Itinerary
- Day 1
Zagreb
You'll arrive in Zagreb and check into your hotel. If you get there early, take a walk along the Stross Promenade to see the city from a new angle. Later this evening, you'll meet your Travel Director and other travelers for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner at local restaurant with wine
Landmarks/POIs Stross Promenade - Day 2
Zagreb
Your Local Expert will guide you through Zagreb's two-tiered layout, starting with the Lower Town's grand squares like Roosevelt Square and Ban Josip Jelacic Square, where you'll see the Mimara Art Museum. Then take the city's funicular up to the medieval Upper Town and wander through narrow streets between Kaptol and Gradec hills, passing the former Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St. Mark's Church and Lotrscak Tower. The afternoon gives you free time to relax or join an optional trip to the Zagorje region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Zagreb with Local Expert
- Funicular ride to Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
- Viewing of former Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St. Mark's Church and Lotrščak Tower
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Zagorje region to learn about local traditions and visit Marshall Tito's house
Landmarks/POIs Mimara Art Museum Ban Josip Jelacic Square Stone Gate St. Mark's Church Lotrščak Tower - Day 3
Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
Spend the morning relaxing at your hotel and using its facilities. In the afternoon, you'll head out toward Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Croatia's first and largest national park. Your new hotel sits right inside the park, surrounded by those interconnected lakes that cascade from one level to another.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with wine)
Landmarks/POIs Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day 4
Plitvice Lakes to Split
You'll choose between two options at Plitvice with Insight Choice: either walk the forest paths alongside 16 interconnecting lakes with a guide, or visit the park's viewpoint and learn about local folklore at the Tara Community Centre. After that, you'll travel along the coast to Trogir, a city founded by Greeks over 2,300 years ago with a famous cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko Palace. Then continue to Split, the historic port city where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Choice of guided tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park with walk along forest paths and 16 interconnecting lakes OR visit to National Park viewpoint and Tara Community Centre to learn about local folklore and handicrafts
- Orientation to Trogir with Travel Director including cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko Palace
- Travel to Split
Landmarks/POIs Trogir Cathedral Cipiko Palace - Day 5
Split to Dubrovnik
Your Local Expert takes you through Diocletian's Palace and Split's Old Town, descending into the 1,700-year-old palace cellars to learn about the Roman Emperor. You'll walk through winding streets and arcaded squares seeing St. Duje's (originally Diocletian's Mausoleum), the Temple of Jupiter, and the Golden Gate. Later, you'll drive south along the Dalmatian coast with views of the sea and rocky islands, ending up in Dubrovnik.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Diocletian's Palace cellars with Local Expert
- Guided walk through Old Town Split including St. Duje's, Temple of Jupiter and Golden Gate
- Travel along Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik
Landmarks/POIs Diocletian's Palace St. Duje's Cathedral Temple of Jupiter Golden Gate - Day 6
Dubrovnik
Walk through the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik with your Local Expert, strolling past Onofrio's Fountain, through the Old Jewish Quarter and along the synagogue. You'll see the cathedral and both the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. In the evening, weather permitting, a cruise around the bay lets you see the Adriatic and city walls from the water. Dinner starts with grappa and includes authentic local specialties paired with local wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with grappa and locally produced wine enjoyed during bay cruise (weather permitting))
Included Activities
- Guided walking exploration of Dubrovnik Old Town with Local Expert
- Views of Onofrio's Fountain, Old Jewish Quarter, synagogue, cathedral and Franciscan and Dominican monasteries
- Optional evening cruise around Dubrovnik bay (weather permitting) with dinner including grappa and local wine
Landmarks/POIs Onofrio's Fountain Old Jewish Quarter Dubrovnik Cathedral Franciscan Monastery Dominican Monastery - Day 7
Dubrovnik to Budva
You'll stop in Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the medieval old town positioned on the bay with clear blue waters. Then continue along the Adriatic to Budva and explore its medieval old town, checking out religious sites like the 9th century Church of Santa Maria in Punta.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad), UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Exploration of Budva's medieval old town
- Viewing of 9th century Church of Santa Maria in Punta
Landmarks/POIs Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad) Church of Santa Maria in Punta - Day 8
Budva to Tirana
Travel through spectacular scenery across Montenegro and Albania to reach Tirana. Your Local Expert will show you this colorful capital, with its mix of Ottoman, Italian and communist influences visible throughout the city. You'll have a traditional dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional dinner at local restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Tirana with Local Expert
- Viewing of Ottoman, Italian and communist-era architecture and relics
- Meet a local resident for walking tour through city
- Traditional dinner at local restaurant with wine
Landmarks/POIs Skanderbeg Square - Day 9
Tirana to Corfu
You'll travel across Albania into Greece, taking in the country's unique landscape. Then set sail for Corfu, an island known since ancient times for its beauty and Mediterranean location. These days it stands out as one of Greece's nicest islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel across Albania to Greece
- Ferry sailing to Corfu
Landmarks/POIs Corfu Island - Day 10
Corfu
The entire day on Corfu is yours to spend however you like. Check out the Old Town with its blend of Roman, Venetian, French and British architecture that reflects centuries of history. Or relax on one of the beaches, and if you're interested, join an optional cruise around the island's coastline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Corfu Old Town
- Beach relaxation
- Optional cruise around the island
Landmarks/POIs Corfu Old Town - Day 11
Corfu to Delphi
You'll leave the island and travel to Delphi, a cliff-side site that ancient peoples considered the center of the world. History runs deep here with ritual objects from 4,000 B.C. and remains of a Mycenaean settlement. According to legend, two eagles crossed paths here after being released by Zeus to find 'the navel of the world.'
