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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.
Price from
£1580pp
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitviče Lakes. 12 nights
Price from
£1580pp
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Price from
£1580pp
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitviče Lakes. 12 nights
Price from
£1580pp
+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.
 
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 or Hotel Televrin. (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.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Wherever you stay in Nerezine, you may wish to add an extra night to make the most of being on an idyllic Croatian island.
 

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: 15 April 2025 - 31 July 2025 & 25 August 2025 - 15 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    15 - 30 Apr 2025 £1835 £485
    1 - 23 May 2025 £1930 £495
    24 May - 9 Jun 2025 £2245 £675
    10 - 30 Jun 2025 £2460 £910
    1 - 19 Jul 2025 £3160 £1055
    25 Aug - 10 Sep 2025 £3015 £910
    11 - 26 Sep 2025 £2185 £540
    27 Sep - 3 Oct 2025 £1645 £445
    3rd & 4th person discount -£295 to -£640
    Single traveller supplement £305 to £650

    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: 15 Apr - 21 May 2025 £48
    Junior suite: 22 May - 31 Jul 2025 £69
    Junior suite: 25 Aug - 17 Sep 2025 £69
    Junior suite: 18 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £48
    Superior (double beds only): 15 Apr - 31 Jul 2025 £14
    Superior (double beds only): 25 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £14
    Hotel Arbiana, Rab Town, Rab
    Superior double with balcony: 15 Apr - 17 Jun 2025 £11
    Superior double with balcony: 18 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £21
    Superior double with balcony: 25 Aug - 18 Sep 2025 £21
    Superior double with balcony: 19 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £11
    Hotel Degenija, Plitviče Lakes
    Suite: 15 Apr - 31 May 2025 £21
    Suite: 01 Jun - 30 Jun 2025 £19
    Suite: 01 Jul - 31 Jul 2025 £16
    Suite: 25 Aug - 31 Aug 2025 £16
    Suite: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2025 £19
    Suite: 01 Oct - 15 Oct 2025 £21
    Superior double (no twins): 15 Apr - 31 Jul 2025 £9
    Superior double (no twins): 25 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £9
    Hotel Bastion, Zadar
    Deluxe: 15 Apr - 30 May 2025 £38
    Deluxe: 31 May - 31 Jul 2025 £53
    Deluxe: 25 Aug - 26 Sep 2025 £48
    Deluxe: 27 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £38
    Suite: 15 Apr - 30 May 2025 £69
    Suite: 31 May - 31 Jul 2025 £80
    Suite: 25 Aug - 26 Sep 2025 £80
    Suite: 27 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £69
    Superior: 15 Apr - 31 Jul 2025 £21
    Superior: 25 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £21

    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
    15 Apr - 12 May 2025 £116 £132
    13 May - 14 Jun 2025 £135 £149
    15 Jun - 30 Jun 2025 £155 £180
    01 Jul - 07 Jul 2025 £195 £216
    08 Jul - 31 Jul 2025 £215 £247
    25 Aug - 04 Sep 2025 £215 £247
    05 Sep - 10 Sep 2025 £195 £216
    11 Sep - 25 Sep 2025 £160 £185
    26 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £135 £149
    Hotel Manora, Nerezine, Losinj (B&B) Double room Single room
    15 Apr - 27 May 2025 £89 £121
    28 May - 17 Jun 2025 £114 £171
    18 Jun - 30 Jun 2025 £145 £252
    01 Jul - 15 Jul 2025 £180 £287
    16 Jul - 31 Jul 2025 £195 £317
    25 Aug - 26 Aug 2025 £195 £317
    27 Aug - 10 Sep 2025 £180 £287
    11 Sep - 16 Sep 2025 £145 £252
    17 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £96 £128
    Hotel Arbiana, Rab Town, Rab (B&B) Double room Single room
    15 Apr - 24 May 2025 £122 £136
    25 May - 15 Jun 2025 £145 £170
    16 Jun - 30 Jun 2025 £160 £185
    01 Jul - 01 Jul 2025 £195 £220
    02 Jul - 08 Jul 2025 £215 £247
    09 Jul - 31 Jul 2025 £235 £267
    25 Aug - 03 Sep 2025 £215 £247
    04 Sep - 10 Sep 2025 £195 £220
    11 Sep - 17 Sep 2025 £165 £190
    18 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £122 £136
    Hotel Bastion, Zadar (B&B) Double room Single room
    15 Apr - 30 May 2025 £160 £236
    31 May - 30 Jun 2025 £190 £297
    01 Jul - 04 Jul 2025 £225 £332
    05 Jul - 31 Jul 2025 £245 £375
    25 Aug - 29 Aug 2025 £245 £375
    30 Aug - 10 Sep 2025 £225 £332
    11 Sep - 26 Sep 2025 £190 £297
    27 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £160 £236
  • 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
    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 - Pula (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    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 
    Manchester - Zagreb (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Return route Airline
    Split - Manchester easyJet,  jet2,  TUI 
    Zadar - Manchester jet2,  Ryanair 
    Zadar - Manchester (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    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 for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. 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)
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 8 reviews
  • Mrs L Parker
    Wells
    05 September 2023

