Couple attempting to be first on the planet to visit all UNESCO World Heritage Sites arrive in Croatia

Jana and Matt (Photo: Instagram)

An international travel couple will arrive in Croatia on Monday as part of their Epic Expedition to set an unofficial Guinness World Record.

Jana, from the Czech Republic, and Matt from Sweden, started a travel challenge six years ago to become the first to visit all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

There are currently a total of 1,121 sites spread across 167 countries and the couple, who work as tour guides in Barcelona, Spain, have so far visited 128 sites in 35 countries across 4 continents.

On Monday, they will arrive in Croatia where they will cross another 10 sites off the list.

Jana and Matt (Photo: Instagram)

Whilst making their way around Croatia to visit the country’s 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jana and Matt will also visit a few more sites that Croatia has nominated but are not officially listed yet.

Below are the planned highlights of their trip in Croatia. The 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are highlighted.

◦ Episcopal Complex (Site 1/10)
◦ Plitvice Lakes (Site 2/10)

Plitvice Lakes

◦ Zadar Venetian Works of Defense (Site 3/10)
◦ Paklenica National Park – Ancient Beech Forest (Site 4/10)
◦ St. James Cathedral (Site 5/10)
◦ St. Nicholas Venetian Works of Defense (Still Site 3/10, location 2)

St. Nicholas Fortress

◦ Trogir Historic City (Site 6/10)
◦ Split Historical Complex (Site 7/10)
◦ Stecci Medieval Tombstones (Site 8/10)
◦ Stari Grad Plain (Site 8/10)◦ Dubrovnik Old Town (Site 10/10)
◦ Crkva sv. Barbara – Stecci Medieval Tombstones (Site 8/10, 2nd site)

Dubrovnik

This is not the first time that the couple have visited Croatia. The keen sailors were in Zadar two years ago, whilst Matt also visited Istria when he was a child. 

“I think that what we know about Croatia is more or less what the average person know. We both have different interests when it comes to the sites. Jana normally likes the natural ones like parks and landscapes, and I am the one fascinated by architecture and structures in general. I think that Plitvice Lakes is one of the ones we are the most excited about in Croatia,” Matt told us. 

Jana and Matt (Photo: Instagram)

The couple say that the feedback they have received from people about going to Croatia has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Everyone seems to have only great memories from their visit. We have also been in touch with all the local Tourist Boards and they have all been super accommodating and helpful. Especially the ones in Poreč and Šibenik. It’s all looking very positive and we are super excited, to say the least,” Matt concludes. 

(Photo: Instagram)

You can follow Jana and Matt on their adventure on Instagram – @GuideVenturous