Adriatic Treasures: Croatia to Venice

WELCOME TO DUBROVNIC Location Information Description

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Tour begins: 6:30PM, Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Dubrovnik Airport to the Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik, a historic hotel overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet a lecturer this evening who shares expert insights, past and present, about the country formerly known as Yugoslavia and the places you'll explore on this trip, before joining him for an intimate welcome dinner at a popular restaurant, accompanied by a private performance of traditional Croatian a capella "klapa" singing.

Dinner

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

OLD TOWN DUBROVNIK BE LAND & SEA Location Information Description

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Rise and shine this morning for a day of cultural delights. Ride a cable car to the top of Srd Hill for dazzling views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding landscapes. Get a closer perspective when you descend for a walking tour through Old Town and visit the Main Square. Dubrovnik;s Old Town is completely surrounded by enormous stone walls that date back to the 10th century; view them from the outside on a boat ride along the walls.

Wine tasting is on the menu this afternoon during a visit to a winery where you sample wines made from ancient grapes known as "Malvazja" with guidance of a renowned viniculture engineer. En route back to your hotel, stop in the village of Gruda to meet an "academic artist" who serves as the keeper of local traditions. During your visit, she will present a step-by-step tutorial on silk making as you are treated to homemade juice and cake typical of this region.

Breakfast

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

Kotor & Montenegro Location Information Description

Kotor, Montenegro

Cross the boarder into neighboring Montenegro and drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor for a walking tour of this historic city (also known today for its large population of cats, a contemporary symbol of the city), and a visit to the Maritime Museum.

Location Information Description

Perast, Montenegro

Continue to the tiny bay-front village of Perast, built by wealthy sea captains during the 17th and 18th centuries. Walk past the town's stone houses to the pier for a sail to the man-made islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, topped by a lone church and steeped in legends. Back on shore, enjoy views of Montenegro's cost on your return trip to Dubrovnik for dinner at your hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

ORASAC VILLAGE, MOSTAR & SPLIT Location Information Description

Orasac, Croatia

Depart for Split this morning, driving through Dalmatian landscapes of seaside villages and farmland to the village of Orašac, founded in 1040. A family-hosted visit to a private farm reveals the time-honored steps of producing olive oil the old-fashioned way and includes a morning snack of fresh cow cheese, home-grown vegetables, warm-from-the-oven bread and wine.

Location Information Description

Mostar, Croatia

Drive to Bosnia for a visit to Mostar, known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. Damaged during the 1990's conflict, the Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been rebuilt, as have many of the edifices in the Old Town. A guided walking tour ends inside a Turkish house where a resident who lived through the bombings of the 1991-1995 war shares personal stories of survival. After lunch, drive to Split for a two-night stay.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel Park

MEŠTROVIĆ's ART & DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE IN SPLIT Location Information Description

Split, Croatia

See the acclaimed collection of works by Croatia's premier modern sculptor, Ivan Meštrović, at the gallery he built as his private residence. Drive to Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built be the Roman emperor Diocletian as his retirement home between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries using local limestone and Brac marble; the city of Split later grew up around the palace. A walking tour of the vast palace complex includes the palace cellars.

Your explorations continue on a ferry ride to Brac Island where you will enjoy a family-style lunch in Donji Humac overlooking the bay. Visit Jakšić gallery after lunch, going behind the scenes to see the artist's studio and myriad works of art. A late afternoon ferry brings you back to Split for time at leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel Park

KRKA NATIONAL PARK & FLY TO ZAGREB Location Information Description

KRKA, Croatia

Take a scenic drive to Krka National Park to see its spectacular waterfalls and inherent natural beauty. From there board a boat and sail to Skradin for a visit to ROCA, the house of Dalmatian Smoked Ham, a talk with a farmer and a wedding style lunch featuring traditional culinary specialties and entertainment.

Location Information Description

Zagreb, Croatia

Fly to Zagreb this afternoon for a two-night stay in Croatia's capital city; enjoy dinner at your leisure at your hotel tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

DISCOVER ZAGREB & MEET CROATIA'S FORMER TOURISM MINISTER Location Information Description

Zagreb, Croatia

Strategically located at the crossroads where western and eastern Europe meet, Croatia's capital city of Zagreb is a blend of old and new, informed by wars and steeped in culture. Start off your day by meeting Croatia's former minister of Tourism for a discussion on current affairs before setting out to explore Zagreb on foot, the best way to experience this fascinating city. Join Tauck's local guides for a walking tour that includes the neo-Gothic Cathedral, a cheese tasting at the fresh market, the main square, and a funicular ride to the Upper Town, where you will have lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day and evening are yours to spend as you please, pursuing what interests you most in Zagreb.

Breakfast, Lunch

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

TRAKOSCAN CASTLE & LJUBLJANA Location Information Description

Trakoscan, Croatia

One of the most impressive castles in Croatia, Trakošćan Castle dates back to the 13the century and reflects myriad architectural styles and restorations over its 800 year history. Costumed knights and ladies-in-waiting welcome you to the castle for a tour and lunch inside the Knights' Hall, open exclusively for Tauck guests only.

Location Information Description

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Your final destination today is Ljubljiana, Slovenia, where your high-rise city-center hotel overlooks the heart of the city. Take a walking tour of Slovenia's capital before enjoying a taste of local culture during dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Intercontinental Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA CASTLE & BLED CASTLE Location Information Description

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ride a funicular up to Ljubljana Castle this morning; savor panoramic views and tastings of local cookies, teran liqueur and honey. Drive next to a gingerbread making workshop in a country village to see how these beloved decorated pastries have been made for centuries, with a tasting of course!

Location Information Description

Bled, Slovenia

Lunch is followed by a visit to 1,000 year-old Bled Castle that includes a live printing demonstration, a talk with the cellar master about the castle's famous wines and entrance to the upper courtyard museum to learn about the history of Bled. Return to Ljubljana to spend the rest of teh day and evening as you wish.

Breakfast, Lunch

Intercontinental Ljubljana

POSTOJNA CAVES & A TRUFFLE FARM Location Information Description

Postojna, Slovenia

Tauck has arranged an exclusive early morning visit ti a subterranean world of caverns, halls and passages some two million years in teh making when you explore the surprise-filled Postojna Caves from aboard a private electric train and on a guided walk.

Head off for another Tauck Exclusive experience at a family-owned truffle farm, where you'll learn about the truffle-hunting process, meet the dogs who sniff out this underground delicacy, and enjoy a tasting followed by a light lunch.

Location Information Description

Savudrija, Croatia

Continue on from Slovenia back into Croatia to Savudrija on the Istrian Peninsula for a two-night stay.

Breakfast, Dinner

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria

PULA, OLIVE OIL & BEER PAIRING DINNER Location Information Description

Pula, Croatia

En route to Pula at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, a stop at a family-run olive oil farm in Vodnjan, renowned for producing one of the top 15 olive oils in the world, for a tasting tour. Arrive in Pula and visit its great amphitheatre, constructed between 27 BC - 68 AD, much of it still standing and still used today.Enjoy lunch at your leisure in the fishing village of Rovinj before returning to the hotel.

Location Information Description

Savudrija, Croatia

Dinner tonight is a special affair at San Servolo Brewery and includes a guided tour of the production process, expert insights by a beer master, and a beer-pairing dinner featuring six beers and six courses, presided over by a professional beer sommelier. To top off a great evening, a guitar player will entertain with a repertoire of traditional Istrian songs.

Breakfast, Dinner

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria

EXPLORE VENICE & THE DOGE'S PALACE Location Information Description

Venice/Italy, Italy

Travel from Croatia to Venice, Italy, today, arriving in the "City of Canals" midday for a walking tour and a visit to the Doge's Palace. You are invited to join the group for a farewell dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant in your historic hotel, just steps away from Piazza San Marco.

Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel Metropole

JOURNEY HOME FROM VENICE Location Information Description

Venice/Italy, Italy

Tour Ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Metropole Hotel to Venice's Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

Breakfast

• 60 days or more before departure: $600.00 per person
• 59-8 days before departure: $900.00 per person
• 7-1 days before departure: $1500.00 per person
• On departure day and later: 100% of total price
• Any changes or cancellations to airline reservations made through Tauck either before or after departure are subject to the cancellation / change policies of the individual airlines. In n some instances these cancellation / change fees may be up to 100% of the ticket price.
• Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including extra night accommodations, independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour. If flight changes, including, but not limited to, flight cancellations or name changes, are requested after full land and air deposits are received, revision fees, change fees, or airline cancellation fees will apply.
• All cancellations must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
• The purchase to trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.

• Land only “from price” is per person based on two people sharing a room together and does not include airfare unless expressly stated.
• All prices are in US Dollars.
• A $600 non-refundable, non-transferable, per-person, per-vacation deposit is required to reserve space for you. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted all Terms & Conditions. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit payment is processed and you receive a confirmation invoice.
• Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Within the final payment date, payment in full is required at time of booking to reserve space. Reservations (land, cruise, and air) are canceled if final payment is not received by the due date.
• Additional deposits or payments are required for international air added to the start and/or end of your vacation.