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$2998 Activity Level: 80% Easy; 20% Moderate TOUR INCLUDES: • Services of WTT Tour Leader and local guides • All activities as noted on the itinerary • Breakfast daily, 3 dinners, 2 lunches • Airport Transfers • Time to explore with your fellow travelers • Hotels: 4 star hotels throughout the tour. See itinerary for details.
• Roomsharing: We
will provide you a roommate unless you:
Air Information
Arrival Airport:
Early Arrival:
Special Notes Regarding this Trip: - A valid passport is required for this trip. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the last date of travel. - Tours may require a significant amount of walking. - Some walks may be on uneven or non-paved surfaces.
Not Included in the Price of this Tour: - Air to and from your home - Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary - Any personal expenses and any guide/driver gratuities - You will be responsible for your own airport transfer(s) if you arrive or depart at times or dates other than specified above when transfers are provided.
Travel and Cancellation Policies:
· A copy of the complete WTT travel policies can be found at:
Policies
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Wednesday, 15 September: Arrive Zagreb, transfer to Bled with stop in Samobor On arrival into Zagreb airport this morning, we will travel southwest to Bled, our home for the next 2 nights. Enroute we will stop in Samobor. The town features lovely promenades, covered bridges, two story red-roofed houses, and is protected by forests at its perimeter. While in Samobor take time to try some of the gourmet specialities such as ‘Rudorska greblica’ a special cheesecake prepared according to an age-old recipe. Another sweet treat is ‘Samoborske kremsnite’ which is a custard cake in a flaky pastry. Here you will have free time at leisure to explore before we continue to our hotel in Bled. After checking into the hotel, there is some time to freshen up. Dinner is included this evening in the hotel. Overnight Hotel Park (4 star), Bled (B,D) www.hotelibled.com
Thursday, 16 September: Ljubljana and free time in Bled This morning we travel to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. A knowledgeable local guide explains the history of the city during our visit of the old centre, which is dominated by the castle, which has great views for miles around. During the tour you also see the cathedral of St Nicholas, consecrated in 1707 and the baroque parish church, which dates back to 1646. Back in Bled, the rest of your afternoon and evening are at leisure. Perhaps you’d like to visit the church on the island in the middle of the lake by ‘Pletna’ - a traditional boat. The area around the lake is relatively flat and a footpath leads right around the lake. Each step you take offers a different view of the stunning mountain scenery that surrounds Bled. Overnight Bled (B, D)
Friday, 17 September: Postonja Caves, Lipica, Piran, arrive Opatija After breakfast, we visit the remarkable Postonja Caves - a mysterious place with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over millions of years. The 20-kilometre-long underworld system is a miracle in itself, but one gets truly astounded at the look of the mysterious human fish (Proteus anguinus), wondering at the strange form of life preserved in the underground kingdom. Here we board a special cave train and enjoy a tour of the cave with an experienced guide. After lunch at leisure, we travel to Lipica in the Karst region of Slovenia. Lipica is known world wide for its Lipizzaner horses. Subject to 2010 timetable, you’ll be able to tour the stables and watch an unforgettable performance by the classical riding school. Our next stop is Piran, a tiny jewel in Slovenia's crown. Sometimes compared to Dubrovnik, Piran's history dates back to the 7th century and includes 500 years of rule from Venice. The city's historic walls encircle narrow cobblestone streets. This is a walking city, where locals are friendly and congregate in the outdoor cafes and town squares. The town also boats a Venetian-style campanile that sits atop a hill offering views towards Italy and Croatia.
We continue on to
Opatija where we
will stay for the next 4 nights.
Opatija was the fashionable seaside resort of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire until WW1. The opulent former residences are
now primarily hotels, but still offer a wonderful reminder of the
elegance of a bygone age.
