Meet at group hotel in Zagreb. A single timed transfer from Zagreb Airport is included. There will be time to explore the centre as Zagreb is a small and welcoming city with a colourful mixture of Austro-Hungarian grand buildings, pavement cafes, museums, galleries, a cathedral and quirky funicular railway connecting the Lower and Upper towns. The cathedral has twin spires soaring over the city and frescoes dating from the second half of the 13th century. St. Mark's Church has a unique tiled roof from 1880. Tiles on the left include the medieval Croatian coat of arms, whilst the emblem of Zagreb is on the right. The 13th century tower of Lotrscak offers a bird's eye view of the city and for the past hundred years a cannon is fired at noon to synchronise church clocks. For people watching, Trg Bana Jelacica is a hive of activity. Grab a table and enjoy watching flower sellers mingle with tram travellers.

*Food for thought: Burek is perfect as a cheap and tasty snack or street food. Here thin flaky pastry is filled with meat or cheese and served fresh from the oven - absolutely delicious. A starter which is filling enough to be a main is strukli. This pastry and cheese dish is very popular and common to Zagreb. Boiled or baked, dough parcels are filled with cottage cheese and once served is almost melt in the mouth. Pasta known as mlinci in Zagreb, is boiled and baked, before serving with a delicious sauce.

After an early breakfast, we transfer (2hrs) through the rolling hills of Croatia to one of the most outstanding natural aquatic landscapes in Europe, Plitvice Lakes. Granted UNESCO status in 1979, Plitvice is famed for its sixteen lakes, interlinked by cascading waterfalls, all set in a rich wooded area populated by bears, wolves, deer, wild boar and rare bird-life. Lying at the base of the Mala Kapela Mountain range, and only 60kms from the sea, this incredibly diverse national park is home to beech, spruce and pine trees plus over 1200 plant species, including the rare Lady's Slipper orchid. Plitvice is one of the most important natural habitats in Europe and we'll explore the park via the fantastic wooden walkways that cover the park. These bridges enable us to get a close-up of the lakes, whilst keeping our eyes open for the local brown trout. We'll also head deep into the richly wooded area hoping to spot deer or one of the 157 bird species that live in the park. Tonight we overnight in a hotel in the Plitvice area.

Today we leave the greenery of the Plitvice area and head towards the dramatic Northern Velebit National Park. Our transfer (1.5hrs) takes us to the Zavizan Mountain Refuge next to a small botanical garden. We'll have time to wander amongst a variety of indigenous and endemic plant species before walking along part of the spectacular Premuziceva Staza (Premuzic Trail). The Northern Velebit National Park is a protected reserve and visitors can only pass through the park on designated trails. The spectacular Premuzic Trail is a a 57 kilometre long footpath mapped out in the 1930s, by lifelong Velebit enthusiast Ante Premuzic. Snaking its way from one side of the Velebit’s central ridge to the other, the path provides a superb taste of the mountain’s varied geography, with lush deciduous woodland alternating with pine forests and arid rocky slopes. The trail was engineered to provide easy walking with gentle gradients and today we get to enjoy part of it, whilst experiencing the wild landscape of this dramatic mountainous area. From the Alan Mountain Refuge at the end of our walk, we drive to our overnight accommodation in the nearby village of Licko Lesce.

After breakfast, we'll drive out (1.5 hrs) to Starigrad-Paklenica on the coast. Here, we'll drop off most of our gear at the hotel we will be using in 2 nights' time and get back in our vehicle for the shorter transfer on an at times unsurfaced road up onto the high plateau of Veliki Rujno. We start our walk 900 metres above sea-level beside the small church of Our Lady of Rujno which was built to serve the local farming community who spend much of the year in isolated mountain hamlets as they keep a watch over their herds of cattle. The church was rebuilt in 1930 thanks to the dedication of a local priest and enthusiastic mountaineer, Don Ante Adžija. An annual procession in August sees hundreds of pilgrims make their way up the mountain to the chapel for mass. Following dirt roads and cattle trails, our walk takes us east below the high limestone crest of the Paklenika. We cross a blunt spur with views out to the islands in the Adriatic and then drop down into a forested bowl where we find the little hamlet of Ramici. Our overnight accommodate here is in a simple homestay (with dormitory rooms and shared facilities) where we are, nevertheless, guaranteed a warm welcome and delicious home cooked food.