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Delphi
Landmarks/POIs Delphi - Day 12
Delphi to Athens
Walk the Sacred Way at Delphi with your Local Expert, passing the Parian marble Treasury of the Athenians and the Polygonal Wall whose interlocking stones remain intact after thousands of years. You'll reach the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi spoke her cryptic words for 14 centuries. Then head to Athens for the evening and celebrate the end of your journey with a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner in true Greek style at local restaurant with wine and good cheer)
Included Activities
- Guided walk of the Sacred Way with Local Expert
- Visit to Treasury of the Athenians
- Viewing of Polygonal Wall
- Visit to Temple of Apollo
- Travel to Athens
- Celebration Dinner at local restaurant in true Greek style with wine
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Way of Delphi Treasury of the Athenians Polygonal Wall Temple of Apollo - Day 13
Athens to Mykonos (Cruise Embarkation)
You'll board your cruise ship and sail to Mykonos with its white cube houses and windmills. Tonight wander the maze-like streets, check out welcoming tavernas and the nightlife. Late in the evening, your ship sails across the Aegean toward Turkey. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served onboard daily with complimentary alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and hot beverages included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine), Dinner (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine)
Included Activities
- Cruise embarkation in Athens
- Sailing to Mykonos
- Exploration of Mykonos Old Town
- All meals and beverages onboard cruise
Landmarks/POIs Mykonos Island - Day 14
Kusadasi and Patmos (Cruise)
Stop at the Turkish port of Kusadasi to visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your Local Expert will guide you along the Arcadian Way, past the Library of Celsus and Amphitheatre, and to the House of the Virgin Mary. In the afternoon, sail to Patmos where St. John the Divine was exiled by Emperor Domitian. Your ship then heads toward Crete with all meals and beverages continuing onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine), Dinner (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site with Local Expert
- Walk along Arcadian Way
- Viewing of Library of Celsus
- Viewing of Amphitheatre
- Visit to House of the Virgin Mary
- Sailing to Patmos
- Visit to Patmos island
- Sailing to Crete
- All meals and beverages onboard cruise
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Library of Celsus House of the Virgin Mary Patmos Island - Day 15
Crete and Santorini (Cruise)
You'll dock at Heraklion in Crete and visit King Minos' Palace of Knossos with a Local Expert. Later, cruise beneath the tall cliffs of Santorini and explore Thira with its clifftop restaurants and cafes along with expansive views and great sunsets. By evening your ship sails back toward Athens, with meals and beverages remaining included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine), Dinner (Exquisite variety of Mediterranean dishes and flavours with wine)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Palace of Knossos with Local Expert
- Exploration of Knossos palace ruins
- Sailing to Santorini
- Visit to Thira, capital of Santorini
- Viewing of clifftop restaurants, cafes and sunset views
- Sailing to Athens
- All meals and beverages onboard cruise
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Knossos Santorini Island Thira - Day 16
Athens
After leaving the cruise, your Local Expert takes you through Athens in the morning. You'll see the Acropolis including the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and the six stone caryatids of the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion. You'll also visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Arch of Hadrian. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise disembarkation
- Guided morning city sightseeing with Local Expert
- Visit to Acropolis
- Viewing of Parthenon
- Viewing of Temple of Athena Nike (Temple of the Wingless Victory)
- Viewing of Erechtheion with Porch of the Maidens
- Viewing of Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Viewing of Arch of Hadrian
Optional Activities
- Afternoon self-guided exploration of Athens
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Parthenon Temple of Athena Nike Erechtheion Porch of the Maidens Temple of Olympian Zeus Arch of Hadrian - Day 17
Athens Departure
Your trip ends with a transfer to Athens airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
