Donor: Josip Tomljanovic
Value: Priceless!
Josip Tomljanovic is known for his wonderful hunts in Croatia, but this time he will guide one couple through this historic country! This experience must be redeemed in May, June, or September of either 2025 or 2026.
For 7 days, one couple can experience all of Josip’s extensive knowledge about the amazing country of Croatia. This tour can be upgraded to include 1 or 2 more couples, and more days can be added for an additional cost. All expenses are included in this 7-day tour for one couple: transfers; accommodations; meals; drinks; entry tickets to national parks, museums, galleries, etc.
Day 1: Arrive in Zagreb mid-day and meet with Josip and his wife Margareta. Have a welcome drink in the downtown area of the capital city of Zagreb, then head out with your guide for a sightseeing tour (easy walking in downtown Zagreb), followed by a late lunch in one of the restaurants dating to the beginning of the last century (a restaurant such as Boban, Stari Fijaker, or Vinodol), before transferring to the coast of the Adriatic Sea under Velebit Mountain, in the village of Sveti Juraj.
Day 2: Today you will have breakfast near the sea, and after 2.5 hours driving along the amazing coast of the Adriatic Sea you will come to the city of Fazana on the Istria Peninsula to catch the passenger ship for National Park Brijuni Islands. On Brijuni Islands you will go sightseeing amongst more than 2,000 years of history from ancient Roman times. You can also visit Tito’s Hunting Museum (the ex-president of Yugoslavia). After a snack in the early afternoon, you will depart from the National Park Brijuni Islands. Then you will visit the ancient city of Pula on the mainland and see one of the world’s three biggest colosseum arenas dating from the Roman time. Afterward, you will transfer back to Sveti Juraj, have a late dinner on the pier a front of Pansion MUL, and enjoy a wonderful seafood meal personally prepared by Josip and the owner of Pansion Mul Darko.
Day 3: After breakfast, you will depart from Sveti Juraj through Velebit Mountain in Sjeverni Velebit National Park, where you will enjoy their interactive museum with the depiction of the world’s deepest cave, situated in North Velebit. In the mountain village of Kutarevo, you will feed European Brown bears and will have lunch afterward, coming back to Mrgud (our bear guide) in the village of Krasno where you will eat the best mountain food in all Croatia. You will return for an overnight stay in Pansion Mul in Sveti Juraj for your last glass of red wine of the day.
Day 4: Today you will visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and – if there is enough time – you can visit the museum of Nikola Tesla in the little village where he was born. Then you will proceed to hunting lodge GAJ by Mišo. After welcome drinks and a delicious meal of veal with truffles, you will be ready for overnight.
Day 5: After breakfast, you will head south to Dalmatia. Following an easy 2-hour walking tour through the old town of Zadar, you will enjoy a glass of good wine while listening to the sea organ on Zadar Pier. You will continue driving south along the coast to the king’s town of Šibenik, where you will eat the best black ink cuttlefish risotto, looking over a wonderful stone cathedral which is more than 13 centuries old. The evening will consist of shopping in local workshops where beautiful jewelry is crafted from the red corals from the magnificent island Krapanj where it is a 150-year-old tradition to dive for sponge and red corals. You will then proceed to Split for overnight.
Day 6: Following breakfast in Peristil, where you will see buildings from Roman times dating back 1,700 years, a local guide will walk you through the basement of the Diocletian Palace and let your mind take you back almost 2,000 years. Then you will proceed to Pelješac Peninsula in the city of Orebić, where you will have a tour in the winery of Weatherby Award finalist Mr. Lee Anderson. This tour will be followed by dinner and an overnight stay in Lee’s villa.
Day 7: Your morning will begin with breakfast in the Dingač area near vineyards of famous grapes Zinfandel (called “Mali Plavac”). Afterward, you will proceed through the city walls of Ston all the way to town Dubrovnik. After a “Game of Thrones” tour with a local guide and a light lunch in “Konoba Orhan” with views of Dubrovnik’s stone walls, you will take your late departure from the Dubrovnik Airport (or you will stay and decide to continue living in beautiful Croatia).
Included: all expenses (transfers, accommodations, meals, drinks, tickets for all entrances in first 7 days)
Not Included: air fare to and from Croatia and additional days or hunting