Balkan Discovery

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Split

Arrive in Split at any time. Make your way to our hotel in the city, near to the yacht marina and harbour-front, where you will meet with our local guide soon after arrival for welcome briefing.This, the largest and most important city in Dalmatia, on Croatia´s Adriatic coast, achieved its fame when the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace here in 295-305 AD. The majestic marble structure, which makes up the centre of the Old City, is said to be one of the best preserved Roman ruins outside of Rome. Take time to wander within its walls, admiring ancient capitols, the city´s cathedral – the oldest building housing a catholic cathedral in the world – not forgetting of course to kiss the toe of Mestrovic´s famous bronze monument to Bishop Grgor of Nin for good luck. Weary from a day of culture, take a stroll along the recently refurbished waterfront promenade, pausing for coffee or some traditional Dalmatian cuisine in one of the bustling cafes. Nearby, at the foot of the mountains, nestled amongst vineyards, the extensive Roman ruins of Solin (Salona) make for an interesting day trip outside the city. Solin was also the seat of the first Croatian kings.In the mid-20th Century Split became one of the most important and largest cities in the newly formed Yugoslavia, a bustling port and commercial centre, it expanded to cover the whole of the Kastela Peninsula, with a growing population. The Balkan war of the 1990s damaged most of the city´s business prospects through criminal activity and corruption with the breaking up and selling off of industries for personal gain. The future looks bright, however, for Split as new transport links and re-emerging industries in the areas of trade and tourism, along with production of oil, wine, paper, concrete and chemicals.

Day 2 Trogir/Sibenik (B)

Estimated Travel Time: 30mins + 1hrWe take a morning bus north along the coast to visit the charming town of Trogir, whose UNESCO world-heritage status is clearly justified in its profusion of Renaissance and Romanesque architecture contained within dramatic 15th Century city walls. Experience its uniqueness as an example of over 2300 years of continuous urban tradition from the Hellenistic Greeks through to the Romans and subsequently the Venetians. We continue by bus a little further along the coast to Sibenik, the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic, which, unlike its neighbours founded by Illyrians, Greeks and Romans, was first mentioned by its present name in 1066 by the Croatian King Petar Kresimir IV. Here we take time to visit the famous St James Cathedral, also on the UNESCO World Heritage list, noted for its style which is both Gothic and Renaissance, having been constructed by various architects in the 15th and 16th Centuries.We spend the night in our water-front hotel in Sibenik.

Day 3 Plitvice Lakes National Park (B)

Estimated Travel Time: 2hrs 30minsToday we travel inland, over the mountains to the spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park. We spend the day exploring the many walkways and 16 lakes of the park both by boat and by foot. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, heavily forested flora and diverse and rare fauna such as the European brown bear, eagle owl and wild cat. The park is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.We spend the night at our hotel near the National Park.

Day 4-5 Zagreb (2B)

Estimated Travel Time: 2hrsWe travel further inland to the bustling Croatian capital, Zagreb. After settling into our hotel we will take a walk with our local guide to highlight some of the city´s most interesting sights and get your bearings for further exploration.Zagreb, the political, economic and cultural centre of Croatia is where Eastern Europe meets Western, where elegant Austro-Hungarian architecture resides alongside communist era tower blocks, culturally renowned museums and galleries alongside rowdy beer halls and typically Croatian markets. Zagreb emerged as one and the capital of the tiny state of Croatia at the beginning of the 17th Century, the amalgamation of two hilltop settlements that had existed since medieval times. Stagnated by two centuries of warfare, plague and fires, the city only came into its own during the 19th Century with an expanding economy, transport links and a diversifying cultural and educational life. The city´s medieval Upper Town contains most of its important buildings and churches from the earlier periods of its history, such as the Stone Gate, Croatian Parliament, Lotrscak Tower and the emblematic St Mark´s Church; and the Lower Town its diverse museums, galleries, commercial infrastructure and 19th and 20th Century architecture.

Day 6-7 Sarajevo (2B)

Estimated Travel Time: 9hrsWe head across the border into Bosnia-Herzegovina and her vibrant capital, Sarajevo, where we will spend two nights.Sarajevo is renowned for its multi-cultural character and religious diversity with large populations of Jews, Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians co-existing here for centuries. The city has attracted international attention several times during the course of its history – here took place the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, which sparked the First World War; it was the location of the 1984 Winter Olympics; and it underwent the longest siege in modern military history during the most recent Balkan War. Now it is defying its turbulent past to become a major and fascinating attraction, bursting with life and cultural vibrancy. Its small size makes it easily manageable for sightseeing in and around the labyrinth of cobble lanes that make up the lively Turkish Quarter and sipping on traditional Bosnian coffee in one of the innumerable street cafes, watching the theatre of life unfold before you.Soak up some of this atmosphere with a city tour with our local guide, before taking some time to absorb your favourite sights a little more before heading for a traditional Bosnian meal in one of the many delicious restaurants the city has to offer.

Day 8 Mostar/Dubrovnik (B)

Estimated Travel Time: 2hrs 30mins + 2hrsIn the morning we travel through spectacular mountain scenery to arrive at the beautiful town of Mostar, not far from the Bosnian-Croatian border. Here we will make a stop to explore the pretty Turkish Quarter, the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), destroyed by shelling in 1994 and rebuilt with UNESCO funding in 2000 as a symbol of hope for the region. Here you can catch the local men performing their spectacular art of bridge-jumping as they plunge from the heights of the bridge´s pretty arch into the depths of the river far below. You cannot help but be moved by the contrast between the reconstructed buildings and those still riddled by the ravages of shelling and gunfire, the ghosts of a war, which still haunts the memories of a generation.In the afternoon we will cross the border back into Croatia, heading towards the city that Byron declared to be “the Pearl of the Adriatic”, Dubrovnik. We will settle into our hotel in the Lapad area of the city, before heading out for an evening meal of traditional Dalmatian cuisine.

Day 9 Dubrovnik (B)

Today we will spend the day exploring Dubrovnik´s Stari Grad, or Old Town, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Begin your discovery with a walk along the proud ramparts of the City Wall for unique views over the tiled rooftops of the Baroque city nestled within their sturdy protection, and of the crystal blue Adriatic beyond. Descend to the marble streets below and absorb the atmosphere of a city steeped in history and cultural heritage, perhaps you are tempted by a refreshing plunge into the sea from one of the swimming areas outside the battlements, or are just content to let this city cast its enchanting spell over you as you explore her streets, monuments and many bars and cafes.

Day 10 Republic of Montenegro (B)

This morning we set off with our local guide for a full day´s excursion across the border into what is officially, having declared independence in June 2006, Europe´s newest country, the Republic of Montenegro. Enjoy spectacular coastal scenery as we drive south along the coast towards Kotor and Bar.Nestled at the head of southern Europe´s deepest fjord, the old town of Kotor, is breathtaking and makes for a fascinating visit. Lying under the lee of dramatic cliffs, the Stari Grad, contains a tangle of cobbled lanes proffering a wealth of ancient churches and monuments of interest to the visitor. First settled in Roman times, the city has changed hands many times in its diverse history, between Goths, Saracens, Dalmatians, Bulgarians, Venetians, Habsburgs, Ottomans and French, all of which have contributed to its stunning architecture that has led to its classification as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.We return to our hotel in Dubrovnik in the evening in time for dinner.

Day 11 Split (B)

Estimated Travel Time: 4hrs 30minsWe take a bus in the morning up the coast back to Split where we will have time for some further exploration before our final evening meal and farewells.