The beauty and power of enchantlng herbs of the Kvarner islands

Arrival on the island of Pag and accommodation. Introduction to the program and technical information.

A day dedicated to discovering Croatia’s youngest National Park – Northern Velebit. Velebit is renowned for its extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life, dense forests, canyons, cliffs, and caves that captivate visitors. It is also home to one of Croatia’s most famous endemic species, the Velebit degenia. A visit to the Velebit Botanical Garden offers a closer look at the rich flora of the park. Due to its grandeur, Velebit is considered a national symbol of Croatia and is celebrated in many songs, stories, and legends.

Boat trip through the northern Adriatic Sea to the island of Ilovik – a place where flora and fauna meet. Known for its abundant Mediterranean vegetation and colorful flowers, Ilovik offers a peaceful escape with the scent of oleanders and eucalyptus trees over 100 years old. The island features numerous historical ruins and traces of the Illyrians and Romans, including coins, old walls, sarcophagi, and underwater archaeological sites. The journey continues to the island of Lošinj and its unique Fragrant Island Garden, a botanical haven hosting over 250 plant species. Here, visitors can explore local herbs such as sage and immortelle, alongside exotic plants brought back by sailors from distant voyages. Informative signs in Croatian and Latin label each plant. Besides touring the gardens, guests can join workshops, tastings, and competitions, with exhibitions showcasing the importance of local flora. The boat trip continues east of Lošinj to the uninhabited island of Vele Orjule, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying pristine nature.

Visit to the Anton Škunca Family Farm (OPG) on the northeastern side of Pag, featuring plantations of immortelle, figs, almonds, and olives. This farm is a testament to family heritage and deep knowledge of indigenous medicinal and aromatic herbs. Natural product manufacturing takes place in a modern distillery using high-quality local raw materials such as laurel, sage, vitex, spruce, and mastic. Immortelle, with its small golden blossoms and well-known healing properties, is a key ingredient in natural cosmetics. Visitors can tour the distillery, taste herbal liqueurs and juices, pick figs and immortelle, and join workshops to make fizzing bath bombs, macerates, cocoa bars, lip balms, and solid perfumes. In the afternoon, a guided SUP tour from Dabovi Stani includes time for snorkeling and ends with a sunset paddle on LED-lit boards back to the starting point. Transfer to accommodation follows.

While much of Pag resembles a stone desert or lunar landscape, the northern Lun region boasts lush greenery and ancient olive groves that have withstood wind, salt, stone, and time. The Lun Olive Grove is a unique botanical reserve established in 1963 and home to over 80,000 wild olive trees (Olea oleaster). More than 1,000 of them are over a thousand years old, making this the only place in the world with such a concentration of ancient olive trees. Each tree has its own unique DNA—no two are alike. Olive oil tastings here are unforgettable, and an evening walk through the grove offers a deep sense of harmony and awe at the centuries-old natural sculptures formed by tree and stone.
After visiting the reserve, a transfer to Pag town includes a guided tour and a visit to the Pag Lace Gallery, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site.

A full-day boat tour along the northern coast of Pag Island, with views of interesting geological formations and a visit to Zavratnica Bay, one of the most beautiful coves on the Adriatic, part of Velebit Nature Park. At the bottom of the 900-meter-long inlet lie visible remains of a WWII sunken ship. The trip continues to the island of Rab, with visits to two family farms in Barbat: Natura Rab and Franjo Štokić RAB PUR. Natura Rab focuses on the cultivation and processing of native and cultivated herbs, traditional beekeeping, olive growing, and producing fine spirits. RAB PUR creates high-quality herbal products, handmade souvenirs, and decorative items from wool and other natural materials. The tour ends with free time in Rab town before returning to Pag.

Visit to Veliko Blato, one of three ornithological reserves on Pag. This freshwater depression spans 462 hectares and hosts 143 bird species. It’s one of the last refuges in Europe for certain migratory wetland birds and represents a rare, preserved wetland habitat amid increasing ecological vulnerability. After exploring the reserve, the tour continues to Bio Plant Farm in Povljana, where guests learn about organic cultivation and processing of olives, immortelle, lavender, rosemary, sage, hyssop, and figs.

A sea kayaking tour through Pag Bay—a stunning blend of moonlike landscapes and the deep blue sea of the Velebit Channel. Starting at Ručica Beach near Metajna, the route follows the rocky coast to Beritnica Beach, one of Pag’s most beautiful. From there, it heads to Slana Cove, where guests can opt to cross Croatia’s first sea Via Ferrata, a 100-meter-long steel cable route suspended 1–2 meters above the sea. Proper climbing gear is required. Those who prefer can continue by kayak. After returning to the starting point, the tour continues with a visit to Novaljsko Polje, a lush green area filled with native herbs. The final highlight is a visit to the Boškinac Winery, with tastings of wines and herbal distillates.

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and departure.