DIG  INTO  VIS: 
AN ARCHEOLOGY, HISTORY AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE COME TO VIS  ISLAND, CROATIA
     For fourteen interesting, fun filled days you will feel the heartbeat of this UNSPOILED, NATURAL island. Because of its strategic location in the clear, blue Adriatic Sea, VIS has had a prime role in history for more than 5000 years. You will get an intimate understanding of this most beautiful, and most alluring Adriatic island which has only been open to tourism since 1996.

With  INTERACTIVE  LECTURES, TREKS  AND TOURS, local, colorful, English speaking experts will lead you as you help with the discoveries in archeology sites. Your imagination can run wild as you and your guide trek across the unbelievable network of terraces and abandoned rock walled villages. You will learn the role of the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Austrians, English and Italians in the history of Vis, the Allies use of Vis during World War II, and the recent Homeland War which finally gave Croatia its autonomy and independence.

You will experience the LAID BACK island culture of the past and present, and learn how to prepare DALMATIAN AND VIS CULINARY specialty dishes. Your senses will be boggled as you gather, taste and smell the NATIVE HERBS which are incorporated into their food and wellness practices.

 You will actively learn the local FISHING TECHNIQUES, and learn their secrets to grilling and eating fish. 

LOCAL WINE experts will share with you their vineyard traditions and will lead you to interesting wine cellars where you will taste some of the most distinctive wines and flavored brandies in the world.

You will experience their music, festivals and theater. See the island by boat and by land, and tour the famous BLUE GROTTO on the nearby island of Bisevo.

 On a day trip expert guides will take you to SOLIN (Salona): The Ancient town famous for its extensive, well documented Roman ruins.   In SPLIT, our tour in the renowned ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM will be led by expert archeologists. Explore DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE, a living museum from Roman times, still housing 3000 people, and SHOP in the buzzing, colorful central market place.

Get to know the VIS LOCALS by staying in selected private apartments.  If you chose you can spend a day with a native with your common interests. You will have time to sit back and relax, to enjoy the company of islanders, and to pursue your own interests.

Your Hosts will be John and Pat Repanich, retired American teachers and farmers, with dual Croatian citizenship, who came to the island of Vis five years ago looking for and finding John’s roots.  They now own a house on Vis and spend the majority of their time on this beautiful Island.   To encourage a longer tourist season and help the economy of the island, they have organized this    NON-PROFIT,   UNIQUE,   EDUCATIONAL ,  INTERACTIVE ,  TWO WEEK EXPERIENCE.

 $1575 includes all accommodations, meals, guides, transportation on the island and in Split. (Based on 1.22 euro/dollar exchange rate. Subject to change with change in exchange rate. )

DATES:   DIG INTO VIS  EXPERIENCE only :   OCT 1 to 15, 2005: NOV 1 to 15, 2005; FEB 1 to 15, 2006; MAR 1 to 15, 2006    

ALTERNATURA, a local Vis tourist agency at www.alternatura.hr, will be leading the tours and providing transportation on Vis.  A complete itinerary for Vis can be seen on their website or sent by mail (2 weeks minimum) or email. Telephone in Croatia 385-21-717-239;  or  email: alternatura @alternatura.hr or to John and Pat Repanich at rwalnuts@usa.net  for registration information.


DAY               ITINERARY ,        DAY               ITINERARY  ,       DAY               ITINERARY  
 
2005 OPTIONAL: DUBROVNIK ARRIVAL  WITH TOUR TO SPLIT
 
29-Sep. ARRIVE DUBROVNIK AIRPORT, TRANSFER TO HOTEL 
 
30-Sep. TOUR DUBROVNIK OLD CITY 
        DINNER  AT LOCAL RESTAURANT WITH FOLKLORE SHOW
 
1-Oct. TOUR DUBROVNIK AREA IN AIR CONDITIONED, MODERN BUS
 
       TOUR ANCIENT WALLED CITY OF STON, EAT AT LOCAL RESTAURANT; COACH TO SPLIT
 
 AFTERNOON FERRY OR  6 PM CATAMARAN FROM SPLIT TO VIS
 
 ALL GUESTS ARRIVE  ON VIS BY 7:30 PM
 
 ON VIS; STAY IN SELECTED PRIVATE APARTMENTS, BREAKFAST TOGETHER AT LOCAL RESTAURANT;
 
