Highlights

This hosted tour is perfect for the on-the-go traveler - take in the white stone buildings, winding alleys, and massive city walls of the ancient harbour town of Dubrovnik. Enjoy a visit and dinner with a local family. Step back into Roman times in Diocletian’s Palace. Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park by foot and by boat, a place where waterfalls cascade down sheer cliffs connecting sixteen pristine lakes. Discover the richness of Opatija, the “Riviera of Croatia” and an Istrian gem. Explore Ljubljana, Slovenia’s quaint capital city, and float on a Pletna boat on serene Lake Bled. Delight in the old-world charm found in this sunny Adriatic paradise. 

Itinerary

Day 1: CANADA to CROATIA

Overnight Flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 2: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Your tour begins in the medieval city of Dubrovnik. Get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner this evening.

Day 3: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Join a local guide on a tour of “Old Dubrovnik,” a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Franciscan Monastery, where Europe’s oldest pharmacy resides, and see Dubrovnik’s many historical sites, from Rector’s Palace to the City Walls. This afternoon, it’s your choice! Join a local expert in Dubrovnik’s Old Town harbour for a cruise* with magnificent views of the medieval city walls before visiting nearby Lokrum Island where you can swim, marvel at exotic plants or take a walk with peacocks -OR- receive a ticket to access the walls that contain the old city of Dubrovnik and gain a different perspective on this remarkable place with leisure time to explore the city. This evening, travel to Cilipi in the culturally-rich Konavle region, where you’ll be welcomed for dinner at a family-owned restaurant. Visit with the family and learn about life in the Croatian heartland as you sample regional wines. At dinner, servers introduce you to a culinary feast, prepared in the way of their ancestors.

*Cruise is dependent on favorable weather conditions. If the cruise is unavailable, the city wall tickets will be available to everyone.

Day 4: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

Spend today at leisure. Relax or independently explore the marble streets and beautiful baroque buildings of Dubrovnik’s breathtaking Old Town. Or, perhaps you’ll embark on an optional culinary excursion where you will journey along the Pelješac Peninsula and sample local wines paired with fresh oysters plucked from the sea.

Day 5: DUBROVNIK - SPLIT

Savour stunning sea views as you travel up the winding coastal road, hugging the sheer cliffs that drop dramatically into the aquamarine of the Adriatic Sea. Enjoy a stop in a quaint village in the Croatian countryside. You will have time to taste some of the local specialties and perhaps take a walk through the village square. Upon arrival in Split, set out on a walking tour featuring the impressive Diocletian's Palace (UNESCO), one of the most significant late-Roman historical monuments, and also see the peristyle of the palace and the Temple of Jupiter.

Day 6: SPLIT - PLITVICE LAKES

Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure. You might consider an optional trip to Trogir, a city of medieval walls, towering cathedrals, and captivating Venetian architecture. This afternoon, travel to Plitvice Lakes, one of the oldest, largest, and most beautiful national parks in Croatia. Inspiring scenery is one of the wonders you’ll experience at this designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 7: PLITVICE LAKES - OPATIJA 

Travel among the park’s dense forests and 16 terraced lakes, where waterfalls and free-flowing cascades connect one lake to the other. Enjoy a short cruise that takes you into the heart of this natural wonder that extends over 73,000 acres. From the forest landscapes of Plitvice Lakes, travel this afternoon to the seaside resort of Opatija, known as “Croatia’s Riviera.” This fashionable region was once the summer retreat for Roman Caesars and Habsburg Monarchs. Get acquainted with this coastal town on a brief walking tour. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 8: OPATIJA - ISTRIAN PENINSULA - OPATIJA

Discover the richness of the Istrian Peninsula with its Italian and Croatian influences. Pay a visit to a local distillery, where the owners use regional plants, fruits, and herbs to produce brandies, snacks and other treats. Discover a picture-perfect example of a rural Croatian town. In the late afternoon, a delightful farm-to-table dinner at a local restaurant lets you sample the regional wines and culinary delicacies of the Istrian Peninsula.

Day 9: OPATIJA - LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Travel into picturesque Slovenia, arriving in Ljubljana, a capital city in the midst of a cultural renaissance. Upon your arrival, meet a local expert who introduces you to this quaint town, nestled gently along the banks of the river. Your tour includes the impressive City Hall and a visit to the magnificent Cathedral of St. Nicholas. The evening is yours to relax and explore the city.

Day 10: LJUBLJANA - LAKE BLED - LJUBLJANA 

Surround yourself with the tranquility of Lake Bled. You’ll experience the old-world charm that comes with taking a Pletna boat to the picturesque island in the centre. Spend time exploring the 17th-century cathedral, St. Mary’s Church, and the “wishing bell.” Enjoy some time to stroll the quiet paths of this lakeside community at your own pace.

Day 11: LJUBLJANA - ZAGREB, CROATIA

Today we travel to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Embark on a tour of this fascinating city that has marked the intersection of Eastern and Central Europe for more than 1000 years. After free time this afternoon for independent exploration, celebrate the end of an unforgettable trip with dinner at one of Zagreb’s local restaurants.

Day 12: ZAGREB - CANADA

Your tour comes to a close in Zagreb this morning and we depart for Canada.