Croatia Self Drive 03 - Off the Beaten Track

Summary

Explore lesser-visited locations in the north & east of Croatia, starting in Zagreb; includes national parks, historic towns and much more.

START / FINISH - Zagreb

Activity code: CRFD03

Duration: 9 Days

Do not overlook the "continental" region of Croatia, there is some incredible scenery and plenty of historical places in the area between Zagreb and the borders with Hungary, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia. Depending upon your flight schedule you can start or finish in Zagreb, a city with excellent public transport and many fabulous buildings and cultural sights. It is also possible to make a day trip to the World-famous Plitvice Lakes National Park before heading on to places which are much less-visited than the capital. Travel largely "Off the Beaten Track" in northern and eastern of Croatia.

From Zagreb your initial journey will take you northwards to the small university city of Varazdin which is one of the oldest in Croatia; in fact it is older than Zagreb. It is situated in a very important geographical territory, referred to as the "Northwest gate of Croatia"; it has a rich natural legacy including many parks and is located on the southern bank of the River Drava. In the 18th Century Varazdin briefly became Croatia's capital but a disastrous fire meant the government returned to Zagreb. Today, the town has an easy-going atmosphere, thanks to its large student population and is a great base to visit the local castles and villages of the region.

The next stage of this holiday takes you to the east to visit Osijek, the capital of the region of Slavonia, which faces neighbouring Serbia. The city itself is split in two - Gornji Grad (upper town) and Donji Grad (lower town); it came under heavy bombardment in the wars of the 1990s and sections are still being restored to this day. The fortified centre is called "Tvrda" and its walls encircle some delightful Baroque buildings, the 19th Century Osijek in contrast is tree-lined and its avenues are home to many cafes and shops. The nearby national park of Kopacki Rit is one of the largest wetland environments in Europe, located at the intersection of the Drava and Danube rivers.

At this point you can simply return to Zagreb along the highway or you may wish to consider extending your itinerary with a few days in Serbia or perhaps heading south into Bosnia and Herzegovina on a route that takes you through Sarajevo and Mostar all the way down to Dubrovnik.

Important Information

Flights available to book with us through a range of airlines, from various UK airports to Croatia. If we book your flights this means that your holiday will also be fully ATOL protected.

ALL SELF-DRIVE HOLIDAYS THAT START & FINISH IN ZAGREB CAN BE DONE WITH A FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE; CHARGING POINTS ARE AVAILABLE AT LOCATIONS ON THIS ITINERARY.

Prices shown are a guideline "from" (in UK Pounds) and are based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. Single supplements may need to be applied to the twin/double price and discounts for children (under 12yrs) and/or a 3rd adult sharing a room are available upon request. Quoted prices for individual enquiries will depend upon your chosen accommodation, room availability and dates of travel. We always aim to match a high quality experience with exceptional value for money. Discounts will apply if there are 3 or more people in your travelling party as fixed costs such as transportation and guides will be shared equally between the group.