Essence of the Balkans
To get to know countries, we have to surrender to the hospitality of local people and follow their pace and rhythm. They have a lot to offer. Allow them to present you the crowning jewels of Slovenia, such as the island in the middle of the Bled Lake, the Lipizzaner horses, the underground world of the Postojna Cave, famous Italian city of canals - Venice and also to take you to a journey to the past, into the territory of ex-Yugoslavia, the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, and the pearls of the Croatian coast.
Why travel with Condor Travel?
- Walking tour of the charming old city centre of Ljubljana
- The Queen of the Underground World – Postojna Cave
- Visit the iconic Bled Lake
- Feel the atmosphere of Alpine Village Kranjska Gora
- Enjoy a spectacular drive the highest road pass in Slovenia – Vršič Pass
- Admire emerald river Soča
- Enjoy wine tasting of excellent local wines at Goriška brda
- Visit the home of the Lipizzan breed and discover its unique history
- Tasting of Karst dry-cured ham “pršut” with a glass of local red wine “Teran”
- Explore gorgeous seaside town Piran
- Legendary St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace and the Grand Canal in Venice
- Visit of National Park Brijuni
- Plitvice National Park world-famous for its lakes arranged in cascades
- Visit the pearl of Adriatic – Dubrovnik
- 15-mile long UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, the Bay of Kotor
- Diocletian's Palace in Split
- Incredible Krka waterfalls
- Zagreb – the capital of Croatia
Smaller groups, A more personal approach, easier flexibility for the individual and more guaranteed departures. |
Experienced guides Experience the destination accompanied by a Slovenian or a local guide./p> |
Great Hotels Carefully selected locations where quality, comfort and safety come first. |
Very good offers Although traveling in smaller groups, we offer very, very good packages. "The best value for money" trips. |
Departures
Choose your date, pick a program and book.
Day 1: Slovenia - Ljubljana
Hotel 4*dinner
In the morning meet and greet your guide and travel companions in the lobby of the hotel / airport. After knowing each other we explore the city centre of Ljubljana. The old city centre has a unique architectural appearance, particularly due to its mixture of Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture with masterful creations by the 20th century architect Jože Plečnik. The funicular will take us to the Castle of Ljubljana situated above the town. Time to admire the magnificent view, which on a sunny day stretches all the way to the Alps. We suggest ending the day with a boat cruise on the Ljubljanica River. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay.
Day 2: Ljubljana - Postojna - Ljubljana
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, drive to Postojna, where we enter the famous underground world of the Postojna Cave. The cave attracts numerous tourists on a daily basis with its beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, “curtains” and other phenomena caused by water flowing through the limestone, as well as for it being home to the renowned “human fish”. Return to Ljubljana. Free time to enjoy individual sightseeing, walking or shopping. Overnight.
Day 3: Ljubljana - Bled
Hotel 4*breakfast, dinner
After breakfast, we drive to the Slovenian mountain area and visit the most renowned lake of Slovenia, Bled Lake. We explore the town of Bled, and visit the historical Bled Castle. After visiting the castle, we can take a ride on a pedal boat to the island, where you can make a wish while ringing the church bell (supplement). We take time to enjoy tasting “kremšnita”, the famous Bled cake. Check-in to the hotel. Free time for individual sightseeing. Then drive to Begunje to visit Avsenik museum of Slovenian country music and to have a tasteful local dinner. Drive back to Bled. Overnight.
Day 4: Bled - Kranjska Gora - Vrsic pass - Soca Valley - Kobarid - Goriska Brda
Hotel 4*breakfast
Breakfast. Afterwards we drive to the small village of Kranjska Gora and Planica, the valley of ski jumping hills, which is believed to be the cradle of ski jumping. In case of favourable weather conditions we will drive over the Vršič mountain pass (app. 1,500m above the sea level) and along the Soča River. Visit of Kobarid, where we can hear all about World War I and the famous battle at the Isonzo Front - “Soška fronta”. We visit a dairy museum “Od planine do Planike” in Kobarid. The presentation of the history of cheese-making is followed by an unforgettable tasting of cheeses and milk products like sour milk with honey produced there. Continue to Goriška Brda, Slovenian wine country, where we stop at a local winery for a taste of the region’s typical wines, such as: merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon, cabernet… Accommodation in a hotel and overnight stay.
Day 5: Goriska Brda - Lipica stud farm - Karst ham drying facility - Slovenian coast
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, we drive to Lipica and visit a stud farm with a more than 400-year-old tradition of breeding and selection of thoroughbred horses. Some free time to enjoy nature. Then we take a coach trip to the Karst area. Firstly, we visit the ham-drying facility, where we see the production of the famous Slovenian dried-ham – prosciutto. Tasting of Karst dry-cured ham “pršut” with a glass of local red wine “Teran”. We continue our journey towards the Slovenian coast, and visit Piran. This city with its rich cultural heritage resembles a large open-air museum with medieval architecture. Narrow streets and compact houses give the town its unique charm. Piran is one of Slovenia's major tourist attractions. Accommodation and overnight stay.
Day 6: Portoroz - Venice - Portoroz
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, drive towards the Venetian Lagoon to Venice. There, we board a vaporetto that will take us to Murano Island, known for the first glass-blowers of the renowned “Murano glass”. We take time to see the glass-blowing process and the collection of artistic products and jewellery. Free time for purchasing souvenirs. Then we take a vaporetto and sail to Saint Mark’s Square – the main square considered as the centre of Venice, with its main attractions and most important buildings: Doge's Palace, the St. Mark’s Basilica, the St. Mark’s Clocktower, the Procuratie Vecchie, the Napoleonic Wing of Procuratie, the Procuratie Nuove, St. Mark's Campanile and the Loggetta, and the Biblioteca Marciana. Two patrons on columns guard the “Piazza San Marco” – the lion of St. Mark and St. Theodore of Amasea who stands on a crocodile, sacred animal of Egypt. Free time for sightseeing and shopping. Return back to Slovenia. Overnight stay.
Day 7: Portoroz - Pula - Brijuni - Rovinj - Opatija
Hotel 4*breakfast
Breakfast. We will continue our journey to Istria, where Pula, its regional capital, is located. We will stroll through the city district in the immediate vicinity to the Amphitheatre. We will take a boat to the nearby Brijuni Island, designated as National Park in 1983. Brijuni was best known for the political activities of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, president of former Yugoslavia. The tourist train takes us through various beauties of nature; through the Safari Park, by the Byzantine Castrum, a residential Roman villa in Verige Bay, and many other interesting sights. Return to the mainland and drive to Rovinj. Due to the legacy of the rich history and its particular location, Rovinj is one of the most attractive and beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. The town radiates in a unique beauty that attracts visitors from all over the world. Rovinj boasts charming stone paved streets, houses with particular architectonic touches and roof terraces, Renaissance town walls, beautiful churches, galleries under the clear sky, and many seafood restaurants with a view to the endlessly blue sea. Drive to Opatija, one of the most dazzling resorts on the Adriatic coast. Accommodation in a hotel and overnight.
Day 8: Opatija - Plitvice lake
Hotel 4*breakfast, dinner
After breakfast we take some time to stroll along the beautiful promenade by the sea and simply enjoy in beautiful city of Opatija. The highlight of the day is the Plitvice Lakes that constitute an amazing natural site. Cascades and barriers are the result of continuous reforming of travertine terraces already for 10,000 years. We walk the Upper and Lower Lake of this natural wonder, the natural heritage of UNESCO. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in the area of Plitvice Lakes.
Day 9: Plitvice lake - Dubrovnik
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, we continue towards the pearl of the Adriatic – Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik has a walled historic centre, which was reconstructed several times due to its tumultuous history of earthquakes and wars. The last attempt for its destruction occurred in 1991–92, when 2,000 mortar shells fell on the main street of Stradun and other monuments and bastions of the city. Accommodation in a hotel and overnight.
Day 10: Dubrovnik
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, we see all the main tourist attractions and walk around the walls with total distance of over 2km. We take a boat trip to the nearby islands and enjoy in a fish picnic. Accommodation and overnight.
Day 11: Dubrovnik - Bay of Kotor(Montenegro) - Dubrovnik
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast, we drive to the coast of Montenegro. About an hour's drive from Dubrovnik is located a 15-mile long UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, the Bay of Kotor. It is located between the mountains and the sea, and fringed with oleander, pomegranate and palm trees. The gulf is actually a submerged river canyon and one of the most spectacular sites in the world. There are several lovely medieval towns nestled in the bays that are inviting us to visit them, such as Kotor, once known as the “Bride of the Adriatic Sea”, protected by fortified walls, rich in ancient churches and splendid mansions. We can also visit Risan, the oldest town in the bay, with mosaics on the floor of a Roman villa, which were uncovered by English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Return to Dubrovnik and overnight.
Day 12: Dubrovnik - Ston - Peljesac - Korcula
Hotel 4*breakfast
Breakfast. We drive to the little village of Ston which possibly has one of the longest walls you will ever see. We enjoy in tasting local fresh oysters and listening to interesting stories of the local people. Then we drive to the narrow peninsula of Pelješac, well known for its local wine, and visit on of their wine cellars. We enjoy in wine tasting with cheese and prosciutto, and the scenery. In the afternoon, we take a ferry to the island of Korčula. We stroll through this beautiful old town, supposedly the birthplace of the great explorer Marco Polo. We walk the narrow streets of the old walled city, which is a great experience. While staying in Korčula, we have a possibility to enjoy in the sword dances of Moreška. Accommodation and overnight stay in Korčula.
Day 13: Korcula - Split - Trogir
Hotel 4*breakfast
Breakfast. In the morning, we take a ferry to Split. Along the way, we enjoy travelling between many islands, like Hvar and Brač. On the arrival to Split, we stroll along the beautiful promenade and visit the enormous Diocletian's Palace, which takes us to the central part of the city that is even more interesting as it is a living-breathing space and not just a mere monument. Accommodation and overnight.
Day 14: Trogir - Krka waterfalls - Pakovo selo - Zagreb
Hotel 4*breakfast, lunch
After breakfast, we see one of the best-preserved medieval ports along the Adriatic coast – Trogir. A stroll through the town with its white stone paved streets is a special experience as the town is included in the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Site. We continue with our journey to the beautiful area around the Krka River and its waterfalls. We enjoy in a boat ride to the waterfalls. Before heading to Zagreb, we go to Etnoland in Pakovo Selo, where we can learn about Dalmatian customs and traditions. Here we enjoy our farewell late lunch in the authentic atmosphere. Afterwards we drive to Zagreb. Evening stroll in the city centre. Accommodation in a hotel and overnight.
Day 15: Zagreb
Hotel 4*breakfast
After breakfast we meet in the lobby to say farewell to our new friends and travel companions and take the last group photo in memory of the unforgettable moments. Check-out.
- Professional English-speaking (other languages on request) guide/driver
- Transport by comfortable car/van
- Parking fees, tolls and fuel
- 14 x accommodation in double/twin room in 4* hotels as per program, based on buffet breakfast
- Entrance fees: Funicular to the Ljubljana Castle, Postojna Cave, Bled Castle, Avsenik Museum, The Dairy Museum, Lipica Stud Farm, Brijuni National Park, Plitvice Lakes, Walls of Dubrovnik, Diocletian’s Palace, Krka Waterfalls, Etnoland Pakovo selo
- 1-day ticket for public transport of Venice
- Ferry on relation Pelješac – Korčula - Split
- 3 x dinner and 1 x lunch
- Cream cake – “kremšnita”
- Tasting of milk products and cheeses
- Wine tasting at Goriška Brda
- Visit of Ham-Drying Facility with tasting and glass of red wine
- Boat trip with fish picnic in Dubrovnik
- Tasting of fresh oysters
- Wine tasting in Pelješac
- Single supplement
- Other entrance fees and visits
- Beverages and other meals
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- The Vršič Pass is usually closed from the beginning of November until the beginning of May, because of weather conditions. We change the route in those months, but cover all sites.
- The dairy museum “Od planine do Planike” is closed on Sundays and National Holidays.
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