Arrival to Zagreb, Croatia
When I got off the plane, I felt like I could fly. I only had my backpack with me, so I’m ready to start my trip with Traverse Journeys to Croatia! A cab driver from the area was waiting for me, and the company paid for him. The man was nice, but his English wasn’t very good. He used Google Translate to help us talk in the car. Women were outside at night, which told me it was safe. The scene here looked pretty quiet. That made this place feel good to me.
I was shocked when I got to our hotel. When I travel, I stay at hotels most of the time. It was really nice here! They told me to get food in the eating area at the front. I was tired from the trip, so I went to my room to drop off my bag. After that, I went to the hall. There were more and more knots in my stomach. I think I was scared to meet the other guests on our trip. We are a group of girls, it turns out. It will be fun to go on this trip with Traverse Journeys through Croatia. Even though I wasn’t sure about all of us women, I tried to stay positive. When I met the women, I felt less stressed. All of them looked pretty chill.
I wasn’t fully awake yet because I had been moving a lot lately, but I was excited for my first adventure in Zagreb! Our trips would start the next day since it was already night.
Day 1: The trip begins in Zagreb, Croatia with Traverse Journeys
My body’s clock woke me up at 7 a.m. We would all get together for breakfast first, and then we would all walk around town. The walk was very interesting and took about two hours. Everything new in my mind felt like it was going to be too much to handle.
Croatia has a terrible past that many people feel bad about. Don’t talk about the war with them because it might remind them of a bad time in their life. I had a sad feeling in my heart. A lot of things happen in the world, but not all of them are heard.
History of Zagreb, Croatia
In the middle of town, there is a tall figure of Josip Broz, better known as Tito, riding his horse. He was a communist rebel in Yugoslavia and had come to power in Croatia. A lot of people in Croatia have mixed views about this man. He had died in 1980. So it’s still new to some people who live in the country. People thought that Tito’s decision was a good one.
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After the tour was over, we had some free time. I’m excited about this Traverse Journeys trip to Croatia! That they give tourists extra time so they can go on adventures on their own I thought was great. I’m getting antsy because I can’t wait to explore the town. Two of the girls from our tour chose to join me. We were getting hungry after walking around town for a while.
In the end, we found a cute spot outside where we could eat. So, the three of us agreed on the spot and liked how it felt there. Over the course of several drinks, we started telling each other our personal stories. It became cloudy in my eyes. Our host, Ashley, told us that tomorrow’s trip would start early and involve hiking. Two of us didn’t feel so good the next day…
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Day 2: Plitvice National Park Hikes
One of the three partygoers woke up the next morning with big eyes and fluffy tails. I couldn’t believe how quickly she got better. It hurt like hell to think straight, and my head was banging. Thoughts came in waves. Over at the breakfast table, I saw the other party girl. Because she was wearing sunglasses, no light could make her hangover worse. I was glad I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Plitvice National Park was the place to be today. This spot is why I really wanted to go to Croatia! Instagram users have been posting pictures of this spot for a while now. As we started our hike in the park, I felt overwhelmed by its beauty, and sometimes my hangover went away! It was going really well on the trip with Traverse Journeys in Croatia.
The Beauty of Nature
The water had a clear teal blue shine to it. It was full of life, and I kept wanting to jump in. The group went at their own pace. A few of the girls and I went down a road with fewer people. We found an open bat cave up a flight of stairs! What a sight! The sides looked like caves, but the top was wide open so you could see the blue sky. From above, some tourists were coming down. Some of the cars are parked there.
One more route led you to the big falls. They fell from a height of about 70 to 80 meters. I found out why the water was colored by reading about the park in Lonely Planet. This park has both top and lower parts. Springs deep in the ground fill many of the lakes. The water picks up different minerals and living things as it flows through the limestone and other rocks.
This is what each color is made of and why they don’t always look the same. It looked like you’d have to spend all day exploring this park to see most of it. But we didn’t have much time. Take it all in!
Day 3: Trip to Croatia with Traverse Journeys in Zadar
We got to a nice hotel in Zadar, Croatia, the night before. This town is nice. I got the sense that this place was friendly. There are Roman ruins all over the town that show how the area has changed over time. There are also a few tall medieval buildings in the town. There was a lot to see in this small town!
