Croatia, Slovenia & The Balkans
Croatia & Slovenia Escorted Travel
| Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 Day Affordable Croatia Book By Apr 1, 2027 & Save! |
Nov '27 - Mar '28 | 2 Zagreb, 2 Opatija, 1 Plitvice Lakes, 2 Split | Off Season | $1399 | $2499* |
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9 Day Affordable Croatia Book By Apr 1, 2027 & Save!
Air & Land: $2499*
Land Only: $1399
2 Zagreb, 2 Opatija, 1 Plitvice Lakes, 2 Split
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Nov '27 - Mar '28
Reviews
I cannot rave enough about our incredible tour guide Kruno. He was extremely knowledgeable and if he didn't know an answer he would go out of his way to find out and get back to me. He was so accommodating as our group had a large age range and made sure to make everyone feel included. He gave great recommendations for us to do during our free time. And so kind and funny! Never pushy. He truly made the trip so seamless, and my family and I could really relax and not worry about a thing. My parents have been on at least 9 Gate One tours and they agree -- he has been the BEST tour guide. He needs a raise or a promotion -- anything to make sure you keep this incredible person. Also -- I would like to give a shout-out to our bus driver, Dalibor. I would trust my life in his hands given how he navigated some tight spaces, wow. Also, incredible open and welcoming -- I loved talking with him and learning more about Croatia. He may not work for Gate1 specifically, but I hope you might pass along this feedback to the charter bus company.
Jean L.
My daughter, Alison, and I had a wonderful trip. Our tour manager, Mario, went above and beyond to take care of the group from start to finish. He provided excellent service and was friendly, patient, and very knowledgeable about the countries we visited. The local guides were also great at their presentations. Lastly, our driver, Ivan, did an excellent job navigating our destinations; I felt both safe and comfortable throughout the journey. Thank you for a memorable experience. I look forward to traveling with Gate 1 again.
Ashie H.
Nikolai was the BEST tour manager I have ever had and I've been traveling for years! Alexander the driver was also the best. He handled the bus amazing, had full control of the bus.
Judith R.
Mario was truly the best group leader we could have asked for. He is so kind, warm, funny, friendly, spoke perfect English, and made a clear effort to get to know everyone in our group. Mario gave us very clear instructions on where we needed to be and at what time, and he was extremely gracious with us when it was clear we were tired after a long day or it was very early in the morning. Our driver Marian was also great, safely navigating our coach through very narrow winding roads in the mountains of Croatia. All of the hotels selected for us were clean, had friendly staff, good food, and were in good locations. We truly did not want to leave the Amfora and the Royal Neptun - truly some of the nicest hotels we have ever been to. This was our second Gate 1 trip and will not be our last. We had such a fabulous experience and we are already discussing our next Gate 1 trip and we will be sure to request Mario as our guide again! Thank you so much for the best 10 days in such a beautiful country, we miss it already!!
Nicole D.
Elvis, our tour director, has so many good qualities that it is hard to list them all. First, he imparted so much knowledge to us while keeping us on time and entertained and watched over very carefully for our safety. Along with that, he is personable and caring, while being an excellent problem solver with well-thought out answers to our many questions. The list of tour guides that were chosen for this particular trip were all excellent, funny and shared personal stories along the way. The motels were all very welcoming, comfortable, and clean along with serving excellent breakfasts. And our driver Matjia was top notch, and we always felt comfortable & safe with his driving, which was quite challenging in many places. What a combo you offered here with Elvis, Matjia and the tour guides --- they made the trip a long lasting memory for us all. A big thanks to them from the Barneses.
Donna B.
As we ( my wife and I) are very happy with the tour and we wish to express our profound gratitude to Gate 1 Travel Company. We are first time customers and yet, we have been sold. We can foresee the future trips planning, as a group. There are many good things we can say. Tour manager, local guide in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ms. Tina deserved the compliments and praise for the excellence in providing her caring service with unparalleled good attitude towards all members of the group. Hats off to Gate 1 and Tina. Gate 1 will do better and better so long as you have great employees, like Tina. We have travelled many countries for several years. We had been on small tour groups. hence, the comparisons had been made with our past experiences.
