Dubrovnik to Venice

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Dubrovnik – the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, this city is full of character and can be easily covered on foot. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Church of St Blaise, take a cable car to Mount Srd or discover Game of Thrones filming locations. After your meeting, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

This morning, set off on a daytrip to the Elafiti Islands – a small archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik – exploring churches along the way. When you arrive at the beach, you’ll have some free time to relax, swim or find a coastal restaurant for a long lunch. After, return to Dubrovnik where the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Big Onofrio's Fountain, built by architect Onofrio della Cava in the 15th century to supply water to the city, or check out the Franciscan Monastery – home to one of the world's oldest continuously functioning pharmacies, founded in the 13th century. Tonight, maybe kick back on Banje Beach or find a good spot for dinner with a sunset view. (B)

This morning, travel up the coast to Split. If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly the soul. On a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's the second-largest city in Croatia. Today is a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. When you arrive, the afternoon is free for you to explore Split at your own pace. Maybe wander through the historic streets, see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Diocletian's Palace or join a tour with a local guide? Dinner by the sea is recommended, whether you’re after fresh seafood or you just want to catch the deep colours of the sunset. (B)

Today is a free day in Split. At the heart of its atmospheric Old Town is a fascinating city-within-a-city – the remains of a 3rd-century palace built for Roman Emperor Diocletian. These ancient walls now house a vibrant mix of shops, cafes, restaurants and houses. Maybe step back in time as you stroll the sprawling maze of passageways and courtyards – you’ll also find a 16th-century synagogue and a courtyard often filled with music. This afternoon, why not sample Croatia’s fine coffee culture with a frothy kava from a cafe on the Riva waterfront promenade or climb the Cathedral of Saint Domnius for panoramic views over the city. The rest of the night is free for you to explore Split at your own pace.

Visit one of Croatia's most beautiful sites of UNESCO World Heritage status – Plitvice Lakes National Park. You’ll have free time to explore on your own, or you can follow your leader to see the best spots – all trails in the national park are well marked, so it's difficult to get lost. Walk through the wooded hills, surrounding turquoise lakes and waterfalls and be sure to look for local wildlife living in the primeval forest vegetation of beech trees, fir spruce and white pine. Later, drive to Croatia's capital of Zagreb, where you’ll stay tonight.

After breakfast, take an orientation walk with your leader around Zagreb. For lunch, you’ll head to Dolac Market – the main market in the city and a great spot to pick up local favourites. The upper level offers seasonal fruits, vegetables, preserves and olive oil and the bottom level sells cheese and meats. Stop by a bakery for a taste of cevapcici (grilled minced meat) – a traditional market snack. Then, the rest of the day is free – maybe check out the gothic Zagreb Cathedral, with its twin spires that dominate the city's skyline or visit one of the excellent museums like the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships. (B/L)

Travel by train this morning across the Slovenian border to the cosmopolitan capital of Ljubljana (pronounced 'Lyub-Li-Yana'). When you arrive, check into your accommodation before heading out on a short orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the day is then free for you to delve deeper into this beautiful city. Located in the centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a city full of style and sophistication, history, monuments, churches, museums and great restaurants. Maybe wander around the old city centre, renowned for its unique architectural appearance. You might like to visit the Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall or the Dragon Bridge or stop at the central Preseren Square, dedicated to the Slovenian romantic poet France Preseren. (B)

Today is a free day to explore Ljubljana further. Maybe set off on a daytrip to Bled – gifted with immense natural beauty, Bled ranks among the most scenic of alpine resorts. Its fairy tale-like scenery includes a castle, a tranquil lake and an island topped with a church. Maybe take a Pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) across Lake Bled to its island, then climb the 99 steps to St Mary's Church. After, be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake – nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims their cream cake is the best! There's also plenty of action for adrenaline junkies on offer today, like rafting, caving, cycling, canoeing, boating or swimming. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and try two other local specialities– struklji (rolled dumplings) or potica (nut roll). (B)

This morning, travel by bus to Venice – the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, known for its canals and small islands connected by nearly 400 bridges. When you arrive, the day is free for you to explore. Maybe visit St Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge or Doge's Palace (the ruler of Venice), ride a gondola through the romantic canals or seek out some tiramisu (coffee-soaked sponge cake) – the region’s specialty! Tonight, you might like to join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the last night of your trip. (B)

With no further activities planned today, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to stay longer in Venice, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.