• Activity Level:  1
  • Comfort:  4
  • Departs From: Zagreb
  • Location: Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia
  • Duration: 11 days (Wed-Sat)
  • Availability: WEDNESDAYS only, monthly departures
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • Historic City of Trogir
  • Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian
  • Old City of Dubrovnik
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Lake Bled
  • Zagreb (Croatia)
  • Ljubljana (Slovenia)
  • Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Beograd (Serbia)
Book now (obligation free) pay later

11 days from Zagreb, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Mostar, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Osijek/Vukovar, Zag

A comprehensive Escorted Tour of the Balkans!
From Croatia to Slovenia, then back down to the Dalmatian Coast.
Head into Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia.
Back to finish in Zagreb for an easy departure.
Escorted Coach Tour - Zagreb round-trip

Itinerary

Open age Escorted Coach Tour conducted in English (possibly up to 40pax). Double bed or twin bed rooms available. Solo travellers must book a room for solo use with a solo supplement (no 'share' option).

===================================================================
INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
11 days from Zagreb, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Mostar, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Osijek/Vukovar, and back to Zagreb

INCLUDED:
• 10 nights Hotel accommodation
• Arrival transfer from Zagreb Airport to hotel on first day of tour
• Departure transfer from hotel to Zagreb Airport on the last day of the tour
• Air-conditioned vehicle with driver at group's disposal as per itinerary.
• Experienced English-speaking Tour Escort throughout

Meals Included:
• Breakfast daily
• 8 Hotel Dinners
• 2 Lunches: Ilok and Stara Kapela
• Wine tasting in Ilok

Sightseeing Walking Tours Included:
• Zagreb
• Ljubljana
• Plitvice Lakes
• Zadar
• Split
• Dubrovnik
• Sarajevo
• Beograd
• Novi Sad
• Osijek

Entrances Included:
• Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Diocletian's PalaceSplit
• Etno Village Stara Kapela

Hotel list:
Zagreb - Hotel Astoria 4star or similar
Bled - Hotel Kompas 4star or similar
Plitvice - Hotel Jezero 3star or similar
Split - Hotel Atrium 5staror similar
Dubrovnik - Hotel Valamar (Argosy/Lacroma) 4star or similar
Sarajevo - Hotel Colors In 4star or similar
Beograd - Hotel Zira 4star or similar
Osijek - Hotel Osijek 4star or similar

NOT INCLUDED:
• Meals not listed
• Tips and gratuities
• Porterage
• Transfers on days other than the scheduled start and finish days

# OPTIONAL EXCURSION:
• Korcula on Monday: ~54 EUR per person (book while on the tour)


ITINERARY:
Arrive anytime the first day, first overnight in Zagreb. Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. Dinner and first overnight in hotel, so late arrivals are possible. Dinner around 7pm. Arrival airport transfer included. See the noticeboard in Reception.

DAY 1 Wednesday ZAGREB; D
Transfer on the day of the tour from Zagreb airport, or another hotel in Zagreb to the tour hotel, rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Zagreb.

DAY 2 Thursday ZAGREB – BLED B, D
Morning sightseeing tour of Zagreb, Croatian capital city, gives you the opportunity to see the fortified Upper Town, the city’s historical center, St Mark’s church with its multi-colored roof, the Cathedral, Croatian National Theatre and the University. Through the carved facades of buildings and baroque churches, we see many green spaces and terraces of cafes where the locals like to gather. Early afternoon departure to Bled, small town in the Julian Alps which could be a setting for a classic fairy tale: immense natural beauty with mountains and forest surrounding an emerald glacial lake, an island in the middle of the lake with a church steeple and its wishing bell, a cliff top castle with picturesque views, and a well-known sweet treat, Bled cream cake. Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts and is renowned also for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. Dinner and overnight in Bled.

DAY 3 Friday BLED – LJUBLJANA – PLITVICE; B, D
Morning departure to Ljubljana, Slovenian capital where you will have a guided tour of the most significant sights of its old center: the picturesque Central open-air Market and the Three Bridges, the Baroque Town Hall and Robba’s Fountain. After Ljubljana we are continuing our journey to Plitvice lakes, well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site, natural beauty of the 16 crystal - blue lakes cascading into 92 spectacular waterfalls. Walk on the wooden promenades with magnificent views on the waters where every turn leads to a breathtaking scenery and yet another waterfall. Surrounded by dense woods, Plitvice lakes are a natural phenomenon of rare and unique beauty. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice area.

