ABOUT US
In 2005, Alan founded Secret Dalmatia as a result of his lifelong intent to reveal the Croatian heritage to the world. The expert team of travel designers behind Secret Dalmatia is dedicated to introducing remote locations of our region to the travel map and present the highlights of Croatia in a new way. Designing private custom-made programs and insisting on providing a luxury service, our mission is to show you as much of Croatia as possible. Our guests get an insight into unique identities of Croatian cities and attractions through original, and often exclusive, tours.
If you are ready to truly experience Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro as well as other countries in the region, make sure to contact us.
Meet the Team
Professional expertise and one-of-a-kind personality would perfectly describe each and every Secret Dalmatia travel designer. Driven by a passion for our country, dedication to our guests and a pinch of craze that makes us do the impossible, we are a group of individuals with one shared goal: to mould the diversity of our region into packages perfectly fit to the unique person doing the journey.
Antoni
With endless energy, Antoni is all about action. He holds a degree in sports management, a logical step after being a professional football player for a while. Having lived in several European countries and overseas, Antoni adores meeting new people, especially to craft their perfect holidays in Croatia. The project manager for our Latin American guests, and an advisor for guests seeking active holidays, Antoni infuses everything he does with a contagious enthusiasm that will make your travels here ever so special.
Dubravka
Before joining the Secret Dalmatia team, Dubravka contributed to several 5* Croatian properties as the member of front office and sales teams. Avid communicator with a special interest for the Croatian culture and gastronomy, she leaves nothing to chance. With a master’s degree in Italian and Russian, and a licence as an official court interpreter, Dubravka immediately comes across just as passionate as the cultures she chose to study.
Emina
Emina’s lively spirit is well reflected in her CV: she has experience in almost all the major sectors of tourism. Staring in marketing of Croatian National Parks, she continued in a PR role with one of the largest national tour operators before moving on to work with a national media company. Grounded and hard-working, Emina has kind words and fierce action towards any challenge – just the attitude you want when designing your perfect visit to Croatia and the Balkans.
Ivana
A quest for new challenges brought this science major to Secret Dalmatia. During her studies, Ivana flirted with tourism in several seasonal gigs with the local and national tour operators. This led to a strong infatuation with the travel industry, and to managerial roles in several travel agencies after the completion of her studies. At Secret Dalmatia, Ivana is able to put her diverse expertise and skills toward creating perfect customized itineraries. Goal-oriented and composed, knowledgeable and informed, quick and dedicated, Ivana is your best antidote to travel planning stress.
Sara
Graduating from RIT Croatia, Dubrovnik, Sara earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management, specializing in Luxury Experience Design. An adrenaline enthusiast, she relishes in activities like skydiving, kickboxing, and exploring new places, with a solo adventure to New Zealand under her belt. Sara, a true Slavonian food lover, is driven by her passion for discovering diverse cultures. Off her adventures, she’s often spotted in the gym practicing crossfit or capturing scenic and culinary delights through her camera lens.
Ivona
Inquisitive by nature and an avid lifelong learner by conviction, Ivona cultivates a boundless curiosity about new cultures and foreign languages, coupled with a heartfelt enthusiasm for animals and the great outdoors. Those passions are largely steeped in her childhood summers, spent on the dreamy Lopud Island near Dubrovnik. Today, the hallmark of every travel experience she creates is the harmony between local hospitality and fascinating natural beauty.
Magdalena
A hands-on go-getter, Magdalena embarked on her professional journey immediately after graduating from high school for languages. Knowing off the bat that she wanted to work in tourism, she gained on-the ground experience by working as a tour guide and office skills in the job of a branch manager. Enthusiastic about year-round tourism, and equally excited by ski slopes and beaches, she is an all-rounder who will curate perfect day experiences for you, as well as make any rainy day bright with great ideas on how to make the most of it.
Mariana
Mariana has been a dedicated luxury travel professional for the past 15 years, having worked in sales and management of one of Croatia’s leading hotels. She has spent most of her life in Split and is still absolutely in love with the city! With a degree in tourism and economics, Mariana is a professional ready to create memorable travel experiences to please all of your interests.
Marina
After pursuing her passion for foreign cultures by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Portuguese languages and literature, Marina moved on to conquer her home turf. She spent years working as a tour guide in her hometown of Šibenik and a trip leader across Croatia and the Balkans, mastering on-ground secrets of perfect itineraries that she today happily designs for our guests.
Nina
Meet Nina, a true globetrotter and indology aficionado. With a language toolkit boasting Hindi and Arabic, she’s got the globe covered. As an itinerary maestro, she crafts unique adventures in Croatia and the Balkans. Nina’s had exciting collaborations with the Indian Embassy and the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. She’s a passionate human rights advocate with a taste for exotic cuisine. When missing, she’s probably off exploring the great outdoors!
Margarita
Born and bred in Split, Margarita knows her home region like the back of her palm. Following her degree in tourism, she continued working in different hospitality sectors for over a decade. Over her years in two luxury hotels, she mastered both sales and front office, gathering a skill set that today makes her a superb asset to Secret Dalmatia and our guests. When not working (and sometimes while working), Margarita enjoys time in nature, cycling, and like any true Dalmatian, food and wine.
Tena
Tena is a passionate linguist who is fluent in English, German, Spanish and Italian. She hails from Slavonia, but now calls Zagreb, Croatia her home. Professionally, she has been working in dentistry tourism before joining Secret Dalmatia. In her free time, Tena loves to pole dance, play the piano and enjoy strawberry mojitos. She also enjoys trying different cuisines from around the world and exploring new cultures. With her diverse skillset and enthusiasm for the industry, Tena is an invaluable asset to any team.
Nives
Nives, a graduate in Economics, embraced the thrilling rollercoaster of life and found herself in the midst of luxury tourism. With her impeccable attention to detail, she’s ready to spice up every nook and cranny of your journey. Bursting with energy, this extroverted firecracker is known for her laughter-filled interactions and vibrant entertainment. A key catalyst in partner collaborations, she’s a true team player who keeps the game fun.
Antonia
Antonia’s career spans from being a caretaker to thriving in the tourism industry, excelling as a guesthouse manager and a spa supervisor. A passionate traveler, she has ventured to places like Sri Lanka during her winter explorations. Currently, she lives between Croatia and France. She integrates her knowledge of astrology, yoga, and sound healing with Tibetan bowls into her life and work. Antonia’s diverse skills and empathetic nature make her an indispensable asset to Secret Dalmatia.
Meet the Owner
ALAN MANDIC
As the founder and managing director of Secret Dalmatia, Alan is personally dedicated to the vision of bringing the hidden beauties of Croatia to every Client. Alan has a deep connection to his country, so after finishing his university education at the New England School of Art & Design in Boston, he decided to return to Croatia. The decision to found Secret Dalmatia followed an epiphany he had whilst wandering around Bribirska Glavica, one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. As the sunset settled in the distance, he stumbled upon two open sarcophagi and thought: “I must show this to the world!” Few months later, in 2005, he put together his passion, experience, and knowledge to create Secret Dalmatia and he has been dedicated to it full-time ever since.
Secret Dalmatia Blog
HIDDEN RUINS
As the founder and managing director of Secret Dalmatia, Alan is personally dedicated to the vision of bringing the hidden beauties of Croatia to every Client. Alan has a deep connection to his country, so after finishing his university education at the New England School of Art & Design in Boston, he decided to return to Croatia.
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TRUFFLE HUNT IN DALMATIA
epiphany he had whilst wandering around Bribirska Glavica, one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. As the sunset settled in the distance, he stumbled upon two open sarcophagi and thought: “I must show this to the world!” to it full-time ever since.
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OUR PROJECTS
Secret Dalmatia travel agency was built upon a simple premise: to always show more, strive higher, go deeper, and create experiences that leave a lasting impression. Once the agency became well-established, it was time to single out the favorites into the spotlight. Today, we manage multiple specialized platforms for travel in Croatia and the rest of the world.
Culinary Croatia was our first project which has brought many gourmet travelers on unique culinary escapades all around the country.
Sailing in Croatia arose from the simple fact that there are over 1.000 beautiful Croatian islands and even more travelers seeking to explore them.
Luxury Croatian Villas compiles the country’s finest vacation estates, all at stunning locations and with a bold character.
Vanishing Worlds is the next step of our evolution: we are taking our guests beyond the Adriatic region, to places equally as wondrous, and equally as endangered by the pace of modern-day change.