SLOVENIA TO SARAJEVO (PRINCESS ELEGANZA) Join us for this unique itinerary which combines an exploration of Croatia’s spectacular coastline with its intense blue sea and amazingly picturesque islands with explorations of both Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovinia. This region has much to offer the genuine traveller and our cruise itinerary has been carefully designed to visit some marvellous places which do not cater for the big ships and each night we remain moored in the picturesque harbours affording the opportunity to dine ashore on some evenings to enjoy the floodlit splendour and lively café society which is so atmospheric. We have the benefit of two days before our cruise to explore Slovenia and a few of its hidden treasures including the beautiful cobalt-blue Lake Bled with its tiny castle-topped island in the middle and the largest underground cave system in Europe at Postojna. From here we transfer to the attractive coastal town of Opatija where we embark the Princess Eleganza for our journey along the coast of Croatia. Witness a range of scenic delights from the island of Dugi Otok, surrounded by past, it has emerged from its recent civil war reincarnated and hills, vines and ancient olive groves to the dramatic waterfalls of offers the visitor a wealth of historical and cultural treasures, Krka and the pretty island of Brac. We will also visit the historic highlights of which will be the cities of Sarajevo and Mostar. cities of Zadar and Split with their history dating back to Roman times. ITINERARY Day 1 London Heathrow to Lake Bled, Slovenia. After our cruise we have three days to explore Croatia’s Fly by scheduled indirect flight to Ljubljana. On arrival transfer lesser-visited neighbour Bosnia-Herzegovina. Often to our hotel in Lake Bled for our two night stay. Check in and overshadowed by its tumultuous enjoy time at leisure before meeting for dinner in the hotel this evening. (D) 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Day 2 Lake Bled. enjoy some time at leisure and an early evening guided walk After breakfast in the hotel we will explore Lake Bled. Using the through the picturesque Old Town, a perfectly preserved late local “pletna” boats we will cruise the lake and make our way to Medieval Adriatic settlement squeezed into a slender peninsula Blejski Otok, an island situated in the middle of the lake where along which are dotted a sequence of Romanesque we can visit the Chapel of Santa Maria. Returning to the campaniles. We have the opportunity this evening to dine lakeside we will make our way to Bled Castle located high on ashore and sample one of the many local restaurants and we the rock face above the lake, protecting the town since 1004. will remain moored overnight in the harbour. (B, L) We end our visit at the picturesque old town of Radovljica, one of the best-preserved towns in Slovenia with houses dating back Day 5 Zadar. to the 15th century. After lunch in the town we will return to the Cruise this morning to Zadar, once a dominant city on the hotel in Lake Bled for a free afternoon. Maybe take the walking Adriatic coast rivalling Venice, Zadar is today a treasured city track around the lake for further views or relax and enjoy the which has preserved its historical core. Enjoy an afternoon hotel facilities. We will meet for dinner tonight in the hotel. (B, walking tour strolling around the old town with its Roman L, D) columns and portals, Romanesque churches and Renaissance and Baroque palaces. Of particular interest are the 9th century Day 3 Lake Bled, Postojna Caves & Opatija, Croatia. circular Church of St Donat, and the 13th century Romanesque After breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to Croatia. We will cathedral. Tonight, there will be the opportunity to dine in one of drive through the Karst region of Slovenia, known for its rich the city’s many restaurants as we moor overnight. (B, L) natural habitat. The Postojna Cave is a 21 kilometre long karst cave system, a web of underground passages, galleries and Day 6 Dugi Otok. chambers, the biggest in Europe. There is almost no corner in We continue our journey south cruising past numerous islands, the cave without a beautiful stalactite or stalagmite. The cave hopefully making a stop to swim, before we arrive at Sali, a boasts the oldest underground train in the world, which we will traditional fishing village on the island of Dugi Otok surrounded use partly to explore this underground jewel but the two by hills and ancient olive groves. On a walking tour of the town kilometres