14N Croatia-Bosnia-Slovenia-Venice

DAY 1, Monday – Depart for Croatia

Depart for Croatia

DAY 2, Tuesday – Arrive in Zagreb

Arrive in Zagreb and transfer to the hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 7 PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 5 PM
Overnight: Zagreb
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Wednesday – Zagreb City Tour

Begin the day with a stroll through the parks of downtown promenade. Next, head to the historic Upper Town. View busy Kaptol Square, and the monumental Zagreb Cathedral, with its soaring twin spires. Walk along Kravi Most, to St. Mark’s Square, dominated by St. Mark’s Church with its brightly colored roof and the Parliament building. Continue past the 17th century Jesuit Church of St. Catherine and conclude the tour at Ban Jelacic, the main square with free time to explore. Later, join the optional Croatian Countryside with dinner tour. Begin with a scenic drive to Kumrovec, the birthplace of the late Marshal Tito. Visit the Ethnological Museum Staro Selo, featuring restored village houses from the turn of the 19th century. Later, head to a charming farm restaurant for a dinner of local specialties and wine
Optional: Croatian Countryside with dinner
Overnight: Zagreb
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Thursday – Travel to Sarajevo & City Tour

Today, travel from Zagreb to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On arrival, take a tour of Sarajevo, a city with a complex history. Begin at the picturesque Turkish Bazaar (Bascarsija), an ancient trading place with artisan workshops. View many examples of splendid Ottoman architecture around the city center. The city is truly a “living history museum”, where mosques built by the Ottomans sit alongside buildings created by the Austro-Hungarians. Continue to the Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque, the most important Islamic structure in the country, one of the world’s finest examples of Ottoman architecture. On your walk, look for the poignant Sarajevo Roses, flower-shaped memorials in the pavement filled with red cement, which are one of the few reminders left of the war. Check into your hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Sarajevo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5, Friday – Mostar, Arrive in Dubrovnik

Spend the morning at leisure in Sarajevo. Later, depart for Dubrovnik and stop en route in Mostar, a medieval town in northern Herzegovina. Here, view the compelling reconstructed Stari Most Bridge, a staunch symbol of freedom on the Neretva River. End the day in the spectacular walled city of Dubrovnik, lovingly named the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Tonight, dinner is at the hotel
Overnight: Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6, Saturday – Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Begin the day with a walking tour of Dubrovnik and view the monumental Sponza Palace, one of the most beautiful palaces in the city, preserved in its original form. Under the City Bell Tower on Luza Square, view Orlando Column, dedicated to the legendary knight that saved the city in the 9th century. Then, view the Dominican Monastery and visit the Franciscan Monastery and its 14th century pharmacy, one of the oldest still-functioning pharmacies in Europe. Tonight, perhaps attend the optional Cruise and Dinner. Venture to St. Jakov beach in Dubrovnik, where a boat ride will take you around the Old City walls, Then, savor a three course dinner and Dalmatian wine. After dinner return to the Old City Port and enjoy the views of Dubrovnik by night before returning to your hotel
Optional: Cruise & Dinner
Overnight: Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7, Sunday – Excursion to Montenegro

Today’s excursion takes you on a scenic drive across the Croatian border to Montenegro, a Mediterranean jewel with its crystal clear lakes. Head to the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. A boat ride takes you to Our Lady Of The Rocks Church, nestled on an islet off the coast of Perast. View the Roman Catholic Church, the largest building on the islet, with a museum attached to it. Later, visit the dramatically beautiful town of Kotor, butted up against the steep limestone cliffs of Mt Lovcen, with its imposing network of fortifications. Afterward, return to Dubrovnik
Overnight: Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8, Monday – Travel to Split & City Tour

