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,
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, 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.
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
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.
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. 227 km
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
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
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. 189 km
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
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure
flight.
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