Adriatic Adventure - Slovenia & Croatia, Italy, Bosnia & Montenegro

Day 1: Arrive in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Welcome to Slovenia! Upon arrival in Ljubljana, you will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 2: Ljubljana sightseeing, Lake Bled

Today we explore the sights of Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. We have a walk through the city center and around castle hill — an impressive castle that dates back to the 9th century. Climb up to the High Tower, for incredible views of Old Ljubljana, the green park (Tivoli), and the city’s famous Baroque style monuments.

In the afternoon, we drive to Lake Bled, a picturesque green lake surrounded by the Slovenian Alps. We visit Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake, it offers spectacular views of the town, lake and countryside. From here we see the small Church of Assumption on a tiny tear-shaped island — the only true inland island of Slovenia — called Blejski Otok. Overnight in Bohinj.

Day 3: Hike around Lake Bohinj and Mt. Vogel cable car and Savica Falls

We begin today with a hike around the beautiful glacial lake of Bohinj. After lunch a cable car takes us to Mt. Vogel where we enjoy spectacular views over the snow capped Julian Alps and Lake Bohinj below. We can see Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia (2,864 meters/9,396ft).

The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or take a hike to Savica waterfalls, the highest in the country and one of the sources of the Sava River.

During WW1, this area was the frontline between the Austro-Hungarian army and the allies and was immortalized in Hemingway’s “Farewell to Arms”. We will stop at a small cemetery in the woods. Overnight in Bohinj.

Day 4: Visit Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle

Following breakfast we drive to the caves of Postojna. Hidden deep within these world- famous caves lies a rare beauty created over millions of years; carved, shaped and created by water — year after year.

A small electric train shuttles us into the cave and from inside the cave we can witness the incredible stalactites shaped like needles, icicles, and even columns and pillars. Another highlight of the cave is a small tank filled with pink Olms (fully aquatic, blind cave salamanders). These bizarre little animals are also named the “human fish” (Proteus Anguinus) and inhabit only 2 or 3 caves of the Dalmatian coast.

After a picnic lunch we visit Predjama Castle, situated in the mouth of a hillside cavern. We will hear the legend of the famous robber baron Erazem Lueger, a maverick knight who became Slovenia’s Robin Hood by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

We continue on to our hotel, located in the rural village of Grahovo. Guest house accommodations in Grahovo.

Day 5: Skocjan Cave, Dormouse museum, Sneznik castle

In the morning we walk 3 kms (1.9 miles) through the incredible Skocjan Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We walk 90 meters (295 feet) above the giant underground River Reka and finish our trip at the bottom of the deep dolina sinkhole from where a cable car takes us back to the staring point.

After a picnic lunch we will stop in one of the most unique museums in Europe. Hidden deep in the forest, the Dormouse Museum celebrates the history and cultural impact of the four species inhabiting the Slovenian forests. Nearby is the remote and seldom visited, fairy-tale-like Sneznik Castle, built in the XIII century and recently renovated.
Overnight in Grahovo.

Day 6: Lipica Stud Farm, Trieste Italy

Leaving the forests of Skocjan we travel through picturesque mountain scenery. Just before the Italian border is the world renowned stud farm of Lipica from where the famous Spanish and Austrian horses “Lipizzaner” originate. We will tour the farm and visit the horse barns before crossing the border heading for the Adriatic coast and the grandeur of Trieste. We will have a guided tour covering the most important sites including the Basilica of San Giusto with it’s 13th century frescoes and mosaic of St Justus, the town’s patron saint. There are the 1st and 2nd century remains of the Roman theatre and time to explore the largest seaside piazza in Europe- Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia.

Of course no visit to Italy would be complete without sampling some of her gastronomic treats and having time to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

Our hotel is located in the old city where we can enjoy some free time and the Italian nightlife.
Overnight in Trieste.

Day 7: Venice, Italy

This morning we leave for the two hour drive around the top of the Adriatic Sea to the treasure that is Venice. Known as the “Queen of the Adriatic” the city is made up of 117 islands, 150 canals and has 409 bridges. We take a ferry to St. Mark’s Square and have a morning sightseeing tour of this UNESCO site. A light Italian lunch and then some free time to explore. There are so many choices - a gondola ride, sit in the piazza and feed the pigeons or perhaps enjoy a coffee at one of the famous outdoor cafes. Then we retrace our route back to Trieste for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Hrastovlje, Salinas, to Croatia, Hum

This morning, we drive to Hrastovlje and visit the small-fortified church that is unique due to its 15th century frescoes. All the walls of the church are covered in scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, with the Dancing Death fresco being the most famous.

We visit the old “salinas” that were established during the Roman ages, where people made salt from seawater. We then cross the border into Croatia and on to Hum known locally as “the smallest town in the world”. This fortified hilltop town has a medieval Bell Tower which overlooks the picturesque valley. We will have time to explore Hum’s shops where we will find local brandies and paintings.

Arriving on the Adriatic coast’s Opatija Riviera, we check into our hotel where we stay for 3 nights. Overnight in Lovran.

Day 9: Istria Peninsula, Pula

A long and rewarding day today exploring the Istria peninsula, an archipelago of 13 islands, offering incredible flora, fauna and beaches.

We travel along the scenic roads for 90 minutes to Pula, which is famous for its 1st century Roman Amphitheater overlooking the harbor. We will tour the ruins to see the limestone 30-meter high outer walls that could enclose 20,000 spectators. We wander through the Temple of Augustus; see the statue of James Joyce and head to Rovinj for lunch in this charming fishing village. We will have a chance to see St. Euphemia’s Church, which is named after a martyr saint from the 6th century and has a commanding hill top location.

We leave Rovinj and travel to Porec to see a 6th century B.C. UNESCO World Heritage Site basilica and it’s Byzantine gold mosaics. We return to Lovran for a late dinner. Overnight in Lovran.

Day 10: Cres Island

In the morning, we take the ferry to the second largest of the Adriatic islands, Cres Island & visit one of the oldest settlements — the picturesque seaside town of Beli.

Beli has been the center for monitoring and protecting the endangered Griffon vultures since the mid 1980’s and is an ideal place for observing these graceful creatures in flight. Our visit to a small museum illustrates the efforts made towards saving these majestic birds. After a picnic lunch we take a walk in the surrounding protected forest, known for its remarkable variety of oak trees. Returning to the mainland by ferry, the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. Overnight in Lovran.

Day 11: Plitvice Waterfalls

Today we travel to Plitvice N.P. and on to Stari Grad. This day is one of our longest travel days, however we have several stops to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery.

We pass through Senj, once the stronghold of the Uskoks, the pirates of the Adriatic. We cross the high pass of Severni Velebit National Park, and we visit the old watermills in the valley of the Otocac River. The river also ranks as the best fly-fishing area of Europe, mainly for Red-spotted and Rainbow Trout.

After a picnic lunch we drive to see the Plitvice Waterfalls, located in a valley situated between high-forested mountains and surrounded by sixteen crystal clear blue-green lakes. They are fed by many small streams and brooks and eventually form dramatic cascades and thundering waterfalls. Due to their unique evolution and beauty, in 1979 the Plitvice Lakes were entered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The exceptional beauty of the lakes and waterfalls, rich plant and animal life, forests of incredibly contrasting colors and the pure mountain air attract nature lovers from all over the world. We arrive into Stari Grad early evening. Overnight in Stari Grad Paklenica.

Day 12: Paklenica Gorges National Park

In 1978, the area of Paklenica National Park was put under the protection of the United Nations program “Man and the Biosphere”. With its two monumental canyons, the second largest European preserve of Austrian fir, ancient beech forests and steep cliffs, this natural phenomenon is touted as one of the most beautiful national parks of the northeast Mediterranean. Many species, particularly reptiles and birds, have been recorded here, including some rare and endangered species of birds.

