Super!
Dont overthink this trip. Book it, and you wont regret a moment. Our guide was excellent, and the group was fun.
Our Explore Croatia tour allowed us to experience the culture and natural beauty of the country. It has given me a taste of all that Croatia has to offer.
This was a wonderful trip, mainlz due to the professionalism of the skipper.
Active Croatia was the bomb! 10/10 would recommend to all of my (relatively fit and adventurous) friends 🙂
This trip is a good cycling path, plus you see all the great scenery on the way, and enjoy the Adriatic Seas. Great day at Korcula Island, swimming, eating local foods.
If possible travel in Croatia during shoulder seasons as Dubrovnik, especially, is extremely busy. A gorgeous city, but hordes of tourists can dampen enthusiasm to explore. When offered the opportunity to go boating, swimming and snorkelling when visiting various smaller islands, do it! The water was clear and warm with interesting fish life. A magical experience.
This tour was an incredible way to see a beautiful country. Every place is picturesque and postcard perfect. You get to experience it by land, by sea, by tasting the delicious cuisine, by hiking and snorkeling, by catching beautiful sunsets. We stayed among the locals, within the walls of an ancient Roman palace, in the bustle of the city, and I appreciated the variety. Unlike my other intrepid tours, there were more free days, that allow you to do what strikes your fancy, to go at your own pace – whether that’s lounging at a bar, hiking up a steep mountain to see a fortress above Dubrovnik, sunbathing on a boat or beach, or checking out the Roman ruins. Our team leader, Dinko, was outstanding. He took care of us and shared his passion for his country. It was truly an unforgettable trip.
Intrepid is an ideal way to travel if you want to get to know a country from a local perspective, without feeling like a tourist. By the end of the trip, we all felt like close friends, having shared a special experience together.
This was my first trip with Intrepid, and definitely not my last! It was so great being able to just sign up and show up. I went with a few friends but Intrepid makes it so easy and comfortable to go “alone.” The people you meet are from all over the world and it’s such a great way to learn about them and their culture while seeing and experiencing something new. Don’t think too hard about it, just go – you won’t be disappointed.
Travel light. You dont need to lug around a backpack – take a bag with rollers and pack light!
Excellent way to see Croatia and Slovenia with like minded travellers
Excellent way to see Croatia and Slovenia with like minded travellers
Croatia is a very beautiful country, bathed in sunshine with friendly locals and good food and easy to get around. These factors make it extremely popular with tourists and travellers alike and that makes for large crowds everywhere, especially when the cruise ships come in. All in all a great destination that is worth the time and effort to explore.
great trip with guide that takes the worry out of everything. loads of free time if you don’t like being with a group 24/7. Dinko had lots of suggestions on what to do/where to eat.
This tour was a wonderful way to see the southern islands of Croatia. The cycling was challenging, with many hills, but we were rewarded with the spectacular views, fast descents and delicious food and wine at the end of each day! I would recommend it whole heartedly.
pls remember that the cabins are small!!!!
Overall my expectations were exceeded as this is my first ever organised tour of travelling in a group. Everything had been thought about as far as making the trip run smoothly and also despite weather changes, the tour was still flexible without missing out on any activities which were easily rescheduled. I don’t think a downday is required on the active tours as you expect to be quite active anyway.
This is a great trip, just the right balance of organized and free time to explore. Intrepid allows me to travel to places in the world where I need a framework of local transportation and accommodation and where language might be a difficulty. Perfect for solo travellers since there isn’t a mandatory single supplement fee.
Great trip ! It is what you make of it. The cabins are quite small, so pack smart and pack light. We were coming from a colder primary destination so space was definitely at a premium. Wonderful destinations and wonderful people 🙂
Please note the Yes used around travelling with Intrepid again is somewhat dependant on answer to my query – currently with your customer relations area. Following receipt of satisfactory response I would be happy to provide a review.
I enjoy the orientation tour around each city we get to along with all the information and suggested activities. The inter country transfers are organized and stress free. This leaves more time for sight seeing and experiences. I have enjoyed the adventure tourism of Costa Rica, climbing Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti, to the spectacular scenery of the Dalmatian Coast. The list of equipment in the notes is a great guide for what to bring and the information on places a wonderful insight into the country and culture.
Ivan was an excellent cook also. Some of our best meals were on board.
TheBalkan trip has many and varied highlights from walled cities to beautiful islands.
The trip was an excellent overview of Croatia. Tips for travellers are: pack as lightly as possible and in a backpack, casual clothes and comfortable walking trainers are essential, try the seafood and depending on the time of year, it might rain buckets! It is also more expensive in Croatia than I expected, especially in Hvar, so budget for a main meal and alcoholic drink to cost on average at least £20-£30.
Some tips: – Don’t pack too many clothes, because you’ll be able to do laundry (or get it done for you) in several places along the way if you want. – Be prepared for Croatia to cost about as much as most major tourist destinations. While it’s not crazily expensive, it’s not a bargain either.
great trip. Irena was awesome. Bring hiking boots…..better than sneakers.
Definitely recommend this trip if you wish a relax, enjoyable and calm tour. I met some nice people, Croatia is a nice place to visit by boat, good food and the sea is amazing.
Great trip! enjoyable, educational, and as always eye opening. I had wanted to visit a number of cities on the route for a while and the itinerary, whilst fast paced, gave me the chance to fit a lot into the limited time I could get off work. If flights allow it, it is worth booking extra night at each end.
This trip is quite hilly, so you need to have a reasonable level of aerobic fitness and at least be a regular social bike rider.
