Custom Program Spotlight: St. Mary’s School in Croatia

"Croatia’s beauty lies not just in its coastline, but in its character — complex, resilient, and endlessly fascinating.” - Tim Judah

In April, we had the privilege of exploring the beauty of Croatia—its stories, complexities, landscapes, communities, and more—with our middle school students from St. Mary’s School and their faculty leaders Jocelyn Williams and Jim Cox (whose birthday was marked with a celebratory cake on the trip!). Their trip was made all the more unforgettable with the expertise of our local excursion leader Dario Cesljar. 

The purpose of their custom program? Immersion in the Dalmatian culture with a taste of service learning in the mix.

SPLIT: CULTURE, CANYONING & VIRTUAL REALITY

Our journey began in Split, Croatia’s second largest city, where the ancient mingles seamlessly with modern Mediterranean life. Split is a city with storied alleyways, vibrant squares, and buzzing markets. The most obvious remainder of Roman times here is the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, which takes up about half of the city’s old town and is packed with homes, cafes, shops, temples, and more. It is considered one of the most important structures of late antique architecture in Europe. Our hotel was inside the walls of the palace.

Some highlights from Split? 

Discovering the historical center. After a welcome dinner—a traditional Dalmatian meal—and a good night’s rest, we set out on an adventure by way of a guided walking tour. “Losing the way” in the labyrinthine streets through some intentional, immersive disorientation helped students get to grips with the layout of the city’s historical center. We learned about the incredible cultural heritage, the history and art behind it, and ways in which ancient structures are adapted for our contemporary urban spaces. 

Diocletian’s Dream. Just outside the palace walls, we stopped for a collision of modern technology and ancient heritage at Croatia’s first virtual reality experience before a short evening stroll through the narrow streets. Diocletian’s Dream, through a narration by a fictional character called Severin, transported us back to the palace as it stood in 305 AD with a fascinating walk through the royal chambers, peristyle, mausoleum, and other areas.

Canyoning in the Cetina River. Decked out in our wetsuits, lifejackets, and helmets, we were ready for a real adventure with our local guide! A 15-minute walk led us down to the canyon, and then we took a 3km trek full of hiking, swimming, and jumping in the Cetina River with spectacular views and a walk through a 100m natural rock tunnel. We slid down “rapids” and some of us braved small cliff jumps too. Then, having built up an appetite, we relaxed with a delicious riverside lunch.

Beach time. One afternoon, we relaxed on the warm sands at Bačvice Beach—one of Split’s most popular spots. We learned that it’s known for the local, century-old tradition of Picigin—a fast-paced ball game that is played in the shallow, clear waters of the sea here. We ended our day watching the sunset over the Adriatic. 

DUBROVNIK: HISTORY & GAME OF THRONES

Dubrovnik sits on the edge of the sea. It’s a postcard-worthy sight with its well-preserved stone walls dating back to the 13th century, into which so much history is tucked away—earthquake survival, sieges, various empires. Despite many hardships, there are beautifully maintained Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains waiting to be discovered here. 

Touring the Old City. Following our knowledgeable local guide, we wound through the narrow streets, soaking in an atmosphere that is now surreally familiar to many as the filming location for “Game of Thrones.” Walking on the city walls gave us an impressive bird’s-eye view of the terracotta rooftops, the sea, and the hidden alleyways while we imagined what life must have been like for guards and the local community many centuries ago. Students also enjoy encounters with the friendly street cats that wander the city and some free time to explore Dubrovnik at their own pace.

DALMATIAN HINTERLAND: A HANDS-ON FARM-TO-TABLE EXPERIENCE

Moving inland from the coast to visit the Dalmatian Hinterlands (Dalmatinska zagora), the landscape of Croatia shifts dramatically. We found ourselves moving through a more rugged terrain with quiet valleys and little villages where tradition still plays a strong role in daily life for many. Students were offered a window into rural Croatia here, for example, learning about agricultural techniques and the ways in which people have lived off the land for generations.

A farm-to-table learning experience. One of the most impactful and meaningful experiences we had on this trip was a visit to a rural family farm in the Dalmatian hinterland. Students harvested fresh veggies, planted their own seedlings, and prepared traditional Dalmatian dishes with the help of a true Croatian grandmother. We enjoyed the meal that we created together, appreciating the authentic local flavors. Interacting with the farm’s friendly animals was a lot of fun too. 

PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK: A NATURAL PARADISE

Plitvice Lakes National Park seems almost like a fairyland with its turquoise lakes, waterfalls hidden behind hills, lush forests, and wooden walkways. It’s Croatia’s oldest and largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as a living classroom where students can learn about geology, ecology, and conservation. It’s a great example of tufa formation, which is a porous limestone that forms when water that is rich in minerals flows over organic material like algae or moss. Over time, with the evaporation of water, deposits of calcite create walls, barriers, and shelves. This is what forms the natural dams that separate the lakes here and creates waterfalls, so Plitvice is constantly shifting and changing! 

Exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park. We spent a full day exploring this otherworldly park, its mythical beauty keeping us in awe throughout our hike. There are 16 lakes, 92 waterfalls, and more than 120 different species of birds, wolves, bears, deer, wildcats, wild boar, and lynx. We made plenty of stops with our local guide to take it all in, including learning about the process of tufa formation, which plays a huge role in making the park so unique.

DINARIC ALPS: HIKING, PICNICING & SWIMMING

Set between the coast and the Hinterlands, we were able to explore some of the Dinaric Alps that stretch along the western Balkans. The dramatic topography of the mountain range was formed through erosion over centuries and is full of limestone peaks, deep canyons with rivers flowing through, caves, and sinkholes. 

Hiking from Naklice to Omiš. Our mountain hike was guided by a professional mountaineer who took us on some paths so remote that not even the locals are familiar with them! We learned about the geology and rich biodiversity in the area, stopped for a traditional picnic on the beach in Omiš, and then took a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear sea at Brzet Beach—a peaceful pebbly cove. 

REFLECTING AND LOOKING AHEAD

“What a great trip!” Jim reflected when the group landed back in California. “Everything was perfect!… Dario was fantastic—fun and full of information! Hope we do it again next year!”

No doubt Dario will be excited to guide the next group too. “I enjoyed every moment with the kids and the faculty leaders, who brought with them the sunny Californian weather to Croatia,” he shared. “This was a truly amazing experience. We had so much laughter! I wish we had spent even more time together; saying goodbye was the most difficult part of this trip!”

If you’re considering giving your students the adventure of a lifetime and running a custom program with us, in Croatia or any one of our host countries—Canada, Chile, China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, or even a domestic program in the US—our custom programs page is linked below. Reach out to start a conversation.