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 Enchanting. Spectacular. Magical. Croatia is a country spoiled by the natural beauty of cascading waterfalls and impossibly blue seas, set against medieval castles and ancient walled villages. It's a country so diverse that it's tough to describe in a nutshell. Add to this the friendly locals and great Mediterranean food and there's no wonder why many people call this country Europe's best kept secret
During our 10 incredible gay group tour days in Croatia, we'll stay within the ancient walled town of Split, island hop to the cosmopolitan town of Hvar, and spend a few days getting to know the incredible city of Dubrovnik, where we can, of course, discover many Game of Thrones filming locations as we explore this historic city together. And if all that isn't enough, we'll even take a day trip across the border into Bosnia to experience the beauty of Mostar.
Being a relatively small country means spending less time in a bus/boat on travel days between all of the diverse destinations and more time out there soaking it all in! Ready to find out more about this 10-day experience in Croatia? Check out tour description below for info, then contact us if you've got any questions. See you in Croatia!
• All taxes
• All land and boat transfers within Croatia
• Accommodations for your 10-day gay tour experience
• Afternoon exploring Plitvice National Park including park entrance
• City tour of Zagreb with local guide
• City tour of Dubrovnik with local guide
• Full day trip to Mostar including local guided tour
• Full day island/beach hopping speedboat adventure from Hvar
• All full breakfasts
• Gay group travel within Croatia
• Welcome dinner
• Knowledgeable and fun gay group trip leader
• Meals and drinks outside of those listed above
• Activities outside of the those listed above
• International Airfare
• Arrival/departure airport transfers
• Optional gratuities
Additional spending budget?
Your big-ticket items are included through the trip, but you'll want to budget for additional spending such as additional meals, drinks, shopping, activities, etc. These costs can vary dramatically with differing personal habits but we suggest expecting to spend an additional €1000 EUR at the lower end for the more budget-conscious and €1400 EUR at the higher end for the splurgers. We suggest arriving to Croatia with approximately 300 EUR in cash for those items that can't be paid for with a credit card.
Day 1
Zagreb, Croatia's capital, is a city rich in history and culture. Stroll through its charming medieval old town, visit fascinating museums, and relax in lush parks. Experience vibrant street art, lively markets, and a thriving café scene. Zagreb offers a perfect mix of traditional and modern, making it an ideal destination for a memorable city break.
It's here where we all come together to start our adventure at 4:00pm on day 1. If you're flying into Croatia on this day just try to arrive in time to get to our group hotel... or if you'd prefer to arrive a day (or more!) early and you'd like some assistance with setting up any extra nights in our group hotel just let us know, we'd be happy to help.
Days 2, and 3
The iconic walled village and home to the famous Diocletian's Palace at the edge of the sparkling Adriatic sea. That's where we're heading on day 2, but first we're going to spice up our second day together with a visit to the incredible Plitvice National Park! This must-see park is home to some of the most amazing natural waterfall formations imaginable with water cascading in every direction off the cliffs so bring your cameras! After a few hours at the park we'll continue our way down to the coast to our first medieval home of the trip, the coastal city of Split.
Croatia's coastal gem, Split boasts a stunning blend of ancient and modern. Explore the UNESCO-listed Diocletian's Palace, enjoy the lively waterfront promenade, and relax on beautiful Adriatic beaches. With its rich history, vibrant nightlife, and delicious cuisine, Split offers a perfect mix of culture and leisure.
Days 4, 5 and 6
It's island time! Take the historical old town of Split, then add a cosmopolitan atmosphere and beautiful beaches and you get Hvar! The island of Hvar is just a quick 1-hour ferry ride from the mainland to the town of Stari Grad where you'll find the laid back island life mixing with the jetsetting Europeans in a picturesque seaside town.
It's an idyllic Croatian island, known for its crystal-clear waters, lush lavender fields, and even its vibrant nightlife. Historic Hvar Town with its ancient fortress and charming stone streets is a perfect place to call home for a few days and a perfect destination for both relaxation and adventure in the Adriatic.
One of the best ways to experience Hvar and its surrounding islands and beaches is by speedboat so we've included a beautiful island and beach hopping day trip to enjoy the most unique coves, cliffs, bays, and beaches of the area.
