Escorted Tours 2023:
Zagreb -To- Athens, 17 Days
visiting Zagreb, Bled, Plitvice lakes, Split, Dubrovnik, Tivat, Tirana, Ohrid, Kalambaka, Athens
Included Features:
¨ First class hotels
¨ Arrival transfer Zagreb airport to hotel on day 1
¨ Departure transfer hotel to Athens airport on day 17
¨ Breakfast daily and 10 dinners
¨ Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
¨ Professional Tour Director throughout
¨ Luggage handling (1 pc per person)
¨ Whisper technology enhanced touring
¨ Service charges and hotel taxes
Sightseeing Tours Included:
¨ Zagreb
¨ Bled
¨ Postojna Cave
¨ Plitvice Lakes
¨ Split
¨ Dubrovnik
¨ Kotor
¨ Tirana
¨ Ohrid
¨ Kalambaka
¨ Athens
Day-By-Day Program:
Day 1, Saturday, arrival in ZAGREB, Croatia
On arrival at ZAG airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at Welcome Dinner (D)
Day 2, Sunday, ZAGREB
This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside (B)
Day 3, Monday, to LJUBLJANA & BLED, Slovenia
After breakfast head towards Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. See the most significant sights of the old city center on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. Then, continue to Bled (B,D)
Day 4, Tuesday, BLED
An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was “discovered” by travelers in the middle of the 19th century. Since then, a small town of hotels, villas, and restaurants has developed around the lake, turning Bled into a lively, all-seasons resort. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and the lakeshore, and visits imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting the small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery (B)
Day 5, Wednesday, to POSTOJNA to OPATIJA & PLITVICE, Croatia
Journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward, continue to the coast, have a stop in Opatija. Enjoy the walking tour of this fashionable resort in the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes (B,D)
Day 6, Thursday, to SPLIT
After breakfast, have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split (B,D)
Day 7, Friday, SPLIT
In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy at the beach or join us on an Optional Excursion to Jet Set spot of rich and famous – Island of Hvar (B)
Day 8, Saturday, to DUBROVNIK
After breakfast travel to Dubrovnik. Day at leisure (B,D)
Day 9, Sunday, in DUBROVNIK
After the breakfast, walking tour of Old Dubrovnik visit the Rector's Palace, and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join us for Optional Excursion home hosted Dubelj with dinner (B)
NOTE: Because of the narrow and historic roads in Dubrovnik, walking is the primary way of getting around. Pack good walking shoes
Day 10, Monday, to TIVAT, Montenegro
After breakfast, our journey takes us to Montenegro viewing Kotor Bay, the only South European fiord and tour of old town Kotor, a UNESCO heritage Site. On to Tivat for the night (B,D)
Day 11, Tuesday, to TIRANA, Albania
After breakfast we leave Tivat and drive via Budva and Bar towards town of Shkodra, nowadays a major Albanian cultural center. Shkodra was the center of the Illyrian tribe Labeat and was taken by the Romans in the year 168 B.C. We will see the Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city. Continue drive to Tirana (B,D)
Day 12, Wednesday, TIRANA
On a Morning sightseeing tour, see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square) the Mosque of Ethem 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 façade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or simply just relax (B)
Day 13, Thursday, to OHRID, the REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA
Drive to the lakeside resort of Ohrid, an important cultural and spiritual center, classified as UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Enjoy sightseeing tour will take you strolling through the cobblestone streets of the old town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, containing some magnificent frescoes from the 10th century (B,D)
Day 14, Friday, to KALAMBAKA, Greece
After breakfast, admire the fantastic landscapes of Meteora, known as “the rocks that fell from the sky”, where monks built their rock – top monasteries far away from civilization. Out of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are now active. The most important is Megalo of Great Meteoro, of peculiar architecture with its tall and intricate dome, twelve sides and fine frescoes (B,D)
Day 15, Saturday, to ATHENS
Your first stop is Delphi, where the famous Oracle once 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 to Athens (B)
Day 16, Sunday, ATHENS
See the highlights of Athens this morning on a sightseeing tour. This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amid reminders of a long and a glorious past: graceful temples, centuries – old monasteries and ornate Byzantine churches. Visit the immortal Acropolis, the Parthenon, said to be the most perfectly proportioned building of all time, Also, see 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. Join us for Farewell Taverna Dinner in the Plaka beside the Acropolis (B,D)
Day 17, Monday, depart ATHENS, Greece
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport ATH for your departure flight (B)
Hotels:
¨ Zagreb: Sheraton (DLX)/ Westin (DLX) or similar
¨ Bled: Park (F)/ Rikli Balance (F) or similar
¨ Plitvice: Jezero (F) or similar
¨ Split: Hotel Corner (F) or similar
¨ Dubrovnik: Lacroma (F)/ Argosy (F) or similar
¨ Tivat: Palma (F) or similar
¨ Tirana: Colloseo (F) or similar
¨ Ohrid: Granit (F) or similar
¨ Kalambaka: Grand Meteora (F) or similar
¨ Athens: Stanley (F)/ Titania (F) or similar
