2008 Balkan Adventure
Highlights
Acropolis & The Parthenon Delphi's Temple of Apollo Lake Ohrid and Old Town Dubrovnik's Ancient Walls Diocletian's Palace Plitvice Lakes Postogna Caves Bled Castle
What's Included
What's Included
Details
- Tour Operator
- CIE Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 9/30/2008
- Duration
- 17 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA | Depart USA : Depart your home city and fly through the night to Athens. Relax with an inflight meal and entertainment as you travel. |
| Day 2 | Athens | Athens Arrival : Land in Athens where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend some free time resting or explore a little on your own. Meet your tour escort and fellow travelers to enjoy a welcome dinner in a traditional Greek tavern in Plaka, the old part of Athens. (D) |
| Day 3 | Athens | Athen's Acropolis : See the highlights of Athens this morning on a sightseeing tour. This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amidst reminders of a long and glorious past: graceful temples, centuries-old monasteries, and ornate Byzantine churches. Visit the immortal Acropolis, which dominates the skyline of central Athens, to see the Parthenon, the Erectheion with the Porch of the Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Wingless Victory. Below the Acropolis lies the ancient Agora and the Theaters of Dionysus and Herodus Atticus. Your afternoon and evening are free. (BB) |
| Day 4 | Kalambaka | Delphi & Kalambaka : Your first stop this morning is Delphi, where the famous oracle foretold the destiny of men. The Temple of Apollo, in which the oracle functioned, was built in the 6th century B.C. Also see the Sacred Way, the Stadium and the Castilian Fountain, where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the oracle. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which contains an impressive collection of finds from the site, including the beautiful "Bronze Charioteer," before continuing to Kalambaka. (BB, D) |
| Day 5 | Ohrid | Meteora & Ohrid : After breakfast drive to the Plain of Thessaly to admire the monasteries of Meteora, which are built on spectacular natural sandstone rock pillars and date back to the 11th century. Six monasteries are still active. Visit the Great Meteoron, the largest of all, which was erected in the mid-14th century and has been embellished and restored over the centuries. Admire its unique architecture with a tall and intricate dome, twelve sides and fine frescoes. Continue across the border to Macedonia and on to Ohrid. (BB, D) |
| Day 6 | Tirana | Albania & Tirana : The lakeside resort of Ohrid is an important cultural and spiritual center, now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start your morning sightseeing tour with a walk through the cobblestone streets to see some of the many picturesque houses and monuments in the old city. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, dating from the 11th century. It contains some magnificent frescoes from the 11th to 13th centuries that represent some of the best Byzantine painting from that era. In the early afternoon, travel to Tirana, the capital of Albania. (BB, D) |
| Day 7 | Tirana | Tirana Sightseeing : Tirana was founded in 1614 and became the capital of Albania in 1920. On a morning sightseeing tour see Skanderbeg Square, with the statue of G. K. Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero. Also see the Et'hem Bey Mosque, begun in 1789 and finished in 1821, and beside it the Clock Tower started in 1821. View the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance and the National History Museum, with a mosaic portraying Albanian history on its facade. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop or relax. (BB) |
| Day 8 | Dubrovnik | Montenegro & Croatia : After breakfast depart Tirana and travel to the town of Shkodra, a cultural center and one of Albania's oldest cities. See the ruins of Rozafa Castle, set on a hill high above the city. Then cross the border into Montenegro and on to Croatia to the beautiful coastal gem of Dubrovnik. (BB, D) |
| Day 9 | Dubrovnik | Tour Dubrovnik : The old parts of Dubrovnik are completely encircled by the defensive walls that date from the 10th century. Take a walking tour to see the main points of interest in and around the Square of the Loggia. View Orlando's Column, the Clock Tower and the Sponza Palace with its Renaissance loggia and Venetian Gothic windows above it. Visit the Rector's Palace, which was the political and administrative center for centuries and also see the Dominican Monastery and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, dating back to 1317. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB) |
| Day 10 | Dubrovnik | Dubrovnik at Leisure : Today enjoy a full day at leisure to relax, shop or explore the many churches and museums on your own. The compact old city is a great place for browsing. (BB) |
| Day 11 | Split | End Tour Today or Visit Split : Passengers on the shorter tour will transfer to Dubrovnik Airport this morning. Those on the longer tour will travel north along the spectacular Adriatic Coast past traditional fishing villages and modern resorts to Split. Enjoy a city tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. See the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral. (BB, D) |
| Day 12 | Plitvice | Trogir & Plitvice Lakes : After breakfast head to Trogir, set on a small island and joined to the mainland by bridge. Since medieval times it has been a center of artistic activities, attracting craftsmen and scholars from around the world. Leave the Dalmatian Coast as you turn inland and travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder where 16 terraced lakes are surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. On arrival take a walking tour around several of the lower lakes and be sure to have your camera ready to capture the wonderful vistas. (BB, D) |
| Day 13 | Bled | Opatija & Bled : Return to the coast and travel along the beautiful Bay of Kvarner to its popular resort, Opatija. After some free time journey north to visit Postojna Caves. This is the longest cave system in Slovenia and was created by the Pivka River. Tour the fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterwards, continue to Bled, beautifully set amidst the Julian Alps. (BB, D) |
| Day 14 | Bled | Bled Highlights : A sightseeing tour of Bled features the charming town with the lakeshore and the imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure for optional activities, such as visiting the small island in the middle of the lake. (BB) |
| Day 15 | Zagreb | Ljubljana & Zagreb : Start your day with a walking tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Visit the most significant sights of the old city center including the picturesque open-air Central Market and the Three Bridges, both designed by famous architect Joze Plecnik, Baroque Town Hall and Robba's Fountain. Then continue to Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. (BB, D) |
| Day 16 | Zagreb | Discover Zagreb : This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark's Church, St. Catherine's Church, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or to take an optional excursion with dinner into the surrounding countryside. (BB) |
| Day 17 | Depart Zagreb for Home | Depart Zagreb for Home : After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (BB) |
- Dates/Pricing
- Lodging
Divani Palace Acropolis - Athens - 2 night(s) Divani Hotel Kalambaka (Kompas) - Kalambaka - 1 night(s) Metropol Hotel, Ohrid - Ohrid - 1 night(s) Sheraton Hotel, Tirana - Tirana - 2 night(s) Tirena Hotel - Dubrovnik - 3 night(s) President Hotel, Split - Split - 1 night(s) Jezero Hotel, Plitvice - Plitvice - 1 night(s) Park Hotel, Bled - Bled - 2 night(s) Regent Esplanade, Zagreb - Zagreb - 2 night(s)
- Disclaimer
- Coach Tour and River Cruise prices are based on two people sharing rooms; for single prices, click on preferred travel date below to view next screen.
- Taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are not included.
- This list indicates brochure rates and dates. If your date of choice is marked "On Request" or appears in the brochure but not on this page please contact your travel agent for information.
- Air price is based on departures from New York. Additional add-on airfares from other cities will be available after clicking on Book Now! The air inclusive prices below are for general information only and not a reflection of current seat availability.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline's checked baggage policies.
- We highly recommend that you review our general conditions page for full details on terms, conditions, and penalties.
