Dalmatian Sunshine with Belgrade | 13 Days

DAY 1:                 DUBROVNIK

On arrival into Dubrovnik airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free until you gather with our tour director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner. Overnight Dubrovnik. (D)

DAY 2;                 DUBROVNIK

On a morning walking tour of Old Dubrovnik visit the Rector’s Palace, and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando’s Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join us for optional excursion home hosted Dubelj with dinner. (B)

DAY 3:                 DUBROVNIK – SPLIT  

Travel north along the spectacular Adriatic coast, past old fishing villages and new resorts, to the city of Split for overnight. (B, D)

DAY 4:                 SPLIT

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then see the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy at the beach or join us on an optional excursion to the jet-set spot of the rich and famous – Island of Hvar. (B)

DAY 5:                 SPLIT – TROGIR – PLITVICE

After breakfast, head to Trogir, the centre of artistic activities. Scholars from around the world gather here to study and paint. Then, turn inland and travel to spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park. Have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. Overnight Plitvice. (B, D)

DAY 6:                 PLITVICE – OPATIJA – POSTOJNA – BLED   

Return to the coast and travel along the beautiful bay of Kvarner to its popular resort, Opatija. After a bit of free time, continue north to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward, continue to Bled, beautifully set in the Julian Alps. (B, D)

DAY 7:                 BLED      

An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was “discovered” by travellers in the middle of the 19^th century. Since then, a small town of hotels, villas, and restaurants has developed around the lake, turning Bled into a lively, all-seasons resort. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and the lakeshore, and visits imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting the small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery. (B)

DAY 8:                 BLED – LJUBLJANA – ZAGREB

Leave the mountains and head to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. See the most significant sights of the old city centre on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba’s Fountain. Then, continue to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city. (B, D)

DAY 9:                 ZAGREB

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. Overnight Zagreb. (B)

DAY 10:              ZAGREB – BELGRADE

After breakfast, we will drive you to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. (B, D)

DAY 11:                             BELGRADE – NOVI SAD – BELGRADE

After breakfast, full day excursion from Belgrade: Our first stop is Krusedol monastery, founded in the beginning of the 16^th century and considered one of Serbia’s most significant monasteries. Continue to Sremski Karlovci, a picturesque town with its baroque and neoclassical houses and buildings. After the orientation tour, we will depart to one of the famous local wineries for lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards, we visit the intriguing Petrovaradin fortress, with its underground trenches and tunnels. The last stop is the city of Novi Sad, where we’ll have a quick orientation tour and some free time before returning to Belgrade and your hotel. (B, L)

DAY 12:                             BELGRADE

Your morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. You’ll also see Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street, Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in the city, and Tito’s Memorial. Continue to Avala. The rest of the day is free. In the afternoon, Optional excursion to Topola, where George Petrovic, better known by his sobriquet Karadjordje, was chosen as the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. A very short drive away is the local St. George’s Church, also known as Oplenac, the burial place of the Ducal and Royal Family of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Return to Belgrade for overnight. (B)

DAY 13:                             BELGRADE

After breakfast, transfer to Belgrade airport for your departure flight. End of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

DUBROVNIK:  Lero Hotel

SPLIT: Hotel Corner

PLITVICE: Hotel Jezero

BLED: Hotel Kompas, or Bled Rose

ZAGREB: Hotel Zonar

BELGRADE: Hotel Moskva, or Courtyard by Marriott

INCLUSIONS:

• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Arrival transfer from Dubrovnik Airport to the tour hotel on day 1
• Departure transfer from tour hotel to Belgrade airport on day 13
• Meals as per itinerary
• Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
• Professional Tour Director throughout
• Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
• Whisper technology enhanced touring
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Sightseeing tours in Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice Lakes, Postojna Cave, Bled, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Novi Sad, Belgrade

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m. Tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          Because of the narrow and cobbled streets, walking is the primary way of getting around. Please make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes.