Croatia
Croatia: Treasure of the Adriatic Coast
Program No. 16636RJ
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Croatia: Treasure of the Adriatic Coast
Croatia: Treasure of the Adriatic Coast
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Participant Reviews
Based on 46 Reviews
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I highly recommend this Road Scholar tour for those who want to know how a nation survives domination by other states during its long history, recent war, and now has come to prosper. For those who like learning about Europe, in my mind this Road Scholar tour is essential. Perhaps unlike other Road Scholar tours, this one shows why membership in the European Union is so important!
— Review left November 12, 2025
Loved this trip and the group we were with. Learned so much. Really liked our tour guide Zoran Poljak. He gave us a very immediate/personal sense of the country, particularly the tensions during the Homeland War (and the wars over the last centuries) and how they have shaped the Balkans and Europe. The other tour guides were ok. One was absolutely not: Tony in Peljesac peninsula part of the trip. Sexist/inappropriate remarks. He went on a bit too much about the history of the locale (we're talking thousands of years here); spent an inordinate amount of time on Marco Polo (I walked away at this point). Frustrating too because there was so much more we could've learned. All hotels were good except for the Hotel Park, which has seen better days. The shower in our room was smaller than a phone booth. Buffets were good throughout the trip, especially at the Kompas in Dubrovnik. Absolute favorite times were when we got away from the cities and the crowds, which were awful, particularly in Zagreb and old city of Dubrovnik. National park, organic farm, wine tasting, final dinner at home of local resident/restaurant--all excellent. Also enjoyed the bus rides; landscape is incredible. So much to see. The bus itself was extremely comfortable, and hats off to our driver, Evan/John. Hope to stay in touch with some of the folks we met; lots of great conversations over coffee and wine. One thing consistently dislike about this and other Road Scholar trip to Italy is that so much is rushed because timetable is so tight. Hated having to rush through breakfasts because we were on the road sometimes as early as 8. Free time sometimes felt rushed. Bathroom breaks alone took up so much of our time each day--long lines everywhere, especially for women.
— Review left October 24, 2025
This trip was truly an experience to be treasured! We were a group of 14 which made the relationships between travelers more intimate and special! Our group was led by Tanja, who was extremely knowledgeable, organized, fun-spirited and friendly. She was always on top of every detail to make each person’s needs her priority. The tour itinerary was fabulous! We covered a lot of “territory” in the 12 days of touring Croatia- but never felt rushed. I felt like we had a balanced mix of seeing the cities, the smaller charming villages, farms, countryside, mountains, islands, vineyards, coastal areas … I was enchanted by the beauty of Croatia…I was awestruck by the scenery at every location we visited. Our tour director, Tanja and each of the other tour guides, enthusiastically shared their extensive knowledge of history, customs and culture. Hotel accommodations were fabulous. Our driver also did a great job - I felt safe and relaxed with him navigating and delivering us to each of our destinations. This was my first trip with Road Scholar… I have previously traveled with other tour groups but with this trip, I found that Road Scholar stands out above the others! I look forward to booking more travel adventures with Road Scholar! Sally Tucker CT USA 10/17/2025
— Review left October 17, 2025
Treasures of the Adriatic, our trip through Croatia, was top-notch in every conceivable way. Our primary guide was fabulous, each local guide was both well-informed and entertaining. Overall, this tour was a great and enjoyable learning experience.
— Review left October 15, 2025
Our Road Scholar guide was welcoming, available and ready to recommend in whatever areas we were interested, making this trip so personal, always ready for more and returning home having learned about the country we visited through stories, facts, fables and so much more.
— Review left October 3, 2025
This program was fantastic! The country is beautiful, and I learned so much about its history. We did some things that I doubt many other travel companies do, which made it extra special. If you have Darko as a tour leader, you are in for a treat! He’s the best!!
— Review left October 3, 2025
I loved this program because Croatia is a beautiful country but also because I learned a lot about the history of southern slavs - thanks to our knowledgable tour guide.
— Review left September 27, 2025
My trip to Croatia was incredible. The winning factor was the guide, Petra Lozica, who was excellent. I learned so much about the history and the culture. The group was phenomenal. I highly recommend Croatia.
— Review left September 18, 2025
I concur with Mitchell’s review.
Poor value on all fronts .
— Review left August 2, 2025
This trip was absolutely wonderful. Our group leader, Tanja Bosnic, was personable, unflappable and incredibly well organized. The local guides added so much to our understanding of each place we visited. Given how many great places that there are to visit in Croatia, this tour gave us a really good selection. Makes us want to go back!
All in all, it couldn't be better.
— Review left July 10, 2025
What a terrific experience. The two weeks flew by! Our guide was tremendous - knowledgable, thoughtful and caring. He posted the next day's activities so we knew what to expect. Loved every minute of the trip.
— Review left June 25, 2025
My wife and I recently returned from a Road Scholar trip to Croatia, and we can't recommend it highly enough. It was an experience that combined history, culture, and natural beauty with thoughtful guidance and deep learning.
Our tour leader, Petra, was an absolute standout. She brought the trip to life not just with her deep knowledge, but with her warmth, humor, and personal stories. Petra grew up in the region, and her anecdotes gave us an intimate window into Croatia's past and present — from the Yugoslav years to its emergence as a vibrant European nation. She made history engaging, current events approachable, and daily life relatable.
The local guides were also excellent — each one brought light to a different aspect of the region, with insights that added depth and context to the journey.
Croatia itself is a revelation — a country brimming with layered history, diverse cultural influences, and breathtaking scenery. Whether we were exploring Roman ruins, strolling along medieval city walls, or gazing out at the glittering Adriatic, there was always something to learn and savor. And let’s not forget the wine — absolutely fabulous, and a proud part of the country’s identity.
One of the best parts of traveling with Road Scholar is the people it attracts. We were surrounded by curious, thoughtful travelers — people who care about understanding the world, not just seeing it. Over the course of the trip, we bonded with like-minded souls who shared our values and interests — people we felt could genuinely become lifelong friends. That kind of connection doesn’t always happen on group tours, but with Road Scholar, it felt natural.
If you're looking for a journey that blends education, camaraderie, and the joy of discovery, this Road Scholar tour of Croatia is a wonderful choice. We returned home with a heart full of memories, a mind full of knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for a country that deserves to be far more widely known.
— Review left June 22, 2025
The main criticism of the trip was the food: Multiple nights at the hotel buffet were simply out of character with past experiences and inconsistent with the cultural immersive aspect of the tour. The food was terrible and in no way reflected local cuisine. The one hotel meal that was not a buffet was plain risotto for an appetizer followed by mashed potatoes and turkey. Someone joked, "Never had an all white themed meal before."
First night - disgusting buffet. Hardly edible. Park Hotel - subpar buffet. Kompass Hotel - two nights at a subpar hotel buffet. President Hotel- white themed meal ( i guess it was Thanksgiving - turkey and mashed potatoes, with some risotto starch to start.) That is half of the dinners. Plus, the two nights in Solin with only two restaurants to choose from ( both lousy). That's seven nights. RS gets an F for this.
The Split Hotel was not in Split although it was nice. It precluded us from exploring the old city on our own. Two nights of dinner in a town with two restaurants, both subpar at best. Walking around the old city and promenade at night is one of the joys of Split( we returned after the tour), but the tour should have made that possible.
The Kompass Hotel was nice but our room's view was that of a public staircase where the public could look into our room. Unacceptable. Especially, given the overall price of the trip and the quality of the food offerings, which were done as cheaply as possible.
Dejan was a very nice host. Mixed reviews on the local experts.
Croatia was beautiful and interesting. The RS trip was not. I would not recommend the tour. I have been on two other RS tours and this did not live up to my past experiences.
Mitch Miller
— Review left June 9, 2025
The ethereal beauty of theCroatian coast drove me to tears! As grand as are Split and Dubrovnik, the small towns of Troghir and the istrian Peninsula and the island of Korcula provide indelible memories that resonate and make one eager to relive the experience. And when you have a tour leader like Tanja Bosnic, nothing more could be desired!
— Review left June 8, 2025
The program provided everything I wanted exploring the Adriatic Coast from the proximity to water, the lush environment, the interest villages and regions and the good food. I'm motivated to return to the area again.
— Review left June 5, 2025
Excellent tour guide Dijan made the program delightful; I learned a lot! The field trips were a significant way to learn about the past and current society of Croatia.
— Review left May 31, 2025
What a wonderful group of world travelers we met on this program. Our tour
guide Tanja was fantastic. Our coach driver couldn't do enough for us. The
two of them were always ready to make our trip enjoyable
— Review left May 29, 2025
This program provided an excellent understanding of the significant, complex and challenging history of the beautiful country of Croatia and its people. It additionally sets forth current strengths and directions as it strives to succeed in present day Europe. I strongly endorse it.
— Review left May 24, 2025
Croatia is a beautiful country! Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park was breath taking! Opportunities were available to walk further throughout the park. Walking the walls of the old town of Dubrovnik is a must, if you are able to walk stairs and walk a distance. It is an additional fee, but so worth it. Wine tasting with food and having our farewell dinner in a 500-year-old home were also highlights. For those with dietary restrictions, your needs were met. Wonderful trip!
— Review left May 12, 2025
If you go on a RS tour in Croatia, schedule it when you can have Darko as the tour leader. He is everything we could want to lead the group.
— Review left October 27, 2024
This trip was varied and interesting. Our guide, Darko, provided information that enriched our experience. His good humor and patience set a very positive tone for the trip. There were no negative surprises-he kept us fully informed regarding the logistics which sometimes needed some flexibility. Darko talked about growing up in Croatia and attempted to teach us some Croatian. He obtained cello concert tickets for people who were interested. He is a treasure.
Anna at the fig farm went beyond showing us a fig farm. She was so generous about sharing the story of how they built the business and the struggles. Her daughter was interesting and fun to chat with.
— Review left October 25, 2024
This tour through Croatia really exceeded my expectations. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned and all the locations we visited were interesting and fun. We were well-pampered with good food and accommodations, and our motor coach was really nice (and Ivan, our driver, was highly-skilled). We enjoyed every one of our fellow tourists and hope to keep in touch via our WhatsApp group. Best of all, our trip leader, Petra, was wonderful and full of all sorts of insights about her homeland and the neighboring countries (meeting her husband and dog was a bonus). We came home feeling great about our trip and Road Scholar. Highly recommended!
— Review left October 22, 2024
The scenery was beautiful; I learned a great deal; and I never had to worry about the logistics as Road Scholar and our guide handled everything.
— Review left October 17, 2024
Darko was a delightful leader. We loved the Croatian food, people and the beautiful country. Visiting Bosnia was a world we have heard so much about and good for us to see. Understanding the wars Croatia has been through was an important reminder to us. I hope to see Croatia again.
— Review left October 2, 2024
This is a great itinerary. Hits all the highlights of Croatia. The hotels were beautiful! Loved all the food and Croatia has great pizza! Our guide Ivan was awesome! His knowledge and recommendations were perfect. Would highly recommend this tour. Croatia is a beautiful country.
— Review left September 24, 2024
Croatia is a true treasure with an excellent itinerary (May 15,2024) with an enthusiastic excellent leader Dejan. The destinations were well planned to provide an opportunity for a survey of the multiple attractions in Croatia from ancient cities to national parks, seaside resorts and cosmopolitan Zagreb. Recommended for free dinner in Zagreb is the Croatian specialty restaurant Vinodol just off the main square at 10 Nikola Tesla. City Museum is well worth a visit considering most other major museums closed due to 2020 earthquake damage. You may consider arrival a day early for additional exploration of Zagreb. Adjacent to Hotel Academia is an excellent Konsum Market in the Mall. There is a spectacular city gallery adjacent to St Marks in the Old City. Our group of 22 was closely knit and welcoming with a good mix of couples and singles. Those not Olympic athletes should be beware of high tub slippery showers in hotels in Solin and Dubrovnik; the ADA has not reached Croatia. Walking sticks advisable for hikes and cobblestone streets. Early spring is recommended to avoid both heat and tourist crowds; both Diocletian Palace and Dubrovnik are overrun with tourists. The local guides were informative although the Dubrovnik guide was perfunctory. Shoppers should explore Trogir, small and compact. Highlights include a local farm,water visit with lunch, a mill visit (serving some excellent flavored brandies, outstanding wine tasting and accompanying food near Dubrovnik, and the model farm visit/dinner the last night. Enjoy the contrasts with open eyes and the welcoming kind Croatians especially if you get Dejan for your tour leader. Five stars!
— Review left June 25, 2024
My husband and I have always travelled on our own, but our Road Scholar trip was fantastic. We learned so much more than if we'd been on our own, and the various guides were interesting and helpful. We had experiences we would not have found on our own, such as the visit to the small family farm or the wine tasting dinner at a regional vineyard. We enjoyed meeting our fellow travellers, and found the whole trip to be well balanced in terms of variety of activities and adventures, and also free time vs "tour time". Our main tour guide was fantastic - organized, insightful, wise, wonderful, enthusiastic and a joy to be with.
— Review left June 13, 2024
There needs to be improvement on the travel agents used. We missed flights going to Croatia and going home. There wasn’t enough time to catch flights very stressful.
— Review left June 6, 2024
Beautiful country and beautiful people with a lot of history!
— Review left May 24, 2024
Overall, a very good trip. Croatia is a fascinating country with lots to offer for tourists. Our guide Darko was truly outstanding and was a definite highlight of the trip. More choice in meals would be appreciated.
— Review left May 16, 2024
I am so happy I took this tour, even though it was a bit difficult for me, physically. I sat out 2 afternoons, happily ensconced at a café, while the others climbed a few more stairs! The beauty of Croatia is absolutely breathtaking; I couldn't stop taking photographs! And I was astonished to find myself in Bosnia, standing on the Mostar Bridge. I remembered with clarity the terrible wars that were going on the region in the 1990s and I was hit by an intense emotional reaction to finding myself in that location. That side trip to Mostar was an unexpected, but very welcome, experience.
— Review left October 18, 2023
An excellent and comprehensive look at a beautiful country -- it's history, scenery, and culture. Zvonimir was an excellent guide, bringing knowledge, enthusiasm, and energy to our group. Our group was one of the best parts of a trip that exceeded our very high expectations for Road Scholar.