Shwe T.
As we ( my wife and I) are very happy with the tour and we wish to express our profound gratitude to Gate 1 Travel Company. We are first time customers and yet, we have been sold. We can foresee the future trips planning, as a group. There are many good things we can say. Tour manager, local guide in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ms. Tina deserved the compliments and praise for the excellence in providing her caring service with unparalleled good attitude towards all members of the group. Hats off to Gate 1 and Tina. Gate 1 will do better and better so long as you have great employees, like Tina. We have travelled many countries for several years. We had been on small tour groups. hence, the comparisons had been made with our past experiences.
Shwe T.
My 10 day trip to Croatia was fabulous! This was my third trip with Gate One and I am never disappointed, they think of everything. Not only did we see all the wonderful sites of the area we also toured some off the beaten path countryside treasures. I will definitely take another trip with Gate One, they do everything first class. Our tour manager, Ines terrific.
Pamela K.
I cannot express how wonderful our trip was. Our tour manager, Primoz, was excellent and took very good care of the group. Our driver was top notch and super competent. All the tours were well planned. Our weather was perfect. The other people in our group were kind and engaging. The food was good. All in all, it was a perfect vacation. Thank you Gate1!
Doni M.
We recently returned from our tour of Croatia, and we are writing to let you know what an incredible experience we had, largely thanks to our outstanding tour manager, Nicola. Nicola is an absolute asset to Gate 1. His extensive knowledge of Croatia's history was incredibly impressive and added immense value to our journey. He managed the entire trip with fantastic humor, making every day enjoyable, and he was consistently accommodating, attentive, and professional. You have an excellent tour manager on your team, and because of the high quality of service he provided, we will certainly be recommending your company to others and looking forward to traveling with you again in the future.
Lawrence N.
My husband and I want you to know how absolutely FANTASTIC our Croatian guides were! Both Ivan and Alan were professional, friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, funny, organized, and PERFECT! Honestly, they could not have been better guides. We had such a great time with both of them. They work together very well. We feel so lucky to have had them for our guides. They made our visit to Croatia wonderful. We want Gate 1 to know how hard they worked to make sure we were treated well. Everything ran smoothly because of them; they always went the extra mile. They are simply the best, and they deserve top commendation!
Jane G.
We would like to express our admiration for Damir our tour guide. He was tireless in keeping us in excellent humor and his knowledge of the area was fantastic. His years of experience shows through even in the perfunctory requirements of tour management and things went off without a hitch. We would recommend him highly! Most importantly, he was a citizen of the area and had the historical insight of a local.
Kenneth M.
Our Discovery trip to Slovenia, Dalmatian Islands, and Croatia was wonderful. Our Tour Manager, Tina was excellent! She was engaging, positive, organized, honest and very knowledgeable. This trip met my expectations and more.
Valerie D.
This was an excellent trip. Our tour manager, Alec, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and caring. We felt like he treated everyone like family. He always made sure that there were gluten-free options for my husband, Steve. Our bus driver, Johnny, was excellent, as well.
Wendy M.
Guide Mario was absolutely the key to the whole trip, even above the hotels, dining etc all which were very good. Mario not only was knowledgeable but he had a sense of humor, he is a kind compassionate human being. Highly recommend Mario.
Twyla A.
Hello Gate 1! My partner Pam and I recently went on the 10 day Croatia & Slovenia Tour with Martina as our tour manager. We had a wonderful trip and are doing your Japan 12 Day Then and Now tour in the Fall. We are emailing to sing the praises of Martina, our tour manager, leader, teacher, den mother, and all around person-who-made-it-a-wonderful-experience. Martina was as professional and effective as one could want, from a business perspective. But even more, she was warm, compassionate, relaxed, funny, easy going, encouraging, and very wise and knowledgeable. We particularly loved her very-real personal presence and sharing, which added a most valuable humanity to our appreciation and understanding of life in Slovenia and Croatia, and its history, both ancient and recent. We'd like to request that Martina be the leader of our Japan Trip! Thanks very much Gate 1 for a great job!
Ed G.
It was good! Croatia is beautiful! Our Hotel was very nice- our guide Zrinka was awesome! She was very personable and fun! We saw so much! Our hotel had a great breakfast buffet! This was my 21st Gate One trip!
Linda N.
Slovenia was my 1st Stay & Explore tour, and I loved it! Lara, our Tour Manager, is a real gem and made the trip memorable! She was extremely patient, calm, and kind. I hope all future tour managers are as stellar as Lara! All the little surprises were delightful too - Including wine tasting in the LJU castle, creme cake in Lake Bled, gelato in Piran, just to name a few. I have so many wonderful memories - too many names. Thank you, Gate-1 Travel. I would like to compare independent travel with Stay & Explore
Sally M.
Thank you very much, our trip was at a very high level. In general, Gate 1 is a professional travel agency. On this trip, Mimi's professionalism, attentiveness and attitude towards tourists were at a very high level, the driver always kept the bus clean and was a master of his job. Thank you for everything.
Akrem B.
Thank you very much, our trip was at a very high level. In general, Gate 1 is a professional travel agency. On this trip, Mimi's professionalism, attentiveness and attitude towards tourists were at a very high level, the driver always kept the bus clean and was a master of his job. Thank you for everything.
Akrem B.
My trip was fantastic! Our Tour Manager was Nikolina. She is a true gem. Gate1 is fortunate to have her, she is extremely knowledgeable, so much fun to be around. I have had great TMs in the past and she is at the top of the list.
Maureen H.
Just returned from an incredible Balkans tour with Gate1 Travel and it was truly a memorable experience from start to finish. The itinerary was beautifully curated with a perfect mix of history, culture, nature, and local experiences across stunning countries and cities. The hotels, transportation, and overall organization were smooth and stress-free. Our tour managers and local guides were knowledgeable, caring, and passionate about sharing the rich stories of the Balkans. From charming old towns to breathtaking mountain and coastal views, every day felt special. A big thank you to the entire team for making this journey enjoyable, comfortable, and enriching. This was my 18th trip with Gate1, and once again they delivered a wonderful travel experience. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to explore the Balkans with confidence and ease!
Sudipa S.
I just returned from my tour to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia. This was my 10th Gate1 tour. I want to send a big complement to our tour leader, Rocky. Our group of 42 was very harmonious and compatible in large part I feel to his energy and organization. And he met challenges so well, for example delays at border crossings and road construction delays. Besides being charming with a warm personality, he is from Serbia so has lived some part of the history of the area and is very well educated on the rest. I also want to acknowledge our excellent driver, Jacob. Despite all the mountain roads I felt so very safe.
Gail W.
My trip through the Balkans was nothing short of fantastic-from the incredible tour guide Rocky to the comfortable hotels, delicious food, and unforgettable destinations. Rocky was full of knowledge and took care of everyone. Zachia, our driver, was very kind and a careful driver. We explored beautiful places like Kotor, Podgorica, Cetinje, Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Bled Castle, Tirana, Kruja, Zagreb, and Split. While every stop had its charm, my absolute favorites were Kotor, Dubrovnik, and Split, along with the breathtaking beauty of Lake Bled, Bled Castle, and the stunning Plitvice Lakes. It was truly an unforgettable journey filled with amazing sights and experiences.
Mary G.
I would like to acknowledge our tour director Nikolina for her fabulous preparation and guidance. She made the trip flawless and unforgettable.
Carmen S.
Our tour managers in Croatia were truly exceptional and made this experience unforgettable. From the very first day, they were warm, accommodating, and incredibly friendly, creating an atmosphere that felt less like a tour and more like traveling with trusted friends. Their knowledge of Croatia-its history, traditions, and everyday life-was remarkable, and they shared it with genuine passion and pride. What set them apart, however, were the personal relationships they have built with the local people. Being welcomed into homes for meals was not only humbling, but deeply meaningful. It was clear that these were not transactional stops, but real connections founded on respect and friendship. Because of this, we weren't just shown Croatia-we were invited into it. One of the most memorable and beautiful parts of this tour was the cultural immersion made possible by our guides. Through their relationships with the people we met, we were able to experience authentic hospitality, hear personal stories, and gain a true sense of daily life that you simply can't find in guidebooks. That level of access and authenticity made this trip feel incredibly special and unique. This tour exceeded all expectations, largely because of our outstanding guides and the care they put into every detail.
Katrina R.
Trip was wonderful.... Ljubljana is a mythical city. The country Slovenia is beautiful. The people are warm and friendly. It was a special trip and the guide BENA was fantastic not only was he very, very knowledgeable and kind and caring. It was also very funny. -Made the trip very special. This was a winner!!!!
Joan Y.
I recently returned from my trip with Gate 1 Travel, and I felt it was very important to take a moment to share my sincere appreciation for the exceptional service provided by our tour manager, Damjan, and our driver exceptionally great. From the very beginning of the trip to the very end, Damjan demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, knowledge, and care. He was incredibly well-informed about every destination we visited, and his insights truly enhanced our overall experience. What stood out the most, however, was his kindness and dedication to each and every traveler in our group. Damjan consistently went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly and that all of us were comfortable, informed, and enjoying our journey. Whether it was handling unexpected situations, offering helpful recommendations, or simply checking in to make sure everyone was doing well, he exceeded all expectations. It is rare to come across someone so genuinely committed to their work and to the people they serve. Damjan made our trip not only seamless but truly memorable.
Zohreh T.
Re: recent trip to Croatia: Damir deserves accolades. His professionalism, organization, knowledge, and kindness ranks him as my all time favorite tour guide ! He enhanced my love and travel experience to Croatia.
Kathleen C.
The most important items for any trip out of the USA are safety and knowledge. Our coach driver and tour manager, Mira, provided 100% communication on safety and knowledge at every step of the way on this trip. I could not expect anything more. They both gave this tour their best at all times. Because of their professionalism, warmth and investment in each location as well as for all of us; this trip has an excellent rating across the board! Without exception. The hotels were just great, the food terrific. No complaints at all. Thank you Gate 1 - this trip will give me many hours of great reflection of the beautiful places I saw and the extremely nice people in this group.
Sharon B.
Just completed another trip with Gate 1, as always excellent guides and adventures. Recent trip to Croatia with guide Damir was exceptional. Damir had a excellent combination of humor, regional history, attentiveness to the whole groups individual needs, and compassion. I learned so much about Croatia through Damir's historic and personal narratives.
Chyrisse L.
Edo, our 12 day Tour Guide from Albania to Slovenia was spectacular. He exceeded our every expectation - and we have high expectations, having previously traveled with Gate One and receiving excellent tour guidance. Edo's knowledge and amazing personality added so much to our traveling experience. He reinforced our decision to continue booking trips with Gate One and recommend Gate One to our friends. The local tour guides at the various stops were also superior. Their knowledge, experience, and friendliness was exceptional. Crescha, the driver of our tour bus, was equally friendly and supportive, and provide a very safe and relaxing bus touring experience.
Peter R.
The trip was excellent. A lot of new countries for us, all interesting and beautiful. The highlight of our experience was our tour guide Ana (and the bus driver was excellent, too). Ana made the whole experience incredibly wonderful and fulfilling which reinforces our decision to continue using GATE1 travel. What a wonderful experience!
Sergio R.
The trip was fantastic. The hotels were very nicely chosen. No complaints here. The views were excellent and I can't say enough about our Tour Manager Bine. He was a treasure of information, very personable and made us all feel as if he was there just for each one. Our driver, Marjan, was the best, as he patiently guided our bus through the narrowest streets. I highly recommend this trip and look forward to many more experiences with Gate 1.
