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Istria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitviče Lakes

Green hills, cobalt-blue seas & cascading lakes
 
Explore the many different ‘faces’ of north-western Croatia on this self-guided journey, with car hire and ferry crossings included. Discover wildlife-rich islands and fabulous seascapes, stay in historic towns and hill-top villages, and visit the magnificent cascading lakes of Plitviče.
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitviče Lakes. 12 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitviče Lakes. 12 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Croatia along the Adriatic

In north-westernmost Croatia, the broad, mountainous Istrian Peninsula juts out defiantly into the Adriatic, creating on its eastern flank a horseshoe-shaped bay, the Kvarner Gulf, of even grander dimensions than its own. While Istria may feel more than a little Italian – the influences of its close neighbour are evident in the food, language and architecture – the Kvarner Gulf encapsulates the essence of Croatia’s coastline: idyllic pebble coves, cobalt-blue seas, little fishing villages and a generous sprinkling of islands.
These contrasting landscapes provide a picturesque backdrop to the first part of your Croatian adventure, after which you head away from the coast and into the country’s densely forested interior, location of the Plitviče Lakes National Park. This is Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, famed for its cascading turquoise lakes, luxuriant vegetation and abundant birdlife. After a full day soaking in the Park’s natural beauty, you return to the coast to finish in Zadar, whose sweeping seafront promenade, marble streets and fascinating Roman centre make this vibrant city the perfect place to round off what has been a thoroughly relaxing journey of both cultural and scenic discovery.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for Croatia for travel from 1 August onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current travel restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

If you have a holiday booking with us already, we will contact you before your balance is due (currently 4 weeks before departure) to advise whether or not the holiday can go ahead.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 8 10 13 17 21 25 28 28 24 19 13 9
    mm 76 69 71 84 78 91 65 93 102 95 109 88
  • Arrival in Bale
    Night 1: at Hotel La Grisa (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore from Bale
    Spend your first day discovering the many highlights of the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula: to the south of Bale lies the idyllic Brijuni National Park, a peaceful, pine-covered archipelago just a short boat ride from the mainland; and farther south still is the seafront city of Pula, best known for its remarkable Roman amphitheatre and glorious Adriatic views. We also recommend a visit to waterfront Rovinj – with its charming cobblestone streets, Venetian architecture and excellent seafood restaurants, this pretty town is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch.
    Wander the cobbled streets of Rovinj
    Pula amphitheatre
  • Bale to Nerezine
    A scenic drive east through the rural interior leads to the port of Brestova, where you cross by ferry to the island of Cres. Your route meanders along the island’s mountainous spine to reach the causeway onto the smaller island of Losinj. Your destination here is the pretty village of Nerezine, set within a secluded cove, where you spend three nights at the Hotel Manora. (Driving time: 4hrs, including ferry crossing and waiting time)
  • Explore from Nerezine
    While here, you can visit the griffon vulture sanctuary on Cres and seek out bottle-nosed dolphins off Losinj. If you fancy stretching your legs on these two herb-scented islands, there are several waymarked trails that you can follow, including a leisurely coastal walk, though you may prefer simply to relax and swim in the crystal-clear waters.
    Losinj harbour
    Seafood lunch on Cres
  • Nerezine to Rab
    Today features a spectacular, full day’s journey through the Kvarner archipelago. You start by returning to Cres for the short ferry crossing to the island of Krk. Detour here to the walled medieval town of the same name, before catching another ferry for a longer, very scenic ride to Rab, where you stay at the elegant, seafront Hotel Arbiana for three nights. (Driving time: 5-6hrs including ferry crossings and waiting time)
  • Explore Rab
    Beyond Rab Town, with its wealth of Venetian architecture, green landscapes await discovery by car or on foot – this is one of Croatia’s most verdant islands – but the rare beaches of golden sand may prove too tempting to resist.
    Explore Rab town
    Relax on the beach on Rab
  • Rab to Plitviče Lakes
    Leaving Rab, drive east to nearby Mišnjak for the short hop by ferry to Stinica on the mainland. Your onward route takes you deep into Croatia’s forested interior to the Plitviče Lakes National Park, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. You spend two nights close to the park, at the Hotel Degenija. (Driving time: 3hrs, including ferry crossing and waiting time)
  • Explore Plitviče Lakes
    Spend your full day discovering the Plitviče Lakes National Park (entry ticket included), with its series of spectacular lakes and waterfalls set against a densely forested backdrop. Established as a national park in 1949, the area was later also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its geological and ecological value: there is a great richness of flora and flora here, as you will discover as you make your way around the Park, following the well-waymarked network of wooden boardwalks and footbridges.

