JEWELS OF SLOVENIA & CROATIA - 2009

Itinerary

Day 1Tue. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

Day 2Wed. ARRIVAL IN LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to see some of Ljubljana, the Slovenia capital with a strong Alpine/Austrian architectural flavor. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3Thu. LJUBLJANA-POSTOJNA CAVES-ZADAR, CROATIA

Croatia is the crossroads between the Pannonian Plain and the Mediterranean Sea

Undoubtedly one of the highlights on this tour is a visit to the Postojna Caves. Your included visit is comprised of a train ride and a walking tour, which will allow you to see what are possibly Europe’s most extensive and best-known caves. Then into Croatia, traveling southeast along the Dalmatian Coast to Zadar for sightseeing and an overnight stay. It was under Venetian domination for centuries, then Austro/Hungarian; and after WWI it was ruled by Italy and today belongs to Croatia. (B,D)

Day 4Fri. ZADAR-SPLIT-DUBROVNIK

Drive south to Split for sightseeing in the largest Croatian city on the Adriatic Coast. The Old Town around the harbor is its main sight. More of the lovely Dalmatian Coast before reaching Dubrovnik for two overnights. (B)

Day 5Sat. DUBROVNIK

Noted for its imposing buildings, squares, and fortified walls, Dubrovnik is Croatia’s best-preserved medieval city. It lies on the rugged southerly coast beside olive- and pine-bordered shingle beaches, offering plenty of shops and cafés, and it is the liveliest of the Dalmatian towns. The most interesting part of the city is, of course, the Old Town, and the Local Guide will give you a full commentary on the history of this beautifully preserved medieval architectural wonder on your included sightseeing tour. (B)

Day 6Sun. DUBROVNIK-NERETVA GORGES-MOSTAR, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA-SARAJEVO

Start the day with a scenic drive into the rugged beauty of the Neretva Valley. Stop in Mostar, where a Local Guide shows you the remains of the Turkish quarter and the reconstructed 16th-century bridge. On to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina and certainly the most Turkish-looking city in the Balkans—famous for its mosques, markets, and bazaars. Your included city sightseeing with a Local Guide will give you a grand opportunity to get acquainted with the city and its architectural highlights. (B,D)

Day 7Mon. SARAJEVO-PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA

Travel north today back into Croatia to visit the country’s best-known national park—Plitvice. Enjoy a walk through the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder. Its 16 lakes, wooded hills, waterfalls, and cascades make it one of Europe’s most loved national parks. Overnight in this area. (B,D)

Day 8Tue. PLITVICE-ZAGREB-LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

First, stop today for sightseeing in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. This city is packed with historic buildings, such as the gothic-style Church of St. Marcus. Continue to Ljubljana for more sightseeing and an overnight stay. (B,D)

Day 9Wed. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY

(B)