We have a strenuous 3-hour hike in the gorge, followed by a well earned break. In the afternoon, we drive up to the high plateau of the Mt. Mali Alan for a panoramic view and, weather permitting, a toast to our wonderful adventure. Overnight in Stari Grad Paklenica.

Day 13: Zadar, Sibenik

In the morning, we drive to the city of Zadar, where we will have a guided tour of this historic city. The Roman forum is well preserved and the Venetian walls still stand, as do ancient Croatian churches, monasteries and palaces. Zadar has always been out-ward looking and has shared agriculture, shipbuilding, shipping and trade with people of the Mediterranean.

Later we picnic at the fresh-water lake of Vrana, situated only 2 kilometers from the coast. Lake Vrana is an important ornithological refuge, with several protected bird species. In the afternoon will visit the picturesque Dalmation city of Sibenik located in one of the most protected harbours of the Adriatic. St. James Cathedral is a Unesco World Herigage site because it represents the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance period in church architecture. Overnight in Skradin.

Day 14: Boat cruise to Visovac Island, Krka Falls, Torak Spring

This morning, we take a 1-hour boat trip on the Krka River to Visovac Island, for a short-guided tour of the Franciscan Monastery. After our return boat trip, we walk in the National Park to see hundreds of beautiful, small waterfalls, deep in the river gorge. A short walk through the countryside brings us to our picnic location at the top of a 100 meter (656 foot) cliff overlooking the stunning valley with emerald-green Torak Spring at the bottom of the canyon.

In the afternoon, free time to enjoy the picturesque town of Skradin with it’s cobblestone streets and busy harbour.
Overnight in Skradin.

Day 15: Trogir & Split to Mostar, Bosnia

Our first stop today is the town of Trogir, one of the most enticing towns on the Dalmatian coast because it is actually a small island connected with bridges to the mainland. A compact beige-colored welter of palaces, jutting belfries and winding streets fan out from an antique central square. Its beautiful Romanesque churches compliment the Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.

We continue on to Split, which is the largest Croatian city on the Adriatic coast. Split made its mark on the map in the 4th century, when Roman Emperor Diocletian had his retirement palace built here. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the most imposing Roman ruins in the world. More a fortress than a palace, it contained the imperial residence, temples and a mausoleum.

We will see the vestibule of the original palace, the fortress’ colonnaded square, the Temple of Jupiter and the remains of Diocletian’s Mausoleum, now a cathedral. In this part of the old town, everyday life bustles along in an open-air museum setting. We continue on to Mostar, Bosnia, stopping enroute at the two, rarely visited, enormous Imotski sinkholes, both with large lakes on their bottoms. The Red Lake is one of the deepest karst lakes in the world - it’s north side is 250 meters (820 feet) high and 280 meters (920 feet) deep. Crossing the border into Bosnia we arrive in Mostar in time to enjoy dinner overlooking the magnificent site of the Neretva river with it’s famous Old Bridge and mosques in the background. Overnight Mostar.

Day 16: Sarajevo

Driving through mountainous central Bosnia-Herzegovina to the capital, Sarajevo, we find one of the most Oriental cities in Europe. Here, amongst the minarets and the Baščaršija market, we can find the true “turkish” coffee. Our tour will show us the city’s multicultural religions and cultural make up and the hope of the city in it’s post war energy and rebuilding. We return to Mostar for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Bosnia: Kravica Waterfalls, Mostar Sightseeing, Back to Croatia: Ston to Dubrovnik

We continue our sightseeing in the magnificent city of Mostar, the unofficial capital of Herzegovina, in the southern region of Bosnia-Herzegovina the Old Bridge, a Turkish house, and a mosque. The old town is entered around its famous stone arch, “Stari Most”, a bridge binding two banks of the emerald Neretva river. This is a city of poetry, a city of stone, city of sleepy, narrow, winding streets and a city of heroism. Here we will visit the Old Bridge, a Turkish house, and a mosque.

