Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia 2017 16-Day Land Tour{TRIPOperatedBy} EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Tirana, Albania POST-TRIP Serbia: Novi Sad & Belgrade 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 Dubrovnik 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 Kotor, 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 Balkans. 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 Latin 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 has regained its former splendor Perast, 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 Baroque 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 en- 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.