Itinerary
- Day 1
Mestre
You'll arrive in Mestre and check into your hotel for the night. After settling in and freshening up, your guide meets you in the evening to go over the tour details and hand you a special travel card for unlimited access to Venice's water and land transportation. If you're interested, the guide can take you into Venice for an evening walk through the city before heading back to rest.
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to Venice with guide (optional)
- Dinner at local restaurants in Venice
- Day 2
Venice
This morning starts with a scenic journey through the Grand Canal where you'll see St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica with its luminous mosaics up close. From there, the Doge's Palace comes next on your route. You'll cross the Rialto Bridge and then spend time walking through narrow alleyways to find hidden courtyards and local art. Later in the day, consider hopping in a gondola for a ride around the lagoon, then grab dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities
- Scenic ride along the Grand Canal
- Visit St. Mark's Square
- Visit St. Mark's Basilica
- Visit Doge's Palace
- Cross the Rialto Bridge
- Walking tour through Venice's labyrinthine streets
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride through the canals
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs St. Mark's Square St. Mark's Basilica Doge's Palace Grand Canal Rialto Bridge - Day 3
Venice - Murano - Burano - Ljubljana
After checking out, you head to Murano to watch glassblowers at a local factory creating pieces by hand. Then it's on to Burano with its bright colored houses and traditional lace-making shops around Galuppi Square. By late afternoon, you'll travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia's eco-conscious capital. Check in, have some time to rest, and explore restaurants around the city in the evening.
Included Activities
- Glass factory visit with glassblowing demonstration on Murano
- Explore Burano island with brightly colored houses
- Visit Galuppi Square
- Traditional lace-making exploration in Burano
Landmarks/POIs Murano Island Burano Island Galuppi Square - Day 4
Ljubljana - Lake Bled - Ljubljana
Your guided tour of Ljubljana covers the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the baroque Town Hall, and the medieval Town Square. You'll walk across the iconic Triple Bridge and explore the Ljubljanica River area. Later, head to Lake Bled for a traditional boat ride to the island Church of Saint Mary and visit Bled Castle on the cliff. Try the famous local krempita cream cake before returning to Ljubljana for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ljubljana
- Visit Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
- Visit baroque Town Hall
- Visit medieval Town Square (Mestni Trg)
- Visit Triple Bridge
- Boat ride on traditional Pletna boat to Church of Saint Mary on Lake Bled island
Optional Activities
- Visit Bled Castle
- Try famous Bled 'krempita' cream cake
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Ljubljana Town Hall Mestni Trg (Town Square) Triple Bridge Ljubljanica River Lake Bled Church of Saint Mary Bled Castle - Day 5
Ljubljana - Postojna Cave - Goriska Hills - Portorož
After checking out, drive to Postojna Cave about an hour away and board an electric train through the underground landscape with its stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone pools. Then head to the Goriska Hills wine region where you'll visit the 14th-century village of Smartno and sample regional white wines at a local vinery. You'll finish the day arriving in Portoroz to check in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Postojna Cave visit with electric train exploration
- Wine tasting at Goriska Hills winery
- Visit medieval village of Šmartno
Landmarks/POIs Postojna Cave Goriska Hills Šmartno - Day 6
Portorož - Grozjan - Motovun - Porec
Start in Grozjan, a hilltop village with cobblestone streets, galleries, and workshops. Grab a drink with locals, then join a truffle-hunting demonstration with an expert and his dog in the forest nearby. You'll learn the secrets of finding truffles and taste truffle-infused cheese and sausages with Istrian wine. After that, visit Motovun, an ancient hilltop town with medieval architecture and sweeping views. Head to Porec to check in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Grozjan hilltop village and galleries
- Truffle-hunting demonstration with expert and dog
- Truffle tasting with local cheese, sausages and Istrian wine
- Visit Motovun with medieval architecture and town walls
- Visit Church of St. Stephen in Motovun
Landmarks/POIs Grozjan Motovun Church of St. Stephen Motovun Forest - Day 7
Porec - Rovinj - Lim Bay - Pula - Porec
Rovinj shows off its 18th-century Venetian architecture and narrow cobblestone streets as you wander through winding alleyways and vibrant squares. Grisia Street has local art galleries and shops with Mediterranean views. Later, head to Lim Bay, an 11km estuary where freshwater meets seawater, and have lunch with the freshest shellfish at a seaside restaurant. Then visit Pula to see the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, Temple of Augustus, Triumphal Arch of Sergius, and Twin Gates before returning to Porec.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Rovinj Old Town
