Old fortified cities, legends, stories… Welcome to the “World of fairytales”. Meet Croatia through legends and stories, with its tradition and rich culinary scene. You will be presented to our magical “World of fairytales”, by a good Istrian giant – “Veli Jože”, one of the symbols of Istria, who lived in the valley of the Mirna river at the foot of Motovun. The story will be continued with introducing the secrets of Velebit – mythical mountain that inspired Petar Zoranić for writing large and well-known novel – “Mountains”, and rich traditional heritage of the village at the foot of the “North Velebit”, tasting cheese “Škripavac” from Lika and the secret mill on the Gacka river, will additionally introduce you to this magical world. We follow in the footsteps of the famous writer Ivana Brlić Mažuranić and her “Tales of Long Ago”, for which she got inspired by the natural beauties of Ogulin region: Dobra river, Klek mountain, folk costumes, stories, traditions- and a visit to the multimedia center will be just a stamp visiting the “Hometown of fairytales”. Did you know that mountain “Klek” is known as the place where, during the stormy nights, witches gathered, trying to wake up Klek giant from the centennial dream?

Stories about black Queen will introduce you to the magical game of nature and water that will welcome us to the “Plitvica Lakes” National Park, and which will continue with legends about fairies and traditional mills, that will greet us in “Rastoke”. The magic of fairytales continues by going to “Hrvatsko Zagorje”, where we will visit castles with interesting legends, but the visit to “Zagorje” will be rounded by making “Licitar Hearts” and the tasting of “Grandma´s cakes”, as the guardian of rich tradition… We will complete the interesting story about fairies, queens, giants, mythical creatures with a story about famous witches from Zagreb and learn about traditional heritage of the capital city of the Republic of Croatia. Natural and cultural heritage has really told us a special fairytale with its beauty, diversity and specialty…

Day 1: MOTOVUN – HUM
Breakfast. Taking the tour of Motovun with the local guide and discovering the rich history of this picturesque town, which is proudly located above the Motovun´s forest. Taste of local products, with special accent on truffle products. Lunch. Going to Hum, known as the smallest town in world, which was according to legend, built by the giants of Hum from the last stones they had left from building other cities in Istria… Going to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight staying.

Day 2: OGULIN
Breakfast. Leaving to Homeland of the Fairytales – Ogulin area. Driving through Gorski kotar, with a stop to the Risnjak, National park, whose beauties we will meet. Leaving to Fužine, visit to the cave Vrelo and walking by the lake´s cost. Lunch. Leaving to Ogulin. Upon arrival, visiting the castle of famous family Frankopan, which will lead us to the history of this area and also into the magical world of famous writer Ivana Brlić Mažuranić, whose fairytales have given a unique potential to this area. A tour of the Multimedia Center, unique interactive center, which is based just on fairytales of the writer that we had mentioned above. Dinner. Overnight staying.

Day 3: GACKA VALLEY
Breakfast. Driving towards Lika, where we will meet the Croatian mountain Velebit, in which foot a set of several small villages is located, which will delight you with its rich tradition and also with delicious gastronomy. With the story of famous cheese from Lika we will enjoy its taste and also learn cheese making process. We will feature the picturesque mills which grace the valley of river Gacka, and also enjoy at the gastronomy of Lika. Dinner. Overnight staying.

Day 4: PLITVICA LAKES AND RASTOKE
Breakfast. Group gathering and leaving for the unique nature phenomenon- National Park Plitvice Lakes, which makes up sixteen bigger and smaller lakes, framed by forests, which also mark the entire area in which they are located. This area, once known by the name Devil´s garden, is isolated and scarcely known area and was a fertile ground for the creation of stories about lake fairies, cold winters, burly highlanders and forest beasts, and those most famous one about the Black queen, who has created the Plitvice Lakes. Lake tour with the tour guide, and free time. Leaving to Rastoke, in the meantime we will stop for lunch. Upon arrival in Rastoke, a tour of picturesque place, where, based on the legend the fairies found their home. Going to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 5: VELIKI TABOR- KRAPINA- DESINEC- MARIJA BISTRICA
Breakfast. Today is dedicated to the tradition and gastronomy of the picturesque Hrvatsko Zagorje. We will visit the museum of Krapina’s caveman, which will introduce you to the history of this area, accompanied by a curator. Then, after that, we shall visit the picturesque Veliki Tabor, a fort located on the northwest of Croatia, which is associated with an interesting legend about a girl named Veronika Desnička. Lunch time. Afternoon is reserved for workshops, where you will have the opportunity to make yourself one of the most famous delicacies of this area- Zagorske Štrukle, and a picturesque souvenir, which you will take home as a memory keeper- Licitar Hearts. Dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 6: TRAKOŠĆAN- VARAŽDIN
Breakfast. Leaving to the most beautiful and most attractive Croatian castle, Trakošćan, which will take you back to old days. A tour of castle accompanied by a curator. The garden and the lake around castle make a romantic setting, which is ideal for resting and relaxation. Leaving to Varaždin. Lunch. Tour of Varaždin,” City of Angels”, which is the seat of numerous museums, galleries, palaces and villas, accompanied by a licensed local guide that will show you the sights of this city, which is located along the river Drava, and which we love to call the “Little Vienna”. Dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 7: ZAGREB
Breakfast. Leaving for Zagreb, the capital city of the Republic of Croatia, a town which hides many historical events. You will meet all the secrets of Zagreb´s Kaptol and “Upper Town” (Gornji grad), with special accent on the most important personalities of Zagreb´s history, but also the inevitable Marija Jurić Zagorka and the Upper Town Witches. You will learn something more about making traditional dishes from this area. Dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 8: ZAGREB
Breakfast. Returning to the place of departure.

HIGHLIGHTS:
– Charming citites of Motovun and Hum
– UNESCO site and NP PLitice lakes
– Wine tasting and local food
– Rastoke waterfall and Gacka valley
– Castle Trakošćan and Veliki Tabor
– Shrine of Saint Mary of Marija Bistrica
– Workshop of Licitar Heart
– Tour of Zagreb by night, with local guide
– Charming Varaždin

DEPARTURE: APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER

PRICE: ON REQUEST

INCLUDED:
– Accommodation in 4* hotels in double/twin rooms, including breakfast
– Tourist tax
– Airport transfer
– Transfer
– English speaking tour leader
– Local guides in Zagreb, Varaždin, Plitvice
– Meals as listed in the itinerary

NOT INCLUDED:
– Private expenses
– Tips
– Expenses which are not mentioned in ”INCLUDED”

GROUP SIZE MINIMUM: 2
GROUP SIZE MAXIMUM: 35