Discover the most important historical and cultural sights of Bratislava, Enjoy a Danube River Cruise with dinner, a wine-tasting excursion to the Carpathian wine region. Visit Bled, pearl of the Alpine region and the beautiful city of Ljubljana with its squares and shops. Excursion to Postojna Caves, the largest caves in Europe. Visit Zagreb, the Croatian capital, Montenegro, a region of exceptional natural beauty, and Dubrovnik, the jewel of the Croatian Coastline....
Depart on your overnight flight from Toronto or Montreal to Bratislava via a European gateway.
On arrival in Bratislava, you will be transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by dinner at your hotel.
After breakfast, depart on a full day guided sightseeing tour, which will show you the city's most important historical and cultural sights. Places to be seen include Bratislava Castle, Napoleon's Hill and Slavin with its splendid panoramic views. On our walk through the Old Town we will look at St. Michael's Gate, the first University Istropolitana, St. Martin's Cathedral (where the coronations took place), Primate's Palace, the Old Town Hall and the Opera House. In the evening, enjoy a Danube River Cruise with dinner.
After breakfast, depart on a full day tour to a region which has been known for its wine since Roman times. We drive you through the ancient royal wine towns of Svaty Jur, Pezinok and Modra, highlighting the most important sights. We will also see how the famous Modra pottery - majolica - is produced. The highlight of this tour is a visit to Cerveny Kamen (Red Rock Castle) - a wonderfully preserved castle with huge multi-storey cellars, the largest ones in Central Europe. Finally, stop at the town of Pezinok, a former royal town with a long tradition of wine making. In the wine cellar of Pezinok Castle, see the exposition of the top 100 Slovak wines and the collection of historic casks. Enjoy a wine tasting before returning to your hotel in Bratislava for dinner and the night.
After breakfast, depart for Bled by deluxe coach. There will be a stop in Gamlitz, a beautiful wine village. Lunch will be in the restaurant of Gamlitz Castle, surrounded by vineyards. Continue to Bled, where on arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Bled was discovered by the tourists in the middle of the 19th century, after a Swiss doctor (Arnold Rikli), built a climactic health centre there. Bled is often mentioned as the pearl of the Alpine region. It is unique with its emerald-green lake, a church on the island in the middle of the lake and a medieval castle from the 11th century, perched on a cliff above the lake. After a panoramic tour around the lake, enjoy a guided tour of Bled Castle. You will then be taken by Bled's typical 'pletna' boat to the island. The rest of the day is at leisure in this beautiful resort, and to enjoy a round of golf (not included). Dinner this evening is on your own.
After breakfast, depart for Ljubljana, located 52 Km from Bled (approximately 1 hour by road). On arrival, enjoy a half day guided sightseeing tour. See the city's medieval castle, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, City Hall, and Triple Bridge. The afternoon is at leisure to explore this beautiful city at your own pace. The city is divided in two by the Ljubljanica River, creating two colorful embankments featuring dozens of outdoor restaurants and watering holes, numerous small shops, a weekly flea market, and lots of space for promenading. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a highlight visit to the seemingly impenetrable Predjama Castle, "Secret of Slovenia", hanging dramatically on the cliff face. This is a perfect example of a medieval fortification. We then continue to Postojna, the largest caves in Europe. The visit starts at a busy underground station, from where trains carry visitors deep into the mountain. Then you walk through a series of caverns, each containing a more bizarre array of rock formations than the last. The guides point out the most interesting curtains and columns, and draw your attention to stalactites and stalagmites that resemble various objects in the world above. It's hard to grasp that all this formed gradually over two million years, rather than being conceived in the mind of a set designer. This evening, enjoy a typical Slovenian dinner and show at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, check-out from your hotel and depart for the Croatian capital of Zagreb. The approximate travel time will be 3 hours. Zagreb is an exciting city and offers an invaluable window into Croatian culture. The city centre lies in two parts: Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and Donji Grad (Lower Town) which meet at Trg Bana Jelacica, the main square. Picturesque Gornji Grad is made up of cobbled streets and buildings dating from medieval times up to the 19th century. In contrast, Donji Grad follows a geometrical grid-plan, with a series of green squares rimmed by Austro-Hungarian buildings erected from the late 19th century onwards. Your half day guided tour will cover the medieval Old Town, including St. Mark's Church, the St. Catherine's Church, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government Palace, the Croatian National Theatre and the University. There will also be a visit to the serene and beautiful park cemetery of Mirogoj. After the tour, transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Zagreb.
