Croatia and Slovenia - From Dubrovnik to Venice
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Dubrovnik, with a change in Vienna or Frankfurt enroute.
We arrive in Dubrovnik and transfer to our hotel for a 3-night stay. The rest of the day is free.
On our city tour of Dubrovnik we’ll see the city walls and fortifications, the Rector’s Palace, famous unique churches, public buildings that blend seamlessly with green-shuttered stone houses, and, in the Franciscan Monastery, Europe’s oldest apothecary. Later we travel by coach to the region of Konavle with a stop at the little mountain village of Gruda to see the mills and enjoy a tasting of local ham, cheese and grappa. This evening is our Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
At leisure to return to the old city or take a boat ride along the coast. An optional tour will be offered to Montenegro.
We travel to Mostar, and upon arrival, a guided tour of the city will show us the beautiful old town, the famous old bridge and the Turkish section, including a visit of a Turkish home and the Mosque. We overnight in Mostar.
We head back to the coast and enjoy a scenic drive to the energetic town of Split, the second-largest city in Croatia with the perfect balance of tradition and modernity. We will spend 2 nights here.
Our tour of Split features the historic inner city—the biggest in Dalmatia, built around a Roman Palace. We see the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple and the Peristyle. We’ll also visit the caves of the Diocletian’s Palace. The afternoon is at leisure to explore this popular seaside town’s dozens of cafes, restaurants and shops.
We visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of Trogir Island—a Croatian artistic centre. Scholars from all over the world gather to study and paint here, and you will see why. We continue to Zadar, and on our tour here we will see the harbour, the historical centre, and the pre-Romanic church of Saint Donat. We overnight in Zadar.
We depart for Plitvice Lakes National Park, a lush valley with 16 terraced lakes strung together by countless cascading waterfalls and miles of pleasant paths and wooden bridges. Our visit here will include a boat ride on the still waters of Kozjak Lake and an electric train around the park. Lunch will be included at the park today. At the end of our park visit, we continue to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, for a 2-night stay.
Our city tour will include a funicular ride to the Upper Town where a complex of churches, palaces, museums, government buildings and galleries has retained much of its old-world charm.
We continue to Slovenia’s medieval capital, Ljubljana, for a 2-night stay. Our city tour will include a funicular ride to Ljubljana castle for a panoramic view of the old town and red-roofed houses. The afternoon is at leisure to stroll the old town with its small shops, outdoor cafes and charming restaurants.
Today’s tour at emerald green Lake Bled includes a visit of Bled Castle, which stands on a cliff above the lake with spectacular views, and a “pletna” boat ride to the island where you can ring the bell at St. Mary’s Church for good luck.
We travel to Postojna to visit the incredible Karst cave system. A mini-train takes us through this fantastic underground world of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. We continue toward Venice and our hotel in the nearby resort town of Jesolo for a 2-night stay.
A boat ride will take us to the island of Venice for a guided tour of this magical city. We will see St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace and more. In the afternoon we will enjoy some time at leisure to shop, explore and of course take photos before we return to Jesolo on the mainland. Tonight is our Farewell Dinner.
We fly home to Canada, (September group— direct to Toronto, October group— via Frankfurt).
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
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