As an enthusiastic but relatively amateur cook and baker, watching dough get hand-rolled to thin, circular perfection is always a thing a beauty to me. I find the expert handiwork mesmerizing under nearly any circumstance — but enjoying such a demonstration at a peaceful farmhouse, with a glass of crisp white wine in one hand and a slice of juicy watermelon in the other, made this particular experience a little extra special.
In that moment, I was watching a Croatian woman make soparnik, a regional delicacy of garlicky Swiss chard sandwiched between two enormous rounds of hand-stretched dough that is baked on a hot-stone surface (and, when prepared traditionally, topped during the cooking process with the still-hot coals and ashes of the fire that heated the stone).
The demonstration took place in an abandoned village now used for cultural tourism purposes, where a local family hosts groups at their charming stone farmhouse. As we watched the soparnik being made, our group snacked on a spread of locally made cheese and charcuterie, fritule (a kind of raisin-packed fritter), wine and Croatian fruit brandy. And, just as it was time to dig into the main event, our hosts broke out in song as a welcome to their home and table.
Our excursion host puts the finishing touches on her just-baked soparnik.
Credit: 2025 Kelly Rosenfeld
The moving (and delicious) experience had been arranged as a shore excursion during my small-ship cruise along Croatia’s stunning Dalmatian coast with Always Croatia, which operates small-ship cruises, private yacht charters and land tours (as well as combinations of those options) around the country. On my sailing, I found the immersive activities to be a highlight of the trip.
Other examples included city tours with excellent local guides, and a standout dinner at Hora farm on Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its preserved agricultural land that was first cultivated by the Greeks in the 4th century B.C. Here, plates overflowing with succulent chicken and sausage, creamy roasted potatoes and juicy tomato salad were paired with the farm’s own Hora-brand wines, all enjoyed while watching the sun set over the property’s fields of lavender, olives, wine grapes and other produce.
Hora farm is a scenic place for a delicious, home-style meal.
Credit: 2025 Kelly RosenfeldWhile these likely aren’t opportunities clients (or even travel advisors) would know to request, the good news is that the company can help agents arrange similar opportunities for clients via custom itineraries.
About Always Croatia
Always Croatia, now in its fourth year of operations, was started by Christy Kranjec, a first-generation Croatian-American whose upbringing in the U.S. featured a deep emphasis on Croatian culture and tradition (she now splits her time between the two countries). Her passion for her heritage, combined with a professional background in hospitality and tourism, eventually inspired her to found Always Croatia.
“It’s obviously very personal for me, because I grew up with one foot in each culture,” Kranjec said of starting her own tourism business in her ancestral homeland. “People come to Croatia for its beautiful islands and water, but I felt like there was a gap in cultural experiences, which are what makes Croatia very special. So, I wanted to showcase the people, the stories and the culture — and I think we really do that through our local contacts and guides.”
Kranjec has spent years sourcing and vetting the local experiences Always Croatia now offers, and says many of them work exclusively with the company. Other partners, including some tour guides and cruise managers, also work with big-name brands such as Abercrombie & Kent, Collette or G Adventures.
“I’m really proud of the suppliers that we work with,” she said. “I was looking for really unique things to offer clients, and that was not always easy to find. But it makes all the difference, because it’s really the people that clients are going to remember when they come home."
When it comes to working with travel advisors, Always Croatia offers tiered commissions and can help design custom, FIT itineraries around the country that incorporate local culture and immersion via private cooking classes, home-hosted dinners, live music experiences, food tours and more. (Scheduled departures of land tours and cruises are also available.)
“What we offer is always something that’s behind the scenes and authentic, showcasing the real soul and spirit of Croatia,” Kranjec said. “And, of course, Croatian hospitality, which is limitless.”