Overnight Hotel Savoy (4 star), Opatija (B)
Saturday, 18 September: Istrian Peninsula After breakfast, we begin a wonderful day of exploration around the Istrian Peninsula. With the borders of Istria changing five times in the last century it is not surprising that the Peninsula has its own unique blend of cultures, with an extremely strong Italian influence. Traveling south along the scenic eastern coast of the Peninsula, we stop in Labin, a beautiful hilltop town with a charming central square and a maze of narrow cobbled streets. Our next stop this morning is the port town of Pula. Pula was an important coastal base for the Romans and it still contains a wealth of Roman ruins including a well preserved amphitheatre. Lunch is included today and is enjoyed together in a traditional Istrian restaurant on the outskirts of Rovinj. The town of Rovinj was originally an island and was connected to the mainland in the late 18th century. Today it is an active fishing port and the old town is extremely picturesque with its inclined cobbled streets. With some time to explore at your own pace, the walk up to the white washed Cathedral of St Euphemia is well worth the effort as the views over the bay are stunning. Late this afternoon we return to Opatija. Overnight Opatija (B, L)
Sunday, 19 September: Krk Island and the 16th Century Franciscan Monastery Croatia has over 1100 offshore islands and today we visit the largest, and perhaps most interesting, of them all – Krk. Visit the enchanting medieval town of Vrbnik, which is perched on a cliff over looking the sea. Included in today’s adventure is wine tasting, where you have the chance to sample some local wines and brandies, grape brandy being one of the local ‘delicacies’. You also visit the town of Krk – another fascinating medieval city where you’ll have time for lunch at leisure. Perhaps the highlight of today is a visit to the 16th century Franciscan Monastery and its museum on the tiny Kosljun Island, a 20-minute boat ride away from Punat on the western side of the island. After another wonderfully interesting day, we return to our hotel and have time to freshen up before enjoying our evening meal. Overnight Opatija (B,D)
Monday, 20 September: Morning walking tour and day at leisure in Opatija We will begin our day with a walking tour of Opatija to get better acquainted with the sights and things to do in town. Enjoy the remainder of your day in Opatija. Perhaps take advantage of the hotel’s leisure facilities or explore around the town. Be sure to take a leisurely walk by the sea or relax in the Hotel Kvaner, a popular place to enjoy coffee and cake while taking the spectacular views over the bay. The WTT tour leader will have a sightseeing agenda for the day should anyone choose to join her. Overnight Opatija (B)
Tuesday, 21
September:
Plitvice Lakes National Park
We have
an early morning departure to one of the most beautiful National Parks
in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park, which can now be found on the
UNESCO World Heritage List. Comprised of 16 turquoise colored lakes
with crystal clear waters they join each
other in a series of cascading waterfalls and are surrounded by
mountain forests. There are walking trails to enjoy the park at your
leisure. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the Park (provided by our hotel) before
we travel to Zadar. Enjoy a panoramic drive-by tour of the city enroute to our hotel. Dinner is
at leisure this evening.
Overnight Zadar (B,L)
Wednesday, 22 September: Zadar morning at leisure; Travel to Dubrovnik This morning is at leisure in Zadar for you to explore the shops and sights. Zadar dates back to the 9th century BC and is called the region of national parks and islands; it includes four national parks and 1200km of a picturesque seacoast with 300 small and large islands. Among the numerous churches in Zadar, the most outstanding is the 9th century church of St Donatus. This striking building, with a unique circular shape, is a trademark of the city and an inseparable part of its vista. We will depart around 12:30pm and drive to Dubrovnik where we will check into our hotel around 5pm. Overnight Hotel Lapad (4 Star), Dubrovnik www.hotel-lapad.hr (B,D)
Thursday, 23 September: DubrovnikThe morning begins with a guided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik which takes in the Franciscan Monasteries, one of which boasts the oldest working pharmacies in Europe, the Rector's Palace – once the seat of the independent Dubrovnik Republic and the second oldest Sephardic Synagogue in the world. Dubrovnik is first on the list of most visitors’ essential destinations in Croatia and for good reason. It is a city of unique political and cultural history and of world-famous beauty and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Apart from the striking architecture, Dubrovnik also offers many interesting things to do and see. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore Dubrovnik in your own time. Wander around its lively streets, try some of many Dubrovnik's cafes or enjoy some last minute souvenir shopping. We will have dinner together this evening to say farewell to Croatia and new friends. Overnight Dubrovnik (B,D)
Friday, 24 September: Return Home from Dubrovnik Sadly our journey through Croatia has come to an end. Make your return flight from Dubrovnik at your convenience. Two group transfers will be provided to the airport. (B)
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All previous information has been superseded.
