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ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Country Roads of the Balkans, Dalmatia and The Adriatic Riviera
Tour Pace
Well balanced tour with exceptional three night stay in Cavtat, close by Dubrovnik, and two nights in Budapest, Zagreb & Ljubljana. Wonderful scenic driving days with frequent stops for refreshment & photo opportunities.
Day 1 - VIENNA AT LEISURE
Welcome to Vienna Airport, where your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:00, 12:00 & 15:00. Settle in and later, meet your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink. Perhaps start your tour with a special concert?
Hotel: Hilton Vienna
Day 2 - VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Join a local guide for a tour of the glorious Schonbrunn Palace. See the elegant formal gardens before going on to view St Charles' Church, the Imperial Hofburg Palace, Parliament and State Opera House. Cafes are an institution in Vienna; round off your tour with an explanation of the important role they play in local culture. Your guide will point out the most famous ones - will you be tempted? (BB)
Day 3 - VIENNA - BUDAPEST
Cross the Hungarian border and continue to Budapest. Enjoy a panoramic view across the Danube from the lofty Citadel atop Gellert Hill. Then ascend the Castle Hill district to marvel at the murals in Matthias Church beside the Fisherman's Bastion. View the Royal Palace of Buda, then cross the Danube to the Pest district to visit Heroes' Square and Andrassy Boulevard.
Hotel: Corinthia Grand Royal. (BB,D)
Day 4 - BUDAPEST AT LEISURE
A whole day to relax or explore this grand metropolis. Perhaps shop for bargains in fine porcelain or maybe take an optional excursion to the famous artists' colony of Szentendre? (BB)
Day 5 - BUDAPEST - ZAGREB
Drive alongside tranquil Lake Balaton and hear about the excellent wines produced along the shores. Stop to admire the abbey of Tihany, then continue to the Croatian border and the capital, Zagreb. A guided tour takes you to Roosevelt Square, Ban Josip Jelacic Square and the cathedral. Walk through the medieval Upper Town to see the Stone Gate, St Mark's Church and Lotrscak Tower.
Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)
Day 6 - ZAGREB AT LEISURE
Today is yours to explore at your will. The Ilica is the hub of Zagreb's shopping scene, or perhaps take an excursion to the Zagorje region to learn about local culture and tradition? (BB)
Day 7 - ZAGREB - PLITVICE - SPLIT
Get ready for one of Europe's natural wonders, Plitvice National Park; a scenic wonderland of 16 interconnecting lakes, flanked by thundering waterfalls and primeval forest. Then a delightful drive brings you to the Dalmatian coast - sparkling deep blue seas, studded with rocky islands. Stay tonight in the historic port of Split.
Hotel: Atrium. (BB)
Day 8 - SPLIT sightseeing - KORCULA
1700 years ago the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here and your local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of streets and historical buildings within that same palace. See St. Duje's, (originally Diocletian's mausoleum), the Temple of Jupiter (today, a baptistery) and the Golden Gate. Later drive along the coast for a short ferry crossing to the island of Korcula.
Hotel: Marko Polo (BB,D)
Day 9 - KORCULA - DUBROVNIK
Your guided walking tour of Korcula town takes you to the Cathedral, the town museum and the Bishop's Palace. The locals also claim Marco Polo was born here and you also see his ruined house next. After some free time, cross over to the beautiful southern slopes of the Peljesac peninsula. Amid the age-old vines to see how wine is produced and enjoy a taste. Continue to your hotel in Dubrovnik, beautifully situated alongside the crystal clear Adriatic Sea.
Hotel: Libertas Rixos (BB,D)
Day 10 - DUBROVNIK SIGHTSEEING
Dubrovnik has to be the most stunning medieval walled city on the Mediterranean. Your guided sightseeing tour in the old town explores the stone paved streets inside the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls, as well as the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. Balance of the day at leisure to stroll with your friends along the ancient city walls? Perhaps conclude the day with a sunset dinner cruise? (BB)
Day 11 - DUBROVNIK - SARAJEVO
Journey through the gorge of the River Neretva to Mostar where you can walk across the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), recently reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled old town which stretches on both sides of the bridge. Now it's on to Sarajevo. In 1914, it was the site of the assassination that sparked WW1 and more recently, endured the longest siege in modern military history.
Hotel: Europe Sarajevo. (BB,D)
Day 12 - SARAJEVO SIGHTSEEING
Your guided sightseeing tour shows you the Bascarsija, the cobbled old town market where the city was founded in the 15th century. The small streets around the main square are each named after the trade practised there. Admire Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque and the Olympic Stadium before visiting the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum, revered by the locals as an inanimate war hero. The afternoon is yours to try the Bosnian coffee or shop for traditional and hand crafted wares in the Turkish quarter. (BB)
Day 13 - SARAJEVO - BELGRADE
Your route winds northwards through the remote villages and spa resorts which nestle in the forested Bosnian mountains. Cross the Serbian border to reach the broad Sava valley and join the highway to the capital, Belgrade for two fascinating nights.
Hotel: Metropol Palace. (BB)
Day 14 - BELGRADE SIGHTSEEING
Your morning sightseeing tour with a local guide shows you St Sava Church, the third largest Orthodox Church in Europe, Terazije Steet, the National Museum and the National Theatre in Republic Square. Finish your tour at the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. The afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, celebrate the culmination of a fascinating tour at a Highlight Dinner with local live music in a typical national restaurant in the old bohemian quarter of Skadarlija. (BB,HD)
Day 15 - BELGRADE
It's time to take home some wonderful memories and a camera full of stunning photography. Departure transfers arrive at Belgrade Airport at 10:30 (BB)
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