    The Park is understandably popular but large enough to accommodate the crowds, and your entry ticket also includes a boat journey across the largest of the lakes, enabling you to admire the turquoise waters, tumbling falls and lush, green scenery from a different perspective.
    Enoy a boat journey across the lake
    Spectacular lakes and waterfalls
  • Plitviče Lakes to Zadar
    Today you leave the Plitviče Lakes National Park behind and journey south to the Dalmatian Coast. Your destination is Zadar, a cosmopolitan city by the sea, where you spend your final two nights at the stylish Hotel Bastion. (Driving time: 2hrs)
  • Explore Zadar
    On your last day, join locals in wandering the Old Town’s network of marble streets, worn to a sheen over centuries and revealing an inviting collection of bars, restaurants and boutiques. Then, as another glorious day draws to a close, amble along the tree-lined waterfront leads to the Sea Organ, whose mournful notes are played by the gently lapping waves. Just beyond is a solar-powered art installation which bursts into life as darkness falls. Locals and visitors gather nightly to witness what Alfred Hitchcock described as ‘the most beautiful sunset in the world’. It's a fitting arena to bring the curtain down on a remarkable trip.
    Explore Zadar town
    Sunset on Zadar
 

Accommodation

You stay in hotels of character, with plenty of space to relax at each. Star ratings are Croatian and may not correspond exactly to British star ratings.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 12 nights: 12 May 2021 - 31 July 2021 & 25 August 2021 - 16 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    12 - 15 May 2021 £1445 £330
    16 - 22 May 2021 £1550 £345
    23 May - 17 Jun 2021 £1695 £460
    18 - 30 Jun 2021 £1880 £575
    1 - 19 Jul 2021 £1995 £650
    25 - 31 Aug 2021 £1995 £650
    1 - 14 Sep 2021 £1880 £575
    15 - 18 Sep 2021 £1695 £460
    19 - 27 Sep 2021 £1550 £345
    28 Sep - 4 Oct 2021 £1445 £330
    3rd & 4th person discount -£195 to -£270
    Single traveller supplement £195 to £270

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: 12 days' category B car hire (e.g. VW Polo or similar with manual transmission), ferry crossings Brestova-Porozina & Merag-Valbiska-Lopar

    Driving time to first hotel: Pula 1h, Split 4h45, Zadar 4h, Zagreb 3h
    Driving time from final hotel to airport: Pula 4h15, Split 1h30, Zadar 0h30, Zagreb 3h

