Combine a guided visit to one of Croatia’s most revered national parks with a trip to a local winery on this full-day private tour. Take boat trips across Krka National Park, see the waterfalls and the monastery, and follow it up with a tour, tasting and lunch at the local Vizzulin Winery. With pick-up from your hotel and a private driver-guide to transport you directly to and from the sights while filling you in on the area’s history, geology and scenery, it’s an engaging and efficient way to use your time.
Your driver-guide will collect you from your hotel in Šibenik, Trogir or Split and take you to Krka National Park, one of Croatia’s most-visited parks due to its scenic waterfalls and abundant flora. Starting in the town of Skradin on the edge of the park, you’ll board a small passenger ferry for a half-hour ride to Skradinski Buk, the longest series of waterfalls in the park. With 17 separate falls and a set of walkways alongside the Krka River, there are a variety of different viewpoints and lookouts to explore.
After some time enjoying your surroundings, you’ll board a second boat for a 45-minute trip to the island of Visovac. Dating to 1445, the island was created to accommodate the Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy and the Church of Our Lady of Visovac, which remain in use today. You’ll have half an hour to explore the grounds and the small museum inside, which details the history of the island and contains several important religious relics.
From there, you’ll take a quick water taxi to the mainland. Then, join your driver for a trip through the countryside to the intimate Vizzulin Winery, just outside the town of Drniš. The owners will greet you and lead you on a tour of their fields, filling you in on the benefits of the local terroir and the type of grapes and processes they use. The owners are particularly welcoming, and proud to share their story and traditions with visitors, making this more of a cultural interaction than a simple wine experience.
Once you’ve seen the vineyard, you’ll head inside their traditional cottage for a wine tasting, which includes a cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pošip and a rosé as well as their traditional dessert wine, prošek, all from the estate. Your wines will be paired with a selection of homemade breads, paté, meats and cheeses, all locally produced by the family or nearby townspeople. After enjoying this leisurely meal, your driver will take you back to your hotel.