Marie B.
My recently concluded 9-day Croatia tour was exceptional. This was my first time touring with Gate 1 Travel and I will never go back to doing my international trips without Gate 1. The places we went to were all awesome and I would not be able to access and go there on my own without this tour. The comfort of the hotels we were booked in and the tourist coach to transport us from one place to another exceeded my expectations. There was also a variety of food options. Our Tour Manager, Damjan was phenomenal. He is very knowledgeable, makes every trip fun for us, always available, and he gave us so many treats local to Croatia. Kudos to Damjan!!!
Maria S.
This was my first trip with Gate 1 Travel, and it was fantastic. All the travel arrangements, accommodation, excursions, food and people were great. I want to give " big kudo's " to Jelena, our tour guide, she was awesome, knowledgeable, professional, helpful, organized, pleasant and very funny. Lufthansa lost my luggage and she was very helpful in helping me recover it, which was six days later. On my next trip with Gate 1 Travel, I hope Jelena will be my tour guide, she made my trip " extra special ". Also, Petrar, our bus driver, was a very safe driver, helpful, pleasant and funny. Last note, thank you for the great experience and I hope on next trip, hopefully soon, Jelena will be my tour guide, and I will have another awesome trip.
Timothy P.
Jelena our tour guide made us fall in love with Croatia. She embraced us like family and fully immersed us in the Dalmatian culture. Due to highway construction traffic, Samir the bus driver, diverted us off the beaten path which allowed us to experience more charming Croatian towns. This bonus exceeded our expectations. I learned so much through all senses, loving every moment of it to point of thinking of migrating there. This unforgettable memory will forever remain in our hearts. Please mention this to Jelena and Samir.
Jude R.
Ivan was great! He was the best tour manager I have had. The dinner at Plitvice Lakes was great! Excellent food, excellent atmosphere and great staff! Best meal of the trip.
Francisco P.
I wanted to specifically share that our Tour Manager Mira was truly wonderful! She goes above & beyond every single day with the excellent care she shows to each & every client in the group! Moreover, Robi, the driver was an excellent & very pleasant driver! God bless both of them, more! Thank you very much Gate One Travel for another wonderful experience visiting another country!
Jeinette S.
The trip to Croatia was great. The Gate1 Tour Manager was full of knowledge, courteous, friendly, and kind to the members on the trip. The Gate 1 Driver was awesome. The Gate 1Tour Guides, for each visited cities or parks were very knowledgeable, fun, and very interesting. They made the tours awesome. The arrangements from pickup and return to airport and the hotels were outstanding. Each city had beautiful scenery, shops, and restaurants. The food was awesome in hotels and restaurants visited. Gate 1 Special Dinners were very good and tasteful. I am happy my friends talked me into going on this trip and especially grateful we choose Gate 1 Travel.
Robert R.
We just returned from our trip to Croatia, it was a perfect trip, the towns, the local tours, the meals included in the tours, but the highlight of the trip was our tour director Duan. I have been on many Gate1 trips and have never experienced a tour director like Duan. He was organized, had extreme attention to detail, had a wonderful sense of humor, was compassionate and had an excellent knowledge of all the towns we visited. To further prove the extent of the fondness we all felt for him, on the bus ride back from the farewell dinner he asked everyone what our favorite part of the trip was, 38 people spontaneously screamed out "YOU". Before my retirement I was a manager of a large staff, if I had an employee like Duan I would do whatever I could to compensate and ensure their happiness. I respectfully suggest that you do the same! He is an unbelievable asset to your company! I could go on and on, but I'm sure you will get the same comments from others on the trip.
Marc G.
Just wanted to add comments about our tour leader Damian. Absolutely superb! Outstanding customer service and the knowledge of the areas toured was exceptional. Always cheerful and positive. Any challenge was handled efficiently and without panic. He put the guests first in every instance. He sets a very high bar for future group leaders I will be associated with. We had a wonderful trip. Thank you to Damian and our excellent driver Ivan as well.
