Team Building In Continental Croatia

Our annual team building was brilliant: five days discovering continental Croatia and neighboring Slovenia too.

We used the time to define programs with suppliers to ensure our partners’ clients have the best possible authentic experiences on their vacation to Croatia and Slovenia. These few days ‘on the ground’ are truly invaluable and our event planning skills came through, as each day’s program was seamlessly delivered.

En route from our offices in Dubrovnik and Split to Zagreb, our first stop was Plitvice Lakes National Park which had just had its first snow. Unfortunately, the foggy weather prevented us from taking good photos so after lunch in nearby Rastoke, we headed to Zagreb where we based for the trip. Day two took us across the border to Slovenia and Ljubljana where we met our wonderful professional guide, Danijel.

After our city tour it was back on the bus to Radovljica, a picturesque town where we enjoyed a delicious hearty lunch at Gostilna Lectar which dates back to 1822. The working gingerbread museum in the basement is a must visit; after a presentation on the history of Lectarstvo, we stocked up on the handmade gifts. Joze, the charming owner even performed on his harmonica for us as we were leaving.

It was then on to the beautiful Lake Bled where Danijel shared local legends and the history of the castle with us just as the sun was setting. That evening’s meal was at Otto &Frank in Zagreb where we sampled some delicious duck liver pate and pasta with wild forest mushrooms. Our third day was our best: Plesivica Wine Roads by bike and hike. Sladjana and Zvjezdana led our two groups through the picturesque rolling hills of this wine growing region, by bike and on foot. We visited the source of the Sveta Jana hot spring with two brave team members even taking a dip!

A coffee and cake stop at Sumski Dvor with its incredible panoramic views was perfectly timed. We then made our way to the Ivancic Winery where our host Kreso took us through his award-winning selection of sparkling wines in between the courses of our lunch served in the winery’s cellar. After a final tasting at Kreso’s hillside cabin with incredible views, we made some purchases before saying our goodbyes.

Day four took us to the Kumrovec ‘Old Village’ Museum, the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, where we were given a guided tour of the village homes which form the backdrop of the exhibition materials. Trakoscan Castle was a highlight, fairytale-like, perched on top of a hill. Once we’d learned about the Erdody noble family and their life there, we made our way to Hazic Wine House.

Here, we were greeted by the hospitable Tatjana who talked us through the production process for her family’s wines and apple products before taking us through to the cozy dining hall where we got to sample them all. After another shopping session, our last port of call was Varazdin, also known as Little Vienna thanks to its baroque architecture.

A nighttime guided tour with local guide Branimir, gave an insight into the city’s rich history before our evening meal at Verglec, the first restaurant to be certified as serving genuine Croatian cuisine.

Our last day being the journey back to Split and Dubrovnik we had time just for one more stop off and that was Roca, House of Dalmatian Prsut. Possibly the tastiest soup we’ve ever tried was followed by a host of cold plates which we enjoyed in the restaurant which is styled like a traditional Dalmatian home. Once we’d eaten and bought up in the on-site shop, it was finally time to head home.

We visited some incredible small businesses that we’re proud to have as partners as well as being giving guided tours by our professional local guides. The conclusion? 2018 is set to be our best year yet!

If you’re considering hosting your next team building or annual corporate event in Croatia or the Balkan region, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of professionals can deliver a program that will delight your employees and partners, relieving you of the heavy lifting.

Adriatic DMC is a leading destination management company based in Croatia offering authentic travel programs for discerning travelers to the region.