Day 01: Arrive Zagreb (CROATIA)

Welcome to beautiful Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city, which offers a history dating back to Roman times. We are met and transferred to our hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. Check in is at 1500 hrs. In the evening, we meet our fellow travelers and tour director for a welcome dinner which includes a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.

Overnight: Hotel Sheraton, Zagreb (2 nights) (D)

Day 02: Zagreb

Our morning sightseeing tour includes views of the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, a monumental Gothic building dating back to the 13th century, the Parliament, and the Government Palace. Rest of the day is at leisure, with a chance to explore this stunning city on our own. Theatres are by far the best places to visit for a cultural showcase of Croatian vivacity. Even though some theatres don’t have performances in English, a few, like the Croatian National Theatre, perform shows both in English as well as Croatian. (B)

Day 03: Zagreb/Plitvice Lakes (Drive)

A spectacular drive gets us to the even more spectacular, Plitvice Lakes National Park. Have your cameras ready while we walk through several of the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by dense forests, mountains and lush vegetation. Stunning waterfalls connect the lakes, and we may even be treated to clouds of butterflies drifting overhead! Rest of the afternoon is free to explore on our own before it is time for dinner, which will be served at our hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Jezero, Plitvice Lakes (1 night) (B, D)

Day 04: Plitvice Lakes/Trogir/Split (Drive)

After breakfast, we head to Trogir, a Croatian centre of artistic activities. Scholars from around the world gather here to study and paint. Continue travelling along the lovely Adriatic coast, passing by old fishing villages and new resorts, to Split*, Croatia’s second largest city. A sightseeing tour here features the historic inner city, built around the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Dating from 305 AD, this palace is dubbed by Lonely Planet as “one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments”. It is so massive that it forms approximately half of Split’s old town area! Next, we explore the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle and the beautiful Cathedral. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Briig, Split (2 nights) (B)

Day 05: Split

Day free to discover charming Split, the second largest city in Croatia and probably one of the most culturally authentic ones too. With ruins dating back to the Roman Empire, a bustling waterfront, and fresh seafood served daily at many of the restaurants in town, Split is a mix of modern life and ancient history. It is also famous for its great beaches! (B)

Day 06: Split/Dubrovnik (Drive)

Following breakfast, we continue on to Dubrovnik. Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, Dubrovnik offers a beautiful combination of picturesque orange rooftops, shimmering blue waters and noteworthy monuments. Upon arrival, we are introduced to world-famous Old Dubrovnik* with a walking tour of the area’s highlights. We’ll see the Rector’s Palace, the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando’s Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and the Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy. The pharmacy here dates back to 1317, making it the oldest pharmacy in the world still in operation! Afterwards, we visit a local artisan to learn about the traditional craftsmanship that still thrives. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore Dubrovnik on our own.

Overnight: Hotel Valamar Lacroma/Hotel Valamar Argosy, Dubrovnik (2 nights) (B, L)

Day 07: Dubrovnik

Day at leisure to sample Dubrovnik’s many delights. Many visitors enjoy people-watching while sipping coffee in one of the numerous cozy cafes on the Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik. The city has a rich cultural life that includes theatre, cinema and art, as well as the Dubrovnik Film Festival and Dubrovnik Summer Festival, held every year in July and August. Later, enjoy dinner. (B, D)

Day 08: Dubrovnik/Cetinje/Podgorica/Kolasin (Drive) (MONTENEGRO)

Today, we head to Montenegro, known for its rugged mountains and medieval villages. First, we drive through the Bay of Kotor, the deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Then, continue up a spectacularly steep road to Cetinje, the historical capital of the country, set at the foot of Mount Loycen. Here, we enjoy a visit to King Nikola’s Museum, presenting the history of Montenegro. We continue on to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, and finish the day at Kolasin, surrounded by the thick pine forests of the Bjelasica Mountain. We enjoy dinner in Kolasin and spend our overnight here.

Overnight: Bianca Resort, Kolasin (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 09: Kolasin

A lovely day ahead as we enjoy a trip to National Park Durmitor*, the largest protected area in Montenegro and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We see the small town of Zabljak and River Tara canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe. We also visit Biogradsko Lake, a beautiful glacial lake located in the centre of Biogradska Mountain. The lake is located at an elevation of about 1100 meters, and is abundant with fish—especially trout. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Kolasin/Tirana (Drive) (ALBANIA)

After breakfast, depart Kolasin and visit Moraca Monastery, the largest medieval Orthodox monument in Montenegro, built in 1252. Then, we cross over into Albania and travel to the town of Shkodra, a cultural centre and one of Albania’s oldest cities. Drive by the ruins of Rozafa Castle, set on a hill high above the city. Continue to Tirana.

Overnight: Colosseo Hotel, Tirana (2 nights) (B)

Day 11: Tirana

As Albania’s vibrant cultural capital, Tirana combines a rainbow of modern buildings with remnants of its Ottoman and Communist past. Our morning sightseeing tour shows us Skanderbeg Square, the Mosque of Et’hem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero. We also see the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum, with a mosaic on its façade portraying Albanian history. Our afternoon is free to discover the city at our own pace. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner and bid adieu to the friends we have made while on this exciting trip through the Balkans. (B, D)

Day 12: Depart Tirana

Following breakfast, we are transferred to Tirana’s airport for our flight home. Check out is by 1100 hrs. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and average tour size of 25 participants.
Also please note that this tour is NOT part of our small group journeys.

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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