ITALY – SLOVENIA – CROATIA, 10 DAYS (optional 12 days)

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO VENICE
Arrival to Venice airport. Transfer to hotel for check in. After guided tour to the city attractions.
Enjoy a walk through a labyrinth of streets and narrow passageways in the old artisans quarters of Venice and listen to numerous stories of the illustrious merchants and their acts of cruelty. During this walk, you'll see some of the oldest houses in Venice, quaint picturesque bridges and palaces, an old prison for tax evaders and learn about how life used to be in Venice and how life is today for the modern day Venetians. Enjoy an in-depth tour of St. Marks Basilica, a highlights tour of the Doges Palace which will include crossing the bridge of sites, and as a grand finale cruise along the main street of Venice - The Grand Canal. Night in Venice.
VENICE - Floods of Romance
The mere mention of Venice immediately conjures romantic images: quaint scenes of lovers on gondolas, slowly drifting down a tranquil canal. In reality, these fabled waterways are often polluted, flooding, traversed by commuters and tourists on modern waterbuses, and yes, quite lovely and astonishing. Experiencing a city without cars will be a new adventure for most visitors -- Venice is the largest car-free zone in Europe! There are plenty of connecting streets or footbridges for those who avoid using boats. Of course, there is more to Venice than just the canals. This city has a rich and remarkably complex history; in the past, it was not only a city, it was the Republic of Venice, an independent state and a pivotal centre of international trade, which tended to complicate its relations with other bodies. Now that this remarkable city has joined Italy (more than 200 years ago), it continues to charm visitors with its lovely architecture, music, exuberant Carnival, and world-famous Biennale art exhibition. However, you might have to act fast – after all, the city is sinking, and an alarming number of Venetians have ended up with water in their living rooms.

Day 2: VENICE – PIRAN –  PORTOROŽ (breakfast)
Breakfast. After we will drive along beautiful Italian landscape. Short stop for visiting Miramare Castle, built on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea with wonderful views and a beautiful park with valuable botanical species. The castle was constructed between 1856 and 1860 by Archduke Maximilian of Austria and its interiors feature sumptuous original furniture. Continue to Slovenia coast, visiting the most beautiful medieval town on the coast, Piran. After that we head to Portorož – the city of flowers. Time for SPA treatments or shopping. Dinner.

Day 3: PORTOROŽ – POSTOJNA CAVE –  GORIŠKA BRDA – HEAVEN (breakfast)
After breakfast we drive 1 hour to Postojna/Škocjanska cave and visit probably the most extensive caves  in Europe. This is definitely one of the highlights of the tour. Cave in which you enter by train is full of stalagmites and stalactites and other karst wonders. But the biggest attraction is Human Fish, animal which lives only in this cave and nowhere else. After that visiting cave drive to Goriška region, famous for numerous wine yards and excellent wines. We will visit wine cellar and try the most fine wines in Slovenia. After that we will see medieval castle Dobrovo, dating in 17th century. On your trip around the Brda region you will encounter a series of monuments and memorial plaques. The most widely known is the bronze monument in Gonjače which is dedicated to the 315 citizens of Brda who gave their lives in WWII. After that drive followed by a ride through the beautiful valley of the Soca River. We will spend night in one of the most amazing wooden houses, rewarded by famous architect Plečnik award in 2014. Spa treatments on your request. Dinner.

Day 4: HEAVEN – VRŠIČ – KRANJSKA GORA - BLED (breakfast)
After breakfast we will drive to highest pass in Slovenia, Vršič 1611m. Breathtaking mountain scenery will show you unspoiled nature. Time for some amazing photo shots and after drive to Kranjska Gora, one of the most prestige skiing resorts in Slovenia. Stop for lunch in gourmet restaurant Penzion Milka/Skipass hotel. After a nice traditional lunch, we will head to the number one tourist attraction - Bled. Afternoon guided stroll along beautiful lake Bled and visit small island with church in the middle of the lake with rowing boat and the rower. Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight. (You can spend evening in casino or in hotel wellness center)

Day 5: BLED - LJUBLJANA (breakfast)
Breakfast. Visit medieval castle and enjoy commanding view of the lake, city and mountains of Julian Alps. You cannot leave Bled without tasting famous cream cake. After that we drive to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Visit the attractions of Ljubljana known already from the Roman era as the meeting point of Roman, Germanic and Slavic nations. Afternoon walk in the old part of the city where your local guide will show you Opera house, Cathedral, National museum and Three Bridges Square. Then guide will take you  along river Ljubljanica which is full of bars and restaurants and you will ride funicular to Ljubljana Castle and see the city from above. 

