Grand tours - Croatia & Slovenia

DAY 1., ZAGREB
You will be met on the Zagreb airport by your host and transferred to the hotel. Short free time. City Tour of Zagreb with costumed guides: We invite you to experience the past and present of Zagreb accompanied by famous personalities from Zagreb's past – August Šenoa, a novelist, and Marija Jurić Zagorka, a novelist and the first Croatian woman journalist. Guides are wearing 19th century costumes and a journey through Zagreb's past and heritage is enriched by the unique taste of pepper biscuits and coffee break in the bidermeier interior of an old cafe. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 2, ZAGREB – SLOVENIA - LJUBLJANA
Breakfast. Tour continues toward Slovenia. We visit Ljubljana, the old mediaeval city by the river Ljubljanica, with its numerous cultural-historical monuments and its dominating old castle. You’ll see the building of the world’s second oldest philharmonic society where Gustav Mahler started his career. The tour of the old town includes the University building, the Tromostovje (Triple bridge), a masterpiece of the leading Slovene architect Jozef Plecnik, the St. Mary’s baroque church, old town hall, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the "Dragon bridge"...Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 4, LJUBLJANA-BLED – BOHINJ
Breakfast. Full day excursion–Slovenian natural beauties. The sightseeing of Bled, leading Slovene Alpine resort, includes the visit to the medieval castle at the top of 130 meters high rock reflecting in the crystal clean water of Lake Bled. You will enjoy the fantastic panorama and have a look into the museum to get an idea of the extremely rich local history. The tour proceeds to the beautiful valley of the peaceful lake Bohinj, through the typical Alpine villages of the "Upper Valley" down to the gothic St. John the Baptist church at the end of a lake. The journey continues with cable car ride to mountain Vogel, from where there is a wonderful view onto the Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps. Return to Bled and Ljubljana through the Lower Valley. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 5, LJUBLJANA – POREČ-ROVINJ-MOTOVUN
After breakfast departure to Istria, Poreč, a tourist Mecca on the Adriatic. Occupying a small peninsula which juts out into the sea, this beautiful town takes pride in the Basilica of Euphrasus, a complex of buildings whose oldest part date from sixth century. Cross Lim fjord and enter Rovinj. Bohemian and charming, Rovinj is a town you can hardly resist. It is a town with a soul, ancient architecture, history and culture. The old town of chalkstone-cobbled streets lined with chic shops, artists' studios and cafes, the sun glinting on corn-yellow houses with high-stacked chimneybreasts, open hearted and hospital domestic people are some of the moments you will always keep alive in your memory. Continue toward Motovun, a medieval town in western Istria, 277 meters above sea level, in the romantic and natural diversity of the bountiful Mirna River Valley. As from recently the town also hosts an International film festival. Motovun’s surroundings are very interested, especially the Motovun Forest, in which skilled seekers can find the highly – prized truffles, a local gastronomically delicacy. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 6, PULA - NP BRIJUNI
Breakfast. Upon arrival to Pula, embark on a city tour. Pula is the blackboard of history: prehistoric hill-forts, Roman amphitheatre and triumphal arches, early Christian churches, Byzantine mosaics, Romanesque basilicas…Dozen of museums are the treasuries of history. Tour to Np Brijuni. Almost within reach of the entrance to the city harbour stretches the Brijuni National Park, remnant of an Eden-like landscape, harmony of flora and fauna, undisturbed nature, hotels, modern ones, as well as remains of Roman villas. Return to Pula. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 7, PULA- RIJEKA – OPATIJA
Breakfast. A sightseeing tour of Rijeka: Municipal Palace, St Jerome Church, Governor’s Palace, City museum, Croatian National Theatre…Unknown poet described Rijeka as town of an uncommon, rather entangled past, past which could be compared with the olive tree, everlasting, bended, fruit bitter to taste, but of good quality. Continue toward Opatija. Free afternoon. Years ago a resort choice for the European royal families and celebrities such Gustav Mahler and Isadora Duncan, Opatija is Croatia’s oldest seaside resort. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 8, OPATIJA – ZAGREB
Breakfast. Transfer to Zagreb airport for your flight back home!