Fly from the US to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, a private driver will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel. You will have time to rest and relax before meeting your group for a welcome talk and dinner. Pre-nights are available for those wanting to arrive a day or so earlier. Sleep in Dubrovnik

We will spend the morning exploring Dubrovnik, “The Pearl of the Adriatic Sea”. This beautiful Maritime Republic – through the centuries, a worthy opponent of Venice – was able to preserve its independence for hundreds of years. After lunch in town, we will transfer to Orebic, where we will spend the next two nights. En route we'll stop to visit Ston and its awesome fortified walls. We will arrive in Orebic in the late afternoon in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Sleep in Orebic.

Today we'll enjoy a relaxed visit to the island of Korcula, that lies just off the Dalmatian cost. After a short, scenic, boat ride through the Srait of Peljesac, we'll reach the port of Korcula from where we'll start our exploration of its Venetian Renaissance heritage. According to local legend, Marco Polo was born here. From Marco Polo's alleged house of birth, you'll enjoy a breathtaking view of Korcula, stretching from east to west. After a tour of Korcula Old Town, and its splendid Gothic-Renaissance style Cathedral, you'll have lunch in a quaint restaurant. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the pristine beaches nearby. Sleep in Orebic.

This morning, we'll leave Orebic for Split. On the way, we'll stop to visit beautiful Hvar Island. We will explore its port town with its whitewashed facades, 13th century walls and hilltop fortress. After a ferry ride back to the mainland, we'll get into Split, our home for the next two nights. This beautiful city was founded by the Ancient Greeks and then conquered by the Romans – and later become part of the Venetian Republic for more than 350 years. Sleep in Split.

This morning we will explore Split and visit its most important sites, including the famed Palace of Diocletian (which is protected by UNESCO). In the afternoon, we will visit Trogir, called by many the “little Venice”. It hosts an extraordinary number of art masterpieces and it is arguably the best-preserved Venetian city on the Dalmatian coastline. Sleep in Split.

After leaving our hotel in Split, we'll dedicate the day to absorb the natural beauties of Krka National Park. We will visit its beautiful waterfalls and learn more about the bird and mammal species which populate the park from an informative nature guide. Weather permitting, we will also enjoy a boat excursion to the Visocac Monastery that sits on a tiny island within the park. This evening we will travel to the coastal town of Zadar, the oldest inhabited city in all of Croatia. Sleep in Zadar.

Today we will leave Zadar for Trieste. On the way, we will stop to visit the amazing caves of Skocjan and learn more about Slovenia's carstic soil and rock formations. Afterwards you will head to your wine tasting and lunch at a family restaurant and private cellars. Then you visit the secluded little church of Hrastovlje and marvel at its amazing wall frescoes. Sleep in Trieste.

After departure, we will make our way to the very charming settlement of Motovun before heading to nearby seaside town of Rovini. The mountain village of Motovun is very different from most of what we have visited up to now. Its medieval origin still exudes from the strong walls and cobble stone streets. The forests around the city are an incredible habitat for truffles – which will be the highlight of our lunch today, together with wine tasting at a family-owned cellar! In Rovini, you’ll have time to explore the little shops and enjoy the beautiful seaside views. Sleep in Trieste.

This morning we’ll make our way to visit a very special site, the Predjama Castle. Perched high on a cliff, it officially dates back to the 16th century but many believe it dates further back when it was the home of the robber knight “Erazem.” In the afternoon we will visit Lipzica and learn more about the Lipizaner horse bread. If schedule allows it, we'll enjoy the performance of Lipzica's riding school. Tonight we will enjoy a special dinner at a family owned farm restaurant. Sleep in Trieste.

Today, we'll visit Lake Bled, an amazing jewel of nature nestled at the feet of the Julian Alps. Slovenia’s only island, Bled is located in the middle of an alpine lake with mountains on all sides. This spectacular location inspired Slavic populations to venerate Ziva, the goddess of love and fertility. Later, Christians built a church here that is still visited by pilgrims. The village of Bled is one of the most beloved locations in Slovenia. We will enjoy a great boat excursion on the lake before heading to Triglav National Park where we enjoy an easy hike along the river. Sleep at Lake Bojini.

Today we will have the opportunity to visit the quaint villages of the Slovenian countryside on our way to a scenic waterfall hike. Our hike will end near the home of a local artist where we will enjoy a homemade lunch of local specialties. Sleep at Lake Bojini.

This morning, we’ll head to Slovenia’s beautiful capital city of Ljubljana. Here, Medieval, Baroque, and Art Nouveau masterpieces compliment an original character given to the city by the famous architect Jože Plečnik. Together with your local guide, you'll explore the city's main attractions. Tonight we will dine at a quaint restaurant for our farewell dinner where you'll savor the local cuisine – result of centuries of cultures intertwine. Sleep in Ljubljana

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.