    This was a well-paced holiday that covered a lot of different aspects of Croatia. We much preferred the islands, and agree with others that an additional day on Istria would have been good. Despite an early timed ticket at the quieter entrance to Plitvice Lakes, we found it uncomfortably crowded and didn't enjoy the day as much as we had expected. The weather was great and we managed quite a bit of walking (once we had aligned our aspirations with the heat). We enjoyed the old towns with their lethal marble pavements and the food was excellent everywhere we went.

  • Keith & Judy
    21 June 2023

    As usual, Inntravel have not let us down with a wonderful holiday, all well planned, staying at lovely hotels with great food and friendly staff and good information including detailed driving instructions. This has been another excellent holiday and we now look forward to our next trip.  We started with their walking holidays but moved on to Slow holidays as we got older!  Thanks Inntravel !

  • Mrs A Chapman
    Sidmouth
    06 June 2023

    We had a very good holiday and the organisation and logistics worked very well.  We had a special reason for going as my husband used to go camping every summer in Vrsar as a small child and wanted to revisit.  Our first two nights self-booked accommodation at the Relais and Wine San Tommaso in Golas was lovely and the food superb so would certainly recomend to other travellers.  In hind sight I would not have included the three nights in Nezerine as we felt it didn't really add anything to the trip.  We loved Rab and felt that gave us the island experiance but with more to do locally.

  • Mr D Treacher
    London
    03 September 2022

    Highlights and recommendations previously referenced, especially walk near Lopar and restaurants. Food was generally very good. Driving tour and walking tour worked together well, especially as first two weeks were very hot and third week was cooler.

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: THis customer combined Isria, Kvarner & Zadar with Plitvice Lakes and Across the Istrian Peninsula.

  • Anon
    03 September 2022

    A fabulous taster holiday for the northern part of Croatia, and we would definitely recommend adding in the vist to the Plitvice Lakes.  With hindsight, we may not have added the extra night in Lozinj but really enjoyed the extra time on Rab, and would have liked to spend more time on the Istrian Peninsular.  

  • Mr A Aitchison
    Nottingham
    25 May 2022

    With hindsight, we probably would have added another night in Bale, so that we could have visited more of the hilltop towns (we managed Pula, Rovinj and Porec in one day, all of which we loved) and spent one less on Cres/Lovinj.  We loved Rab and the walk from Suha Punta, although the signposting of the path was minimal in places, while the town of Trogir, in particular, was delightful.

  • Ms D Whitham
    Norwich
    23 May 2022

    Plitvice was our highlight and the hotel is fabulous. But it was so good to be in the middle of towns, each one a little different. We loved Rab, swimming there was easy and the beach bar is great. Please add to your food recommendations.

  • Mr C Sweeney
    London
    16 May 2022

    Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Croatia ia a beautiful country, the food is good and the people very friendly. We had excellent weather, but felt if we had left it for a few months it would have been too hot. We particularly liked the islands - Veli Losinj and Rab were very much the prettiest and most enjoyable places. We also loved the contrast of the Plitvice lakes which were spectacular. We would definitely advise people to go to the higher lakes first, as they are quieter and actually more stunning than the big waterfall - follow trek H for a good route of a reasonable length and difficulty rating. I felt Zadar was probably our least favourite place. We were wondering how we were going to spend our whole day there and opted for a boat trip to the Kornati peninsula which was an excellent choice - again some stunning scenery and a good swim.
 

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.
  • 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 routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. 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. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). 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 incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), 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.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • 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 (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). 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 Euro. 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.
  • 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.
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