Croatia, Slovenia & Venice
12 daysYour trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from your desired Airport
- *
- All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
- Centrally located hotels: (or similar)
- ~ 3 nights: Lapad Hotel, Dubrovnik
- ~ 1 night: Atrium Hotel , Split
- ~ 2 nights: Hotel Jezero, Plitvice
- ~ 2 nights: Park Hotel, Bled
- ~ 2 nights: Bauer Palladio Hotel & SPA, Venice
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Breakfast Daily
- 6 Dinners
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Assistance of local guide throughout
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
- Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
- Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
Not included
- Lunches, Tips to your guide & driver. Items of a personal nature.
Itinerary
Day 1, Depart USA
Board your overnight transatlantic flights from your hometown. Meals are served on board.
Day 2, Arrive Dubrovnik
Arrive today at Dubrovnik airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival in this city fronting the Adriatic, you will be able to spend the afternoon at your leisure. Feel free to walk to the Old Town, also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. This evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at a typical Dalmatian restaurant that serves local delicacies and wines.
Day 3, Dubrovnik
Following breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the Old City. It will begin at St. Blasius Church, dedicated to the Patron Saint of Dubrovnik. This Baroque-style Church, constructed by Venetian architect Marino Gropelli in 1715, was styled after the Venetian Church, St. Mauritius. You will know that you have reached this masterpiece by its large staircase leading to the ornamented main portal and the large dome that decorates the roof. Continue to the Gothic and Renaissance styled Rector's Palace, home to the History Department of the Museum of Dubrovnik. Next, you will stroll by the iconic Bell Tower Clock and Orlando's Column. To the left of the column, see the Sponza Palace. In the sixteenth century, members of the Academia Dei Concordi met on the first-floor hall to discuss literature. As a result, the palace is the most important cultural institution of Dubrovnik. Lastly, visit the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries. The Dominican Monastery, strategically located at the most sensitive point of Dubrovnik's defense barriers. While at the Franciscan Monastery, you will have the opportunity to visit the pharmacy. The founding of this pharmacy was collaborative, serving the public and the needs of monks. This afternoon, enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many small, family-owned restaurants along the narrow streets. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. This evening enjoy dinner and an overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 4, Dubrovnik, excursion to Montenegro
After breakfast, we depart for the Republic of Montenegro, a Balkan country boasting a dynamic landscape of high peaks juxtaposed beside deep canyons, caves, and bays. Begin your excursion by heading towards the mouth of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Enjoy a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two islets off the coast of Perast. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest building on the artificial island made of rocks and old ships. A local fisherman created the island he found an icon of the Blessed Mother and Jesus on a rock. Tradition is now on July 22nd, to throw rocks at the island to increase its size. Upon return to the coast, we will stop in Perast, an old charming coastal town with just one main street, yet 16 Churches! Enjoy some time in the city of Kotor, famous for its winding streets and medieval charm. Return to Dubrovnik for dinner and overnight.
Day 5, Dubrovnik - Split
After breakfast, depart Dubrovnik and travel north along the spectacular Adriatic coast, past old fishing villages and new resorts. Arrive in the second-largest city of Croatia, Split. This historic city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While exploring, have the opportunity to see remnants of the Roman heritage such as Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle of Diocletian’s Palace, and the Cathedral of St. Domnius. The temple of Jupiter; dedicated to the Ancient Roman god Jupiter; the king of the Ancient gods and god of sky and thunder. The Diocletian’s Palace had two purposes; used for the Diocletian’s personal use and used as a military garrison. Lastly, visit the Cathedral of St. Dominus that is encircled by twenty-four columns. The oldest monuments in this Holy place are those depicting the life of Christ, to be found, on the entrance doors of the Church. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local Konoba (restaurant in the coastal area of Croatia). Following dinner, you will continue to your hotel, where you will have a restful overnight.
Day 6, Split -Trogir - Plitvice Lakes
After breakfast, we head north along the coast to Trogir, the center of artistic activities where scholars from across the world gather to study and paint. Trogir is a small island connected to the mainland of Croatia by bridges. Some remnants of Medieval walls remain here as much of the island boasts Gothic and Renaissance influences. Our journey continues towards the beautiful Plitvice Lakes, where we will enjoy dinner and overnight after a full day of touring.
