11D8N INSIGHTS OF BALKANS

DAY 1

HOME ➤ ZAGREB (MEALS ON BOARD)

Assemble at the airport for your flight to Zagreb – the capital of Croatia.

DAY 2

ZAGREB (MEALS ON BOARD, DINNER)

Upon arrival, transfer to Zagreb and start off with a guided walking tour of the Upper and Lower Town – catch a glimpse of top attractions like King Tomislav Square, the Stone Gate, St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark's Church, the Strossmayer Promenade, Zagreb Cathedral, Ban Jelacic Square and Dolac Market. Enjoy the rest of the day free at leisure to do some souvenir shopping or simply bask in the lively street atmosphere of the city.

DAY 3

ZAGREB ➤ SARAJEVO (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER – BEEF SAHAN)

Journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina and head for its capital, Sarajevo. Enjoy a walking tour of the city's Old Town – stroll past the Emperor's Mosque, the largest mosque in the Balkans; the Eternal Flame and the Sarajevo Roses that are scattered throughout the city. Visit Sarajevo Tunnel, also known as the Tunnel of Hope, which was an underground tunnel constructed during the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War.

DAY 4

SARAJEVO ➤ MOSTAR ➤ DUBROVNIK (BREAKFAST, DINNER)

Proceed to Mostar today, where you will follow your tour guide to the magnificent Old Bridge for an extraordinary panorama over the river. Bask in the lively atmosphere of the Old Bazaar, which winds along one of the oldest parts of Mostar. Thereafter, travel to Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic. Starting from Pile Gate, walk along the elegant Stradun Street and soak up the buzzing atmosphere. Stroll past Onofrio Fountain for a look at the Romanesque-Gothic architecture of the Franciscan Monastery. Wander along the limestone-clad promenade until you reach the beautiful Renaissance-era Sponza Palace, which houses the state archives. Other highlights you'll come across include the City Bell Tower, Orlando's Column, and the Church of St. Blaise, which is dedicated to the patron saint of Dubrovnik.

DAY 5

DUBROVNIK (BREAKFAST)

Enjoy a free day of leisure for some shopping or sightseeing at your pleasure in Dubrovnik. You may wish to embark on an optional half-day tour of Montenegro Blue. Surrounded by high mountains reflected in the blue waters, the fjord-shaped Bay of Kotor is one of the most spectacular landscapes on the Mediterranean. Drive along the bay past Risan and the picturesque Perast to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DAY 6

DUBROVNIK ➤ SPLIT ➤ ZADAR (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

Wander through the Croatian countryside to wind up in Split, a town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast that was founded by Emperor Diocletian in AD 305 to construct his retirement palace. Tour this seaside city with a guide, who will bring you to enter the massive Diocletian’s Palace and explore all its nooks and crannies, including the remains of the original palace, and the Peristil Square. Visit Stella Croatica, a family-run traditional estate, as you learn more about olive oil production and its different varieties as well as the local ingredients and Mediterranean delicacies. Then continue to Zadar, a city built in the centre of the Croatian Adriatic that’s steeped in three thousand years of tumultuous history. Embark on a guided promenade of the city and visit the Western Quay for an close-up look at the Sea Organ and the Monument to the Sun, followed by St. Donatus’ Church, the Roman Forum, St. Anastasia's Cathedral, St. Mary's Church, and the Lion's Gate.

DAY 7

ZADAR ➤ PLITVICE ➤ ISTRIA (BREAKFAST, LUNCH - HOMEMADE SUCKLING PIG, DINNER)

A drive through the Croatian highlands reveals the splendid alpine scenery as you arrive in one of Europe's most impressive national parks – the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Take pleasure in a guided tour of the beautiful landscapes within the UNESCO National Heritage Park, adorned with sixteen lakes that are interconnected by a series of waterfalls and deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars, and rare bird species. Savour the riveting beauty of nature from a different perspective on the waters as you join an Electric Boat Ride. Note: In the event of bad weather conditions where the boat ride is unable to proceed, there will be no replacement activity.

DAY 8

ISTRIA ➤ POSTOJNA CAVE ➤ LJUBLJANA (BREAKFAST, ISTRIAN TRUFFLE LUNCH, CHINESE DINNER)

After breakfast, journey to the Istrian peninsula, a region in northwest Croatia. Set off on a walking tour into the forest, accompanied by well-trained truffle dogs and their owners, to hunt for underground Istrian treasure – the exclusive truffle, before doing some truffle tasting. After which, journey to Postojna and embark on a unique cave tour of the renowned Postojna Cave – one of the world’s largest karst monuments. Board the unique Electric Train for an exciting adventure through dark passages to the Great Mountain, where you will disembark and continue foot across the Russian Bridge into the caves comprising of the Spaghetti Hall, the White Hall, and the Red Hall. Press on further to view the renowned stalagmites in the Brilliant Passage and get a look at the Vivarium Proteus, otherwise known as the human fish. Finally, head to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.

DAY 9

LJUBLJANA ➤ BLED ➤ LJUBLJANA (BREAKFAST, LUNCH - WESTERN MEAL + BLED CREAM CAKE, TRADITIONAL SLOVENIAN DINNER)

After breakfast, make a photo stop at the stunning Lake Bled. This alpine lake holds the only island in Slovenia in its centre and is noted to be a world-renowned paradise for centuries. Next, you may wish to join an optional excursion to visit Lake Bohinj, the largest glacial lake in Slovenia. Visit Bled Castle, which overlooks the lake, and enjoy a delicious local lunch there. Continue to Ljubljana and embark on a guided tour of the Old Town for some of the best-preserved medieval houses, visit the open-air Central Market, the baroque Town Hall, the stunning Robba Fountain, and the grandiose Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge.

DAY 10

LJUBLJANA ➤ ZAGREB ➤ HOME (BREAKFAST, MEALS ON BOARD)

Make a pit-stop at the Designer Outlet Croatia for some last-minute shopping before proceeding to the airport for your flight home.

DAY 11

HOME SWEET HOME

We hope you enjoyed your trip with our company and we look forward to seeing you again for your next trip.