Bradley B.
Our trip to Croatia was wonderful. Our guide, Duane, was the best that we have ever had and we have had good experiences with all three guides on our Gate One tours. Everything was well planned and Duane took great care of all of us. Thanks for a wonderful tour of Croatia!
Keith G.
We recently returned from our trip to Croatia, and I wanted to share what a fantastic experience we had. As first-time travelers with Gate 1, we weren't sure what to expect, but Duan went above and beyond to make our journey as smooth as possible. He was truly exceptional, ensuring we were comfortable and well-informed throughout the entire trip. His knowledge, along with the thoughtful surprises he provided, made the experience very special. Other travelers in our group also commented on his outstanding service. We were thoroughly impressed and have already recommended Gate 1 to others. We look forward to planning more trips with you in the future.
Connie R.
OVERALL TOUR EXPERIENCE: Both the Tour Manager, Elvis, and our driver were excellent! Every check-in process went smoothly thanks to Elvis, and the hotel staffs. Outside of the Hotel Paris, our hotels were of high quality. We were not pleased to learn of extra fees charged by Lufthansa for seats. On one of our flights (Denver to Munich), the seat map that was used to select seats did not match the aircraft, resulting in us not getting the seat location that we requested. Overall, we are very appreciative of the efforts by Gate1 to provide a very enjoyable experience. HIGHLIGHTS: The Traditional Croatian dinner held at the family's farm was the highlight experience of the tour. The performers at the Slovenian meal, and the group hat dance were a lot of fun. Prior to entering the National Park in Croatia, we had lunch at a remote site. We enjoyed the hosts, and the meal. The evening we spent with our local guide in Tirana, Albania was very educational. The day spent in Kruje, Albania, was well done. Our tour guide led us through the museum; and we were entertained by a talented group of performers and dancers.
Benjamin K.
Just wanted to submit kudos for our Balkans Tour Manager, Damir. His knowledge, respect, and passion for the history and varied cultures of the region were outstanding. Often, I fall asleep on the bus, but I found Damir's history lessons, cultural explanations, and personal stories to be so engaging that I stayed wide awake and engaged, despite the jet lag. Additionally, he ran a tight ship which kept us punctual and maximized our independent time. He also created a lot of additional fun moments, which made the group bond in a way that I haven't experienced on other tours. Damir was the epitome of professionalism and turned this vacation into one of my all-time favorites!
Angela K.
Just want to personally commend Damir, our amazing, funny, and super knowledgeable guide who made our Croatia trip over the top, and the best Gate One experience by far! Looking forward to our next adventure to Dubai!
Pedro S.
One of my favorite Gate1 Vacations. Nikolina, the guide was the best we've ever had and the same for the driver, Egor, and the coach was so new, clean and comfortable. The hotels, food, optional tours, and local guides were all wonderful. We met so many nice people on the tour that will become lifetime friends Thank you for everything.
Carla O.
I just want to add a special thanks to our tour director, Jelena, who was outstanding. She provided a detailed and professional overview for each of the four nations we visited, and in the case of Serbia, her own nation, she provided an invaluable perspective of what it was like to grow up during a horrible civil war and watch her nation re-emerge as a nation state in the years that followed. Her management of the tour was flawless; she had a great personality. Gate 1 is very fortunate to have her as a tour director.
Michael H.
Jakov was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and caring. He made the trip exponentially better. His knowledge and love of the country was wonderful and endearing. He was an excellent communicator and made us feel informed and safe. He was always on time and was happy to interact and answer questions at any time during the trip. I would love to have him as my guide again! Our driver - Silvie - was also fantastic. He was very helpful and made us feel safe. And that was not easy on some of those narrow, windy roads! He always made a point to stop or slow down for us to take photos or see something special. He was also super helpful with the luggage and was very friendly. I could not ask for a better guide or driver than we had with Jakov and Silvie.
Sharon S.




