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Day 1 - Welcome to Zagreb, Croatia
On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted at the airport and escorted to the Hotel Esplanade. Situated in an elegant 1925 landmark building originally constructed to accommodate passengers on the storied Orient-Express Train, our deluxe hotel offers a sophisticated welcome in the heart of this vibrant city. This evening, you’ll gather with your fellow travelers for a congenial welcome dinner featuring fine regional cuisine and local wine. Meals D
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Day 2 - History+ Culture of Northern Croatia
Set on the southern banks of the River Drava, the charming town of Varazdin is one of the highlights of Northern Croatia. Accompanied by our engaging guide, you’ll travel here this morning for a pleasant walking tour – the perfect way to experience Varazdin’s immaculately preserved Baroque and medieval architecture, its handsome town square and charming cobblestone streets. After a lunch of Croatian specialties, you’ll continue your sightseeing at Trakoscan Castle, originally built in the 13th century on a wooded knoll overlooking a tranquil lake. Now meticulously restored, this imposing castle and its lovely park-like grounds offer a fascinating look into Croatia’s history and cultural traditions. Your guided visit also showcases its impressive interiors - with fine Baroque furnishings and displays of weapons and other artifacts from the 15th through 19th centuries. Back in Zagreb, the evening is yours to enjoy and dine as you wish. Meals B+L
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Day 3 - Plitvice Lakes National Park + Zadar
This morning, you’ll discover the breathtaking beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Over thousands of years, flowing waters over limestone and chalk have left behind travertine barriers. These natural dams have, in turn, created a remarkable series of 16 terraced lakes that tumble down the hillside. Ranging in hue from azure and emerald to steely grey, they’re connected by rushing cascades that continue the geological processes that originally created them. Today, well maintained trails and unobtrusive wooden walkways allow you to behold and experience the majestic beauty of these pristine lakes and their beautiful forest setting. You’ll also enjoy a short cruise across the largest of Plitvice’s lakes before continuing to the Dalmatian Coast. Arriving in the ancient town of Zadar, check in to your sea-view room at the wonderful Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera. Meals B+D
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Day 4 - Zadar to Sibenik, Trogir and Split #WHS#
Discover the Roman glory and Habsburg elegance of this charming seafront town before traveling to Sibenik, where the 15th-century St. James Cathedral bears witness to the cultural exchange that flourished between Italy and Dalmatia during the Renaissance. Tour the town’s medieval quarter, little changed over the centuries, and then travel to the Roman-Gothic town of Trogir for a guided stroll including the Cathedral. Enjoy a wine + brandy tasting and dinner at a local winery before continuing on to the Hotel Luxe in Split. Meals B+D
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Day 5 - Ancient Wonders of Split #WHS#
Your tour of Split’s ancient landmarks begins with the magnificent palace of Emperor Diocletian . Built between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries, the outlines of this vast palace form the heart of the Old City today. A startling portion of the palatial complex is remarkably well preserved, and it is the most valuable example of ancient Roman architecture on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Your tour also includes Peristil Square; now the city’s popular main square, this was in Diocletian’s time, the entry hall to his palace and it was here that the Emperor would address Roman citizens.
After sightseeing, enjoy lunch on your own and a free afternoon to continue exploring at your own pace. Outside the Palace, you will find charming piazzas and a beautiful waterfront with inviting restaurants and cafes. This evening you’ll dine at one of our favorite restaurants here in Split.
Meals B+D
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Day 6 - Mostar + Sarajevo
Journey across the border into Bosnia & Herzegovina to explore the historic town of Mostar. Set against a rugged mountain backdrop along the meandering Neretva River, Mostar grew from a simple riverside crossing into an important settlement and provincial capital of the Ottoman Empire. Delve into the region’s complex and often turbulent history as you explore the town’s historic quarter, graced with finely restored Ottoman-era buildings including the 500-year-old mosque. You’ll also see the celebrated Stari Most (Old Bridge), originally built in the 16th century and then reconstructed after its near total destruction in 1993. Continue to the inviting Bristol Hotel, set along a riverside promenade in Sarajevo. Meals B+L+D
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Day 7 - Get to know Sarajevo
Join your guide after breakfast for a guided city tour including the Latin Bridge, also known as the Princip Bridge. Built by the Ottomans, it was here that Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in 1914. This of course sparked a war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia which then escalated into World War I. You’ll also see the Emperor’s Mosque, built in 1457 after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia, and the Franciscan Monastery of St. Anthony. The Sarajevo Freedom Tunnel Museum offers a sobering yet inspiring look at how residents survived the Siege of Sarajevo. Originally extending for nearly 900 yards, this hand-dug tunnel supplied arms and food during the 3-year siege. Much of the tunnel has since collapsed, but this fascinating museum includes a 65-foot section of the original tunnel as well as the shell-pounded house that hid the tunnel entrance. Meals B+D
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Day 8 - Durmitor National Park #WHS#
Depart Sarajevo this morning and embark on a jeep expedition into magnificent Durmitor National Park, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking landscapes. Formed by glaciers and traversed by rivers, the park is covered with dense pine forests interspersed with clear pristine lakes. This stunning Alpine region is also home to no fewer than 48 peaks which soar to altitudes over 6,500 feet. Enjoy lunch amidst this scenic beauty and then behold Tara Canyon, the deepest in Europe. Continue to Kolasin, a charming town cradled by forests and mountains. Arrive in time for dinner at the Bianca Resort & Spa, where you’ll enjoy two wonderful nights surrounded by the chalet ambience and casual sophistication of this deluxe mountain retreat. Meals B,L,D
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Day 9 - Into the Highlands of Montenegro
Enjoy breakfast at your mountain resort before traveling by jeep into the Highlands, learning about the region’s unique cultural traditions and taking in sweeping vistas of the virgin forests that cradle Biogradsko Lake. Experience a slice of daily life as you meet with farmers who live simply in their cottages – making crafts and tending their sheep in the picturesque mountain pastures. Sit down to a hearty lunch of traditional fare in one of these rustic wooden cottages or, weather permitting, enjoy a delightful picnic in a mountain meadow. This evening’s dinner at your hotel features regional cuisine and Montenegrin specialties. Meals B+L+D
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Day 10 - Through Moraca Canyon to Kotor
Check out from your hotel after breakfast and journey through the beautiful mountain scenery to visit the historic Moraca Monastery. Founded in the 13th century and surrounded by a lovely courtyard garden, this important Orthodox Monastery is home to magnificent ancient frescoes and painted icons from the 17th and 18th centuries. Continue across Mount Lovćen to Cetinje, the old royal capital of Montenegro, to visit the National Museum and Cetinje Monastery, home to holy relics of St. John the Baptist. Stop in the charming village of Njegusi for a light lunch of the region’s specialty - locally smoked hams and cheeses. Descend from the highlands via a serpentine road with breathtaking views of the Bay of Kotor and the only fjord in Southern Europe. Enjoy a wonderful overnight here at the luxurious Hotel Regent Porto Montenegro, nestled on palm-fringed shores in the heart of Porto Montenegro village. Meals B+L+D
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Day 11 - Bay of Kotor to Dubrovnik
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, you’ll embark on a guided cruise onto the tranquil waters of the Bay; it’s the perfect way to take in the surrounding landscape of steep, forested slopes, colorful marinas and charming medieval villages. On a small island in the Bay of Kotor, you’ll step off to visit Our Lady of the Rocks, a lovely 17th-century Baroque Church rich with colorful stories and legends. Continue onward to Dubrovnik for a guided walking tour through its beautifully preserved Old Town, set within impressive ramparts on a stunning stretch of the Dalmatian Coast. Among the landmarks, you’ll admire is the Rector’s Palace, built in the late 15th century in Gothic style and embellished with Renaissance and Baroque flourishes. Then check in to the deluxe Hilton Imperial Hotel for a wonderful 2-night stay. Meals B+L
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Day 12 - A Day at Leisure
Hailed as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Dubrovnik was an important Mediterranean Sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1667 and again during the 1990’s by armed conflict, the city has been meticulously restored. Today it is one of Europe’s most beautifully preserved walled cities and it boasts a wealth of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. With a prime location near the medieval city gate, our deluxe hotel makes it easy for you to step out and explore this celebrated gem at your own pace. In addition to exploring the architectural monuments that grace the cobblestone lanes of the Old Town, you’ll want take some time to enjoy its galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants! This evening, you’ll gather again with your fellow travelers for a congenial farewell dinner. Meals B+D
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Day 13 - Depart Debrovnik
We’ll take you to the airport today for your onward journey. Meals B