Zadar Off the Beaten Path Tour

Style:
Full-scale archaeological tour enchanced with astonishing scenery and local food
Period:
April to December
Duration:
8 h
The tour starts with a half-an-hour drive to Benković Castle which currently houses the Benkovac Museum. After a brief tour of this medieval castle and its exhibits, the trip continues to Asseria, a settlement dating back to prehistory, but currently featuring impressive Roman architecture...
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Tour intro

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Description

Technicalities

Useful tips

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Tour Introduction

The wider Zadar area encompasses astonishing natural, historical and cultural sites which are relatively unknown even to an average Croat, allowing us the privilege of going “below the radar” and experiencing a true off-the-beaten-path adventure.

The tour starts with a half-an-hour drive to Benković Castle which currently houses the Benkovac Museum. After a brief tour of this medieval castle and its exhibits, the trip continues to Asseria, a settlement dating back to prehistory, but currently featuring impressive Roman architecture. The first known residents of Asseria were the Liburnian tribes that had excellent relations with Romans, under whose governance this place was later “redecorated”. A walk along the 7 metres high, 3,2 metres thick and about 2,5 km long walls shall evoke the distant past of this once very important and powerful traffic and trade centre.

Not long after that we will make our third archaeological pit-stop: the ancient settlement of Varvaria (Croatian: Bribirska Glavica). This site is a true multi-layered archaeological gem which, alongside its impressive history, offers spectacular views on the surrounding valleys.

From there we will head towards a traditional family household to savour some local gastronomic delicacies in an authentic ambiance, continuing afterwards to the nearby Kamenjak hilltop to sip coffee while enjoying the scenery of Vrana Nature Park with its lake and the Kornati Islands National Park in the distance.

On our way back, we shall make one more stop in a small coastal town of Biograd na Moru for a quick look at an exhibition dedicated to the Gnalić shipwreck and its rich cargo display that had spent more than four centuries under the sea. This well-preserved treasure is what makes the Biograd Museum collection one of the most exclusive in Croatia.

This tour featuring hidden treasures of the past, authentic flavours and unparalleled scenery, narrated by our expert guide, will make you a better connoisseur of the area than the average local.

Itinerary & Map

  • Pick-up from a previously specified location
  • A short stop in Benkovac / Benković Castle and Museum
  • Exploring the historic settlements of Asseria and Varvaria
  • Traditional lunch in a family household
  • Stop at the Kamenjak viewpoint
  • Coffee stop in Biograd na Moru + an Ancient shipwreck exhibition
  • Return

Technicalities

Departure

Zadar, Croatia

Return

Zadar, Croatia

Tour Duration

8 h

Tour Includes

  • organization, insurance and VAT
  • Licensed English speaking tour guide
  • Pick-up from your accommodation by our professional English-speaking chauffeur in a comfortable luxury sedan car or passenger van
  • Entrance tickets as per programme

Tour Does Not Include

  • Tour moderation, supplement for tourist guides in other languages upon request.
  • Additional personal expenses of guests and what is not mentioned under “program includes”

Useful tips

Period

April to December

Tour style

Full-scale archaeological tour enchanced with astonishing scenery and local food

Difficulty

Moderate

Child friendly

No

Food

Domestic soup, different meat and vegetable options baked under the peka (iron bell), or grilled

Beverages

Water provided during the tour, domestically produced wines available for lunch

What to bring

Wear sneakers, bring a camera, sunscreen and a hat (in summertime)

Available options

The tour can be adjusted to meet clients’ preferences, and can include more or less of a certain sightseeing topic, participation in lunch preparation, visit to the local fair in Benkovac (on the 10th every month during the summer months

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