Full Itinerary and Tour details for

Slovenia Croatia Bosnia 16 day Small Group Tour

Prices starting from. Trip Duration. Max Passengers. 3130 € 16 days 12

Start and Finish. Ljubljana to Split

Experience. Tour Code. Small Group Tours Europe #B1/2676 Croatia Bosnia 16 day Small Group Tour

Tour Details and Description

This Grand Tour is a bit like the “best of” old Yugoslavia fit into 16 days. This small group tour of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and a touch of the obvious tourist ‘hits’ like Dubrovnik, Split and Lake Bled. And with our tours, there always a good selection of places that are left off many other tours but quite deserving in their own right. The amazing countryside and mountain villages in Bosnia, the wine and food of Slovenia or the crooked alleyways in Rovinj usually end up on guests’ favorites places of the tour.

— Take a walk atop the 80 foot high walls of Dubrovnik, situated on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Glide across the beautiful fairy tale setting of Lake Bled on a wooden gondola. Discover the Oriental atmosphere and authentic artisan shops of Sarajevo’s Turkish quarter. Visit the charming old towns of the Venetian empire in Istria’s Rovinj and Montenegro’s and Perast. Enjoy both culture, history, food, wine and nature on this Grand Tour.

— We’ll be staying at private farmhouses and pensions located in lovely countryside villages, where you’ll be treated like family. Our generous hosts will provide home-cooked dinners and breakfasts

including fresh cheeses and in-season vegetables, local wines and regional specialties. Local guides will provide us with their personal and unique perspectives. This tour has a mix of hotels, pensions and farmhouses that are centrally located and all en-suite. From a three-star hotel in Trogir and a great little pension in Sarajevo. to private apartments in Dubrovnik and a wonderful farmhouse in Slovenia’ Karst region, guests are treated like guests not tourists. Select group dinners are all handpicked and represent good value and quality. Guests are free to choose from the normal menu not a restrictive tourist-menu.

Highlights:

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• Soak in the charms of the Venetian empire in Slovenia’s and Montenegro’s and . • Discover the Oriental atmosphere and authentic artisan shops of Turkish quarter • Relax in the cafe culture and lively outdoor markets of Ljubljana – Slovenia’s art nouveau-rich capital • Walk atop the 80 foot high walls of and admire the view of the Adriatic • Savor the orange wines, local ingredients and traditional recipes in , Slovenia’s premier wine region • Explore the underground caverns and secret passage ways in the and legendary • Get a glimpse of traditional lifestyles & natural beauty at secluded , a Bosnian highland village Included in the Small Group Tour: • 10 dinners • 5 lunches • 12 breakfasts Itinerary • 15 nights lodging at boutique hotels and B&Bs (all rooms en-suite) • 2 wine tastings, • Tour guides Day 1

• private transport Welcome to Slovenia Arrive in Ljubljana and transfer • airport transfers to your lodging. Guided walking tour of the city and • entrance fees as per itinerary (except those listed welcome dinner at a traditional Slovenian evening as optional) featuring live Slovenian music, folklore show with costumes and dances from different regions of Slovenia and a 4-course meal. D Overnight: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Day 2

Ljubljana and Lake Bled First part of the day will be at your leisure to explore Ljubljana. Perhaps visit the castle, browse the outdoor market along the river, take in a museum or just people watch along

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Preseren Square. Then we will head to Lake Bled away from the crowds. Visit to Stanjel, the region’s we’ll visit its castle perched up on a cliff top. Bring most captivating hill town. A traditional home-cooked your camera to capture superb panoramas of the lake karst dinner awaits you at our pension tucked away in with its island and Baroque church. Lunch is at a the village of Tomaj. The Skerlj family offers up traditional farmhouse in a small rural village where mouth-watering prsut, pastas and fresh vegetables the proprietor makes her own Slovenian cakes, with a good dose of local Teran wine. Save room for strudel, soft cheeses, herbal liqueurs and beer! She their honey ice-cream. B, L, D. Overnight: Karst also has a great ethnographic museum of items her region, Slovenia family has collected from the past 100+ years! After lunch a visit to local beekeeper to learn about Day 5 importance of beekeeping in Slovenia and tastings of honeys. Gondola ride out to Bled island in late Experience Slovenia’s Karst and Istria regions Visit to afternoon before returning back to Ljubljana. Dinner the amazing underground world of Skocjan caves on your own. B, L Overnight: Ljubljana, Slovenia featuring the largest subterranean cavern in Europe. This Lord of the Rings type of atmosphere is a Day 3 favorite with all our guests. Lunch in the tiny village of Hrastovlje and then a visit to the 12th century Church Slovenian Culinary and Wine Experience Depart of the Holy Spirit. This fortified church has Ljubljana and as we head to the beautiful terraced wonderfully colorful frescoes depicting the Dance of hills of Goriska Brda we will visit the Predjama Castle Macabre. Guided tour of Slovenian seaside town of en-route. This 16th century castle that clings to Piran packed with Venetian architecture, narrow side limestone cliffs and has a rich history, including streets and artisan shops. Dinner back at our folklore about the Slovenian Robin Hood who once farmhouse. B, D. Overnight: Karst region, Slovenia lived there. Arrive into Brda at the only walled medieval town left to get to know more about olive Day 6 oils and the traditional foods of Slovenia’s culinary capital. Hop across the border into Italy and fall in Welcome to Sarajevo Depart farmhouse and take late love with the laid back riverside town of Cividale, morning flight from Ljubljana to Sarajevo (1 hour which captures the charms of Tuscany towns but flight). Afternoon guided walking tour of this historic without the tourists. Back in Slovenia, enjoy a city and dinner with local Bosnian guide. Explore the delicious five-course dinner paired with local wines at city’s rich history spanning Ottoman times, the Kabaj Winery. Overnight at winery/B&B in Brda Habsburgs dynasty, eruption of WWI (Archduke region. B, L, W, D. Ferdinand was assassinated here) and the brutal war in the 90’s. Welcome dinner after. B, D. Overnight: Day 4 Sarajevo, Bosnia

