Croatia to the Greek Islands: Zagreb Nights & Santorini Views Adventure Tour

Hey you, heads up: this three-week adventure is anything but your typical European backpacking trip. Kicking off in Croatia, you'll soak up Zagreb's nightlife in exclusive clubs, wander Dubrovnik's picture-perfect old lanes, and soak up the scenery of Plitvice Lakes and the island of Hvar. Next, you're off to Greece for some island hopping! You'll lounge it up on the beaches of Ios, sip wine overlooking the white-walled homes in Paros, and see the best sunsets ever in Santorini.

Dossier Disclaimer  

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Laundry  

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your CEO where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Money Exchange  

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Greece. Check with your bank. You should be aware when purchasing products or services on a credit card, that a fee usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, traveller's cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Euros (EUR) are accepted everywhere. When exchanging currency, or deciding what to bring, keep in mind that you can withdraw money from an ATM when you arrive. If you need to exchange USD for EUR, hotel exchange rates are usually quite poor, so try to avoid changing your money at your hotel. You will probably be better off changing your money in a bank or in one of numerous Bureaux de Change that you will find in towns.

Accommodation  

Hotels/Hostels (20 nts, some multi-share with 2-8 people).

Arrival Complications  

We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Group Leader Description  

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEOs). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.

It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. If you wish to take a guided city tour in any location where this is not already included in the itinerary, your CEO will do their best to help you arrange this and pay locally.

Group Size Notes  

Max 16, avg 12.

Transport  

Train, metro, bus, ferry, private van, walking, internal flight.

What's Included  

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Big Night Out Moment: Split
Your Big Night Out Moment: Athens
Your Discover Moment: Athens. Orientation walks in Zagreb, Split, Tirana, Corfu, Paros and Ios. Entrance to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Day trip to Hvar. Guided tour of Diocletian's Palace (Split). Internal flight. Free time in Paros and Ios. Half-day Paros beaches tour. Best of beaches tour Ios. Caldera walk in Santorini. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Meals Included  

6 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Itinerary Disclaimer  

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Important Notes  

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOTE:
During high season in Europe (May-October) we highly recommend booking reservations for any popular optional activities/museum tickets etc. in advance to avoid encountering sold-out activities on the ground while on tour.

Meals  

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Packing List  

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Spending Money  

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Highlights  

Visit stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park, Kick back on Corfu's beaches, Island-hop across Greece's idyllic Mediterranean, Treat your eyes to the views at the Bay of Kotor

About Accommodation  

The variety and local flavour of our accommodation is a favourite part of our European 18-to-Thirtysomethings trips. Although the properties we use are simply furnished and with few facilities, we base our choices on location, character and cleanliness. We will stay in a mixture of hotels, some hostels, and private rooms in local households.

Some accommodation on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing and even (on rare occasions) dormitory-style rooms for the whole group. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities.

Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken.

Note that most accommodation in Europe does not have air conditioning units in rooms. Air conditioning is not routinely installed in European homes and workplaces. However, nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights. If you do not already have one in your room, please ask your CEO to organize one for you with reception. For private accommodation please see tours in our Classic Travel Style.

Emergency Fund  

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

A Couple of Rules  

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.

Max Pax  

16

Feedback  

After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customersolutions@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you.

Solo Travellers  

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Group Leader  

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Minimum Age  

Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.

International Flights  

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

Optional Activities  

Zagreb
- Museum of Contemporary Art (30HRK per person)
- St Mark's Church (Free)
- Cathedral of the Assumption (Free)
- Museum of Broken Relationships (30HRK per person)
- Croatian Museum of Naive Art (20HRK per person)

Split
- Marjan's Peak Visit (30EUR per person)
- St Duje Cathedral Visit (15-40HRK per person)
- Bacvice Beach Visit (Free)
- Mestrovic Gallery (30HRK per person)

Trogir
- Trogir Excursion (15-41EUR per person)

Hvar
- Pakleni Islands Boat Cruise (800HRK per person)
- St. Stephen's Cathedral (10HRK per person)
- Hvar Fortress Visit (6EUR per person)

Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik City Wall Walk (35EUR per person)
- Sea Kayaking (36EUR per person)
- Rector's Palace (70HRK per person)
- Franciscan Monastery & Museum (30HRK per person)
- Museum of Croatian War of Independence (20HRK per person)
- War Photography Museum (10EUR per person)
- Cable Car Ride (150HRK per person)
- Kayaking Tour (Half-Day) (280HRK per person)

Lopud
- Lopud Island Visit

Kotor
- Donji Stoliv Hike
- The Ladder of Kotor Hike
- Kotor City Exploration (Free)
- Sea Kayaking (20EUR per person)
- Lake Skadar National Park
- Kotor Maritime Museum (4EUR per person)
- Sveti Ivan Fortress Hike

Perast
- Perast Visit

Risan
- Risan town and Roman Mosaics Visit (10EUR per person)

Herceg-Novi
- Herceg Novi Beach Visit

Tirana
- Dajti Ekspres Cable Car Ride (6EUR per person)
- National History Museum (2EUR per person)
- Piramida Visit (Free)
- National Gallery of Arts (2EUR per person)

Gjirokastër
- Gjirokaster Fortress

Butrint
- Butrint Archaeological Site Visit (20EUR per person)

Saranda
- Bay Visit (Free)
- Mirror Beach Visit

Corfu
- Palaio Frourio
- Archaeological Museum Corfu (3EUR per person)
- Achilleion Palace, Museum and Gardens (10EUR per person)
- Temple of Artemis (Free)

Athens
- Acropolis Museum Visit
- Roman Agora Visit (2EUR per person)
- Acropolis and Parthenon Visit (20EUR per person)
- Syntagma (Constitution) Square Visit (Free)
- National Archaeological Museum Visit (12EUR per person)
- Athens Sunset Bike Tour

Health  

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.