Guided Tours - From Greece to Dalmatia

Program:

Tour Features:

• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily and 9 dinners
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
• Professional Tour Director throughout
• Luggage handling

Sightseeing Tours Included:

• Athens
• Meteora
• Ohrid
• Tirana
• Dubrovnik
• Split
• Plitvice Lakes
• Postojna Caves
• Bled
• Ljubljana
• Zagreb

Day 1: Arrive Athens, Saturday

You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner in a traditional Greek tavern in the old part of Athens, Plaka.

Day 2: In Athens, Sunday

See the highlights of Athens this morning on a sightseeing tour. This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amidst reminders of a long and glorious past: graceful temples, centuries-old monasteries, and ornate Byzantine churches. Visit the immortal Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Erectheion with the Porch of the Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Wingless Victory. Below the Acropolis lies the ancient Agora and the Theaters of Dionysus and Herodus Atticus. Your afternoon and evening are free.

Day 3: To Delphi and Kalambaka, Monday

Your first stop this morning is Delphi, where the famous oracle foretold the destiny of men. The Temple of Apollo, in which the oracle functioned, was built in the 6th century B.C. Also see the Sacred Way, the Stadium and the Castilian Fountain, where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the oracle. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which contains an impressive collection of finds from the site, including the beautiful "Bronze Charioteer," before continuing on to Kalambaka.

Day 4: To Ohrid, Tuesday

After breakfast, admire the fantastic landscapes of Meteora, known as "the rocks that fell from the sky." Here monks built their rock-top monasteries, far away from civilization. Of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit's cells, only 4 are now active. The most important is Megalo or Great Meteoro, of peculiar architecture with its tall and intricate dome, 12 sides and fine frescoes. Continue across the border to Macedonia, and on to Ohrid.

Day 5: In Ohrid, Wednesday

The lakeside resort of Ohrid is an important cultural and spiritual center, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start your morning sightseeing tour with a walk through the cobblestone streets of the old town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, containing some magnificent frescoes from the 10th century. In the early afternoon, travel to Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Day 6: In Tirana, Thursday

On a morning sightseeing tour, see the Skanderbeg Square, the Mosque of Et'hem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance; and the National History Museum, with a mosaic on its facade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or just relax.

Day 7: To Dubrovnik, Friday

Depart Tirana and travel to the town of Shkodra for a short sightseeing tour featuring the Rozafa Castle, Mesi Bridge and Leaden Mosque. Continuing on, cross the border into Montenegro and drive via Bar, Budva and Herceg Novi to Croatia and Dubrovnik.

Day 8: In Dubrovnik, Saturday

There is a walking tour of "Old Dubrovnik" this morning; the Rector's Palace, Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column and the Sponza Palace. You will also see the Dominican Monastery and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is at leisure. 

Day 9: In Dubrovnik, Sunday

Today, full day is at leisure to relax, shop or explore on your own.

Day 10: To Split, Monday

Depart Dubrovnik and travel north along the spectacular Adriatic coast, past old fishing villages and new resorts, to Split. Enjoy a city tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. See the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral.

Day 11: To Trogir and Plitvice Lakes, Tuesday

After breakfast, head to Trogir, the center of artistic activities. Scholars from around the world gather to study and paint here. Then, turn inland and travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Upon arrival, have your camera ready and take a walking tour around several of the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation.

Day 12: To Opatija, Postojna and Bled, Wednesday

Return to the coast and travel along the beautiful bay of Kvarner to its popular resort, Opatija. After some free time, journey north to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour the fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterwards, continue to Bled, beautifully set amidst the Julian Alps.

Day 13: In Bled, Thursday

A sightseeing tour of Bled features the charming town with the lakeshore, and imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure for optional activities, such as visiting the small island in the middle of the lake. 

Day 14: To Ljubljana and Zagreb, Friday

Start your day with a walking tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

Visit the most significant sights of the old city centre: the picturesque Central open-air Market and the Three Bridges, both designed by famous architect Joze Plecnik, Baroque Town Hall and Robba's Fountain. Then, continue to Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia.

Day 15: In Zagreb, Saturday

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark's Church, St. Catherine's Church, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or to take an optional excursion with dinner into the surrounding countryside.

Day 16: Depart Zagreb, Sunday

Hotels:

• Athens:  Divani Palace Acropolis
• Kalambaka:  Divani
• Ohrid:  Metropol
• Tirana:  Sheraton
• Dubrovnik:  Argosy/Tirena
• Split:  President
• Plitvice:  Jezero
• Bled:  Park Hotel or  Golf Hotel
• Zagreb:  Regent Esplanade