 LUNCHES AND DINNERS AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS OR ON THE TOUR
 
 ALL DAYS ON VIS MAY BE REARRANGED TO ACCOMMODATE WEATHER AND SMALL GROUPS 
 
2-Oct. VIS MUSEUM AND WALK TO ANCIENT SITES PRIROVO, ROMAN THERMAL BATHS
 
 GREEK CEMETARY LECTURES -HISTORY PRE 20TH CENTURY 
 
3-Oct. WALK TO ST. GEORGE FORTRESS
 
 VISIT ARCHEOLOGY SITES OF VIS LECTURE ON METHODS OF ARCHEOLOGY  
 
4-Oct. VAN TOUR OF ISLAND:
 
 PANORAMA ON HUM,TITO'S CAVE, ILLYRIAN VILLAGE TALIS;
 
 YUGOSLAVIAN MILITARY TUNNELS, LECTURE HISTORY 1ST,2ND WORLD WAR 
  
5-Oct. BOAT TOUR AROUND ISLAND, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS GREEN CAVE AND THE STONCICA LIGHTHOUSE 
 
6-Oct. TREK TO REMOTE VILLAGE OF OKLJUCINA AND QUEEN TEUTA'S CAVE 
 
7-Oct. TOUR THE FISHING TOWN OF KOMIZA AND THE MUSEUM; BOAT TRIP TO  BISEVO'S  BLUE CAVE
       LECTURE -HOMELAND WAR 
 
8-Oct. DAY TRIP TO SPLIT TOUR THE WELL PRESERVED ROMAN RUINS OF SALONA AND THE SPLIT
       ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM SEE DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE,A LIVING MUSEUM FROM ROMAN TIMES SHOP
       IN THE CENTRAL MARKET PLACE.
  
9-Oct. TOUR OF VILLAGES TO LEARN ABOUT THE HERBAL WAYS LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON
       VIS AND DALMATIAN CUISINE
10-Oct.WINE TOUR TO VINEYARDS AND WINERIES WITH EXPERT WINE MAKERS TASTING THE FAMOUS
       VUGAVA, PLAVAC AND FLAVORED BRANDIES 
 
11-Oct.PRESENT DAY VIS; SCHOOLS, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, ECONOMY, CULTURE SPEND THE DAY
       WITH A LOCAL PERSON WITH YOUR COMMON INTERESTS
  
12-Oct.FISHING WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN
 
 
13-Oct.TREK TO DESERTED VILLAGES WITH KNOWLEDGABLE GUIDES 
 
 
14-Oct.FREE DAY TO PURSUE YOUR OWN INTERESTS: HORSEBACK RIDING, SAILING, DIVING,
       PARAGLIDING,HIKING, SEARCHING FOR ROOTS, OR SITTING AT A COFFEE BAR ON THE
       RIVA PEOPLE WATCHING.
  
       WHATEVER SUITS YOU.
 
 
15-Oct.DEPART VIS  ON 7 AM CATAMARAN TO SPLIT; CROATIA AIRLINES BUS TO SPLIT
       AIRPORT OR OPTIONAL TOUR
 
 OPTIONAL: NORTHERN CROATIA TOUR FOR ZAGREB DEPARTURE
 
 From Split, on a modern, air conditioned bus with expert guides, you will first go to
 PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK, one of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage
 sites known for its 16 turquoise lakes which are linked by beautiful waterfalls. 
 
 Stay in hotel at Plitvice 
 
16-Oct. Explore the well preserved ROMAN AMPHITHEATER in Pula, on the Istrian Peninsula.
 
17-Oct. Stay two nights in  ZAGREB, the capital, business and cultural center of Croatia.
 
18-Oct. Enjoy  this city of green parks, bustling public squares, statues museums and
        beautiful architecture. 
 
 On a day excursion to Zagorje see the KRAPINA   Museum of Evolution and the site of
  Neanderthal Man, Visit TRAKOSCAN  CASTLE, the best known castle and museum in Croatia. 
 
19-Oct. DEPART FROM ZAGREB AIRPORT