Crossroads of the Adriatic: , , Bosnia & Herzegovina, and 2017 16-Day Land Tour{TRIPOperatedBy}

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip ,

Post-Trip : Novi Sad &

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary Overseas Adventure Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended OAT trips. But our most im- pressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.

Included in Your Price

»» International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

»» All land transportation

»» Accommodations for 15 nights

»» 29 meals—daily breakfast, 6 lunches, and 9 dinners (including 2 Home-Hosted meals)

»» 15 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

»» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $261

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. What This Trip is Like

Pacing »» Travel by air-conditioned minibus and »» 6 locations in 16 days with one 1-night funicular, as well as by boat on the stay optional Lake Bled tour

Physical requirements Flight Information »» Not appropriate for travelers using »» Travel time will be 12-18 hours and your wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility return from Ljubljana or Belgrade may aids require three flights

»» You must be able to walk 3 miles Accommodations & Facilities unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours »» Hotel rooms are smaller than those in the of physical activities each day U.S. and offer basic amenities »» We reserve the right for Trip Leaders »» 1-night stay in Karanac village at a small to restrict participation, or in some family-run accommodation circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s »» All accommodations feature private baths experience with showers

Climate »» Temperatures are mild and seasonable year round, with the hottest temperatures in July and August averaging 80°F; although please be aware that temperatures in Croatia have been known to reach as high as 100°F during summer month

»» Temperatures in Postojna Cave are between 46 and 50°F year round

Terrain & Transportation »» Walk on rugged paths and cobblestoned streets, and travel by bus over rural roads that may be bumpy and narrow

»» Hike up and down hills in the Croatian countryside

»» Agility and balance are required for boarding or disembarking boats on optional Lake Bled tour

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina,

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip Tirana, Albania

Post-Trip Serbia: Novi Sad & Belgrade

Journey with O.A.T. to Europe’s multicultural lands of forgotten beauty. Delve into the many facets of Croatia, from the elegant walled city of to the seaside resorts dotted with Roman ruins along the Istrian Peninsula. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, discover Sarajevo’s long history of multicultural toler- ance—and explore the ancient town of Mostar, whose elegantly restored Ottoman-era bridge stands as a metaphor for reconciliation. In tiny Montenegro, witness bare mountains plunging into the sea at the Bay of , and journey inland to Slovenia, a forest-clad country of emerald meadows, clear lakes, and the towering peaks of the Julian Alps. Discover a region that is rapidly re-establishing its rightful posi- tion among the world’s great travel destinations.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Detailed Itinerary

An important word about your adventure

Our adventure in the Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. We seek out unusual experiences, in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. Unlike most group tours, ours is a small group experience that seeks to provide a more intimate and up-close view of life in the . Traveling with no more than 15 others, you will find that camaraderie is an integral part of the experience.

Outside of the major cities, travel and schedules here can be sometimes unpredictable, and there may be times when we cannot follow your published itinerary exactly. The sequence of places visited may vary. In these cases we ask that you bring an open mind and a sense of humor. We are experienced in responding to changing circumstances on the spot, and will do whatever it takes to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.

To best enjoy this trip, bring a sense of open curiosity and an adventurous spirit.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. Tirana, Albania extension. Then, we’ll enjoy Fly overnight from the U.S. to Dubrovnik, dinner together this evening at a local Croatia. restaurant. Dinner DAY 2 Arrive Dubrovnik, Croatia Today, arrive in Dubrovnik, Croatia. After DAY 3 Explore Dubrovnik you are met and transferred to your hotel, After breakfast, we’ll have an orientation you’ll enjoy a Welcome Drink with your walk to get familiar with our surroundings. fellow travelers and Trip Leader. You’ll also Then, we’ll take a city bus to the gates of meet those who traveled on our optional Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Croatia’s crown- ing jewel. Situated on a rocky spur at the country’s southernmost tip, Dubrovnik is renowned for its medieval walls and historic

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. monuments. Today, Dubrovnik’s character DAY 4 Dubrovnik • Excursion reflects its storied past as an independent to Kotor, Montenegro city-state that rivaled Venice. Also known by After breakfast, we journey south for its name, Ragusa, this was a fortress a full-day excursion to Montenegro, a city that served as the base for a fleet of small country that is home to vast natural ships that carried trade between much of beauty—from rugged alpine mountains to a Europe and the Middle East. The city-state’s scenic coastline dotted with historic cities. period of autonomy extended from 1358 Montenegro’s history is unique in this region to 1808 and endowed it with a wealth of in that it managed to avoid being conquered historic architecture. by the Ottoman Turks in the 1300s, when In spite of heavy damage sustained during they took control of the rest of the Balkans the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, for the next four centuries. Our first stop is the city regained its former splendor , an ancient village along the Bay of with the help of UNESCO (OAT contributed to Kotor that is rich in Venetian architecture the restoration of Dubrovnik’s main prom- and historic stone churches. After a brief enade, the Placa, through a donation from tour of the village, we’ll board a small boat Grand Circle Foundation). Our walking tour to visit the Our Lady of the Rocks includes visits to the fortified town center, shrine on a man-made islet. According to where we’ll see the 15th-century Rector’s legend, the islet was formed by local fisher- Palace and an early 14th-century Franciscan men who, after seeing the Virgin Mary in the Monastery that is home to one of Europe’s reef, began dropping stones on the spot each oldest pharmacies. Our tour also features an time they sailed by. The shrine now contains opportunity to join an elective hike atop the 68 paintings by local 17th-century artist city’s ancient ramparts (a little over a mile Tripo Kokolja, while its greatest treasure is in length), where you can enjoy breathtaking the icon of Our Lady of the Rock, painted views of the rooftops of Old Town and out by the Dubrovnik artist Lovro Marinov into the blue Adriatic. Dobricevic.

Lunch is on your own and your afternoon is Afterward, we’ll continue by boat farther free for independent exploration. You may south to Kotor, a wonderfully preserved wish to remain in Old Town and spend more medieval walled town situated at the head time along the Placa (also called Stradun), of southern Europe’s deepest natural bay. return to your hotel; or use your all-day bus Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, pass to explore another part of the city. Kotor’s Stari Grad, or Old Town, is filled with ancient churches and former aristocratic Later, we’ll gather together for a Welcome mansions that line narrow, cobbled streets. Dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, After a guided tour of Kotor and lunch on we’ll take in the beauty of Old Town from a your own, you may join an elective hike new perspective during a night walk with a that climbs up a steep, rocky trail (part of stop at a local cafe. the city’s medieval walls) to the Church of Our Lady of Remedy. Built early in the 16th Breakfast, Dinner century, the old stone structure perched on a mountain slope offers splendid views of the

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. red roofs of Kotor and out across the - DAY 6 Explore Sarajevo chanting bay. Then, we return to Dubrovnik, After breakfast, we’ll embark on a walking arriving in late afternoon. tour of Sarajevo. Founded by the Ottomans Dinner is on your own this evening. in the , Sarajevo flourished as a multicultural haven for Muslims, , Breakfast Croats, Turks, Jews, and others for hundreds of years. By the late 17th century, Sarajevo was considered the most important city in DAY 5 Travel to Sarajevo, Bosnia & the Balkans after Istanbul, and it is said to be Herzegovina • Explore Mostar the only city in the world where prayer calls After breakfast, we’ll journey north and can be heard simultaneously from mosques, inland to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & synagogues, and churches. After hosting Herzegovina. Along the way, we’ll stop at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo, this the ancient town of Mostar. Established by once-shining example of ethnic diversity, the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century, descended into chaos during the Yugoslav Mostar became a place where the cultures of wars of the early 1990s. Although Bosnian the Middle East and min- Serb artillery pounded the city during a gled, blending influences from the mainland three-and-a-half-year siege—the longest and the . Mostar is named for in the history of modern warfare—most of the former watchtower keepers (mostari in Sarajevo has since been rebuilt, and the city Bosnian) of its historic bridge. A masterpiece is rapidly reclaiming its spirit of religious of Ottoman Turkish architecture, the graceful tolerance. 16th-century bridge has long spanned the In Bascarsija, or Old Town, we’ll see shining River, whose emerald waters divided examples of the city’s Ottoman and Austro- the town into Muslim and Croat sections. Hungarian influences, including a 16th- Destroyed in 1993 during the breakup of the century mosque complex that is considered former Yugoslavia, the bridge and Mostar’s one of the finest examples of Ottoman historic city center were restored in 2004 architecture in the Balkans. Here, we’ll walk and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. through an old alleyway where copper- The bridge also represents a powerful symbol smiths still ply their trade and enjoy a taste of reconciliation and continued peace for the of local snacks. We’ll also explore Ferhadija, region. the Austrian quarter, along with the historic During our time in Mostar, we’ll enjoy an Latin Bridge—site of the assassination of included lunch of traditional Bosnian fare at Archduke Franz Ferdinand that set the spark a local restaurant before we continue on to for . Sarajevo, arriving late this afternoon. Enjoy Then, you’ll have the afternoon free to time to relax and settle into your room, then explore on your own, perhaps to visit the gather for an orientation walk on our way picturesque Turkish bazaar, or just to mingle to an included dinner together at a local with the locals. restaurant. Dinner is on your own this evening. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 7 Sarajevo Tunnel • rich hunting grounds, and robust wine Home-Hosted Dinner industry make it Croatia’s “breadbasket.” In contrast to the rugged Croatian coastline, After breakfast, we focus on Sarajevo’s you are sure to notice that the terrain in more recent past, including the events that this region is very flat, which prompts local occurred following the violent breakup of Croatians to joke that “the highest mountain former Yugoslavia in 1992. More than 10,000 is a cabbage.” people were killed during a three-and-a- half year siege of the city by Bosnian Serbs, Our destination here is Karanac, a charming shelling from hills above the city. We’ll visit rural village outside ’s largest city, the famous Sarajevo Tunnel (also called . Upon our arrival in this tranquil the Tunnel of Hope), a vast underground agricultural region, we’ll experience local life passage dug in 1993 to ferry people out and by joining a village family for dinner in their bring supplies into the beleaguered city. home.

After lunch on your own, your afternoon is Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at leisure. Later this evening, we’ll gather for an enlightening discussion on the re- gion’s present and past before delving into DAY 9 A Day in the Life of Karanac contemporary life in Bosnia as we split up to village • Travel to Zagreb visit the homes of some local families. We’ll After breakfast, we’ll witness everyday life in sit down to dinner with our hosts and expe- the village of Karanac. We’ll begin by spend- rience a taste of genuine Bosnian hospitality. ing some time with students at a local school Breakfast, Dinner (when in session)—or another site sup- ported in part by Grand Circle Foundation.

DAY 8 Overland to Karanac, Then, we’ll learn more about local ag- riculture with a visit to a wine cellar. As Croatia • Home-Hosted Dinner we’ll discover, vines have been cultivated After breakfast, we journey overland to in Croatia’s Slavonia region for more than Slavonia, enjoying lunch en route. Slavonia a millennia, and today, its white wines is the easternmost province of Croatia, (especially its graševina) have grown quite bounded by the , , and popular. rivers. Despite its history as part of a Roman province, Slavonia (as its name suggests) has Once we’ve worked up an appetite, we’ll been a Slavic state for more than 13 centu- walk to a local restaurant to enjoy the ries. In 1745, Slavonia was declared a semi- region’s hearty cuisine—perhaps includ- autonomous kingdom, belonging to both ing Cobanac, or Slavonian shepherd stew, the Kingdom of Croatia and the Kingdom of traditionally prepared over an open fire with Hungary. Slavonia and Croatia merged in three types of meat. 1868 and became part of Yugoslavia in 1918. When Croatia declared its independence in 1991, a struggle for Slavonia ensued between Croatia and Serbia—which wasn’t too sur- prising. Slavonia’s fertile agricultural lands,

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. After our day experiencing village life, Lunch and dinner are on your own today. we’ll leave the past behind us and journey Breakfast overland to Zagreb, Croatia’s modern capital. Upon our arrival, we’ll enjoy dinner together at our hotel. DAY 11 Zagreb • Explore Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Croatian countryside Today, we’ll travel north of Zagreb to explore some of the quaint villages of Zagorje, an DAY 10 Explore Zagreb idyllic region of winding country roads, Today we’ll discover Zagreb, a city of about natural springs, and unspoiled green hills. 800,000 people that has been Croatia’s Our first stop is Klanjec, a charming town capital, intermittently, since 1557. After near the border with Slovenia surrounded breakfast, we’ll set off on a walking tour by fertile wine hills. Klanjec is also the of Zagreb’s modern Donji Grad, or Lower birthplace of renowned sculptor Antun Town, whose well-designed street grid was Augustincic. One of the most important laid out in the 19th century. This area is Croatian sculptors of the 20th century, home to many of Zagreb’s civic and historic Augustincic created the Peace monument monuments. Then, we ride a funicular (the which stands in front of the United Nations shortest in Europe) to view the medieval building in New York City. We’ll see many of monuments in the city’s Gornji Grad, or the great sculptor’s works during a visit to Upper Town. In this older part of the city, the Antun Augustincic Gallery. Then, we’ll two medieval settlements, Gradec and visit the old village of Kumrovec, a unique Kaptol, developed between the eleventh open-air museum focusing on traditional and 14th centuries on neighboring hilltops ways of life a century ago—and renowned as divided by a brook. Fortified by ramparts and the birthplace of Marshal Tito, president of moats, the two rival towns fought over the the former Yugoslavia. centuries—the nearby street called Krvavi Most, or Bridge of Blood, is a vivid testament After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll return to the historic rivalry. to Zagreb with the remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own this evening. In contemporary times, Gradec and Kaptol form two of the districts that make up Breakfast, Lunch Zagreb’s hilly and picturesque Upper Town. Among the highlights of Upper Town are DAY 12 Overland to • the tall twin spires of the Cathedral of St. Stephen, an ancient church dedicated to the Explore Plitvice Lakes Assumption. The cathedral’s beautiful neo- After breakfast, we begin an overland Gothic façade was added after an earthquake transfer to Opatija. En route, we’ll stop to in 1880 destroyed its dome and bell tower. explore Croatia’s magnificent Plitvice Lakes, Our tour concludes with a visit to Dolac a 114-square-mile national park that has, Market, a bustling collection of open-air at its heart, 16 turquoise lakes linked by stalls located across from the cathedral near a series of waterfalls and cascades. Bears the 14th-century Church of St. Mary. The and wolves call this region home, along rest of the afternoon is at leisure in Zagreb. with deer, boar, foxes, and more than 120

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. different species of birds, including hawks, Dinner is on your own this evening. wild ducks, and herons. This natural wonder Breakfast has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The lake system is divided into the upper and lower lakes, with DAY 14 Overland to Ljubljana, about 440 feet of elevation between them. Slovenia • Visit Postojna Cave • We’ll take a walking tour along some of the wooden footbridges of the lakes. Sunset cruise on the Ljubljanica After breakfast, we begin our overland Afterward, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local transfer to Ljubljana. We’ll observe a sharp restaurant before we continue to Opatija. contrast to the scenery as we journey inland Located in the Kvarner Gulf that separates into Slovenia, a delightful forest-clad from , Opatija is a seaside re- country of emerald meadows, alpine villages, sort town situated in a heart-shaped penin- and soaring mountain peaks. This Slavic sula just south of Trieste, . Surrounded nation was the first to claim independence by landscaped parks and lush gardens dotted and break away from the Yugoslav federa- with grand villas with elegant facades, tion, and it largely escaped involvement Opatija’s history as a Mediterranean resort in the Balkan wars of the 1990s. Along the destination for wealthy European aristocrats, way, we’ll stop for a visit to Postojna Cave, dignitaries, and artists stretches back to a twelve-mile-long underground labyrinth 1844. in eastern Slovenia that is considered one We’ll have an included dinner at a local of the finest karst limestone formations restaurant this evening. in the world. On your train ride and walk through the cave, view a diverse collection Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner of tunnels, sculpted galleries, stalactites and stalagmites, chambers, and cave-dwelling olms—sightless, snake-like amphibians that DAY 13 Opatija • Optional can only be seen here. Hill Towns of Istria tour Shortly after our included lunch at Postojna, Today is at leisure in Opatija, or you may we’ll arrive at Slovenia’s charming capital wish to join our optional Hill Towns of Istria of Ljubljana, a thriving university town. A tour featuring some of the hilltop villages walking tour of Ljubljana will highlight the and towns that surround the region. The quaint bridges spanning the gently flowing tour includes a visit to Motovun, one river Ljubljanica and the narrow streets of of the region’s 136 medieval hill towns; its café-lined Old Town. Most of the city’s a typical Istrian lunch; and a visit to a buildings, parks, and monuments (and all of family-run rakija distillery in the town of the bridges spanning the city center) were Buzet. Travelers not choosing our optional designed by innovative local architect Joze tour may wish to relax in Opatija or stroll Plecnik. As the sun sets this evening, we’ll along a section of the famous Lungomare, a see the city from a new perspective during a 7.5-mile-long waterfront promenade linking cruise along the Ljubljanica. Opatija with , another small resort town dotted with aristocratic villas and manicured gardens.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Dinner is on your own this evening. Later this evening, rejoin your group for a Farewell Drink and then celebrate your Breakfast, Lunch journey during a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 15 Ljubljana • Optional Breakfast, Dinner Lake Bled tour You can further explore Ljubljana on your own today or join our optional full-day DAY 17 Return to U.S. or begin excursion to Lake Bled (subject to local post-trip extension weather conditions). The picturesque resort After breakfast, depart to the airport for your area of Lake Bled features a 17th-century return flight home. Or, begin your post-trip church perched on an islet in the middle of extension to Serbia: Novi Sad & Belgrade. the lake and an 800-year-old castle clinging Breakfast to a rocky cliff, all against a backdrop of the majestic Julian Alps. Your optional tour includes a ride on the emerald lake by pletna boat, the locals’ version of a gondola, to reach the island church, and lunch.

Those not taking our optional tour can discover the charms of Ljubljana. Much of this city of about 300,000 was rebuilt after an 1895 earthquake, and it has a unique architectural style that has integrated surviving historic structures with more modern designs. The work of Joze Plecnik, a 20th-century architect and Ljubljana native, is particularly remarkable for the way it incorporates Roman, Medieval, Baroque, and Habsburg elements. A number of buildings that survived the earthquake still stand in the historic part of town, Old Ljubljana. Lunch is on your own.

Dinner is also on your own this evening.

Breakfast

DAY 16 Ljubljana After breakfast, the day is free to explore Ljubljana on your own. There are many pleasant cafés here, and you may want to try one as you enjoy today’s lunch on your own.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Pre-trip Tirana, Albania

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 4 nights in Tirana

»» 8 meals—4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 1 dinner

»» 3 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

»» All transfers

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Explore Albania, one of the last undiscovered pockets of Europe, where progress is balanced against a storied past. Discover hillside castles and a colorful modern capital still throwing off the yoke of communist dictatorship.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. DAY 3 Explore Tirana Fly overnight from the U.S. to Tirana, With its prime location on the Adriatic Albania. and Ionian seas, bounded by , Montenegro, , and , Albania boasts a history that dates to the DAY 2 Arrive Tirana, Albania Stone Age. Albania’s capital city and cultural Arrive in Tirana this afternoon and transfer and economic hub, Tirana was founded in to your hotel. This evening, gather for a 1614 by Sulejman Pasha, who was drawn Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. here by the fertility of this inland region and by its location at the crossroads of caravan Dinner routes. The city flourished until the 19th century, when the unfortunate death of Sulejman Pasha’s grand-nephew, Kaplan

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Pasha, left the city under the control of an DAY 4 At leisure in Tirana • insane megalomaniac, Esat Toptani. It was Optional Kruja excursion not until the city was named the capital of Today is at leisure to continue exploring Albania in 1920 that it began to thrive again. Tirana on your own. Or, join our optional Today, Tirana is rapidly modernizing, and excursion to Kruja, a hilltop town that its once mud-brick houses and cobbled gained its legendary reputation during the alleyways have largely been replaced by 15th century when national hero modern architecture and wide paved streets. made it the center of Albania’s war against Hills have been reforested, inviting parks invading Ottoman Turks. This tour includes have been created, and the gray façades that a visit to Kruja’s castle and visits to the characterized the communist regime now Skanderbeg and Ethnographic museums. exude a jumble of bright colors. And since Kruja is considered the best place We’ll get our first experience of Tirana’s to shop for embroidery and traditional rebirth during our morning walking tour, keepsakes of Albania, we’ll spend some time featuring Skënderbeg Square, the heart of at the local bazaar. This optional tour also the city, where the mosque of Sulejman includes lunch. Pasha once stood and where today you Those remaining in Tirana may wish to will see the Ethem Mosque, a national venture to Tirana National Park, in the hills monument known for its beautiful minaret. near the university, to relax by the man- We’ll also see the huge statue of Skënderbeg made lake or explore the botanical garden (George Kastrioti) who overthrew the and the zoo. Or, simply stroll the streets, Turkish sultan and founded an independent admiring architecture that exhibits a blend Albania during the 15th century; view the of Italian and Turkish influences. Soviet-designed Palace of Culture and the National Library; and pass by Petrela Castle, For lunch or dinner on your own, perhaps a Byzantine fortress built around a tower you’ll sample the local specialty: byrek—a that dates to AD 500. After our walking tour, pastry filled with feta cheese, vegetables, or we can relax during a scenic cable car ride meat. up nearby Mount Dajti, and enjoy panoramic Breakfast views over Tirana and its surroundings. We’ll also enjoy an included lunch at one of the mountaintop restaurants. DAY 5 Explore The afternoon is yours to explore this Today, we’ll visit Berat—one of Albania’s eminently walkable city. Enjoy a taste of most beautiful cities. Hailed as the “City local life at the old market, near the Palace of a Thousand Windows,” Berat is known of Culture. And be sure to take in The Block, for its seemingly endless stretch of white former residence of the communist dictator Ottoman houses, which rise up the sur- . Once forbidden to the public, rounding hills until they reach . it now features a mix of shops, galleries, and While the castle was originally built as an cafés. Illyrian fortress in the third century BC, it was later strengthened by the Byzantines, Dinner is on your own. , Serbs, and Ottoman Turks. Breakfast, Lunch Today, the historic neighborhood of Kalasa

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. still thrives inside the castle’s ancient walls—as we’ll see today during our city tour. This afternoon, we’ll eat lunch in one of Kalasa’s historic homes, sampling tradi- tional Albanian cuisine and diving into daily life in Berat.

Later, we’ll return to our hotel in Tirana. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6 Transfer to Dubrovnik, Croatia After breakfast, we travel by coach to Dubrovnik. Crossing the border into Montenegro, we’ll stop in , one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic and today a popular beach resort, where we’ll enjoy an included lunch. We continue on to Dubrovnik, arriving late in the afternoon. This evening, meet your fellow O.A.T. trav- elers and Trip Leader and begin Day 2 of the Crossroads of the Adriatic itinerary.

Breakfast, Lunch

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. optional tours on Pre-trip

Kruja excursion (Day 4 $95 per person)

This optional tour journeys outside of Tirana to Kruja, a hill-top town that gained its legendary reputation during the 15th century when national hero Skanderbeg made it the center of Albania’s war against invading Ottoman Turks. During our visit, we’ll see the statue of Skanderbeg wielding his sword at the town square, visit Kruja’s splendid castle, and view paintings and other depictions of Skanderbeg’s struggles against the Ottomans at the Skanderbeg Museum. We’ll also explore the collections of the Ethnographic Museum, housed in an original 19th-century home of an affluent Albanian family. And since Kruja is considered the best place to shop for embroidery and traditional keepsakes of Albania, we’ll spend some time at the local bazaar. This optional tour also includes lunch.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Post-trip Serbia: Novi Sad & Belgrade

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 2 nights in Novi Sad »» All transfers and 2 nights in Belgrade

»» 8 meals—4 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

»» 2 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

Itinerary, Post-Trip Extension

Cap off your adventure by exploring Serbia—a former Yugoslav state with a unique perspective on the conflicts that rocked the Balkans throughout the 1990s. As you journey from Novi Sad to Belgrade, you’ll discover how Serbia is using its unapologetic élan to become one of Europe’s newest hotspots.

DAY 1 Transfer to Novi Sad, Serbia DAY 2 Explore Novi Sad • Visit This morning, we depart Ljubljana, Slovenia, Petrovaradin Citadel for Novi Sad—a city on the banks of the Today we’ll explore more of Novi Sad, in- Danube River and the administrative center cluding the Petrovaradin Citadel—a towering of Serbia’s Vojvodina region. We’ll arrive in site that’s sometimes called the “Gibraltar Novi Sad this afternoon, and begin to dis- on the Danube.” While Petrovaradin was cover the city’s charms on a brief orientation originally occupied by the Romans (followed walk around our hotel. Tonight, we’ll have by the Hungarians and Ottoman Turks), the dinner at a local restaurant. fortress itself was built by the Austrians in 1692 as one of their main strongholds in Dinner Central Europe. Aside from the incredible 88 years it took to build, the fortress has also become known for the famous prisoners it

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. has held within its dungeon, including a stop to admire the Church of St. Sava, the young Josip Broz Tito. Today, Petrovaradin massive structure dominating Belgrade’s houses a museum as well as a small collec- cityscape and one of the world’s largest tion of artwork, and acts as host of Serbia’s Orthodox churches. annual EXIT music festival, which attracts This afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, or about 200,000 people every year. join us on our Optional Tour: Great Minds of After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll have Serbia. Dinner tonight is on your own. the afternoon free for independent explora- Breakfast, Lunch tion. Dinner tonight is on your own—which you may use as an opportunity to try Novi Sad’s specialty: an indeks sendvic, or index DAY 4 Serbia discussion • sandwich. This decadent sub sandwich, At leisure in Belgrade named after a local football team, is over- flowing with cheese, mushrooms, ham, sour After breakfast, take part in a discussion cream, urnebes, mayonnaise, tomatoes, and about Serbia, before and after the 1990s. pickles, and is a must-try for anyone visit- Then, you’ll have the day at leisure in ing Novi Sad. Belgrade. Perhaps you’ll use your time to visit the Ethnographic Museum—one of the Breakfast, Lunch oldest museums in the Balkans—featur- ing traditional folk costumes, agricultural tools, and showcases of typical homes from DAY 3 Belgrade city tour throughout Serbia’s history. You may also After breakfast, we’ll drive to Belgrade— decide to visit the Palace of Princess Ljubica, Serbia’s capital and largest city. Belgrade built in 1831 for the wife of the Serbian (meaning “White City") enjoys a prime Prince Milos. Today, this Balkan-style palace location at the confluence of the Sava and is still filled with Ljubica’s ornate furniture, Danube rivers, which helps to explain the cilim carpets, and an authentic Turkish bath. countless times the city has been rebuilt during its vast 2,300-year history. In fact, Tonight, we’ll regroup for a Farewell Dinner Kalemegdan Citadel, Belgrade’s impressive at a local restaurant. fortress at the bend of the two rivers, has Breakfast, Dinner been destroyed more than 40 times over the centuries. DAY 5 Return to U.S. Today, we’ll dive into Belgrade’s bright fu- ture and often chaotic past on an enlighten- After breakfast, transfer to the airport for ing city tour, beginning at Belgrade Fortress. your return flight to the U.S. The Fortress itself encompasses both the old Breakfast citadel and Kalemegdan Park and is divided between the city’s Upper and Lower Town. Our tour continues with a stroll down the pedestrian-only Knez Mihajlova Street, along with Republic Square, the geographical epicenter of Belgrade. Along the way, we’ll

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. optional tours on Post-trip

Great minds of Serbia (Day 3 $125 per person)

Join us on an Optional Tour to discover the lives and work of some of Serbia’s greatest minds. We’ll visit the homes and museums dedicated to such famous Serbs as novelist and poet, Ivo Andric, painter Paja Jovanovic, and world-famous scientist, Nikola Tesla. Dinner is included, and will be at the restau- rant owned by Novak Dokovic, the number one-ranked tennis player in the world.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925.