of its most attractive part is taken on foot allowing us we will see the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin to slowly take in the many natural and unusual wonders of the Mary with a stunning wooden altar from the 17th century. We darkness. After lunch we continue our journey to Opatija where also hope to visit the nearby Telascica Nature Park, a beautiful we embark the Princess Eleganza. Tonight, enjoy the welcome area of islands, islets, rugged cliffs and coves which are home dinner on board as we moor overnight. (B, L, D) to many endemic plants. Return to the ship for dinner. (B, L, D) Day 4 Rab. Day 7 Sibenik & Krka National Park. Sail during breakfast for the island of Rab. If conditions permit, After a morning cruising we arrive in Sibenik where we visit the we hope to stop for a swim on the way. This afternoon we will majestic waterfalls of Krka. We will take a guided walk on 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com wooden walkways and across bridges through this unique situated on the Neretva River, which is a splendid Ottoman city fjordlike landscape with its multiple waterfalls and interesting dating back to the Middle Ages. Here, King Tvrtko I of Bosnia flora and fauna. Return to Sibenik and enjoy an early evening built a fortress in 1383 which was later conquered by the Turks walking tour through the historic town seeing the Cathedral of St in 1471. Today this is truly a magical open-air museum with James, the old city walls, and the theatre before returning to the many Ottoman monuments, such as the Hadzi Alija Mosque vessel for dinner on board. (B, L, D) and the Clock Tower. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before we continue on to Blagaj Tekke, also known as the Dervish Day 8 Split. Monastery. The tekija was built to host gatherings of the Sufi This morning we sail the short distance to Split and this Brotherhood, and the stunning half-timbered tekija rests beside afternoon we enjoy a guided walk through the town. Explore the the fast-flowing blue-green Buna River. Arrive in Mostar in the Palace of Diocletian, built by the emperor in 295-305 AD as his early evening and check in to our hotel for an overnight stay. retirement villa. Much of this large building is well preserved Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant. (B, L, D) and the palace contains Split’s old town within its walls, making it the only Roman palace that has been continuously inhabited Day 11 Mostar & Sarajevo. since Roman times. It is a wonderful spot to wander the maze of In the 15th century, Mostar became a thriving centre on the streets. We will moor centrally this evening and you can enjoy banks of the emerald Neretva River under the Ottoman Turks. dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city. (B, L) Damaged by the military conflict in the 1990s, the town has been carefully restored by UNESCO and declared a World Day 9 Pucisca, Brac. Heritage Site. Admire the ethereally graceful Stari Most (“The Sail this morning for Brac and the attractive port of Pucisca Old Bridge”), originally built in 1566, the nearby Koski Mehmed located at the end of a long bay. Brac is world renowned for the Pasha Mosque and an old Turkish house, among other sites. quality of its stone which was used for the Diocletian’s Palace in You may also wish to explore the old bazaar independently, a Split as well as the White House in Washington and other haven for the city’s artists and craftsmen. After lunch we will parliament buildings in Europe. Spend the morning in the continue our journey to Sarajevo and check in to our hotel this charming small town, voted one of the prettiest in Europe, afternoon. Meet later this evening for dinner. (B, L, D) where the buildings’ white roofs create an ambient atmosphere. Over lunch we sail and hope to stop for a swim before arriving Day 12 Sarajevo. in Opuzen this evening. Enjoy dinner on board as we moor After breakfast in the hotel we will take a walking tour of overnight. (B, L, D) Sarajevo including Sarajevo City Hall, one of the most beautiful buildings from the Austro- Hungarian period. It is the National Day 10 Blagaj & Mostar, Bosnia- Herzegovina. Library of Bosnia-Herzegovina and it faces the Miljacka River After breakfast we will disembark in Opuzen and begin our and the Emperor’s Mosque, the city’s oldest mosque. We will journey to Bosnia- Herzegovina. Our first call will be at Pocitelj, then continue on to see the Latin Bridge, where Franz Ferdinand 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com was assassinated in 1914.