After breakfast at the homestay, we'll transfer out to the start of our next walk in one of the more spectacular sections of the Paklenica National Park. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this rugged limestone region was granted national park status in 1949, due to its unique natural features and magnificent black pine forests. We start our walk through the canyon of Velika Paklenica, surrounded by huge walls and the remains of old water mills. These ancient buildings, built in the 19th century and still in use up until the 1960s, are well preserved cultural monuments and maintained by the national park authorities. We follow a spectacular serpentine trial that ascends the western wall of the canyon and finish our walk at the Manita Cave. This enchanting cave has been attracting visitors since 1937 with its stunning formations - the Helmet, the Organ and the Witch to name a few. At times during today's walk we can look across to the coastal islands of Rab and Pag and the archipelago (and national park) of Kornati. After exploring the cave we return to the coastal town of Starigrad-Paklenica. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy a walk beside the sea or just relax with a drink in one of the many pavement cafes or local bars.

After breakfast we transfer (45 minutes) to the picturesque area of the Krupa River situated under the steep slopes of Velebit Mountain. This beautiful little river starts its life as a small spring and runs through the sinuous Krupa Canyon until its junction with the River Zrmanja. Tucked away amongst the canyons and caves of this compact limestone region there are lots of tiny hamlets and farms. Our short walk today takes us into the canyon of the Krupa River until we can drop down to a pretty series of cataracts interspersed with emerald green pools. Across the top of one of the falls there is an ancient (and amazing) drystone bridge, Kudin Most, reputed to have been built by a local boy whose young love lived on the other side of the river. From Krupa we transfer to Zadar where the rest of the afternoon is free to explore. Zadar is a vibrant, warm place with city walls built under Venetian rule. You'll find four old city gates - St Rok, Chain Gate, Land Gate and the Port Gate which sports the winged lion symbol of the Venetian Empire. Zadar has two wonderful attractions designed by local artist Nikola Basic. The Sun Salutation is a 22 metre circle filled with 300 multi layered glass plates which collect solar energy all day and powers the harbour lighting. In the evening its a wonderful light show from sunset to sunrise which is popular with locals. The second highlight is the Sea Organ, which is a great place to sit as pipes set in steps whistle and sigh from the movement of the water. St Donatus' Church and the Franciscan Monastery are beautiful buildings. Dating from the 9th century, St Donatus' is an unusual circular Byzantine church and only one of a handful of buildings that survived the Mongol invasion of the 13th century. The Franciscan Monastery houses a Gothic church from 1280 and a small treasury. If you prefer to sit and watch the world go by, then People's Square is the place to go.

*Food for thought: Grilled fish - mackerel or sardines are seasoned with olive oil and Mediterranean herbs, then grilled before being served alongside Swiss chard and potatoes. The result is simple and mouth-watering. Pasticada is slow-cooked marinated beef served with gnocchi. This traditional Dalmatian dish is prepared with special care.

After breakfast, we leave Zadar for a short transfer (1hr) to the beautiful Krka National Park. Created by the Krka River, arguably the most picturesque river in Croatia, this stunningly beautiful national park can only be described as a limestone phenomenon. We start off by exploring the park on foot before taking a memorable boat ride through the Krka Canyon, passing cascading falls to the spectacular Roski Slap. In the afternoon we drive to Split, Croatia's second largest city, which has an atmospheric mix of modern buildings, UNESCO palaces, old city walls, a beautiful promenade (the Riva), as well as a spectacular mountainous backdrop. More of a living museum, the UNESCO heart of Split or the Diocletian's Palace, is one of the most imposing Roman ruins in Europe. A melting pot of cafes and restaurants, alongside a military fortress, winding back streets, an imperial residence and fortified town, the Diocletian's Palace is hardly a palace but a living museum! Along with the Cathedral, town museum and cosmopolitan promenade, Split is a beautiful town with a breath taking backdrop and sweeping sea views. After regrouping in the evening, you'll head out to one of the city's many excellent restaurants for dinner.

*Food for though: Prosciutto (air dried ham) is a must try alongside Pag cheese and fresh bread. Pag cheese is produced from sheep which graze on hilly areas where the grass is exposed to frequent wind and salt, giving it a wonderfully tangy taste. A great way to start a Dalmatian meal is to have salted anchovies served with a squeeze of lemon juice. One of the most famous Dalmatian fish dishes is brudet. This fish stew is prepared with different types of fish and wine which is simmered over a low heat. Black risotto and calamari (grilled or fried) are specialities on the Dalmatian coast and at their freshest.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. A single timed airport transfer is provided for clients leaving on this day.