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Istria, Kvarner & Zadar

Island-hopping in beautiful northern Croatia
 

Holiday Highlights

Island hopping | This relaxing, island-hopping journey features fascinating wildlife, towns and beaches.
Istrian Peninsula | Bordering Slovenia, the language, food and architecture here have Venetian influences.
Zadar | Roman remains, marble streets and an attractive, tree-lined waterfront.
Kvarner Gulf | The best of the coast – expect pebble coves, blue seas and quaint villages.
Losinj | Seek out dolphins from the coast of this quiet island.
Price from
£1605pp
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar. 10 nights
Price from
£1605pp
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Price from
£1605pp
Istria, Kvarner & Zadar. 10 nights
Price from
£1605pp
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Croatia along the Adriatic

Fabulous seascapes, glorious sunsets and bewitching islands rich in wildlife await you on this self-guided journey, with car hire and most ferry journeys included. From Istria’s hill-top villages to historic Zadar’s marble streets, this holiday will live long in the memory.
Historic towns and villages that transport you back in time, bewitching islands, a crystal-clear, cobalt-blue sea, glorious sunsets… What more could you want from a holiday exploring Croatia’s Adriatic coastline?
This relaxing, island-hopping journey by car and ferry starts on the Istrian Peninsula. It may border Slovenia, but the language, food and architecture of the medieval villages dotted across the lush landscapes have clear Italian influences.

The peninsula’s eastern coastline forms part of the immense, horseshoe-shaped Kvarner Gulf, so it is a natural progression to head from here to some of the gulf’s enticing islands, where there are towns to wander through, wildlife to seek out, trails to explore and beaches to swim from. You may find it hard to tear yourselves away and return to the mainland, but Zadar, with its Roman remains, marble streets and tree-lined waterfront will not disappoint, and makes a fitting end to a holiday combining culture and fabulous seascapes.
 
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.
  • 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
    Enjoy a seafood dinner 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
    Relax on the beaches on Rab
  • Rab to Zadar
    Continue east to nearby Mišnjak for the short hop by ferry to Stinica on the mainland. From here, meander south along the panoramic coastal road, the Kvarner Gulf giving way to the Dalmatian Coast. The last stop on your journey is vibrant Zadar, where you spend two nights at the stylish Hotel Bastion. (Driving time: 4hrs including ferry crossing and waiting time)
  • 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.
    Zadar town
    Incredible 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 Nerezine, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. Both 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, 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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  • 10 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 £1605 £365
    1 - 22 May 2025 £1685 £375
    23 May - 11 Jun 2025 £1900 £540
    12 - 30 Jun 2025 £2070 £730
    1 - 21 Jul 2025 £2750 £800
    25 Aug - 10 Sep 2025 £2530 £735
    11 - 18 Sep 2025 £2025 £625
    19 Sep - 5 Oct 2025 £1770 £400
    3rd & 4th person discount -£240 to -£535
    Single traveller supplement £250 to £545

    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: 10 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 0h30, Split 4h45, Zadar 4hr, Zagreb 3h
    Driving time from the final hotel: 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 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

    Price includes 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. 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. 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
  • 10 nights
  • 4 dinners
    10 breakfasts
  • detailed cultural information
  • category B hire car
  • ferry crossings on journeys between hotels (except Rab-Zadar)
 
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 6 reviews
  • Mr D Sherlock
    Salisbury
    11 September 2023

    If there is one word to describe this holiday it is 'variety'. The four hotels and their locations are very different: medieval village, quiet seaside town, vibrant tourist harbour town, historic city. The ferry crossings add to the break between each place. I'm not sure we'd describe the holiday as relaxing, probably because some of the roads are fairly challenging despite the upgrading which is obvious everywhere. Delightful, helpful people, good food and a total absence of litter!

  • Mr R Bowman
    London
    28 June 2023

    Overall, an extremely enjoyable and enlightening trip. Great scenery, some unique architecture and three excellent museums which we would highly recommend - Museum of Apoxyomenos in Mali Losinj, Museum of Ancient Glass and the Archaeology Museum both in Zadar. The Roman heritage of Zadar has been particularly well preserved within the more modern developments of the old town. It's a fascinating hotch-potch of architectural styles.

    The village of Osor near Nerezine was a particular highlight. For such a small place, it is full of interest - a church and campanile where a festival of chamber music is held in July and August, a ruined Franciscan monastery, a small archaeological museum, and numerous bronze sculptures of musicians located around the village.

     

  • Mr G White
    St. Albans
    24 June 2023

    Hotel Manora was delightful. The food was excellent, the environment relaxing and the staff friendly and efficient. Nothing was too much trouble. The proprietor was an ever watchful presence, happy to engage and positively responsive. A lovely pool and eco-friendly recreation area for children close by. The food at the Hotel Arbiana left a lot to be desired. It did not match the elegance of the building, its physical environment and the attentiveness of the staff. A very poor menu. Few residents had dinner apart from the one on the first night that was included in the deal. The prettily situated pool was an unexpected bonus. The entire package was breathtaking in terms of scenery, historic towns villages and architecture, museums and coastal environment. One particular highlight was an unexpected open air orchestral concert in the Roman Forum at Zadar close by the classic St Donatus Church.                 

  • Jane, Australia
    17 September 2022

    As usual fabulous organisation and suggestions by Inntravel. We loved the Hotels and the suggested journey route. Slovenia is gorgeous and the Croatian islands well worth visiting. 

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: This customer joined Istria, Kvarner & Zadar journey with The Best of Slovenia with Logar Valley.

  • Mr P Smith
    Woking
    25 August 2022

    A really enjoyable holiday with generally excellent hotels. Lots to see, fascinating history, many swimming opportunities and some splendid ferry crossings. 

  • Anon
    05 June 2022

    An extra day in Pula is worth mentioning to your clients, as the Roman amphitheatre is amazing, and the city is lovely. So if in Bale, a day in Pula is to be recommended. We added it on, as my friend was keen to visit there, and we wouldn't have missed it!!!
 

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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