Jewels of Dalmatia

Welcome to Croatia, one of the sparkling jewels of the Mediterranean. Boasting an incredible coastline, stunning azure seas, well-preserved old towns and a fascinating history, our journey through Dalmatia will begin here in the city of Zagreb.

The beautiful capital of Zagreb is also Croatia's largest city, situated between the southern slopes of the Medvednica Mountains and the northern bank of the Sava River. The city dates back to 1094 and architecturally is a mix of Austro-Hungarian and Socialist structures. Zagreb's colourful and historic old town is surrounded by parks and has a vibrant shopping centre, as well as numerous restaurants and cafes to enjoy for lunch and dinner.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to get your bearings, before meeting your fellow travellers and Tour Director over a welcome drink this evening.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 6:00pm.

We begin our adventure with a city tour this morning of Zagreb. We'll get a taste for this beautiful city during our tour, seeing the sights of St Mark's Church, dating back to the 13th century; the beautiful baroque St Catherine's Church; the Cathedral of Zagreb, one of the tallest buildings in Croatia; and the Parliament and Government Palace.

The afternoon is at leisure to further explore on your own before tonight's group welcome dinner at a local restaurant. You may wish to climb to the top of Lotrščak Tower and enjoy panoramic views of Zagreb.

Sarajevo has been the meeting point between east and west for hundreds of years, the place where time seems to have frozen. A symbol of hospitality for centuries, Sarajevo has had many civilisations and empires pass through the city, each of them leaving their mark. Within just a few hundred metres of one another, Catholic and Orthodox churches, Mosques, and Jewish synagogues proudly stand side by side, standing the test of time and welcoming travellers. Unsurprisingly, Sarajevo has also been called the 'Jerusalem of Europe'.

We'll start early today and cross the border to enter the country of Bosnia & Herzegovina, also known as the heart-shaped land. The drive through the mountains to Sarajevo is one of the most scenic in the region.

On our travels we make a stop at the Tunnel of Hope, a museum dedicated to a fascinating 800-metre-long tunnel. Running underneath an airport runway, the Tunnel of Hope served as the link to the outside world during the 1992-95 siege where Bosnian Serb forces surrounded Sarajevo. During our visit, we will learn more about the intriguing history of how the tunnel aided the survival of those under siege.

On arrival in Sarajevo, we'll enjoy a panoramic view of the Sarajevo Olympic Stadium, which hosted the Winter Olympic Games back in 1984, before enjoying the evening at leisure.

After breakfast we tour the city, viewing the vibrant Turkish-style bazaar, Baščaršija, with a wonderful array of pottery, metalwork and jewellery on offer. We'll also explore the Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque, one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques, believed to have been targeted heavily during the Bosnian War. We'll then visit the historical Gavrilo Princip Museum where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place and is thought to have set off a chain of events that led to the start of the First World War.

Special Experience: Discover the culinary delights of Sarajevo on a gourmet walking tour. Enjoy a degustation of traditional foods, relax in a typical tavern and try two types of homemade rakija. The rest of the day is at your leisure to further explore this wonderful city at your own pace.

Dubrovnik is in our sights today, set against a backdrop of the shimmering Adriatic Sea. Built on a strong tradition of maritime trade, Dubrovnik was one of the centres developing the Croatian language and literature, and was home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, physicists, mathematicians, and other scholars.

Before arriving in Dubrovnik, we bid farewell to Sarajevo and travel through the spectacular gorge valley of the Neretva River to the historic town of Mostar.

Mostar is the second largest city in Bosnia & Herzegovina and home to the famed Stari Most (old bridge). Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, the bridge was the longest single arch constructed bridge in the world for centuries. The original bridge stood for over 400 years, before it was destroyed in the 1990s during the conflicts in the region. It was rebuilt by the European Union using most of the original stones, to its original specifications and style. It has become a rite of passage for young men from Mostar to jump from the bridge into the fast flowing and icy waters below.

Whilst in Mostar we'll also see the remains of the Turkish quarter and have some leisure time for lunch.