We will lunch near the Old Bridge to soak up the atmosphere before heading to Kravica Falls, one of the most impressive in the country. Our route will take us on a remote mountain road and past the Hutovo Blato wetland. We arrive back in Croatia near the city of Neum, Bosnia’s only exit to the sea. We will stop in the coastal town of Ston. Dating back to Roman times, it is known for it’s natural salt production and enormous city wall, the second longest after the Great Wall of China. We will walk part of the 4.8 meter (3 mile) ramparts, built to protect the salt works whose product was know as “white gold”. After dinner in Ston we continue to Mlini on the outskirts of Dubrovnik, with a short stop at the Trsteno Arboretum to see two giant Plane Trees (Platanus orientalis, considered to be among the oldest in all of Europe - over 500 years, with trunks over 5 meters (16 feet) in diameter! Overnight in Mlini, outside of Dubrovnik.

Day 18: Dubrovnik sightseeing and freetime in the city

This morning we visit the fabled city of Dubrovnik. Its motto is “Libertas” (liberty), because for several centuries the city-state of Dubrovnik (the so-called Ragusa) managed to preserve its independence while the coast fell under the sway of foreign powers. At its 16th-century height, the Republic had the third largest merchant fleet in the world. Only a few will notice any remaining signs of the 1991-1992 siege, during which over 2000 enemy shells fell on the old city. Reconstruction was undertaken with astonishing speed and the old town again resembles its former self.

We walk along the main street to the Luza Square, original to the medieval town, where St. Blaise’s Church and Orlando’s Column stand. The marble-paved squares, steps and streets are lined with numerous, finely carved fountains, palaces, churches and monasteries. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. You may wish to stroll around the old town (Placa), visit one of the many beautiful beaches, take a ferry to explore the islands, or visit one of Dubrovnik’s incredible art galleries and museums. The city is yours to discover!
Overnight in Mlini (outside Dubrovnik).

Day 19: Montenegro: Kotor Fjord, Lovcen N.P., Rijeka Crnejovica, Lake Skodra, Sveti Stefan Island

In the morning we cross the border to Kotor — a beautiful coastal town tucked in the embrace of high mountains, bent over a deep bay (southernmost fjord of Europe!) of the Mediterranean sea. The beauty of Kotor Bay has been praised many times in verse. We drive to the mountains above the fjord, visit Mt. Lovcen National Park’s highest peak, to look at one of the most heart-breaking and magnificent landscapes of all Europe. Kotor Bay is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After our climb we descend to the majestic Rijeka Crnojevica river-gorge for another breathtaking schene and then we continue our scenic drive to Lake Skodra. The high craggy peaks of the lakeshore make this landscape unforgettable, especially on rainy days, when mirriads of color reflect on the lake. We continue our visit in Montenegro on the coast where we stop for a view of Sveti Stefan Island, one of the most lovely seaside resorts of the Adriatic, connected with a bridge to the mainland. After a long and busy day in Montenegro, one of the hidden pearls of the Adriatic and the smallest State of the former Yugoslavia, we will return to Croatia. Overnight in Mlini, outside of Dubrovnik.

Day 20: Hike on Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik museums

This morning we will travel by local ferry to Lokrum Island Nature Reserve. One of the many Adriatic islands along the coast, it lies about 700 meters from the mainland. The island is covered with laurel, oak, pine and cypress trees as well as olives, agaves, cacti, magnolia and palms. In 1959 a Botanical Garden was founded and there is a small salt lake. Our walk takes us past a deserted Benedictine monastery founded in 1023 and we can climb to the fortress lookout tower for a spectacular view of the old city of Dubrovnik. Saying goodbye to the Island’s resident peacocks, we take the 30 minute ferry ride to Dubrovnik for lunch. This afternoon we have an insider’s view about the medieval life in the Republic of Raguza, as Dubrovnik was called, by visiting the Rector’s Palace and the Ethnographic Museum. Tonight, our farewell dinner will be fittingly celebrated in our charming Adriatic seaside town. Overnight in Mlini, outside of Dubrovnik.

Day 21: Departure

Following breakfast, we bid farewell to our new friends and transfer to the airport for international departure flights.