— Review left October 18, 2023
This is an amazing tour! Croatia is a beautiful country with a fascinating and complex history. The islands, mountains, and historical sights are magnificent. We learned so much about Croatia’s struggle to become the independent country that it is today. A wonderful trip with delightful companions! Outstanding field trips, group leader, Nasrin, and guides.
— Review left October 3, 2023
This was an excellent introduction to Croatia. The entire trip was well-planned, professionally conducted, and a lot of fun!
— Review left May 24, 2023
Croatia is a very beautiful country. The program selected locations from the North to South. It provided participants the opportunity to learn about the culture, history and economy.
— Review left May 24, 2023
Increased my knowledge of our world! Croatia is a beautiful and interesting country to tour and invites you to come back.
— Review left May 24, 2023
This was a wonderful trip. Petra, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of historical and current day information about Croatia. The local guides were excellent. The country is beautiful! We visited the three sizeable cities as well as half a dozen towns. The hotels were all good, some better than others. The bathrooms in Zagreb were small but the breakfasts were great. In Louvran, the bathroom was slightly better however the bedroom had a weird layout. The hotel in Split was better and the one in Dubrovnik was the best. The staffs were good in all of the hotels as were all of the breakfast buffets. There was good shopping in Zagreb and also in some of the smaller villages. Lots of tourist type stuff but good quality and reasonable prices on gold jewelry in some of the small shops. Most of the food and restaurants were good to very good. The bus and driver was very good, same for the luggage handling. We had a very nice group of people on our tour. All in all, it was a great trip.
— Review left May 23, 2023
It's hard for me to believe that other tour agencies could provide, at such reasonable cost, the overall experiences that Road Scholar offers.
— Review left May 21, 2023
This program captured the essence of the country and its people. I'm in love with Croatia!
— Review left July 1, 2019
What a wonderful, beautiful surprise Croatia turned out to be! The coastline views were spectacularly beautiful. Our tour guide, Nasrin, was extremely knowledgeable, caring and thoughtful about the group's needs, and she has a wonderful sense of humor. Our subject matter guides were very well informed and fully answered the group's questions. Our accommodations were lovely, especially the former Hapsburg Mansion in Opatija and Kompas Hotel in Dubrovnik. The bus driver, Tomo, was wonderful as he navigated us on some very twisty roads along the coast. I absolutely loved this trip! One highlight was dinner at a 1500 year old family home/restaurant in the outskirts of Dubrovnik -- the meal was one of the best, the organic garden so impressive and farmhouse kitchen and dining room so inviting.
— Review left June 17, 2019
I highly recommend taking this trip to visit Croatia. The country is beautiful and the people are very friendly. Our tour leader, Nasrin El Gharni, was exceptional. Her knowledge of her country that she shared with our group gave me a new found appreciation for Croatia and the struggle it has gone through for its independence. Croatia is only the second country I have visited that I've felt, "I could live here." (Ireland being the other!)
— Review left June 17, 2019
Croatia: Treasure of the Adriatic Coast was a wonderful adventure and learning experience. I had always wanted to visit Croatia, and was not at all disappointed with the beauty of the country. But I also learned a great deal about the history, culture, and challenges faced by Croatians. I went a few days before the program started in order to visit Slovenia and other sites near Zagreb. Road Scholar was great about helping with those arrangements. I especially want to state my appreciation and fondness for our superb trip leader, Nasrin! I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left June 14, 2019
Croatia is a wonderful place to explore especially if Nasrin El Gharni is your guide. She made the trip exceptional for us while exploring a new culture with an interesting history.
— Review left June 13, 2019
First, Croatia has stunningly beautiful and varied landscapes, seascapes, and towns that will not disappoint you--I enjoyed every minute of this tour! The itinerary was excellent: every single location was full of beauty, historical interest, great food, and friendly local people. I found our tour director Nasrin to be very kind, efficient, hard-working, and full of humour: a genuinely exceptional person! I highly recommend this program. My only criticism is this: oftentimes the local guides, very pleasant and knowledgeable, had the group standing in one place on town visits for too long at a time, which got both a bit fatiguing and a bit dull. (One can of course choose to step away from the group for a bit to wander around, which I did.) Much better in my opinion would have been for them to have given information while walking onward at a leisurely pace. But this is really a minor criticism, and overall I absolutely loved this trip!
— Review left May 30, 2019
If you wish to learn and enjoy "old Europe" this experience is for you. Great food, great sights and great people.
— Review left May 28, 2019
I think we all expected Croatia to be beautiful, but we didn't know it would be stunningly environmentally green, mind-blowing gorgeous, clean, clear, friendly, modern, rich in world history, and so courageously successful.
— Review left April 25, 2019