|
Day
1, arrive Athens, Saturday
You will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Enjoy a welcome dinner in a traditional Greek
tavern in Plaka, the old part of Athens. (D)
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. (B)
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. (B, D)
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. (B, D)
Day
5, Ohrid to Tirana, 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. (B, D)
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. (B)
Day
7, to Dubrovnik, Friday
After breakfast, depart Tirana and travel to the
town of Shkodra, a cultural center and one of
Albania’s oldest cities. See the ruins of
Rozafa Castle, set on a hill high above the city,
then cross the border into Montenegro
and on to Croatia and beautiful Dubrovnik. (B,
D)
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. (B)
Day
9, in Dubrovnik, Sunday
Today, full day is at leisure to relax, shop or
explore on your own. (B)
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. 227 km (B, D)
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. 317 km (B,
D)
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. 352 km
(B, D)
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. (B)
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 openair 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. 189 km (B, D)
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.
(B)
Day
16, depart Zagreb, Sunday
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your
departure flight. (B)
|
