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Day 01: NORTH AMERICA
/ EUROPE. Tour members will gather at the
ticket counter at the airport three hours prior to their departure to
Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served in-flight.
Day 02: ZAGREB.
Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your tour manager who will
ensure your arrival is a smooth one. Board you private motor coach and
head into Zagreb and your hotel, the 4 Points Sheraton. Following
check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy your
surroundings. We’ll get together again this evening for dinner where you
can meet your fellow travelers and discuss the trip ahead. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel.
Day 03: ZAGREB / LJUBLJANA.
After breakfast we begin our city tour
of Zagreb, situated on the River Sava. The city is historically divided
into two sections, the lower and upper towns. Our tour manager will show
us the sites including Mirogoj, the famous cemetery of Zagreb, and then
continue to Upper Town and a walking tour that will finish at St.
Stephen’s Cathedral. Our afternoon tour will take us to Ljubljana, the
capital of the new state of Slovenia. Ljubljana became the capital of
the new state, the heart of the political, economic, cultural and
scientific life of the Slovene nation in 1991. Our guide will explain
the history of the city during your visit of the old center, dominated
by the castle which has great views for miles around, the cathedral of
St Nicholas consecrated in 1707 and the baroque parish church built in
1646. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Hotel Toplice, located at the
lakeshore of Bled.
Day 04: BLED / POSTOJNA.
After breakfast, a local guide will meet us at the hotel for a
sightseeing tour of the ideal Slovenian resort, encompassing many of the
country’s natural wonders – tranquil waters surrounded by impressive
peaks of the Julian Alps. The image of Bled with the castle, the lake,
and the island in the middle of the lake are sights by which Bled is
known to nearly the entire world. The Bled Castle, a silent witness to
its former power, resolute and proud on a high rock above the lake,
stands watch over the town. The Bled Lake is known for its exceptional
beauty. In the middle of the lake lies the island with the Church of
Assumption. The island and the church have a rich history. Inside the
church there is the wishing bell from 1534. Some leisure time is
provided to enjoy the atmosphere and taste the famous cream slices (KREMSNITA),
or an optional boat ride to the island. In the afternoon we drive to
Postojna. The drive will take us about two hours until we reach our
hotel Jama for dinner and overnight.
Day 05: POSTOJNA / OPATIJA.
Today we set off to visit to the
 remarkable
Postojna Cave - a mysterious place with magnificent stalagmites and
stalactites that have formed over millions of years. The
20-kilometre-long underworld system is a miracle in itself, but one gets
truly astounded at the look of the mysterious human fish (Proteus
anguinus) and wondering of the strange form of life preserved in the
underground kingdom. Here we board a special cave train and enjoy a tour
of the cave with an experienced guide. Time is also spent at the
charming Predjama Castle built on a sheer rock and the home of the
cunning knight, Erazem. After a short stop for souvenirs and a cup of
coffee, we continue on our bus ride to Croatia and Opatija. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel Ambassador in Opatija.
Day 06: OPATIJA / PLITVICE LAKES.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we proceed to Plitvice Lakes. After we
check into our hotel, we will take an afternoon tour of the National
Park. Declared a world heritage site in 1979, this stunning National
Park is one of Europe’s unique natural treasures. The park is made up of
16 little lakes that are linked by waterfalls and surrounded by dense
forests. We’ll take a guided walking tour of the park following by
leisure time to make use of the panoramic trains and electric boats to
explore the park independently. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: PLITVICE LAKES / ZADAR /
TROGIR / SPLIT. A two and a half-hour drive
will take us this morning to Zadar, one of the most attractive tourist
regions in Croatia. A must see here is the church of St. Donat, the
symbol of the city and the Archaeological Museum, established in 1830
and one of the most important in Croatia. Also taste the famous liqueur
Maraskino, a home made specialty produced in Zadar since 1821! We’ll
then stop in the harbor town of Trogir where we spend a little time
exploring the cultural and historical monuments, art and original
architecture. Continue to our hotel in Split for dinner and overnight.
Day 08: SPLIT / MAKARSKA /
DUBROVNIK. This morning, after breakfast, our
local guide will be waiting to take us on a sightseeing tour of Split -
a
 city
with a 1700-year old tradition. A variety of archaeological, historical
and cultural monuments, among which is the well-known Palace of
Diocletian (inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List) certainly
occupies a special position. Our guide will show you the historical
significance of the city including its many museums: the Museum of
Croatian Archaeological Monuments - a capital Croatian cultural project
established in 1893 in Knin; the Archaeological Museum from 1820 (one of
the oldest in Croatia) and the Treasury of the Split Cathedral,
including a valuable collection of religious art and more. An hour drive
later we find ourselves in Makarska for a short stop. Makarska combines
the beauty of sea, coast and mountains and boasts the clearest sea in
the Adriatic. The coast is decorated by golden beaches edged by green
pines and the Biokovo Mountain, the highest mountain in the
Mediterranean, as it stands guard over the unique beauty of the coast.
We then continue along the Adriatic coast to our hotel in Dubrovnik for
dinner and overnight.
Day 09: DUBROVNIK.
After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, our local guide will meet
us at the hotel for a walking tour of ‘The Jewel of the Adriatic’ so
called by Lord Byron. Although over 70% of the buildings were damaged in
some way during the 1991 war, most of the damage has now been repaired
and the city is back to its stunning best. Originally a Venetian port
and one of the world’s major ports and trading centers up until the 17th
century, Dubrovnik is classified in its entirety by UNESCO as a world
heritage site and it’s easy to see why. Our guide will take us to see
the 15th century Onofrios fountain, built to celebrate the completion of
the city’s water system; the magnificent Rector’s Palace which dates
from the 17th century and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times;
the tiny Sigurata church that from the 11th century; St. Blaise’s church
with the small silver statue of St. Blaise that survived the fire which
destroyed the original church in 1706; and the stunningly pretty Sponza
Palace whose delicate ‘lace’ stonework has survived multiple
earthquakes. The afternoon is free to spend as we wish before our
farewell dinner at a local restaurant and entertainment this evening.
Overnight at our hotel.
Day 10: DUBROVNIK / NORTH AMERICA.
We depart this morning for the airport and our flight home – the end of
a most enjoyable journey. |
