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Croatia Culinary Adventure: Pearl of the Adriatic
Explore the Adriatic coast, exciting, urban Dubrovnik, plus sleepy hill villages all through the lens of cuisine. Both rich cultural heritage and rich, aromatic dishes await you on this in-depth food adventure.
SPECIAL OFFER
8.3*
ECO SCORE
12
PASSENGERS
8
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Croatia: Drink It In
Picture Croatia’s ancient walled cities —stone buildings and red tile roofs—sitting at the very edge of glistening turquoise waters. Then picture exploring this Adriatic gem through its cuisine. What will be revealed is a country of contrasts where Eastern old-world traditions mingle with European sophistication. Travel to Croatia offers the chance to explore seafood abundance, the exciting Dubrovnik food scene, as well as traditional village fare—vineyards and the freshest meats and produce. This culinary journey includes a traditional truffle hunt, a boat ride to oyster beds, as well as excursions to iconic cities and Roman ruins. Cook alongside the welcoming locals whose home-prepared meals reflect a diversity of Italian, Turkish, Hungarian and Austrian influences.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
- • Enjoy a food walking tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and a Croatian cooking class in a private home.
• Join an authentic truffle hunt with dogs, followed by a truffle cooking class.
• This operator helps you dine and cook with locals. Feel like you're coming home to Croatia rather than visiting as a tourist.
SPECIAL OFFER
Rates:
From $4,490 per person
Policies and protocols provided before you book.
Please contact us with your interest so we can confirm dates for you.
April - Sept
Hover here for specific dates
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Local Community
Provides culinary school scholarships to local students
Conservation
Supports local conservation non-profits
Food
All food and produce is sourced locally and responsibly
Itinerary
Day 1: Your Croatia Culinary Adventure Begins in Dubrovnik
Welcome to Croatia, Europe’s Adriatic jewel. After passing through customs, you will exit the airport, where our driver will be waiting for you. The salty breeze and stunning turquoise waters will greet you as we make our way to our charming, historic seaside hotel where you can spend the afternoon at your leisure. Our Croatia culinary tour begins in the evening with a welcome dinner at an authentic Croatian restaurant in the heart of old town Dubrovnik.
Meals included: Dinner
Drive time: 30 minutes
Accommodation Days 1 – 2: Your Dubrovnik accommodations offer regal luxury in a truly gorgeous setting. Your cliffside hotel, just above the old-town, overlooks the Adriatic Sea with terraced gardens, a lavish spa, and a private beach.
Day 2: Old Town Dubrovnik & Walking Food Tour
Today you'll explore Dubrovnik through a special walking food tour of the city. Equal parts history, food, and culture, this is the ultimate glimpse into Croatia’s most iconic city. You’ll wander through the historic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces within ancient city walls transport you back in time. Along the way, you’ll sample local flavors and regional specialties, while perusing locally produced, artisanal products and uncovering the role of food in local traditions. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy by soaking in the atmosphere of Dubrovnik or relaxing by the sea at our hotel’s private beach.
Meals included: Breakfast, food tour tastings.
Day 3: Oyster Tasting on a Private Island & Transfer to Split
Today we say farewell to Dubrovnik and continue our Croatia food tour as we head up the coast. After a delicious breakfast we’ll make our way to ancient Split. Along the way, we’ll stop at the Pelješac peninsula, an area known for its its velvety, full-bodied red wines, long city walls, and authentic salt works. We’ll continue our drive, stopping in Ston for a boat trip to a local oyster farmer’s private island. After learning about the oyster-growing process, you’ll have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim while our host prepares a mouthwatering lunch of fresh oysters, homemade bread, and of course, wine. Upon arrival in our centrally located hotel in the city of Split, the rest of the evening is at your leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.
Drive time: 3.5 hours
Accommodation Days 3 – 4: You’ll spent the next two nights at a centrally-located, stylish hotel in Split that combines sophisticated quality with refined comfort. In the heart of Split, this hotel is perfectly situated for discovering the city and its surroundings.
Day 4: Diocletian’s Palace, Market Tour & Cooking Class
We start our day with an exploration of Diocletian’s Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient and impressive 4th-century Roman complex makes up about half of Split, a thriving city that is both ancient and modern. From there, we will immerse ourselves in Split’s exuberant culinary scene with a visit to the food markets. You’ll mingle with locals, peruse the vibrant stalls, and find fresh harvests for our upcoming cooking class. With the help of a local chef, we’ll journey to the Peškarija (the fish market), Mesnica (the local butchers), or Pazar (the vegetable market) to bring authentic Mediterranean recipes to life. The old town of Split and its surrounding islands will serve as your backdrop as we prepare, and enjoy, this delicious meal in an authentic Dalmatian home.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.
Day 5: Plitvice National Park & Transfer to Rovinj
This morning we will journey from Split to the delightful town of Rovinj on the Istria peninsula. We’ll stop at Plitvice National Park along the way, one of Eastern Europe’s greatest natural wonders and one of Croatia’s most stunning destinations. The Plitvice lakes are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and we’ll have a local guide to help us explore the shimmering turquoise lakes and majestic waterfalls before continuing on to our lovely boutique hotel in Rovinj. The Istrian peninsula is shared between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, with the largest portion belonging to Croatia. Istria is known for its truffles, vineyards and olive groves, as well as its Roman ruins and charming hill towns – of which Rovinj is arguably the most charming. You’ll spend the next two days of your Croatia food tour exploring Istria’s culinary and cultural delights.
Meals included: Breakfast
Drive time: 7 hours
Accommodation Days 5 – 8: The remaining three nights are spent in a boutique waterfront hotel in the Istria region. Recently renovated, this 20th century building provides a classically elegant experience and is just minutes away from Rovinj’s many landmarks and sites. Each hotel includes breakfast, en suite bathrooms, and internet access.
Day 6: Istria Truffle Hunt & Cooking Class
This morning we venture to the inner region of Istria for an authentic truffle hunt through the beautiful Croatian countryside, one of the highlights of our Croatia food tours. Local residents and their trained dogs will join us in the woods of Motovun along the river Mirna as we search for some of the finest truffles in the world. After working up an appetite, you’ll return from your exciting trek to enjoy a truffle cooking class. We’ll savor the lunch we have helped prepare before continuing on to the spectacular Medieval town of Motovun, one of central Istria’s best-known hill towns. Making sure you’ve got your fill of splendid views of the valley below, we’ll return to Rovinj with the rest of the evening free to relax.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Drive time: Minimum 2 hours, actual time may vary.
The Truffle Puppies of Istria: Is there anything better than a puppy? Yes! An Istrian truffle-hunting puppy. There are many reasons to visit the Balkan beauty of Croatia. Game of Thrones fans see the stone-walled medieval city of Dubrovnik. Oyster enthusiasts want to feast right on the shores, and some want to meet the truffle pups!
Day 7: Visit to Pula & Wine Tasting
This morning we depart for a half-day excursion to Pula, where some of Croatia’s most impressive Roman ruins await. We’ll explore the famous Pula Arena, which is the sixth largest Roman amphitheater in existence, as well as the Forum, the Temple of Augustus, the Twin Gate, and the Gate of Hercules. Following our tour of the ancient ruins, we’ll journey to a lovely estate for a farewell tasting of authentic Croatian wines. Dinner tonight will be at your leisure, giving you a chance to savor your last night in Croatia.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Drive time: 45 minutes
Day 8: Croatia Food Tour Ends
Sadly, your Croatia culinary tour ends today. After breakfast, you will head to the Pula airport for your return flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Drive time: 40 minutes
Why Foodies Love Croatia: Well-known local Croatian specialty foods include Mljet lobster, Ston oysters, Kvarner scampi, Istrian truffles, veal and pork from Slavonia, turkey from Zagorje and Istria, Pag cheese and the Lika cheese skripavac, delicious Palacinke pancakes, extra virgin olive oil and pumpkin seed oil—and of course the wines. Croatian cuisine is marked by the abundance of the coast, the forests, and hills, as well as cultural influences of its neighbors and its past. Much of the Dalmatian coast and the Istria peninsula was dominated by the Venetians for centuries, so when you join one of our Croatia cooking tours you’ll enjoy strong Mediterranean and Italian influences.
When you join this Croatia cooking adventure, you’ll gather fresh ingredients from the market, cook with locals, dine in authentic Croatian restaurants, and enjoy regional delicacies like oysters, black risotto, and truffles. In Istria, learn how Croatians steward the land. A traditional truffle hunt with specially trained dogs is followed by a cooking class and fantastic wine tasting. This Croatia cooking adventure includes daily breakfasts, three lunches, and a welcome dinner on the first evening.
Please Note: All Croatia hotels are subject to availability and may be changed as needed.
Travel Insurance: Travel medical insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for this operator's trips. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our trip (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances).
Rates
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The opportunity to cook and dine with locals across the world means we all can find common ground over food. I think it could change the world.
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
To be determined when date selected.
NOT INCLUDED
To be determined when date selected.
