WESTERN BALKAN DISCOVERY & VENICE ESCORTED TOUR

Itinerary

DAY 1, MONDAY: ZAGREB – ARRIVAL
You will be met at the airport and driven to the hotel. Later, gather with your tour guide and other traveling companions for a Welcome dinner.

DAY 2: ZAGREB
After breakfast enjoy a guided tour of the Croatia’s capital, which will reveal its most important cultural and architectural attractions: the Cathedral, the main Ban Jelacic square, the fortified Upper Town, the city’s historical center, St. Mark’s Church with its multicolored roof, the Croatian National Theatre. The rest of the day at leisure…

DAY 3: ZAGREB – SARAJEVO
Journey to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here we can still see the dominance of the Ottoman style of mosques, complemented by Catholic cathedral and Jewish synagogue. Dinner and overnight in Sarajevo.

DAY 4: SARAJEVO – DUBROVNIK
Breakfast and then guided tour of the city: Gazi Husrev Bey’s Mosque, Bezistan, Gavrilo Princip Museum, Baščaršija – Turkish Bazaar…. In the evening we arrive to Dubrovnik a world-famous Dalmatian city, also called the Pearl of Adriatic. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: DUBROVNIK
After breakfast you have a walking tour which shows the highlights of this beautiful city. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace, Dominican Monastery Orlando’s Column and Sponza Palace.  The rest of the day you have time to explore this beautiful city on your own. Overnight

DAY 6: MONTENEGRO TOUR
Travel to the Republic of Montenegro. Drive along the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Enjoy a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two islets off the coast of Perast. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest building on the islet, with a museum attached to it. Upon return to the coast, we will stop in Perast, an old charming coastal town. Then we visit  Kotor a historic town surrounded by walls, protecting the marbled cobbled streets with churches, shops, bars and restaurants on hidden squares. Return to to Dubrovnik. Overnight.

DAY 7: DUBROVNIK – SPLIT
Departure to Split, the biggest city in Dalmatia. Its historic part is under UNESCO protection. Our guide will show you historical and cultural places of interest. The main attraction is the magnificent Diocletian palace, with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8: SPLIT – TROGIR – PLITVICE LAKES
Departure to Trogir, a town beautifully set on a small island within medieval walls with mazelike streets. Trogir is known for its Romanesque and Renaissance architecture which flourished under Venetian rule.  The magnificent Cathedral of St Lawrence was built during that time. Then drive to the Plitvice National Park, wonderful nature protected by UNESCO.

DAY 9: PLITVICE LAKES
A day to enjoy spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park.The World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park comprises 16 terraced lakes, which are interconnected by a series of stunning waterfalls and surrounded by densely-wooded hills. Walk among the waterfalls, take a boat ride through the crystal water and make some photos. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice region.

DAY 10: PLITVICE – OPATIJA – POSTOJNA CAVE – BLED
After breakfast we head back to the coast. We drive along the beautiful bay of Kvarner and have a short break in Opatija which is a popular resort. Then drive to Postojna and visit the famous cave, one of the largest in the world. Its stalagmite and stalactite formations are unequalled anywhere. An electric train will take you into the caves and then enjoy in the underground karst world, where nature was the main architect through the millennia and has formed amazing formations. Then we continue to Bled, Slovenia’s most popular tourist resort. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 11: BLED – LJUBLJANA – BLED
After breakfast sightseeing of this charming town, the lakeshore and the Bled Castle with its scenic views. The positive energy of this place was discovered very early, it became a pilgrimage site and later a health resort. In the afternoon we drive to Ljubljana the capital city of Slovenia. The guided tour will take you to the baroque old town, Prešeren Square, Congress Square, the City Hall, the Cathedral, the ‘Butchers’ Bridge, the Dragon Bridge, and the open market, very popular with the locals. Return to Bled.  Overnight.

Day 12: BLED – TRIESTE – VENICE
After breakfast we leave south to Trieste in Italy. There we have an orientatation tour and visit of  Miramare Castle and its lovely park. The castle was built by the Habsburg monarchy on a cliff overlooking Adriatic Sea. After the visit we continue the tour to Venice, exciting historical city which stretches, with the help of bridges, over the numerous small islands (118) in the marshy shallows sea (lagoon) on the west coast of the northern part of the Adriatic Sea.  Overnight.

Day 13:VENICE
Today begins with a walking tour of Venice featuring the major highlights: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, Bell Tower, and Bridge of Sighs. Visit a glassblowing factory where you will watch a master artisan demonstrate this traditional Venetian art. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy Venice at your own or to take an optional gondola ride. In the evening there will be a Farewell Dinner.

Day 14, SUNDAY: VENICE – DEPARTURE
After breakfast you will be transferred to Venice airport for your flight home. (B)

DATES AND PRICES 2021:

• PRICE PER PERSON IN TWIN: 2990 EUR
• SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: 1090 EUR

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• Centrally located 4- and 5-star hotels
• Buffet breakfast daily
• 8 dinners (coffee or tea included)
• Airport transfers
• Touring by modern air-conditioned motor-coach
• Professional English Speaking Tour Director throughout
• Licensed Local Guides
• Luggage handling at hotels
• Complimentary whispers with sightseeing tours
• Service charges and hotel taxes

Entrance fees included: Zagreb Cathedral, Husref Bay’s Mosque and Gavrilo Princip Museum in Sarajevo, Rector’s palace and Pharmacy in Dubrovnik, boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, Diocletian Palace, Plitvice National Park, Postojna Caves, Bled Castle, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and Visit a glassblowing factory in Venice

Sightseeing Tours Included: Zagreb, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice Lakes, Opatija, Bled, Ljubljana, Postojna Cave, Venice