this itinerary is performed by a local tour company. it is not an exclusive tour and therefore you may be with passengers from other tour companies; signage may display the local tour company name, but will have your name; tour guides and vehicles may change throughout your tour, and your tour documents/vouchers may be requested to exchange for local bus/theater/hotel/flight/ferry tickets. luggage tags or name badges are not provided. day 1 - depart for croatia
depart for croatia day 2 - arrive in dubrovnik
welcome to dubrovnik. you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. this evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and briefing by your tour manager on the adventure that awaits you
overnight: dubrovnik
meals: dinner day 3 - tour of dubrovnik
in the morning, tour "old dubrovnik" on foot. the magnificent old town was declared a unesco world heritage site, a treasure of gothic, renaissance, and baroque churches, monasteries and palaces. the tour of "old dubrovnik" highlights sites such as rector's palace, an outstanding blend of gothic and renaissance architecture. also 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's tower, dedicated to the legendary knight that saved the city in the 9th century. then on to view the dominican monastery and franciscan monastery with its pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. the rest of the day is yours perhaps spend time strolling along the impressive ramparts overlooking the shimmering adriatic sea, or visit the maritime museum in st. john's castle. don't miss tonight's optional boat ride around the old city walls to st. jakov beach and enjoy a traditional croatian dinner and dalmatian wine, along with spectacular views of the night-lit city
optional: cruise & dinner
overnight: dubrovnik
meals: breakfast day 4 - 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. enjoy a boat ride that 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. afterwards stop in perast, a charming old coastal town. visit the dramatically beautiful town of kotor, butted up against the steep limestone cliffs of mt lovcen, with its imposing network of fortifications. afterwards, return to dubrovnik. tonight, be sure to enjoy the spectacular sunset as you walk along dubrovnik's cobbled streets and see the glowing buildings and the fortifications accented against the night sky
overnight: dubrovnik
meals: breakfast day 5 - travel to split, split city tour
depart dubrovnik and travel north along the dramatic adriatic coast to the unesco protected seaside town of split, the second largest city in croatia. 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, or taking a leisurely stroll along the scenic waterfront promenade. in the evening, dinner together
overnight: split
meals: breakfast, dinner day 6 - trogir sightseeing en route to plitvice lakes
travel north to historic trogir, founded by the greeks in 400 bc. here, admire the three-naved 13th century venetian cathedral of st. lovro, one of the finest architectural works in croatia, and the stunning cipiko palace. a center of artistic activities, scholars came from around the world to trogir to study and paint. continue inland towards plitvice lakes national park, a wonderland of 16 interconnecting lakes, flanked by thundering waterfalls and a huge primeval forest. this area, known as a geological and hydrological phenomenon, is celebrated as one of the most beautiful natural sights in europe, inscribed on the unesco world heritage list
overnight: plitvice lakes
meals: breakfast, dinner day 7 - walking tour of plitvice lakes
explore plitvice national park today and discover first-hand the breathtaking surroundings of this natural wonder. as you hike along the zig-zag paths, marvel at this wonderland of waterfalls, lakes and trees. a guided walk takes you past lush vegetation and along man-made boardwalks to several of the pristine lower lakes. remainder of the day is at leisure. share today's adventure with your fellow travelers at dinner tonight
overnight: plitvice lakes
meals: breakfast, dinner day 8 - opatija sightseeing & postonja caves en route to bled
today, return to the coast and travel along the striking bay of kvarner to the remarkable seaside resort of opatija, a gem of croatia's adriatic coast, with its rich history and picturesque surroundings. enjoy an orientation tour of opatija exploring the highlights of this former imperial resort city. time to enjoy the pleasures of this area before journeying north to the postojna caves in slovenia, a network of passages, galleries and chambers. this is the largest and the 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, where the geological past is recorded in a unique manner. you'll be dazzled by the stalactites and stalagmites in a variety of shapes, and colors. afterwards continue to bled, exquisitely set amidst the julian alps, for dinner and overnight
overnight: bled
meals: breakfast, dinner day 9 - the alpine resort of bled, ljubljana excursion
morning exploration of bled, with its rich natural beauty ranks among the world's most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild healing climate and thermal lake waters. with its emerald-green lake, picture postcard church, and medieval castle. 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. this afternoon, enjoy 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, the town hall, and robba fountain, one of the city's best known baroque monuments. time to explore on your own before returning to bled
overnight: bled
meals: breakfast day 10 - trieste sightseeing en route to venice
depart slovenia and head towards italy, stopping en route in trieste, a major seaport in northeastern italy. visit miramare castle on the peak of a rocky promontory along the gulf of trieste. continue to magical venice with time to begin your exploration of this astonishing city on your own. later, join the optional grand canal cruise that takes you through the heart of the city on a one-hour boat ride. tonight, pamper yourself at one of the city's fine restaurants, or just sit at an outdoor café and sip a cappuccino or a lovely glass of italian wine
optional: canal grand cruise
overnight: venice
meals: breakfast day 11 - walking tour of venice
walking tour of fairy tale venice begins at st. mark's square. view the golden basilica of san marco, built over several centuries in a fusion of byzantine, roman and venetian architecture. walk via the bridge of sighs, created at the beginning of the 17th century to serve as a link between prisons. then on to the pink marble doge's palace, the official residence of the venetian ruler. its facade is highlighted by a massive late-gothic gate, known as the porta della carta. continue with a boat ride to the island of murano, known for its artistic glassware. here, visit a glassblowing workshop and observe a master artisan demonstrate this traditional venetian art. the rest of the day is yours to explore venice independently. later, don't miss the optional gondola ride with music, definitely one of the highlights of any italian holiday! this evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant
