Country Roads of Dalmatia and the Adriatic Riviera

Join those in the know who are heading for the sun drenched islands of Dalmatia. Enjoy elegant cities, pristine wilderness, Roman remains, great food and scenery galore.

Included Premium Highlights

• Tour the pristine Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• Enjoy a wine tasting & informative talk at a local winery on the Peljesac peninsula

Included Personal Insights

• Hear about the excellent wines produced along the shores of central Europe's largest Lake
• Hear first hand a fascinating account from a guest speaker &  resident of Dubrovnik about life during the siege & war of 1991, the collapse of Yugoslavia & the rebirth of Croatia

Included Other Excursions & Sights

• Views of Budapest from Gellert Hill & visit Matthias Church & Heroes' Square
• Scenic drive along Lake Balaton to the picturesque abbey of Tihany
• See Zagreb's Ban Josip Jelacic Square & Cathedral & tour the Upper Town
• See the amphitheatre, Roman baths & necropolis of Salona
• Explore Split's historical buildings built within the walls of Diocletian's Palace
• See Marco Polo's house, Bishop's Palace, Cathedral & town museum in Korcula
• See Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace & the awesome city walls of Dubrovnik
• Admire the Franciscan & Dominican monasteries in Dubrovnik Old Town
• See the Cipiko Palace & Romanesque Cathedral in Trogir
• See Ljubljana's Castle & the Cathedral of St Nicholas, Triple Bridge & City Hall

Included First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
• Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
• Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 15
• Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way  to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

• Choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dubrovnik Dine-Around evening (DA)
• 14 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 5 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Day 1 - VIENNA AT LEISURE

Welcome to Vienna Airport, where your airport transfer leaves for the tour hotel at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00. Settle in & later, meet your Tour Director & fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink. Perhaps start your tour with a special concert?

Hotel: Hilton

Day 2 - VIENNA - BUDAPEST

Cross the Hungarian border & continue to Budapest. Enjoy a panoramic view across the Danube from the lofty Citadel atop Gellert Hill. Then ascend the Castle Hill district to marvel at the murals in Matthias Church beside the Fisherman's Bastion. View the Royal Palace of Buda, then cross the Danube to the Pest district to visit Heroes' Square & &rassy Boulevard.

Hotel: Corinthia Grand Royal (BB,D)

Day 3 - BUDAPEST AT LEISURE

A whole day to relax or explore this Grand metropolis. Perhaps shop for bargains in fine porcelain or maybe take an optional excursion to the famous artists' colony of Szentendre? (BB)

Day 4 - BUDAPEST - ZAGREB

Drive alongside tranquil Lake Balaton & hear about the excellent wines produced along the shores. Stop to admire the abbey of Tihany, then continue to the Croatian border & the capital, Zagreb. A guided tour takes you to Roosevelt Square, Ban Josip Jelacic Square & the cathedral. Walk through the medieval Upper Town to see the Stone Gate, St Mark's Church & Lotrscak Tower.

Hotel: Sheraton (BB,D)

Day 5 - ZAGREB AT LEISURE

Today is yours to explore at your will. The Ilica is the hub of Zagreb's shopping scene, or perhaps take an excursion to the Zagorje region to learn about local culture & tradition? (BB)

Day 6 - ZAGREB - SPLIT

Head for the charming fishing villages & sun drenched resorts along the Adriatic Riviera. Visit the ancient Roman port of Salona. Admire the 2nd century amphiteatre, Roman baths & necropolis. Stay tonight in the historic port of Split.

Hotel: Atrium (BB)

Day 7 - SPLIT SIGHTSEEING - KORCULA

1700 years ago the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here & your local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of streets & historical buildings within that same palace. See St. Duje's, (originally Diocletian's mausoleum), the Temple of Jupiter (today, a baptistery) & the Golden Gate. Later drive along the coast for a short ferry crossing to the island of Korcula.

Hotel: Marko Polo (BB,D)

Day 8 - KORCULA - DUBROVNIK

Your guided walking tour of Korcula town takes you to the Cathedral, the town museum & the Bishop's Palace. The locals also claim Marco Polo was born here & you also see his ruined house next. After some free time, cross over to the beautiful southern slopes of the Peljesac peninsula. Stop amid the age-old vines to see how wine is produced & enjoy a taste. Continue to Dubrovnik.

Hotel: Libertas Rixos (BB)

Days 9 & 10 - DUBROVNIK SIGHTSEEING

You are invited to join a local resident to discuss life during the siege of Dubrovnik, the collapse of Yugoslavia & the subsequent rebirth of Croatia. Later, your guided city tour explores the stone paved streets inside the 16th century bastions of Dubrovnik's old town. See Onofrio's fountain & the Rector's Palace, as well as the Franciscan & Dominican monasteries. For the remainder of your stay, you are at leisure in this 'pearl of the Adriatic'. Stroll with friends along the ancient city walls, relax by the pool, shop in the bazaar... & the local cuisine is justifiably famous, so during your stay you are invited to choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around evening. (BB,DA,BB)

Day 11 - DUBROVNIK - PLITVICE

Enjoy the scenery of the Dalmatian coast - sparkling deep blue seas, studded with rocky islands. Visit Trogir, founded by the Greeks in 400BC. Admire the cathedraland Renaissance Cipiko Palace before continuing to the Plitvice region.

Hotel: Jezero (BB,D)

Day 12 - PLITVICE – LJUBLJANA

Get ready for one of Europe's natural wonders, Plitvice National Park; a scenic wonderland of 16 interconnecting lakes, flanked by thundering waterfalls & primeval forest. This afternoon drive through the unique region of Lika, crossing into Slovenia & reaching the "beloved" city of Ljubljana.