- Explore Grisia Street with local art and shops
- Oyster and shellfish tasting at Lim Bay restaurant
- Visit Pula's Roman amphitheatre
- Visit Temple of Augustus
- Visit Triumphal Arch of Sergius
Landmarks/POIs Rovinj Old Town Grisia Street Lim Bay Pula Roman Amphitheatre Temple of Augustus Triumphal Arch of Sergius - Day 8
Porec - Opatija - Plitvice Lakes
After checkout, stop in Opatija for a coffee break while walking the famous Lungomare promenade with panoramic sea views. Drive through countryside with charming villages and rolling hills, catching glimpses of the Adriatic before entering the mountains. Spend about 3 hours exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park with its 16 interconnected cascading lakes and UNESCO World Heritage status. Relax at nearby restaurants, then check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Opatija and stroll Lungomare promenade
- 3-hour guided tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park with upper and lower lakes
Landmarks/POIs Opatija Lungomare Promenade Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day 9
Plitvice Lakes - Trogir - Split
This morning brings you to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a small island with beautiful architecture and a palm-lined waterfront. Walk through medieval streets to see Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture including the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Clock Tower, and Kamerlengo Castle. Then continue to Split, Dalmatia's largest city with 1,700 years of history. Explore Diocletian's Palace, the Temple of Jupiter, and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius before checking in to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Trogir UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Cathedral of Saint Lawrence
- Visit Clock Tower
- Visit Kamerlengo Castle
- Walking tour of Split through Diocletian's Palace
- Visit former Temple of Jupiter
- Visit Cathedral of Saint Domnius
- Stroll Riva promenade
Landmarks/POIs Trogir Cathedral of Saint Lawrence Kamerlengo Castle Diocletian's Palace Temple of Jupiter Cathedral of Saint Domnius Riva Promenade Golden Gate - Day 10
Split - Hvar Island - Split
Head to the ferry port and board a high-speed catamaran to Hvar, traveling through Splitska Vrata with beautiful blue water views the whole way. Once there, walk through Venetian architecture on traffic-free cobbled streets filled with restaurants. The tour includes the harbour, Renaissance Cathedral, Benedictine Convent, Franciscan monastery, and Church of Our Lady of Mercy. You'll have plenty of free time to explore based on what interests you before returning to Split in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran ferry to Hvar
- Walking tour of Hvar including harbour, Renaissance Cathedral, Benedictine Convent, Franciscan monastery, and Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Optional Activities
- Boat excursion to Pakleni Islands
- Beach relaxation
- Picturesque trails to Milna Bay
- Mediterranean lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Hvar Island Hvar Town Renaissance Cathedral Benedictine Convent Pakleni Islands Milna Bay - Day 11
Split - Peljesac Peninsula - Dubrovnik
Drive along the Dalmatian coast with views of Croatian islands, vineyards, olive groves, and stone villages. Cross the impressive Peljesac Bridge to reach Peljesac Peninsula where you'll visit a local winery to sample Plavac Mali red wine and learn about centuries-old winemaking traditions. Stop briefly in Ston to try the famous oysters and see the historic Ston Walls. Then arrive in Dubrovnik, check into your hotel, and have the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting at local Peljesac winery with Plavac Mali wine
- Visit City of Ston with oyster tasting
Optional Activities
- Mediterranean dinner at local restaurant in Dubrovnik
Landmarks/POIs Peljesac Peninsula Peljesac Bridge City of Ston Ston Walls - Day 12
Dubrovnik
Explore Dubrovnik with visits to Stradun (the main street), Placa Square, Pile Gate, and Rector's Palace. Walk the City Walls and discover the picturesque city port and hidden spots connected to Game of Thrones filming locations. You'll hear stories about the Republic of Ragusa and its history. Free time lets you grab lunch at a restaurant overlooking the walls, take the cable car to Srdj Hill for panoramic views, walk the 2km City Walls, or book a sunset cruise on the Karaka, a replica 16th-century wooden ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Dubrovnik including Stradun, Placa Square, Pile Gate, Rector's Palace
- Exploration of City Walls and city port
Optional Activities
- Lunch at restaurant on city walls
- Cable car ride to Srdj Hill
- Exploration of 2km City Walls stretch
- Sunset cruise on the Karaka replica galleon
Landmarks/POIs Stradun Placa Square Pile Gate Rector's Palace Dubrovnik City Walls Srdj Hill - Day 13
Dubrovnik Departure
After checking out of your hotel, you'll transfer to the airport to depart. Your Balkan tour comes to an end, though most travelers choose to extend their trips independently. Airport transfer can be arranged for an additional fee if needed.