Depart Dubrovnik and travel north along the Pelješac Peninsula. View the new Pelješac Bridge connecting the region of Southern Dalmatia with the rest of the country’s mainland, on your way to the UNESCO protected seaside town of Split. Upon arrival, a walking tour along the cobbled streets of the Old Town features the historic inner city with its dominating Roman influence, built around the 4th century Palace of Diocletian. This spectacular palace, a precious example of Roman architecture, is one of the largest and best preserved in the world. See the remains of the Cathedral of St. Domnius built in the Middle Ages, and the Temple of Jupiter with its headless black sphinx guarding the entrance. Spend the remainder of the day discovering the town independently, before dinner tonight
Overnight: Split
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9, Tuesday – Plitvice Lakes National Park

Travel north towards Plitvice Lakes National Park. Upon arrival, have lunch. Then, set out to explore the park* and discover firsthand the breathtaking surroundings of this natural wonder, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to more than 16 lakes and magnificent waterfalls at every turn. As you walk along the zig-zag paths, admire this wonderland of waterfalls, lakes and trees. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Share today’s adventure at dinner tonight
*The walk down to Plitvice Lakes requires good walking shoes
Overnight: Plitvice Lakes or Slunj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Wednesday – Postojna Cave En Route to Bled, Ljubljana Excursion

Today, head north to the Postojna Cave in Slovenia, a network of passages, galleries, and chambers. This is the largest and most visited show cave in Europe. Travel aboard the specially designed cave train with electric lighting that allows you to observe the splendor of the underground world. You’ll be dazzled by the stalactites and stalagmites in a variety of shapes and colors. Following lunch, embark on an excursion to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. View the most significant sights of the old city center, with its unique mixture of Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Stop at the picturesque open-air market, Three Bridges Square, Town Hall, and Robba Fountain, one of the city’s best known Baroque monuments. Afterward continue to Bled, exquisitely set amidst the Julian Alps, for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Bled
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11, Thursday – Alpine Resort of Bled

Morning exploration of Bled, with its emerald-green lake, picture postcard church, and medieval castle. Ranked among the world’s most beautiful alpine resorts, it’s renowned for its mild healing climate and thermal lake waters. Tour the imposing 11th century Bled Castle, perched on a steep cliff high above the lake, creating a dramatic backdrop to the city. This medieval fortress, with its huge towers, ramparts, moats, and terrace, offers exquisite views. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, or join the optional Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj tour. Visit the island on Lake Bled and Bohinj, with its dense woods and spectacular mountains. Drive through typical Slovenian villages on the return to Bled. Tonight, join the optional dinner at a traditional country inn in the tiny medieval town of Radovljica that includes choices of Slovenian favorites along with wine
Optional: Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj
Optional: Tour of Radovljica with dinner
Overnight: Bled
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12, Friday – Trieste Sightseeing en Route to Venice

Depart Slovenia towards Italy, stopping en route in Trieste, a major seaport in northeastern Italy. Embark on a pleasant walk through the major piazzas of the city, including the former seat of the Jewish quarter and the Roman theater. Continue to magical Venice with time to begin your exploration of this astonishing city on your own. Tonight, indulge yourself at one of the city’s fine restaurants, or sample cicchetti, the Venetian version of tapas with a lovely glass of Italian wine
Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 13, Saturday – Walking Tour of Venice

The discovery of Venice begins on the Island of Murano, known for its artistic and colorful glassware. While here, visit a local factory to witness the art of glassblowing. Afterward, continue to the main Venice Island and take a walking tour with your local guide through the maze of narrow alleyways and bridges before reaching St. Mark’s Square. Stop to view its most prominent monuments, the pink marble Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and golden Basilica of San Marco. The Doge’s Palace was the official residence of the Venetian ruler. The Bridge of Sighs offers one of the most notable scenes of this Romantic city. Marvel at the golden Basilica of San Marco, that is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It was built over several centuries in a fusion of Byzantine, Roman and Venetian architecture. The rest of the day is yours to explore Venice at leisure, or to participate in this afternoon’s optional Gondola Ride, offering a different perspective of this unique city built on water. Tonight during dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Optional: Gondola Ride
Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14, Sunday – Depart Italy

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast