SeeCroatia.net

Croatia & Slovenia Tours

Operating out of Vienna

A fully escorted tour with flexible options. You’ll go from mountains to the sea, visiting the historic and picturesque Adriatic as well as atmospheric old towns, fairytale castles and turquoise lakes.

Dates

Month	Depart	Return
May/June	20-05-2012	03-06-2012
September	09-09-2012	23-09-2012
More dates will be added in the coming months…
Group size: minimum 4, maximum 16.

Itinerary

Day 1: Lake Bled, Slovenia
Midday pick-up from Vienna airport or your hotel, transferring to your accommodation at Lake Bled.

Day 2: Lake Bled
Take a gondola to the island in the centre of this picturesque glacial lake. Afternoon walking tour of spectacular Vintgar Gorge in Triglav National Park (Slovenia’s pride and joy) and a visit to picturesque Bled Castle, perched on a rock on the northern side of town with the peaks of the Julian Alps all around.

Day 3: Postojna Caves, Predjama Castle

Transfer to Rovinj, one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic coast. On the way we will visit Postojna Caves, the most visited cave system in Europe with magnificent caverns and glistening stalactite formations. The ‘Concert Hall’, known for its exceptional acoustics, has sufficient space for 10,000 people and symphony orchestras have performed there. Predjama Castle built in a Renaissance style on medieval foundations is just nearby.

Day 4: Pula and Rovinj

Sightseeing in Pula and Rovinj. Pula is best known for its many surviving ancient Roman buildings, the most famous of which is its 1st century amphitheatre, which is among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world and one of the best preserved. The city’s old quarter of narrow streets, lined with Medieval and Renaissance buildings, are still surfaced with ancient Roman paving stones. Rovinj is a fishing port with pastel-coloured houses clustered together on steep winding streets, topped by a Venetian bell tower. The city is officially bilingual (Croatian and Italian).

Day 5: Poreč and Motovun

Poreč‘s streets retain their Roman form, as well as a square with two temples from antiquity. A few houses from the Romanesque period have been preserved and beautiful Venetian Gothic palaces can be seen here. The Euphrasian Basilica, rebuilt in the 6th century under the Byzantine Empire and bishop Euphrasius, is the most important historical site. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Motovun is a nearby hill town whose Venetian city walls afford great views over the four corners of Istria. All three parts of the town are connected by a system of internal and external fortifications with towers and city gates containing elements of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, built between the 14th and 17th centuries. It is a typical example of Venetian colonial architecture.

Day 6: Rastoke Slunj
Transfer to Rastoke Slunj near the Plitvice Lakes National Park, with lunch at Tucepi on the Croatian riviera enjoying a 5 course seafood lunch including the best local wines.

Day 7: Plitvice Lakes
All day sightseeing in the National Park, including entrance and lunch. The World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes are the most beautiful in Croatia and perhaps all Europe. They are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green and blue. I will guide you around the National Park which takes about 4 hours at an easy walk.

Day 8: Zadar, Trogir, Split
Transfer to Split via the historic Adriactic coast towns of Zadar and Trogir. They offer a fascinating 2300 years of continuous urban tradition. Their rich culture is the influence of Greeks, Romans and Venetians, expressed in beauitful palaces, churches and towers.

Day 9: Split
Split is more than 1,700 years old! Enjoy a morning walk tour of the Old Town with a local guide, visiting the palace built for the retired Roman emperor Diocletian. Wandering the historic center of Split you can still clearly see the Roman walls, squares and temples.

Day 10: Hvar
Gently rolling hills painted a brilliant purple by the fertile flowers, lush vineyards nestling at the foot of ragged mountains, gorgeous beaches with tiny inlets and secluded coves. The natural beauty of this island is complemented by its architectural heritage and we will walk the medieval streets of the Old Town and visit the monastery, 400 year old theatre and fortress.

Day 11: Omiš, Tučepi, Korcula
Omiš was once a Corsairs’ port, protected by the mountainous massif that rises from behind the town and fortress. We’ll have lunch at Restaurant Jeny, one of Croatia’s best, enjoying a 5 course meal served with some of the finest wines in the country, and enjoying breath taking views of the channel of Hvar and the islands. After lunch we continue onwards to Tučepi and Korcula, with an early evening tour of this the best preserved medieval town in Croatia.

Day 12: Korcula
We will explore Korcula with lunch in a seafood restaurant enjoying gourmet cuisine and local wines, then drive to all the major settlements on the island.

Day 13: Dingac winey and Ston, Dubrovnik
Transfer to Dubrovnik, via renowned Dingac wine country (with winery visit) and Ston, whose great defensive walls are notable feat of medieval architecture, being the longest city walls in the world after the Great Wall of China!

Day 14: Dubrovnik
All day sightseeing in Dubrovnik, the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ and the jewel in Croatia’s crown. Includes city walls walk and guided tour of the historic centre with local guide. We will have lunch in the Old Town.

Day 15: Dubrovnik
Transfer to the airport in Dubrovnik.

Cost & Inclusions

Price is per person twin share, 15 percent extra for singles.

• Australian Dollars: AUD $4,200  convert

Includes all accommodation as listed below, all transfers, all breakfasts except Korcula, two 5 course lunches in Tucepi, all sightseeing, guides in Split and Dubrovnik, fully escorted by driver/guide.

Accommodation

• 2 nights Lake Bled
• 3 nights Rovinj (Apartments Ana)
• 2 nights Rastoke Slunj (B&B)
• 3 nights Split (Hotel Kastel)
• 2 nights Korcula (Old Town apartments)
• 2 nights Dubrovnik (waterfront apartments near Old Town)