We'll then cross back into Croatia and make our way to Dubrovnik.

This morning we'll enjoy a walking tour of Old Dubrovnik including a visit to the Rector's Palace. This palace owes its present shape to many additions and reconstructions throughout its turbulent history. It underwent various restorations and repairs due to damage by fires, explosions and earthquakes. Each architect who worked on the repairs had their own view of how the building should look. Today, this allows us to enjoy the unique mix of styles that have been blended perfectly across this monumental structure.

Our tour will also take us past the Bell Tower Clock and Orlando's Column. We will also see Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery and the Franciscan Monastery, the latter boasting one of the world's oldest pharmacies.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. For lunch why not try the local seafood, such as stewed muscles or fresh oysters. As the most popular delicacy, the seafood in Dubrovnik is always caught nearby and served fresh.

Tonight, we're treated to a beautiful sunset cruise around Dubrovnik, delighting in the opportunity to marvel at this city from a different perspective. Make sure your cameras are handy to capture the city bathed in the hues of an evening glow!

Enjoy a full day at leisure today. You can explore this wonderful city at your own pace, or perhaps a day of relaxation is on the agenda – whatever you do, the choice is yours!

This morning we head north along the spectacular coast to Hvar Island. Home to idyllic beaches and rich with cultural and historic heritage, Hvar has plenty on offer.

All along the coast, small villages occupy the thin strip of land between towering mountains and cliffs and the bright turquoise waters of the Adriatic. We'll make a few stops in some of the picturesque towns along the way, including Baćinska Jezera.

Our journey to Hvar will include a ferry ride, then we take in the views from the panoramic road on the island as we travel to Hvar town. Lined with 13th-century walls that surround ornate Gothic palaces, Hvar is a small but busy town which can host up to 20,000 people a day in peak periods.

The evening is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Why not stroll the marble-clad and traffic-free streets to take in the city's vibrant nightlife.

We'll see some of the highlights of the beautiful island of Hvar on a walking tour this morning.

We will be treated to scenic views from the Hvar Fortress, a medieval castle dating back to before 500 BC. We then make our way to the village of Vrisnik, where we'll delight in a shared group lunch.

Special Experience: Enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals and taste the regional cuisine at a special home-hosted lunch at a local family restaurant. This afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure.

This morning we'll board a ferry and continue to Split, one of the jewels of Croatia's glittering Adriatic Coast. The largest and most important city of the Dalmatia region, Split was first settled back in 639 AD!

Today we'll explore the historic inner city of Split, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Immerse yourself in Roman history as we see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral.

The rest of the afternoon is then yours to enjoy at leisure. You may wish to spend time at one of the city's stunning beaches before exploring some of the excellent dining options and buzzing nightlife in town. Your Tour Director will be able to help with some recommendations.

We'll make our way towards Ličko Petrovo Selo, a small village with rich history and stunning natural surroundings only a short distance away from the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

First, we'll continue north along the coast to the artists' town of Trogir, where scholars from around the world gather to study and paint. Here, we'll explore the Old Town and see the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of St Lawrence.

Enjoy some free time for lunch before we make our way to Ličko Petrovo Selo, via both the Krka Bridge and the Mascelina Bridge. After checking in to our hotel, we'll enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

After breakfast we'll head to Plitvice Lakes to explore this stunning national park. Plitvice Lakes National Park is comprised of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by densely wooded hills. Found in the Lika region of Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park covers a total area of 300-square-kilometres, including the dazzling string of lakes that link together over a distance of 8-kilometres.

Today we'll enjoy a morning walk around some of the lower lakes. Make sure you wear good, comfortable shoes! The afternoon is free for you to explore further at your own pace or to relax and enjoy the tranquillity. Why not discover more of this incredible natural phenomenon on an extended walk with your guide this afternoon?

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we make our way to the former imperial resort town of Opatija, located on the beautiful Gulf of Kvarner. Opatija is still a popular resort destination for locals and visitors from surrounding European countries due to its constantly warm climate.