Day 7, Plitvice Lakes
Today we explore Plitvice National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder, founded in 1949. The park spans 295 square kilometers and preserves an incredible landscape that includes 16 terraced lakes, countless waterfalls, mountains, and limestone canyons. The mountainous region of the park borders Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wildlife like the European brown bears, wolves, eagles, owls, lynx, and wild cats roam this scene. After a full day of exploring, enjoy dinner and overnight in Plitvice.
Day 8, Plitvice Lakes, Opatija, Postojna to Bled
Following breakfast, travel to the coast to the beautiful bay of Kvarner with its popular town, Opatija. An orientation tour of Opatija will present the highlights of this former Imperial resort city. After your visit here, drive across the border into Slovenia to Postojna Caves, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour the fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Over 38 million people have visited these caves in the past 200 years. In 1872 the first cave rails were laid. In 1884 overhead electric lighting was installed in the caves, even before such lighting arrived in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Continue to Bled for dinner and overnight.
Day 9, Bled - Ljubljana Excursion
Bled is a town on Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia at the southern foot of the Karawanks mountain range. A stunning alpine lake surrounded by high peaks only 30 miles from Ljubljana. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and lakeshore and visits Bled Castle, a medieval castle perched on a cliff high above the lake. Bled Castle is the oldest Slovenian castle, first mentioned in a 1011 deed. This afternoon, enjoy an excursion to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Here, view the central open-air market, Baroque Town Hall, the Robba Fountain, the Three Bridges, and the Parliament. Return to Bled in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 10, Bled, Trieste to Venice
After breakfast, we will depart Bled driving south to Italy, where you will visit Miramare Castle, a 19th-century castle on the Gulf of Trieste. The castle sits on a dramatic cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea and has an extensive park landscaped with many tropical trees and plants. In the mid-1800s, this castle was built for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. This afternoon continues to the marvelous city of Venice for dinner and overnight.
Day 11, Venice
Today enjoy a tour of the "city paved with water!". We will walk and visit St. Mark's Square. It is the largest square in the city and the site of many government buildings; the Golden Basilica of San Marco, known for the great mosaics that depict the Old and New Testament of the Bible; and the Bridge of Sigh, a bridge that will bring eternal love to those who drift below it. View the Doges' Palace (Duke's Palace), which held the seat of government for the Republic of Venice for centuries. The tour ends with a visit to a glass blowing factory, where you get to experience a demonstration of traditional Venetian glass blowing. Balance of the day is at your leisure - enjoy Venice at your own pace, shop, or join an optional gondola ride. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 12, Venice - USA
After breakfast, we drive to Venice airport for your flight home.
*206 Tours Disclaimer:Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.
The benefit of buying airfare with 206 Tours?
- Your transfers are always secured, even if your flights are delayed - round trip transfers to/from the hotel and airport are included no matter what!
- If you purchase your airline ticket on your own, you have to pay in full at the time of booking, and most of the time it is non-refundable. If you book with 206 Tours, full payment is due 60 days prior.
- In the very rare event that a tour is cancelled, you would get all your money back, which would most likely not be the case if you purchased it directly from the airline.
- Your flight arrangement will be followed up on and reconfirmed by 206 Tours.
- 206 Tours can arrange for you to travel before the tour, make a stop-over, or stay later!
About your trip
About Croatia, Solvenia & Venice:
In the “Pearl of the Adriatic” explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town, take an excursion to the Republic of Montenegro, witness the breathtaking beauty of the deepest fjord in Southern Europe, tour Lady of the Rocks and the charming coastal town of Perast. Head north towards Split to discover the town of Trogir where many artists come to study and paint before continuing to the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park. In Slovenia tour one of Europe’s largest caves, the Postojna Caves via an underground electric train, take in gorgeous Lake Bled, and experience the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. In Venice visit St. Mark’s Basilica, observe the art of glass blowing and tour landmarks like the Doge’s Palace, the Bell Tower, and the Bridge of Sights.