Breakfast followed by a half day guided tour of the Lower Town. In the afternoon, enjoy a half day excursion to Hrvatsko Zagorje. Visit of Trakoscan castle which was built in 13th century, castle of Count Draskovic. After Trakoscan castle visit of castle Veliki Tabor. Veliki Tabor was built in 12th century and owned by the Counts of Celje and later the Ratkaj family. Dinner in a typical Zagorje restaurant.
Breakfast, followed by full day at leisure in Zagreb, to explore this historic city at your own pace. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
Morning departure for the resort of Dubrovnik by air. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik is a jewel of the Croatian coastline. The rest of the day is free to explore the quaint back streets decorated with flower boxes, shop for local handmade lace or Pag cheese or take a walk along the old walls. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
Buffet breakfast followed by a half day guided tour. Dubrovnik - a city with a unique political and cultural history, world-famous cultural heritage and beauty is one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Mediterranean. Your tour will include a visit of Old Town of Dubrovnik which is open air museum with such jewels as the Franciscan and the Dominican Monasteries, the Cathedral, the Rector's Palace, Stradun Street, the city walls, St. Bleaise's church and the Synagogue. The afternoon is free. Late in the afternoon, there will be excursion to Cavtat, a small town located 20 minutes away from Dubrovnik by coach. Dinner will be at the famous restaurant Konavoski Komin. Dinner includes Croatian specialties of the region. Return to your hotel for the night.
Breakfast followed by full day excursion to Montenegro. Located at 1.5 hour from Dubrovnik, Montenegro offers an unforgettable experience; exceptional natural beauty and a combination of a rich history and culture. This is a land where the mountains descend almost directly into the sea creating a surreal atmosphere. Enjoy the drive around Kotor Bay with its numerous small settlements; make a stop in Medieval Kotor to soak in the typical Mediterranean lifestyle; proceed up towards the mountains to visit Cetinje (which once used to be the Montenegrian capital); stroll around in Budva, the ancient town which is today a lively tourist resort. Return to your hotel for dinner and the night.
Depart on your return flight home.
Our Tour Escorts are personable and knowledgeable. Contact us for more information on any of the travel experiences we offer.
Airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Bratislava and back from Dubrovnik via a European gateway
Domestic flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik
Roundtrip airport-hotel transfers as indicated in the itinerary
13-night accommodations based on double occupancy, as follows:
- 3 nights in Bratislava
- 2 nights in Bled
- 2 nights in Ljubljana
- 3 nights in Zagreb
- 3 nights in Dubrovnik
Buffet breakfast every morning
10 dinners and 1 lunch (en route from Bratislava to Bled)
Deluxe chartered coach transportation throughout the tour
Sightseeing tours and excursions as follows (including applicable entrance fees):
- Full day guided sightseeing tour of Bratislava
- Full day tour to the Carpathian Wine Region with wine tasting
- Half day guided tour of Ljubljana
- Full day guided tour of Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle
- Half day panoramic tour of Bled, visit to Bled Castle, and "pletna" boat to the island
- Half day guided tour of the Old Town of Zagreb
- Half day guided tour of the Lower Town of Zagreb
- Half day guided tour to Trakoscan Castle and Veliki Tabor
- Half day guided tour of Dubrovnik
- Evening visit to Cavtat
- Full day guided tour to Montenegro
- Half day of Glasgow (with a guide)
All service charges and taxes