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Manora, Nerezine, Losinj
    Junior suite: 12 May - 22 May 2021 £36
    Junior suite: 23 May - 31 Jul 2021 £48
    Junior suite: 25 Aug - 18 Sep 2021 £48
    Junior suite: 19 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £36
    Superior (double beds only): 12 May - 31 Jul 2021 £6
    Superior (double beds only): 25 Aug - 16 Oct 2021 £6
    Hotel Degenija, Plitviče Lakes
    'Comfort' with terrace: 12 May - 31 May 2021 £3
    'Comfort' with terrace: 01 Jun - 31 Jul 2021 £6
    'Comfort' with terrace: 25 Aug - 30 Sep 2021 £6
    'Comfort' with terrace: 01 Oct - 16 Oct 2021 £3
    Suite: 12 May - 31 May 2021 £16
    Suite: 01 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 £12
    Suite: 01 Jul - 31 Jul 2021 £10
    Suite: 25 Aug - 31 Aug 2021 £10
    Suite: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2021 £12
    Suite: 01 Oct - 16 Oct 2021 £16
    Superior double (no twins): 12 May - 31 May 2021 £3
    Superior double (no twins): 01 Jun - 31 Jul 2021 £6
    Superior double (no twins): 25 Aug - 30 Sep 2021 £6
    Superior double (no twins): 01 Oct - 16 Oct 2021 £3
    Hotel Bastion, Zadar
    Deluxe: 12 May - 02 Jun 2021 £27
    Deluxe: 03 Jun - 31 Jul 2021 £37
    Deluxe: 25 Aug - 29 Sep 2021 £37
    Deluxe: 30 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £27
    Suite: 12 May - 02 Jun 2021 £45
    Suite: 03 Jun - 31 Jul 2021 £50
    Suite: 25 Aug - 29 Sep 2021 £50
    Suite: 30 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £45
    Superior: 12 May - 02 Jun 2021 £14
    Superior: 03 Jun - 31 Jul 2021 £17
    Superior: 25 Aug - 29 Sep 2021 £17
    Superior: 30 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £14

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day's car hire.
    La Grisa, Bale (B&B) Double room Single room
    12 May - 16 May 2021 £85 £97
    17 May - 20 Jun 2021 £97 £109
    21 Jun - 11 Jul 2021 £115 £133
    12 Jul - 31 Jul 2021 £128 £148
    25 Aug - 05 Sep 2021 £128 £148
    06 Sep - 22 Sep 2021 £115 £133
    23 Sep - 13 Oct 2021 £97 £109
    14 Oct - 16 Oct 2021 £85 £97
    Hotel Manora, Nerezine, Losinj (B&B) Double room Single room
    12 May - 22 May 2021 £65 £100
    23 May - 19 Jun 2021 £78 £126
    20 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 £98 £180
    01 Jul - 31 Jul 2021 £115 £200
    25 Aug - 31 Aug 2021 £115 £200
    01 Sep - 18 Sep 2021 £98 £180
    19 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £65 £100
    Hotel Arbiana, Rab Town, Rab (B&B) Double room Single room
    12 May - 21 May 2021 £95 £95
    22 May - 25 Jun 2021 £108 £108
    26 Jun - 16 Jul 2021 £122 £122
    17 Jul - 31 Jul 2021 £140 £140
    25 Aug - 19 Sep 2021 £122 £122
    20 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £95 £95
    Hotel Bastion, Zadar (B&B) Double room Single room
    12 May - 31 May 2021 £115 £177
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 £140 £225
    01 Jul - 31 Aug 2021 £155 £253
    01 Sep - 27 Sep 2021 £140 £225
    28 Sep - 16 Oct 2021 £115 £177
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Pula or Zagreb for the outward flight; Zadar, Split or Zagreb for the homeward flight
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Pula jet2,  TUI 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Birmingham jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Pula easyJet,  TUI 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Bristol easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Doncaster Sheffield - Pula TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Pula TUI 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Nottingham East Midlands jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Pula jet2 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Edinburgh jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Pula easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Glasgow easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Pula jet2 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Leeds Bradford jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Pula easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Zadar - Liverpool Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Pula easyJet,  TUI 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Gatwick easyJet,  TUI 
    Zadar - Gatwick easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Pula British Airways 
    Heathrow - Zagreb British Airways 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Heathrow British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Pula easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Luton easyJet 
    Zadar - Luton easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Pula easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Pula jet2,  Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Stansted easyJet,  jet2 
    Zadar - Stansted Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Pula jet2,  TUI 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Manchester easyJet,  jet2,  TUI 
    Zadar - Manchester jet2,  Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 12 nights
  • 4 dinners
    12 breakfasts
  • detailed cultural information
  • Plitviče Lakes National Park entry ticket
  • category B hire car
  • ferry crossings on journeys between hotels (except Rab-Plitviče)
 
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FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Croatia, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Croatian. The currency is the Kuna. Croatian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 6/12/2021 6:44:06 PM