Exploring the Balkans (Zagreb - Athens)

DAY 1 Zagreb
Arrive into Zagreb airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy some free time during the day then in the evening meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.

Stay at: Hotel Zonar Zagreb (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 Zagreb
Discover the historic Upper Town as you embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Zagreb this morning. You will also visit the colourful-roofed St. Marks Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament and Government Palace. The rest of the day is yours to explore the winding streets of the old town at your own pace or perhaps take an Optional Excursion into the countryside.
*Note: Zagreb Cathedral is closed for renovations in 2024.

Stay at: Hotel Zonar Zagreb (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 Zagreb - Ljubljana - Bled
After breakfast head towards Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. A walking city tour will take you to the highlights of the old city centre, including the bustling open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall and Robba’s Fountain – a baroque monument modelled after classic Roman fountains. Once the tour has ended, continue on to the picturesque lakeside town of Bled.

Stay at: Hotel Kompas (4 star) or Rose Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 Bled
Located in the foothills of the Julian Alps, Bled is set along an alpine lake surrounded by dramatic high peaks and a picture perfect setting. The exquisite location has turned the area into a popular resort town with a smattering of hotels, villas and restaurants, giving it a lively atmosphere and making it a year-round destination. A sightseeing tour will take you around this charming lakeside town and includes a visit to the imposing Bled Castle, perched high atop a cliff above the lake. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery.

Stay at: Hotel Kompas (4 star) or Rose Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 5 Bled - Postojna - Opatija - Plitvice Lakes
Your journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train for a truly one-of-a-kind experience! Afterwards, head towards the coast and stop by the popular seaside town of Opatija. Learn about the history of this fashionable 19th century resort town dotted with Austro-Hungarian Habsburg period villas that still retains its glamour and charm from a bygone era. Enjoy some free time in Opatija before travelling on to Plitvice Lakes.

Stay at: Hotel Jezero (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Plitvice Lakes - Split
Have your camera handy as you visit the World Heritage listed Plitvice Lakes National Park today. Enjoy a relaxing walking tour of the 16 breathtaking, turquoise lakes and cascading waterfalls surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. At the conclusion of the tour, continue onwards to Split.

Stay at: Hotel Corner (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 7 Split
As Croatia’s second largest city, Split has evolved from the ruins of the remarkable Diocletian’s Palace, the retirement home of Dalmatian born Emperor Diocletian, to the contemporary hub it is today. Enjoy a sightseeing tour this morning of the historic inner city where you can witness the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage seamlessly juxtaposed against modern development. Visit the Peristyle, Jupiter’s temple and the Cathedral before having the remainder of the afternoon free to stroll through the beautiful cobblestone streets of Old Town, visit the local beach or join an Optional Excursion to Hvar Island (paid locally).

Stay at: Hotel Corner (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 8 Split - Dubrovnik
Travel to the spectacular setting of Dubrovnik – the “Pearl of the Adriatic”! On arrival in Dubrovnik you will have free time before dinner.

Stay at: Hotel Lero (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 9 Dubrovnik
Begin the day with a walking tour of Dubrovnik Old Town with a visit to Rector’s Palace, Orlando’s Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery and the Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy – which is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. The rest of the day is at leisure to discover more of Dubrovnik. You could take the cable car up Mt. Srd for superb aerial views of the old town, take a walk along the outstanding city walls, or join an Optional Excursion for a local dinner experience.

Stay at: Hotel Lero (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 10 Dubrovnik - Tivat
Travel south along the picturesque Adriatic coastline and into Montenegro. On your journey, you will pass by the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the only South European Fjord, before arriving in Kotor for a guided walking tour. This coastal town was founded by the ancient Romans, much of Kotor's medieval fortifications still remain. Since 1979 the city has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stay at: Hotel Palma (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 11 Tivat - Tirana
This morning after breakfast, leave Tivat and head across the border towards Albania, driving via Budva and Bar. Stop by one of Europe’s oldest cities Shkodra, nowadays a major Albanian cultural centre, and visit Rozafa Castle. Imposingly situated atop a rocky limestone outcrop and watching over the city of Shkoder, the castle is attached to an old Albanian legend about three brothers. Continue to Tirana, where you will overnight.

Stay at: Hotel Colloseo (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 12 Tirana
A tour of Tirana begins at the city’s Main Plaza, Skanderbeg Square with its Skanderbeg Statue and elegant Ethem Bey Mosque. Carry on to the Palace of Culture and the Natural History Museum with its mosaic facade depicting the history of Albania. This afternoon enjoy time at leisure and spend it exploring, shopping, dining, or simply relaxing!

Stay at: Hotel Colloseo (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 13 Tirana - Ohrid
The lakeside city of Ohrid is one of Macedonia’s most important cultural and spiritual centres and thus is listed as both a cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage site. A guided sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city’s old quarters with its cobblestone streets and distinct ancient urban architecture. The town was once home to 365 churches giving it the nickname “the Jerusalem of the Balkans”. Today, only 70 churches remain one of which is the Cathedral of St. Sophia which contains magnificent 10th century frescoes.

Stay at: Hotel Granit (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 14 Ohrid - Kalambaka
Set off for Kalambaka to admire the breathtaking, otherworldly landscape of Meteoro and its unusual rock formations. Included in UNESCO's World Heritage list, these towering unique structures are said to have been formed some 60 million years ago with weathering and earthquakes giving them their current form today. However, the Byzantine era monasteries that sit high atop them are equally as impressive as these giant rocks. Out of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit cells, only 4 remain active. The most important is the Great Meteoro Monastery (Megalo Meteoro), a remarkable building renowned for its intriguing architecture, intricate twelve-sided dome, and elegant frescoes. Here, you will visit either Roussanou or Great Meteoro.

Stay at: Grand Meteora Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 15 Kalambaka - Athens
Your first stop today will be Delphi, a place that was considered in ancient times to be the centre of the known world - the place where heaven and earth met. Afterwards, tour the Temple of Apollo where the Oracle of Delphi once foretold the destiny of men and the Castilian Fountain where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the Oracle. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi which contains an excellent collection of artefacts including the Bronze Charioteer, before continuing to Athens.

Stay at: Stanley Hotel (4 star), Titania Hotel Athens (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 16 Athens
Amidst a backdrop of architectural ruins and a glorious past, embark on a comprehensive sightseeing tour of the highlights of Athens. Visit the immortal Acropolis, the perfectly proportioned Parthenon, Erectheum, the Temple of Athena and the ancient Agora with its Theatre of Dionysus. The rest of your afternoon is free to discover the city at your own pace. Join your group for a farewell taverna dinner in the Plaka beside the Acropolis.

Stay at: Stanley Hotel (4 star), Titania Hotel Athens (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 17 Athens
Your tour concludes today after breakfast with a departure transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Meals included: Breakfast