Days 7, 8, 9, and 10
Like the icing on the cake, our last stop of Dubrovnik is likely the most famous of Croatia's cities for its fantastically preserved fortressed old town. It's really a breathtaking sight that'll have you imagining the days of long-ago battles when the locals would defend their beautiful home. There aren't many places in the world that hold so much history in such a preserved state and it's sure to be a highlight of anyone's trip here!
We'll take an unforgettable full-day trip from Dubrovnik to the picturesque city of Mostar in nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina too. Mostar is renowned for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) and charming Ottoman-era architecture. With a local guide, we'll wander through the cobbled streets of the old town, explore historic mosques, and enjoy stunning river views. A city rich in history and culture, Mostar offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western influences.
Our time together ends back in Dubrovnik on the 10th day, so grab those last-minute souvenir fridge magnets, a last drink with your new friends, and the last breath of Croatia air before heading out on the 10th and final day. You're welcome to book your departing flight from Dubrovnik any time on this day.
We put a LOT of time into finding the perfect accommodation for your trip. After rigorous wifi signal testing, fluffing pillows, and taking a shower or two, we've narrowed down our favorite properties. Check out our approved accommodation to see where we've stayed in the past and where we'll likely be staying on your trip.
Zagreb, Croatia
Canopy by Hilton Zagreb City Centre Hotel
Mere minutes from Glavni train station, this refined hotel in the city center is under 2 km from the bustling Bana Jelacic Square, filled with museums and restaurants. These beautiful rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and sitting areas, as well as minifridges and Nespresso machines. Amenities include a local restaurant, a gym, and a vintage-chic cafe.
Split, Croatia
Cornaro Hotel Split
 As an urban lifestyle hotel in the city center, the Cornaro Hotel reflects a vibrant atmosphere and pulsing rhythm of the ancient city of Split. Overlooking the Port of Split on the Adriatic Sea, this unique hotel is minutes from the 4th-century Diocletian's Palace and to Bacvice beach. Eccentric rooms have colorful, contemporary decor and provide minibars, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs and safes. The spa offers a sauna, a hot tub and a gym.
Hvar, Croatia
Pharos Hvar Bayhill Hotel
Offering views of the Mediterranean Sea, this informal hotel is situated minutes from Hvar Cathedral and Španjola Fortress. Modern rooms and suites feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and safes. Other amenities include an outdoor beachclub with a gorgeous pool, 2 bars and a restaurant. The outdoor pool is surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and features and a terrace with sunbeds where guests can enjoy a refreshing cocktail from the nearby pool bar.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Lero Hotel
This contemporary hotel is only 4 minutes from Bellevue Beach and is one of the closest hotels to Old City and the medieval Walls of Dubrovnik. Additional amenities include an outdoor pool, a spa area with fitness room, a sauna and a steam room. All modernly furnished rooms are air-conditioned and come with a flat-screen satellite TV, a safe, a minibar and a kettle. Private bathrooms include a bath or shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer.
*Please note that due to availability, these exact hotels may not all be available during all Croatia trips. However, we will always replace these with similar hotels, and will never downgrade.
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The Climate
Our trips are scheduled in the warmer summer months when we can expect plenty of warmth and sunshine. Temperatures will vary from warm to hot depending on your chosen travel month and itinerary stop. From May to September we can expect temperatures in the high 70’s and 80’s Farenheit (high 20’s Celsius) during the day. That said, weather can sometimes be unpredictable so it's always good to pack a “just in case” outfit for the odd rainy day.
The People & Gay Community
The people of Croatia have been through a tumultuous history of conflict and have remained a strong and proud group of people. Their language, Croatian, has several dialects in different areas of the country but is all part of a Slavic group of languages. Travelers usually find it tough to speak, but don't worry, there is a very large understanding of English in Croatia, especially in the areas we'll be visiting. We always encourage travelers to learn at least a couple words while you're here so ask your trip leader to teach you something!
The Roman Catholic church still has a sizeable influence on the country, but LGBT rights here have been advancing quite quickly in recent years with LGBT couples now with almost identical rights to those of heterosexual couples. In 2015, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) ranked Croatia 5th in terms of LGBT rights out of 49 observed European countries. The gay community in Croatia isn't as large and visible as some areas of the world, but there is nightlife in the city of Zagreb and pride festivals in Zagreb and Split.