Great trip and rewarding with so many beautiful locations. The hills can be challenging if not cycle fit and one should do a reasonable amount of preparatory training to be able to do the climbs. Expect some basic accommodation.
A really nice week of cruising in very nice waters. Next time I might go Split to Dubrovnik, since we seemed to encounter a lot of unfavorable winds going Dubrovnik to Split.
This was a great way to see the islands throughout Croatia and learn about sailing. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves the ocean and a different kind of holiday experience.
The 10 day Balkans trip is a fantastic way to cover a lot of ground, and visit five countries, without feeling rushed.
Blesses with a great Group it was an all round great trip lovely country and taking it in on a Sailing boat made it even better!
Martina Hostar was one of the absolute best tour leaders we have travelled with.
This trip was a very good entree into Croatia and Slovenia. Hit allot of the highlights. Do yourself a favor and allow time for a day in Ljubljana. I should have allowed time for Zagreb also. I wish I would have added the other Croatia trip on the front end like some of the folks did, but now I know how easy it is to put a couple Intrepid trips together.
The one issue I had was being asked $270 by Intrepid for transit back to the airport after the tour. Pretty much everyone else on the tour was going back to the airport, so we all split a ride. However, it would have saved anxiety to know that Intrepid would either provide this or coordinate a return to the airport amongst all of us for a nominal fee we split amongst us. Asking $270 for that on my own is unreasonable.
Excellent and interesting itinerary, well organised tour with a great tour leader. Enjoyable interacting with local people and culture. Transport and accommodation were very good. Very fun and enjoyable for all ages.
A great itinerary and introduction to Croatia and Slovenia. Highlights of the trip include Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and the serenely beautiful Lake Bled Slovenia. There is a reasonable amount of free time on this fast moving trip to explore in detail one’s own particular interests including time to the beach or a swim. Recommended !
Great trip! You’re able to see some amazing out of the way islands that would be difficult to access normally and enjoy the beautiful oceans at the same time. Highly recommend!
This trip was as described, lots of fun and a great way to see Dalmatia for those of us who want to see and experience the real islands, their history and culture. The trip does not include on-land tours, these need to be organised personally so try to get together with your travel mates and plan these if you are interested. Otherwise, sit back, feel the breeze, swim in crystal clear waters and relax.
I am impressed that 5 ladies travelled alone on this tour.
I really enjoyed myself on a previous trip to Europe – but it mainly covered the bigger, more well known cities so I was looking for something a bit different. This trip + Dubrovnik to Venice was exactly what I was looking for. Other than the turbulent recent history you don’t hear about the Balkans much – so there was so many new and unexpected things to see. Sarajevo was a personal highlight for me, the old town there is gorgeous and the tale of the cities siege and recovery from it is powerful stuff.
Active Croatia is a great trip. The natural beauty of the area is amazing and the bonus of being by the coast. This trip gives you some great activities along with enough time to explore and relax.
Such a great trip, nice mix of quiet and busy islands. Pack light!
Sailing was a lovely way to see the best that Croatia has to offer. The water was crystal clear and the food (seafood in particular) was amazing. I would highly recommend this trip as a way to explore the Croatian coast
The cycling was challenging but rewarding it pays to do some preparation especially if you are coming from a southern hemisphere winter as the heat makes the hills more of a challenge. The scenery was beautiful, the locals friendly and the food was excellent. A great trip.
Our guide Tomi made the best breakfast in the Balkans. I enjoyed all of the included activities but I should have trained a bit for this trip to make it more enjoyable for myself physically. It’s not boot camp but you should be quite fit to enjoy all included activities. The accommodation was better than I expected! Pliviche lakes was absolutely stunning!
Great itinerary, beautiful islands, Skipper Josip was brilliant but the boat was poorly maintained. Met great people and had lots of fun, but our sailing experience was let down by 3 major faults/breakdowns that were dealt with professionally by Josip, who himself probably needed a holiday after our eventful trip.
Cycle Croatia is a fantastic trip and I loved it! The scenery is stunning, but you have to work hard for those beautiful views! The climbs are challenging, but they make the descents all the more rewarding. I highly recommend this trip, but also highly recommend training for it!
Great group of likeminded people on the yacht. Awesome fun and would certainly recommend sailing through the Adriatic Sea.
we had such a fantastic time on this trip! The other passengers were fun, loved to chat and have a beverage together. Highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do a yacht in croatia!
As a single traveller in her early 30’s this Intrepid experience was fantastic. Fabulous skipper, super knowledgeable and friendly. Also lucked out on having a great bunch of people on my boat! Would definitely recommend Intrepid and would 100% use them again!
With Intrepid you can relax and enjoy the experience and also learn a lot of interesting things about the countries you see. An all round great experience
We were surprised with the diversity of the landscape and environment of Croatia. Very laid back but strong culture, lots of history but not the crowds of Italy ( except at Plitvice Lakes).
This was my first trip with Intrepid. I have travelled with Explore and G-Adventures previously but found Intrepid to have trips that better suited my needs and provided better equipment for cycling and canoeing. Whilst Explore have been a great experience with great leaders, Intrepid exceeded this with a very competent, friendly and hardworking tour guide. An excellent trip.
This trip is so much fun! The activities are at times challenging, but also rewarding. It’s aptly named, but with times to relax with new friends or a swim in the sea as well.
The climbs are TOUGH. Be prepared — this is not for the casual cyclist.
I had an amazing time on the Croatia sailing trip. It was a wonderful way to see Croatia and it’s beautiful islands. The food and wine are really good too. You do need to be okay with tight quarters and need to have a go with the flow attitude but it was a great getaway.
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