Along the way we stop to visit the beautiful watermill village in Rastoke. Here the bright, turquoise water of the Slunjčica flows into the Korana River, which over time has created a series of picturesque waterfalls.

After some free time for lunch, we continue to Opatija. We'll take an orientation tour of the town on arrival, and the remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore on your own.

Today we have an exciting excursion to the heart-shaped Istrian Peninsula, located in the country's northwest.

The drive will take us through many tourist resorts on our way to the village of Rovinj, renowned for its colourful, narrow streets, small squares and old palaces built in Venetian style.

We'll then make our way to Pula, a strategic port dating back to ancient Roman times. During our time here we'll visit the Roman Amphitheatre, the sixth largest of its kind to be preserved in the world today. We'll enjoy free time here to grab a bite for lunch.

Our eyes are set back on Opatija, where we'll enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Today we say goodbye to Croatia and make our way across the border into Slovenia. In the heart of the Julian Alps lies the delightful city of Bled, our destination for the next couple of days. The region around Bled is beautiful, set amongst stunning mountain peaks and brimming with forests and greenery, waterfalls and streams.

En route to Bled, we'll stop at the incredible Postojna Caves, a network of 20 kilometres of passages, galleries and chambers and the largest and the most-visited show cave in Europe. This massive cave has its own distinct ecosystem and is home to the unique amphibian, the olm, also known as the human-fish.

After some free time for lunch, our journey continues to Predjama, stopping for a photo opportunity of the impressive Predjama Castle, built into the mouth of a cavern.

Special Experience: Visit the traditional Gingerbread Museum to learn the history of this honey-bread and decorate your very own gingerbread heart, a symbol of love and passion. We continue to be immersed in history as we savour traditional Slovenian fare for dinner at the museum's adjoining restaurant.

Bled is ours to enjoy today during a sightseeing tour, including the town, the lakeshore and the imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. Bled Castle was first mentioned in 1011 when the German emperor Henrik II gave it to the Bishops of Brixen. The castle is now a fascinating museum and exhibition space.

Next, we travel to the lake valley of Bohinj, beautifully set amidst dense woods and spectacular mountains. The journey will take us through some very old, typical Slovenian villages with gorgeous landscapes.

Special Experience: Visit the Alpine Dairy Farming Museum, learning about the life of herdsmen in an authentic environment and tasting the locally produced cheeses.

Today we'll journey to the picturesque Slovenian city of Ljubljana. Charming and romantic, the country's capital is an idyllic city full of elegant buildings, tree-lined boulevards and welcoming locals.

After a morning of leisure in Bled, we'll depart for Vintgar Gorge where we explore the lush greenery and tranquil waters of this stunning location on a walk through the ravine. Don't forget your camera, the scenery will truly take your breath away!

Upon arrival into Ljubljana, we'll take a short sightseeing tour, seeing the intricate baroque buildings of the Old Town, Town Hall, Robba's Fountain, Three Bridges, Parliament and Congress Square. The evening is at leisure for you to continue exploring at your own pace!

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we'll enjoy a full day of leisure in the gorgeous city of Ljubljana. Perhaps you want to visit Ljubljana Castle, a castle complex that stands on Castle Hill overlooking downtown Ljubljana, or maybe you'd rather wander the many cobblestoned lanes of its car-free centre and explore the boutique stores. Today's agenda is totally up to you!

Today we make our way back to where we started, the beautiful Croatian city of Zagreb.

After breakfast this morning, we'll depart for the picturesque town of Novo Mesto, situated on the bend of the Krka River. The town's history dates all the way back to the 1300s, highlighted through the traditional architecture that hugs the riverside.

Special Experience: Take a relaxing cruise aboard Rudolf's Raft as we meander past the adorable houses and buildings dotted along the riverbanks, all while enjoying local wine paired with delicious snacks and light music. Stopping along the way for a photo opportunity at Otocec Castle, we return to Zagreb in the evening, where we'll enjoy a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning, marking the completion of our adventure across the Jewels of Dalmatia. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!