Hotel: Lev (BB,D)

Day 13 - LJUBLJANA SIGHTSEEING

A local guide reveals the Baroque elegance of the Slovenian capital. The imposing medieval castle st&s as ancient guardian, the City Halland Cathedral of St Nicholas testify to its historical importance, while the Triple Bridge spans the river adorned with cafés & restaurants. This afternoon is at leisure to shop or for optional excursions. (BB)

Day 14 - LJUBLJANA – VIENNA

It's only a short drive back across the Austrian border to the forested mountains of Styria. Return to the stately capital of Vienna for your final night on tour.

Hotel: Hilton (BB)

Day 15 - VIENNA

Your tour ends after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Vienna Airport at 07:00 & 09:00 (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

VIE06 - DINNER IN A COUNTRY MANSION
We see the famous Prater Amusement Park, then cross the Danube to arrive at one of the most famous restaurants in Austria. Former patrons include Napoleon, the Emperor Franz Joseph, Luciano Pavarotti, Liz Taylor and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this historic country mansion we will enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the elegant dining rooms. Choose your main dish from various Austrian specialties and enjoy the live music and unlimited drinks. EURO 60

VIE14 - GALA VIENNESE CONCERT
A wonderful concert of Viennese Classical music including some of the most famous works of Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by highly acclaimed soloists and dancers. A glass of champagne is also included during this special evening. EURO 47

BUD02 - HUNGARIAN DINNER & MUSIC
Enjoy a traditional Hungarian dinner including drinks while musicians and performers provide entertainment. EUR 48

BUD03 - DANUBE CRUISE WITH DRINKS
The most leisurely way to discover this fairy-tale city is a guided cruise on the Danube with a glass of fine Hungarian wine in your hand. See Margaret Island, the Houses of Parliament, Castle Hill with the Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace, the Citadel and the University. EURO 35 Note: Occasionally, a lavish. gourmet buffet meal of Hungarian specialties and unlimited drinks will be offered for EUR 55

BUD01B - EXCURSION TO SZENTENDRE WITH MICRO MUSEUM
We travel north, past the Roman Ruins of Aquincum, to the picturesque Baroque village of Szentendre. An orientation tour guides us through this architectural treasure trove to the main square – an excellent place from which to explore. Szentendre's cobbled streets house a delightful array of craft-shops as well as a number of art museums and galleries. Perhaps visit the Micro Museum, where the exhibits can only be viewed under a microscope.EUR 25

ZAG01 - KUMROVEC & LUNCH
A short yet scenic drive takes us to Kumrovec, the birthplace of the late Marshall Tito, whose house has been turned into a museum. Situated on the bank of the River Sutla, Kumrovec is an exceptionally valuable and attractive ethnic village with about thirty rural houses and farmsteads, restored and kept as a typical rural entity. Later, we follow a winding road through the Zagorje hills. A lunch of local specialties is served in a renowned restaurant, with magnificent views of the Croatian countryside. EURO 51

SPT01 - KONOBA DINNER
If you want to truly experience Dalmatian cuisine, a dinner in a traditional 'konoba' - a stone daylight basement - is the best choice. Select from a variety of seafood or meats accompanied by good Dalamatian wines. EURO 47

DBV01 - EXCURSION INTO MONTENEGRO WITH LUNCH
We drive southward along the coast into Montenegro. We visit the town of Kotor, situated on the only fjord on the Adriatic coast. Here we visit one of the most beautiful parts of the bay, and learn some of the compelling history of this area. Then it's on to the picturesque town of Budva where we have a light lunch with drinks included. Finally we have views of the exclusive resort of Sveti Stefan before we take a ferry ride across the bay on our way back to Dubrovnik. PLEASE NOTE: VISAS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS EXCURSION. EURO 53

DBV02 - SUNSET CRUISE & DINNER
Sit back and enjoy a relaxing cruise around the fabled bay of Dubrovnik. The mighty city walls rise straight from the cliffs that once upon a time were part of yet another island of the Adriatic. A dinner of seaside specialties will be washed down with local drinks (wine and grappa being the most famous) as the sun sets over the splendid city. We will moor in the old town harbour and have another look at Dubrovnik by night - when the crowds are gone and the locals come out for a stroll. (The operation of this tour is dependent on weather conditions and in some cases the cruise will be operated during the day with lunch). EURO 53

DBV05 - CAVTAT EXCURSION
The panoramic ride on the way to Cavtat overlooking the steep coast of the Adriatic sea is an ideal opportunity to make several photo stops. It is here that one starts believing that all those promotion clips of Dubrovnik were NOT retouched. Visit Cavtat, one of the most enchanting resort towns in Croatia, and check why the rich and famous come every year and moor their yachts right at the entrance of the Cavtat Bay. EURO 19

LJB01 - EXCURSION TO LAKE BLED
A short drive through dramatic Slovenian countryside takes us to the beautiful lake resort of Bled. Enjoy the views and silence as an oarsman steers his traditional boat – pletna - to the island. Visit the pilgrimage church and ring the famous "wishing bell" for your personal wish. Then we have coffee and a delicious pastry by the lake, followed by some free time for unforgettable photo-ops! EURO 41

LJB03 POSTOJNA CAVES EXCURSION
Visited by over 30 million people already and protected as a World Heritage site, these limestone caves are considered by experts as having the most spectacular cave decorations in the world. A 90-minute guided tour starts with a ride on an electric train and continues on foot, through mysterious underground corridors and spectacular caverns. EURO 41

LJB05 SLOVENIAN DINNER
A short drive takes us to the top of the hill where Ljubljana Castle is situated. From the viewing terraces lovely views extend over the roofs of the Old Town. Enjoy a variety of traditional Slovenian cuisine and drinks served in the beautiful setting of a castle courtyard. EURO 49