Lakes and Mediterranean Harmony

Day 1: Venice - Bled (D)

We meet in Venice at 11am, and begin our journey with a vaporetto tour of the waterways, where you can take in the beauty of the city with no roads. Following the vaparetto tour, you will be taken on a guided walking tour with an English-speaking guide. On foot, you’ll get a feel for the vibrant city and be able to enjoy some of the most famous buildings, churches and galleries that make up the famous Venice skyline. After your tours, you’ll continue on to Bled, the beautiful Slovenian resort town at the foot of the Alps, where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.

Day 2: Bled – Bohinj – Bled (B)

You’ll enjoy a leisurely tour of the famous Lake Bled, which is surrounded by picturesque mountains and dense forests, followed by a trip by boat to Bled Island, which sits in the middle of the vast lake and is home to a beautiful church with gothic and baroque architectural influences. After a tour of the island, you will be taken across the lake to see Bled Castle, built impressively on an impossibly tall precipice above the lake. The castle - complete with drawbridge and moat – is one of Slovenia’s most popular attractions. Our last excursion for the day takes you to Lake Bohinj, which sits dramatically between Bohinji’s mountains and is home to the statue of the legendary Goldhorn beast. We return to Lake Bled for the night after a full day of exploring.

Day 3: Bled - Klagenfurt – Worth Lake – Bled (B,L)

Today we set off to visit neighbouring Austria. Our journey will take you through the Karavanke tunnel, which links Slovenia to Austria. Once in Austria, we’ll head to the historic county of Carinthia, a landscape so dramatic and beautiful; it must be seen in person to be believed. Next, we visit Klagenfurt, a charming and historic town, famous for the impressive Lindworm fountain – a giant stone dragon which dominates Altplatz, the city square. Before we return to Bled for the night, we make one last stop to have a leisurely lunch at the scenic Shore Lake.

Day 4: Bled – Postojna – Rovinj (B,T)

We make our way towards Rovinj, Croatia, and enjoy our first stop at the elaborate Postonja Cave system, one of the largest in Europe and also home to the olm, a type of cave salamander which was once thought to be the offspring of dragons – it does bear a striking resemblance, but we’ll let you find one and decide for yourself. After an underground adventure, we travel to the Predjama Castle; the castle in a cave. Discover its secret passageways and many legends about its owners before we travel to Croatia and visit a family-run brewery for a tour and beer tasting. From there, we head to Rovinj, where you can enjoy some relaxation before we overnight here.

Day 5: Rovinj – Istriatour (B,T)

We start the day with a tour through Rovinj’s ancient cobblestone streets, where you can visit the numerous art galleries and famous museums before we visit the Basilica of St. Euphemia, a church which is home to several ancient relics, treasures and priceless works of art and which boasts phenomenal views of Rovinj and beyond. Next, you’ll visit a renowned local olive oil producer and enjoy an olive oil tasting. The rest of the day is yours to explore the stunning, historic town before we overnight here.

Day 6: Rovinj –Lake Bajer - Plitvice Lakes (B,L,D)

As we depart Rovinj en route to Fuzine, you’ll pass by the Gorski Kotar region, which is known as ‘Croatia’s Lungs’ because almost 70% of this vast, mountainous region is covered by thick forests – a once in a lifetime sight. In Fuzine, you’ll enjoy lunch at the world-renowned Bitoraj restaurant, where authentic local dishes are lovingly prepared for guests. You’ll then be treated to a trip through the Plitvice Lakes region, famous for its breath-taking cascading lakes with their distinct azure, green and blue colours that come from the minerals in the water. You’ll overnight in this unbelievable area.

Day 7: Plitvice Lakes - Zagreb (B, D)

After breakfast, you’ll be able to continue your exploration of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s oldest National Park, and one of the most beautiful in the world. You’ll then travel towards Zagreb where you can enjoy strolling through the cosmopolitan capital. Soak up the energy of this diverse town where traditional meets modern and creates something special. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Croatian brewery before overnighting for the last time in Zagreb.

 Day 8 (B)

Enjoy a last breakfast in Zagreb before it’s time to bid farewell as the tour leader transfers you to Zagreb airport.

Inclusions:

• All transfers as per itinerary in modern motor-coach / van with AC
• Professional tour manager during the entire trip
• 5 x overnight with breakfast, 2 x overnight with half board (breakfast and dinner) in **** hotels except in Plitvice area *** hotel
• 2 x unique gastronomical exeprience at renowned manufacturers including: olive oil tasting and beer tasting
• Local guides in Ljubljana, Bled, Klagenfurt, Zagreb, Venice
• Entrances: Bled boat ride, Bled city, Bled Island, Bohinj boat ride, Postojna Cave and Castle, Bajer Lake boat ride, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Vaporetto Venice
• 2 x lunch in a restaurant (Woerther lake area, Fuzine-bajer Lake area)
• 1 x farewell dinner in a brewery
• Porterage

Guaranteed departures
From Venice to Split
English speaking tour leader