Recommend March 2013 - (Page 96)

light trafﬁc on most country roads and small villages dotting the roadside, making for an easy pace from spot to spot; and the sheer beauty of almost the entire region lends itself to outings on horseback with fantastic views and thick forests or expansive ﬁelds to meander through.” So we’ve compiled a few itineraries that we’re certain your wellheeled and more adventurous travelers are going to want to sink their teeth into (no pun intended, Mr. Bram Stoker). ALAN MANDIC (2) cooking & kayaking in croatia Both photos: Secret Dalmatia offers tours in Croatia that feature cooking classes and sightseeing. 96 march 2013 95-99 EU Tours.indd 96 Secret Dalmatia’s 10-day Majestic Croatia itinerary, departing May 11 and Sept. 21, with a maximum of eight guests, showcases this country’s most enigmatic hotspots, including its national parks, world-famous Plitvice Lakes, Zagorje’s fairytale castles, and the millennia-old towns of Skradin, Trogir, Split and Dubrovnik. The best part? There are exclusive wine pairing dinners and events, a cooking class in that aforementioned 13th century palace, dining in authentic restaurants and local taverns, and wine tasting at some of the country’s best wine and gourmet clubs. Culinary aﬁcionados, in fact, will have a feast during the cooking class demonstration in the port town of Trogir as they create divine dishes with chef Tatjana, who, the tour operator says, is one of the region’s best chefs (think freshly caught ﬁsh, homemade bread and pasta, exploring local ingredients and tasting Adriatic delicacies). According to Mandic, participants will, of course, learn about food, “but also local traditions. We always give the authentic, behind-the-closed-door experience with local people.” A couple of days after that, clients are in Hvar, the “island of wine,” where they’ll meet Croatia’s most distinguished winemakers and taste unique wines exclusively available on this particular tour only. There’s even a late lunch in an olive grove in the picturesque village of Vrisnik. Accommodations are in traditional B&Bs, charming boutique hotels and ﬁve-star properties, such as Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade, which was originally built in 1925 and was designed to accommodate passengers from the Orient Express. Rates for the May departure are approximately $3,700 land-only. O.A.R.S., a tour operator that specializes in white-water rafting, sea kayaking and multi-sport adventures throughout the world, kicks the adventure up a notch with its 9-day Sea Kayaking & Exploring Croatia & Montenegro, which focuses on sea kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. In fact, the tour operator emphasizes that the stretch of coast along Croatia and Montenegro, with some 1,200 islands, islets and reefs, “could not be better suited for exploring by kayak.” The itinerary includes paddling around the small collection of islands off Dubrovnik, visiting Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina and kayaking the protected waters of Montenegro, as well as lots of land-based exploration in the myriad dazzling cities and towns that call the area home. A highlight of the tour is a visit to the enchanting Elaphiti Islands, located northwest of Dubrovnik and devoid of cars. Here, travelers will ﬁnd an open-air museum of history, art, architecture and folklore—the largest of the islands, Sipan, features vineyards and olive orchards, chapels, 15th century monasteries, and numerous gothic and renaissance summer villas. Home base is the Pension Ivana in Zaton Bay, a harborside village that’s accessible from Dubrovnik, as well as the M/V Huck Finn catamarecommend.com 2/21/13 8:23 AM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2013

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Indochina
Safaris in Southern Africa
Un-Cruise Adventures in Alaska
Alaska is Celebrating in 2013
"Hard Rock" Chicago-Style: Rock out in the Windy City
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
Girldfriends' Getaway at Eden Roc, Miami Beach
Kyushu: The Rising Sun of Japanese Destinations
The New All-Inclusives in Jamaica Claim Their Turf
RIU Punta Cana
Costa Rica: A Trio of Detours
Touring Central & Eastern Europe

Recommend March 2013