When I had some free time, I went for a walk. When I got close to the water, I heard a strange sound. Then I saw that I had found the sun greeting and the sea organ next to it. I was amazed by how beautiful nature can be. The lit floor with its lit glass that mirrors the sky is the sun salutation. People who live there say that the lights are most magical when the sun is rising or setting.
Day 4: Explore Zadar on the Trip to Croatia with Traverse Journeys
I was thrilled when I woke up the next morning. I liked having the day off today! I looked at the Lonely Planet book and Google before I went out. The five wells in their town area made it sound like a fun place to be. Can you figure out what it’s called? 5 Wells Square is the address.
The sky turned dark as clouds started to roll in. I considered going back, but a park with lots of trees caught my eye. Ledana Park is the name of this park right next to the street. It has stairs all over the park that you can use to get to the top. This spot in the small town felt like a safe haven, and at night, partygoers hang out right next to it.
Day 5 & 6: Trip to Croatia with Traverse Journeys in Split
Our walking tour began as soon as we got to Split, Croatia. There is a lot to see here, and the old houses are really impressive. The great trip was given to us by a woman from Green Sail. We were going to help the group clean up a beach the next day when we met up with them. The goal of this group is saving the environment and oceans.
We saw a lot of different things on the walking tour. A lot of the houses are next to each other in the middle of town, either inside or outside the old walls.
Things to see in Split, Croatia:
- Diocletian’s Palace
- Cathedral of Dominius
- Temple of Jupiter
- Grgur Ninski Statue
- Golden Gate
- Iron Gate
- Vestibule
Sunrise/ Sunset spots in Split, Croatia:
- Marjan Stairs
- Vrh Marjana- Telegrin
(You can use google maps to find these places)
My plan was to walk up Marjan Park to watch the sun rise. I could feel the nature around me with every step. Some people from the area walked by me as if this were their daily morning workout. There were some steep steps on the way, but I got to the top in about an hour.
The view was well worth going up and down the stairs. On one side, you could see the water and, on a clear day, one or two islands off in the distance. The town could be seen from the other side by the Talk Mountains.
Game of Thrones: The Mother of Dragons
Split, Croatia is the place to go if you’re a huge Game of Thrones fan. They filmed the town of Mereen and the mother of dragons at Fortress Klis. From Split, it takes about 30 minutes to get there by Uber. You can also take the bus. The building and views will blow your mind once you get there.
Day 7: Road trip to Croatia with Traverse Journeys to Ston
Our next plan was to ride to the east of Croatia. We had to go through Bosnia first, though. Mountain ranges were all around us as we drove in Bosnia. As we went by, we saw beautiful lakes that looked like great places to relax. We had a few hours to look around Mostar, Bosnia, before continuing our trip to Croatia. The streets were paved with cobblestones, and shops were lined up one after the other.
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After our quick visit, it was time to stop and enjoy an oyster happy hour in Ston, Croatia. This is where the Wall of Ston is and it’s made out of stone too!
Day 8: Trip to Croatia with Traverse Journeys in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia, was the cherry on top of this trip. A lot of scenes from Game of Thrones were made here. Here is where King’s Landing really is. There are islands around this city, and the Iron Throne is on one of them. You can go there and take a picture if you have time!
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King’s Landing[/caption]
City walls
Our group walked around town together for a while and then split up. A group of girls and I chose to walk along the city walls, which used to protect this area. With all the stops for pictures, it took us about two hours. But it was amazing! In the past, guards would walk these walls. There were just a few ways to climb the walls. From some points of view, it seems like the water never ends. In other places, the red-roofed houses look great.
A great spot to see a beautiful view would be SRD viewpoint. There are many ways to get around the city. You can walk, take a bus, an Uber, or even a cable car. On top of that, there’s a diner where you can eat and take in the view. There is a cross here where some people may say goodbye to a loved one.
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Road Trip of a Life Time
Everything we looked into and saw in such a short time was worth it! Also, this Traverse Journeys trip to Croatia brought our group closer together, and it felt like we had known each other for a long time. It made everything even more fun because our group felt this way. It’s possible for walks with small groups to be the best.
Swedish camping is great if you like being outside and seeing beautiful nature. That land is beautiful and has lots of lakes. The Swedish law called “freedom to roam” can be learned about. Or learn more about the great things about hiking within Sweden. Check it out!
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All of the links are affiliate links, which means I can make a commission. But don’t worry, it doesn’t affect your price. Your price will be the same.