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Itinerary

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Zagreb, Croatia

 

Day 2: Arrive Zagreb After a connecting flight in Europe, we arrive in Zagreb and transfer to our hotel. Tonight we meet our fellow travelers as we gather for a briefing and welcome dinner.  D

Day 3: Zagreb This morning’s tour of Croatia’s capital and largest city by coach and on foot reveals a gracious city of culture and hospitality. We visit Mirogoj Park Cemetery, known for its arcades and sculpture, then continue through Old Town with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. After calling on the colorful Dolac open-air market, the remainder of the day is free to explore this delightful city on our own. B

Day 4: Zagreb/Plitvice/Dubrovnik Late this morning we drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a dramatic string of 16 turquoise-colored lakes connected by a series of waterfalls and cascades. Once known as Devil’s Garden, this intriguing natural landscape of karst formations and abundant wildlife is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We have an early dinner at a restaurant in Zagreb then continue on to the airport for our evening flight to Dubrov­nik. Our well-located hotel sits just outside the city’s Old Town. B,D

Day 5: Dubrovnik Today we discover the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the city whose ancient walls have withstood time and tide for hundreds of years – including a devasting earthquake in 1667, and more recently, attack during the Serbian invasion of the early 1990s. Happily, Dubrovnik is now repaired, renewed, and ready to show off its many charms. We begin our explorations with a walking tour through Old Town, including Minceta Tower and the fortified city walls, whose original ramparts and bastions date to the 12th and 13th centuries.  (Dubrovnik itself was founded in the 7th century). We see the stately Baroque Cathed­ral (ca. 1672); the Treasury, whose gilded shelves and historic relics sit behind locked wooden doors; and the Franciscan monastery with a 14th-century pharmacy still in operation today. We return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure or independent explor­ation. Then we enjoy a small group highlight as dinner guests in the home of a Dubrovnik family whose menu includes produce from their garden, home­made olive oil, and local wine. B,D

Day 6: Dubrovnik Today is free to explore on our own. From the medieval Old Town to the contemporary city with its Mediterranean accent, Dubrovnik offers discoveries aplenty, including the Jewish Museum and tiny synagogue dating to the 15th century, historic Sponza Palace, the Maritime Museum, Luza Square, the Rector’s Palace, and the War Photo museum. Lunch and dinner today are on our own. B

Day 7: Dubrovnik/Split/Hvar Leaving Dubrov­nik this morning we travel a scenic coastal route north to Split, the main city of the central Dalmatian Coast. Here we have time for lunch on our own before boarding a ferry for the two-hour cruise to Hvar, “queen” of the Dalmatian islands. Upon arrival we travel by coach to lively Hvar town, where we spend the next two nights.  We dine tonight at a local restaurant just a short walk from our hotel. B,D

Day 8: Hvar With captivating natural beauty and a strategic Adriatic location, Hvar has prospered since antiquity. We discover some of its charms this morning, first with a walking tour of Venetian-tinged Hvar town then with a walking tour of nearby Stari Grad, one of Croatia’s oldest cities, where we also have some free time. We return to our hotel for lunch and an afternoon and evening at leisure. B,L

Day 9: Hvar/Split We return to the mainland this morning, arriving back in coastal Split in time for lunch on our own. This afternoon we tour Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century, the palace, and then its ruins, eventually formed the historic heart of picturesque Split. Tonight we dine at our hotel. B,D

Day 10: Split/Zadar/Opatija We leave Split this morning, traveling further up the magnificent Dalmatian Coast to the medieval city of Zadar. We have time to ex­plore this Italian-
accented city and have lunch together before continuing on to the seaside resort of Opatija, arriv­ing early this evening. B,L,D

Day 11: Opatija Our tour of Opatija and its sur­r­oundings (the “Opatija Riviera”) begins this morning in Moscenicka, a peaceful and picturesque resort town. Then we return to Opatija for a walking tour of this once grand resort. Our tour ends around lunch­time; the remainder of the day is free for indepen­dent exploration. We dine tonight at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 12: Opatija/Istrian Peninsula Today’s tour of the Istrian Peninsula reveals the multi-cultural roots of this alluring coastal region jutting into the Adriatic. At various times a vassal of Venice, the first Austro-Hungarian Empire, Fascist Italy, the Yugoslav Federation, and finally, Croatia, Istra, as it’s known, boasts an interesting history, mild Mediterranean climate, lovely scenery, and good wines. Our first stop is in the port of Pula, where we visit the well-preserved remains of a 1st-century Roman amphitheater. We continue on to Rovinj, a charming old Venetian town and today an active fishing port where we have time to explore on our own before returning to Opatija. B

Day 13: Opatija/Ljubljana We depart this morning for Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia and its largest city, arriving in time for lunch on our own. This afternoon we embark on a walking tour of Old Town, the Austrian-influenced historic city center with a pleasing mix of Renaissance, Baroque and art nouveau styles, ancient Roman monuments, and romantic bridges. After returning to our hotel mid-afternoon, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free for independent exploration and to enjoy dinner on our own. B

Day 14: Ljubljana/Lake Bled Our half-day excursion to alpine Lake Bled features a visit to Bled Castle, a medieval fortress dating to the 11th century, with striking views of the crystalline lake below. We have free time to savor the beauty of this pastoral haven in the foothills of the Julian Alps; options include walking along the scenic lake shore or strolling through Bled town. We return to our hotel in Ljubljana in time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure – perhaps to visit Ljubljana Castle or any number of local art galleries. Tonight we toast our Dalmatian adventure over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 15: Depart for U.S. This morning we transfer to the airport for our return flights to the U.S. B

Included

Tour Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
• 13 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels
• 23 meals: 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 8 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours)

Dates and Prices

2010 Tour Dates & Prices

	Oct 28	Oct 14	Sep 9 Sep 16 Sep 30
Boston, New York, Phil, Wash, DC	$3,195	$3,595	$3,795
Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa	$3,395	$3,795	$3,995
Cinc, Cleve, Dallas, Houston, Minn	$3,495	$3,895	$4,095
Denver, Los Ang, Phoenix, Port (OR), San Fran, Seattle	$3,595	$3,995	$4,195

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only ­prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single travelers please add $995 Oct-Nov; $1,195 all other dates. Your $375 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure.  All 2010 tour prices above are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,195 per person

Airline taxes and departure fees of $482 per person are subject to change and will be listed separately on your invoice.

Hotels

Hotels & Ratings

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1 Depart U.S. for Zagreb 2-3 Zagreb Regent Esplanade Deluxe 4-6 Dubrovnik Hilton Imperial Sup. First Class 7-8 Hvar Adriana Hotel Hvar Sup. First Class 9 Split Atrium Hotel First Class 10-12 Opatija Hotel Bristol Sup. First Class 13-14 Ljubljana Grand Hotel Union Sup. First Class 15 Depart Ljubljana for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.