LJUBLJANA - The young capital in the new Europe
In the Slovene capital of Ljubljana, Central European flair mixes with southern zest for life. Even though Ljubljana, located along the Save and Ljubljanica rivers, is not one of Europe's largest capitals, it possesses a unique appeal. The city is especially lively along those rivers, where the numerous cafes, pubs and bars seem to guarantee pleasant evenings in this lively and cheerful city. The city's young artists and galleries also lend the city a special charm; those interested in the alternative art scene should definitely visit the squatters' compound occupying the former barracks known as Metelkova. Tolerated by the city, it has enabled the development of an alternative culture in Slovenia. Anyone with a soft spot for the Middle Ages should visit the city's castle, which towers over the city center.

Day 6: LJUBLJANA –  ISTRA PENINSULA – OPATIJA  (breakfast)
Breakfast. After breakfast we will spend beautiful and interesting day in visit to the biggest peninsula in Adriatic sea – Istra. Istra, which is in Croatia, has its own charm, beautiful seaside and inland cities, lush country side full of olive groves and vineyards. We will cross the border with Croatia soon after leaving hotel. We will continue to drive along the coast and stop to visit Rovinj – old city on small peninsula full of small and narrow streets, beautiful cathedral which dominate skyline, and small shops, cafes and restaurants. Then we will drive short distance to Pula, the biggest city on peninsula with long history. A walk through old part which is full or Roman remains. The best know remain is roman Amfiteather which is the best preserved theater in this part of Europe. Then we will drive to north again to fashionable Riviera town of Opatija arriving at your seaside hotel.

Day 7: OPATIJA  – PLITVICE – SPLIT (breakfast)
Breakfast. Then we will drive to National park Plitvice (approx. 3,5 hours) which is Unesco World Heritage Site. In Plitvice you will admire lakes and waterfalls. See 16 lakes of crystal clear water in many colorful shades of green, grey and blue which are linked by spectacular waterfalls. Then we will continue to drive through scenic Croatian countryside to Split (approx. 4 hours), the biggest town on Adriatic coast with history longer than 2.000 years.

Day 8: SPLIT –  DUBROVNIK (breakfast,  dinner)
Breakfast. In the morning tour in the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, one of the best preserved Roman ruins. See the Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral of St. Dominius, converted into a Christian church from Diocletian's mausoleum. Also see the Peristyle, the interior courtyard of the Roman complex with slender pillars. Visit substructions, Cathedral and the Baptistery of Split once the Temple of Jupiter.  Afternoon drive along the beautiful Adriatic cost to Dubrovnik (approx. 4 hours). Arrival to Pearl of the Adriatic late afternoon. Short walking tour to see Dubrovnik's defensive walls and the main points of interest in and around the Square of the Loggia. View Orlando's Column, the Clock Tower and the Sponza Palace with its Renaissance loggia and Venetian Gothic windows above it. Visit the Rector's Palace and see the Dominican Monastery and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, dating back to 1317. Night in Dubrovnik.

Day 9: DUBROVNIK – EXCURSION TO MONTENEGRO – DUBROVNIK (breakfast)
Breakfast. Travel to the Republic of Montenegro. Head towards the mouth of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. See the little towns of Risan and Kotor. Then proceed to Cetinje, once the seat of Montenegrin rulers, today a city-museum. After the sightseeing in Cetinje, travel to the coast for a short stop in the villages of Sveti Stefan and Budva before returning to Dubrovnik. Night in Dubrovnik.

Day 10: DUBROVNIK – TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT (breakfast)
After breakfast transfer to the airport.

PRICE:  On request

PRICE INCLUDE:
- hotel accomodation in twin rooms based on breakfasts and dinners,
- all transfers + tours + entrance fees,
- local guides

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- personal costs,
- tips for local guides and driver
- international plane tickets

 OTHER MEALS WILL BE INCLUDED AS PER YOUR REQUESTS.