The Cuisine
Croatian cuisine tends to change quite substantially depending on the region, with all kinds of delicious flavors reminiscent of the countries nearby. Pasta is quite popular inland, while seafood is all over the coastline. Think black pepper, paprika and garlic flavors inland, and olive oil, rosemary and sage at the coast. And to wash it all down there are hundreds of wineries all over the country offering both reds and whites, as well as many different varieties of beers. Want something stronger? Try Rakija. Detours doesn't believe in limiting your choices by including all of your meals at pre-decided restaurants as part of the trip package. Instead, we include all of your breakfasts to start your day off, then we explore all of the different restaurant options available for lunch and dinner. This way we can eat when we want, where we want, and spend what we want! Your trip leader definitely has their favorite spots so if you'd like some advice on the best in each location, just check with them.
What to bring?
Our advice is simple. Pack your bag, then take half of those things out and leave them back home. It’s common to hear people wishing they’d packed less stuff, but we’ve never heard anyone complain that they didn’t bring enough. Even if you realize you forget to pack some crucial item you can always pick up a replacement once you arrive in Croatia. We'll include some trip-specific packing advice based on expected weather as part of our update email to you, sent 90 days prior to your trip.
Money
These days it seems that banks find every opportunity to ding us with fees from home and at each ATM we use. That's why we suggest using a credit card with no international fee, and bring some EURO cash with you too (Croatia started using the Euro as their currency in 2023). You still may need to use an ATM along the way, but it's best to try to minimize the number of visits. Travelers checks are a thing of the past so we don’t recommend them any more.
Tipping
Tipping isn’t a native Croatian custom, however, it is always appreciated by local service staff and has become more expected in tourist areas in recent years. We suggest tipping for any services that go above and beyond expectations. That extra bit on top of your dinner bill is very appreciated by the service staff.
Accommodation
We have pretty high standards when it comes to choosing our accommodations, and trust us, we’ve done plenty of room-sniffing, pillow-patting, bed-jumping and bathroom inspections to make sure we stay at quality spots. To be approved as our accommodations provider, a hotel/guesthouse must: be locally owned (to support the local community), be in an amazing location (close to the beach or other hot spots), AND be gay-owned or gay-friendly. We won't be staying in 5-star Ritz-Carltons but we also won't subject you to anything we wouldn't want to stay in ourselves. Clean, comfortable, well-located spots that'll put a smile on your face, you can count on that!
Trip Leaders
Our trips are led by one of our own gay trip leaders. They're there with you every day and their job is to help ensure that this is your trip of a lifetime by taking the hassle out of your trip and enabling you to experience everything you came to Croatia for. Consider them like a friendly concierge that's traveling along with you. All of our trip leaders are gay and all are well-traveled and experienced in the destination they're leading in, so they'll be a great part of your experience!
Alarm Clocks
We do absolutely everything possible to avoid needing such a mundane awakening. A world without alarm clocks is one we want to be part of, and your “rise and shine” while in Croatia should come from the sound of crashing waves or church bells in the distance. You can sleep soundly knowing there are no early departures/flights scheduled on this itinerary.
Your Group
Our groups are run with a maximum of 16 travelers. Ages of group members vary but most of our travelers are between 40 and 60 years. Whatever the ages on our trips everyone's already got something in common, an exciting new experience in a new country. Each group is led by trip leader who is there to ensure everything goes off without a hitch, allowing you to focus on having the time of your life! We welcome both men and women onto our trips although it’s important to know that most groups are 100% gay men.
A Little Bit About Modesty
The areas of Croatia that we'll be visiting are more open-minded than the rural countryside and most people will be welcoming of homosexuality. That said, public displays of affection are not common here for the gays or the straights so as some respect for the locals we just suggest that you keep your affection for your partner to more private areas - such as your hotel. :)
Solo Travelers
Traveling solo? Great! Lots of our travelers come solo and our trip will provide plenty of chances to meet great people both inside and outside of our group, including other solo travelers. As far as your accommodations go, you’ve got two choices. We can either pair you up with another solo group member in a room with two beds for no extra charge, or you can have your own room for a reasonable surcharge.
Electrical Outlets
Croatia uses a "type C" and "type F" plug, the same as most European countries and several other places in the world. The voltage is 230V with 50 Hz frequency. These days, the majority of items that are plugged into an outlet are built to handle varying voltage and frequency levels, but just to be sure, we suggest checking your item for its accetable range.
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