Croatia: Mediterranean Paradise

Head to the airport and catch your first flights to Europe. You’ll use this day entirely to travel and arrive tomorrow to Zagreb (ZAG).

Land at Zagreb International Airport and and meet your Program Leaders. Explore the capital city of Croatia. Walk the bustling streets and enjoy the views of the metropolis from the hilltop where old city is located. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Settle into your hotel for the first night in Zagreb, relaxing after your long flight. You’ll share rooms with your fellow Rustic travelers with private bathrooms.

Start your day early and head out to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Admire crystal clear emerald waters of this marvel of nature. After a traditional lunch to warm you up, continue driving to Zadar a beautiful ancient city set along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Sample the food of the Dalmatian coast and enjoy an evening.

You’ll share rooms in a guesthouse with your fellow Rustic travelers with private bathrooms.

Learn about Split’s history through the ages. See the influences of the Romans, Venetians, Austrians, and Communists that once ruled this small coastal town. Wander through its historic markets where people buy the freshest seafood and produce each and every day. Dine on the freshest seafood the Mediterranean has to offer alongside mouthwatering handmade pasta and risottos. Hike to the top of the Marjan Hill for a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Kayak, swim and participate in various water activities. Relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Adriatic sea.

Leave for the ancient city and the former republic of Dubrovnik. A stunningly intact walled city on the Adriatic Sea coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old city of Dubrovnik is a postcard come to life.
It was a trading power that at its peak in the 15th and 16th century was able to rival the Republic of Venice and other Italian maritime republics. Its fleet of ships used to sail the world buying and selling goods and information, while connecting different civilizations.

Dubrovnik has more recently been made famous by the filming of HBO’s Game of Thrones series and is now visited by more than 1 million tourists per year. You will walk these streets of “King’s Landing” and tour the walls. The next day, in the late afternoon, take a ride back to Split for your final evening.

We’ll retrace our steps back to Zagreb. One the drive back we stop off for a unique cultural heritage village to learn about traditional Croatian village life before one final delicious group dinner before we depart tomorrow.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Enjoy a relaxed morning. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home. Later, you’ll go to the airport to board your flight back home.