Croatia Self Drive 07 - Coastal Odyssey

Pula to Dubrovnik

Summary

Croatia's whole coastline from Pula to Dubrovnik - includes magnificent history, beautiful islands and several national parks along the way.

START - Pula / FINISH - Dubrovnik.

Activity code: CRFD07

Duration: 15 Days

Get ready for a journey of discovery along the full length of the Adriatic coastline. Starting in the Istrian Peninsula at Pula, this route includes many national parks, historic towns, beautiful islands and much more. The itinerary concludes in Dubrovnik but can easily be reversed with the flexible flight schedule now available.

Your holiday exploration begins straight away with a hire car directly from the airport and a very short drive into Pula with its incredible amphitheatre; after this stop which will probably include lunch you can head over to the west coast of Istria and your main base for this part of the holiday, Rovinj. In this area there is so much to visit, including Porec, the Brijuni Islands and the lovely hill town of Motovun. Before driving inland to the main national park of your trip, Plitvice Lakes, we recommend an overnight in the seaside town of Opatija or on nearby Krk Island (accessible by a spectacular bridge).

Each day's drive is not so far so you have plenty of time to do some sightseeing, walking or take an extended lunch / picnic along the way. Your return to the coast after the incredible sights of the Plitvice National Park comes at the lovely old town of Zadar which also has some innovative new sights up its sleeve. Travelling further along the coast you can visit another national park, Krka, en route to your next main stop, either Trogir or Split (you can choose either according to your preference as it is easy to travel between them on the local  ferry across the bay). Time to relax or perhaps take up the offer to do some rafting or the mulit-zip-wire experience in the Cetina Valley.

For the second week of the trip you could give up the car and travel on the fast ferry catamaran service to Dubrovnik via your choice of island(s) but sticking with the self-drive we recommend staying in Hvar Town for a couple of nights and then traversing the island to get the ferry over to the mainland at Drvenik (thereby avoiding backtracking to Split). Once back on the mainland we have include a single night stay in Ston where you can sample oysters and walk the walls (an alternative here would be a detour inland to Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina prior to arriving in Dubrovnik. Mostar may be a day trip destination for many holidaying in Croatia but its stunning bridge, which was lovingly reconstructed after the war in the 1990s, and the old town's atmosphere is well worth the overnight stay).

If you have some more time available you may wish to consider a few days in Montenegro which can be tailored to your preference between the beach resort of Budva with its tranquil old town and Kotor with its impressive walls, historic buildings and challenging walk up the "staircase" to the fortress high above.

We feel that the best finale to this holiday is a few nights in Dubrovnik where you can relax, enjoy some activities and sightseeing without your car as the local buses and cable car offer an excellent service.

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.

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.

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Based upon 2 persons travelling.

Prices from £1062 per person

What's included in your Fly-Drive holiday?

  • Private airport transfers.
  • 14 nights accommodation on B&B.
  • 12 days inclusive ONE WAY car hire.
  • * also includes delivery, collection & second driver.
  • Fully detailed itinerary with  driving directions, ferry info & sighteeing ideas
  • FREE travel app with all your documents, maps, weather & much more
  • All taxes
  • Full 24hr representative services.

Highlights

Itinerary

Arrive into Pula; private transfer directly to your hotel. Balance of day for sightseeing on foot.

** If you have an early flight arrival we suggest taking the car from the airport, visiting Pula and then heading onwards to Rovinj for your accommodation.

Option 1 (if in Pula) - deliver hire car to your hotel; local sightseeing,such as the Brijuni Islands from nearby Fazana, then onward drive to Rovinj via the small town of Bale.

Option 2 (if in Rovinj) - a full day to explore the west of Istria, including Brijuni Islands, Lim Gorge, Porec, Svetvincenat and many more fascinating places.

You actually have a fantastic choice of places to stay in Istria which include Rovinj, Porec and the hilltop town of Motovun.

Drive through the centre of Istria (via Pazin and/or Motovun) to the east coast. A visit of the beautiful Austro-Hungarian resort of Opatija and maybe Rijeka prior to driving over the bridge to the impressive Krk Island.

** Alternative places to stay on this night include Opatija and Rijeka.

Return to the mainland across the bridge and then drive down scenic coast road to Senj prior to heading inland to Plitvice Lakes National Park.

** Alternatively, if you prefer to stick with the coast entirely on this holiday then you may like to visit either Rab or Pag islands or perhaps Stari Grad Paklenica (for the national park) and then take an extra night in Zadar.

A full day to explore the national park using the transport options included in your entry ticket together with some walking around the impressive natural wonders. We recommend pre-booking your tickets to ensure entry at a time of your choosing; these can be included as part of your holiday itinerary.

Drive south towards the Dalmatian coast on a choice of routes to beautiful Zadar; optional detour along the way to Paklenica National Park. If you wish to devote the whole day an enchanting alternative route would be via Otocac and Senj / Velebit National Park, even Rab and Pag Islands. Explore Zadar old town for dinner on arrival, visiting the fascinating Sea Organ and the ingenious "Greeting to the Sun" at the Riva.

More time to visit the historic old town of Zadar and its market and enjoy a little cafe culture. If you were to add a night here you may then have time to visit the nearby seaside town of Nin, Pag Island, Lake Vrana or any of the nearby islands such as Dugi Otok or the Kornati Islands National Park.

Your onward route today will depend upon where you wish to visit en route to Trogir (or Split). If you choose to use the main highway for at least some of your journey then you can easily visit historic Sibenik and the National Park of Krka; however, you may elect to simply enjoy the spectacular coast road via Biograd, Pakostane (Lake Vrana) and Primosten. Your choice for the next two days is either the pretty little town of Trogir or the centre of historic Split.

NB. Trogir is recommended here as it is quieter, always better value and easier, logistically, on a fly-drive holiday.

A free day to explore Trogir or visit nearby places of interest such as the Roman ruins of Salona, the Kliss Fortress or return to Split (it is possible to visit Split using the local passenger ferry across the bay).

Day 10 - at a time of your choosing drive to Split port and take a car ferry to one of the nearby islands, such as Hvar or Brac (or even Korcula). Onward drive to your chosen resort and hotel.

Day 11 - a full day to relax and explore your chosen island.

  • Hvar Town - old town with castle, optional trips to Blue/Green caves, Pakleni Islands & wine tasting
  • Bol - experience the famous Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn Beach)
  • Korcula Town - beautiful old town, nearby beaches & wine tasting

Recommended places to stay

Drive a short distance south along coast to the beautiful resort of Omis for a couple of nights. Spend day 10 (or morning of day 11) rafting and/or doing the multi zip-wire experience in the stunning Cetina Valley.

Drive across your island to the east coast for a short ferry crossing to the mainland; then drive along the coast road including through the "Bosnia Corridor" to Ston for the night.

* We recommend that you include a night in Ston, particularly if you have been to Brac or Hvar, prior to travelling on to Dubrovnik; this would also allow you time to visit Korcula or Mostar.

Recommended places to stay

Drive across island to east coast and take short ferry to mainland; drive along coast road including the "Bosnia Corridor" to Ston for a visit of the castle walls and maybe to sample the oysters.

Then head inland and visit Mostar with its famous old bridge and exciting atmosphere. Depending upon time constraints and border traffic (in high season) you may prefer to go straight inland to Mostar via Medugorje or the Kravice waterfalls instead of going to Ston.

 

 

Day 13 - if you decided to stay in Mali Ston then you can visit the castle walls, travel up the Peljesac Peninsula to Orebic & Korcula or head inland to Mostar to visit the World-famous bridge. Drop off car in Dubrovnik (we will collect it from your hotel).

Day 14 - a full day to explore the old town on foot, by bus and cable car including its nearby beaches and countryside; visit independently or with a choice of pre-booked excursions and activities.

Optional Guided Tour: Dubrovnik Panorama & Sightseeing "... those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik" (George Bernard Shaw). This tour will reveal the finest sites of the old walled City as well as give you an opportunity to view it from above. Our guide will lead you through the narrow streets of the Old Town introducing you to the history and culture of this magnificent city.

Private transfer to Dubrovnik airport for your flight home.

Reviews

Flexible Tailor-Made Holidays

  • We believe passionately that no two holidays should be the same.
  • With our flexible tailor-made holiday options you can travel at your own pace.
  • Rediscover a city, a resort or an island in a weekend or longer.
  • Take a small group tour or embark upon a more adventurous trip.

Travel Knowledge

  • We have all travelled extensively and will be happy to share our experiences.
  • Personally-chosen hotels, riads, guest houses & apartments in places we know and love.
  • Individual sightseeing recommendations and route planning.
  • Add excursions, activities and food & wine experiences (one of our passions).

Why book a Fly Drive ?

  • Accommodation choices are small, independent or family-run properties which add significantly to your travel experience.
  • Stress-free arrival & departure transfer service.
  • Detailed driving directions, parking info, suggested routes & sightseeing ideas.
  • Fully protected for your peace of mind & financial security.