Nature, History and Culture Head into the emerald Day 7 green Soca Valley. Brush up on your World War I history as we visit the award-winning in Kobarid. It Exploring Sarajevo at your leisure All day at your was here in this area that Hemingway documented leisure to explore Sarajevo. Browse the art galleries, his WWI experiences in A Farewell To Arms. Easy old Turkish quarter, master craftsmen shops and half hour walk to beautiful Kozjak waterfall, tucked outdoor cafes while soaking in the rich history and

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culture. You can visit the tunnel museum from the wines and enjoy a tasting there. Lunch in 90’s war or hop on a tram in Sarajevo and head out Mediterranean town of Trebinje. Cross into to nearby Ilidza Park and enjoy a nice stroll or Montenegro and arrive in beautiful and carriage ride. Ask your Bosnian guide for lovely small town of Perast. Take small boat out on suggestions. B. Overnight: Sarajevo, Bosnia the bay to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks and visit its beautifully decorated church. Dining options at Day 8 hotel and other spots with views of surrounding fjords along Perast’s waterfront.. B, L, D. Overnight: Perast, Bosnian Mountain Life One of our most unique Montenegro excursions on the tour, a visit to the highland village of Lukomir. It is the highest and most isolated village Day 11 in Bosnia (1500 meters).Traditional dress, the occasional turban and fez are still worn.We will first Kotor & old Royal Capital of Montenegro Guided tour visit with the local villagers before heading off into the of walled town of Kotor along the Bay of Kotor. canyon to witness Peruc waterfall and the amazing Amazing views as we snake up the stony mountains Rakitinca Canyon. Lunch will be served on a high of this country to a cafe viewpoint. Tour of ridge with stunning views of majestic mountains. Montenegro’s old Royal capital of . Dinner at Travel on to city of in Hercegovina region, rustic agroturism in a secluded spot. B, D. Overnight: dinner there. . B, L, D. Overnight: Mostar, Bosnia Perast, Montenegro

Day 9 Day 12

Historic Mostar and Guided walking tour of The Pearl of the Adriatic Late morning arrival into Mostar, the former oriental trading center of Dubrovnik. Guided walking tour of Dubrovnik, a , home to the famed 16th century stone magical walled city with a rich and important history. bridge spanning the River. Next we’ll visit Heavily touristed but much less so when the day Blagaj and see Ottoman house that onced functioned trippers leave around 4pm. Our local guide will take as a Dervish monastery. Next to this house is the guests for a great dinner near the Jesuit Monastery. source of the Buna Spring, pouring out of a cliff B, D. Overnight: Dubrovnik, Croatia wall.We’ll enjoy a lunch at a local fish restaurant before gathering our energy and doing a 1 hr hike to Day 13 the top of the cliff where we encounter grand views of Herzegovina and remains of a 13th century fort built Dubrovnik at your leisure All day at your leisure to by Duke Stjepan. Dinner in Mostar. B, L, D. see Dubrovnik.There are many options to choose Overnight: Mostar, Bosnia from. For those who enjoy Game of Thrones, we can arrange a GOT tour (Dubrovnik stands in for King’s Day 10 Landing). Unforgettable walk along the city high walls or other sights include the Dominican and Franciscan Hercegovina to Montenegro Busy day of sightseeing. monasteries, Lovrijenac Fortress and Rector’s First off the Oriental hill town and art colony of Palace. If you take the cable car up for great views of Pocitelj. We travel to eastern Bosnia and visit an the city there is also an excellent photo gallery ancient Orthodox monastery that makes beautiful regarding the 1990’s war in a nearby museum. For

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nature over culture, escape the crowds with a trip to nearby Lokrum island with an easy ferry ride from the old town harbor. B. Overnight: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 14

Historic Diocletian’s Palace Beautiful drive up Adriatic coast with stop in old salt flats around walled town of Ston. Continue on up to Split. Our guide will show you around the old town and focus mostly on the remains of Diocletian’s palace.This was built by Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 300 AD. Much of it is still intact and the rest of Split’s center has been built round it. Those interested in art should pay a visit to the Ivan Mestrovic museum/gallery, Croatia’s most famous sculptor. Arrive into Trogir in early evening. Dinner at best restaurant in the city. B, D. Overnight: Trogir, Croatia

Day 15

Relaxing in Central Dalmatia Morning walking tour around Trogir. Rest of the day at leisure here. Some optional day trips can be booked through the hotel such as sea kayaking, sailing (both weather dependent) or a visit to Krka national park with cascading waterfalls and lush scenery. B. Overnight: Trogir, Croatia

Day 16

Tour Ends — transfer to Split airport for your flight home.

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