DAY 4 Saturday PLITVICE – ZADAR – SPLIT; B, D
Morning departure towards Zadar, where upon arrival we'll be taking you for a guided walking tour through the Roman Forum from the 2nd century BC, passing by the 9th century pre-Romanesque church of St. Donatus as well as St. Anastasia church. Departure to Split. This afternoon our guide will uncover for you the secrets of the UNESCO protected Diocletian’s Palace and its cellars. This Roman emperor spared no expense for the construction of a sumptuous residence, importing best quality marble, sphinx and columns. The original palace was modified by its new inhabitants during the middle Ages, but making it even more beautiful and what it is today: the city's living heart. Its narrow streets hide passageways and courtyards, some deserted and eerie, others lively and animated by the music from bars and cafes, or by the everyday life of its residents. Dinner and overnight in Split.

DAY 5 Sunday SPLIT – DUBROVNIK; B, D
After breakfast, departure to Dubrovnik. Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, there's that sense of awe when you set eyes on the beauty of this old town. Immerse yourselves into the symphony of the city’s marble streets, baroque buildings and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic. Upon arrival, city tour of this UNESCO protected Pearl of the Adriatic and its Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 6 Monday DUBROVNIK; B, D
Day at leisure. Optional excursions to the island of Korčula. Korčula holds indisputable a privileged position among the Croatian islands. Here we find more legends, tales and monuments than anywhere else. Being famous stonemasons, shipbuilders and seafarers the people of Korčula left their marks all over the world, but they saved their best works for their own city. Experience the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces in one of the best preserved Medieval towns in the Mediterranean. After sightseeing free time for lunch or even swimming. On the return a stop will be made in one of the well-known wine cellars of the Pelješac peninsula to sample some of the excellent local wine. Dinner & overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 7 Tuesday DUBROVNIK – MOSTAR – SARAJEVO; B, D
Morning departure to Mostar, city of bridges, where the traveler from the south gets the first glimpse of the continent beyond. Orientational walk with your tour leader in Mostar and free time for lunch. Departure to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo is one of the historically most interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & the Eastern Roman Empire split and where the people of the Orthodox East, the Ottoman South and the Roman Catholic West met, both an example of the clash of civilizations and of historical turbulences and a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance, reached through multi-cultural integration. City tour of Sarajevo upon arrival. Dinner and overnight in Sarajevo.

DAY 8 Wednesday SARAJEVO – BELGRADE; B, D
Morning departure to Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Short break will be made in Zvornik, charming little town in the northeastern Bosnia on Drina river. Belgrade is situated at the place where Sava joins the Danube river. There are spots in Belgrade you must definitely see and feel. Streets, squares, monuments, parks, fountains, archeological sites. Many of them have been given the status of cultural assets. Upon arrival a guided tour of this beautiful city between two rivers famous by its sunsets. Free time after the tour, perhaps a visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia. Dinner and overnight in Belgrade.

DAY 9 Thursday BELGRADE – NOVI SAD – OSIJEK/VUKOVAR; B, L
Morning departure to Novi Sad (Serbia's second largest city), located on Danube river.
Novi Sad's position at one of the continent's true crossroads and history as a multinational commercial and transit center has left it endowed with historical and cultural sights that even much larger cities have difficulty matching. Novi Sad has much to boast about, from the imposing fortress on the opposite bank to the churches representing numerous denominations throughout the old town's exceedingly pleasant pedestrian zone to several unheralded but noteworthy museums and art galleries. Our local guide will show us all „must see“ locations. After the guided tour of Novi Sad we will continue towards Ilok. You will have opportunity to taste wines in one of the famous Croatia wine cellars “Iločki Podrumi” followed by traditional lunch. On our way to Osijek we will stop in Vukovar which is the biggest Croatian river port located at the confluence of Vuka River in Danube, a town also known as a symbol of the Croatian war for independence, as it arose from the ashes of the '90s into the proud city that it is today. In the late afternoon hours we will end this day. Overnight in Osijek or Vukovar.

DAY 10 Friday OSIJEK/VUKOVAR – ZAGREB; B, L
You will start you morning with the city tour of Osijek. Osijek Pancake - flat, rich in rivers, Slavonia has unique natural wonders and delicious regional cuisine that will take your breath away: endless plains, the intense yellow of its corn and sunflower fields, the flavors of its cuisine that will make all your senses travel.... Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, beautifully settled on the banks of Drava river. Osijek remains a popular tourist destination for its Baroque style, open spaces and lots of recreational opportunities. Located in one of the most fertile and most certainly the biggest agricultural area of Croatia, the town is its semi-official gastronomic capital. City tour passes by the Cathedral and the Tvrdja (Old Fort). We are continuing our drive and the first thing you see when approaching Djakovo from either side is the brightness of the bricks of the two towers and cupolas of its Cathedral, beauty of which welcomes the visitors. After the visit, departure towards Zagreb followed by a visit to the Ethno Village of Stara Kapela for a lunch (no drinks included) of the products of the Pannonia soil. Overnight in Zagreb.

DAY 11 Saturday DEPARTURE; B
Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Departure transfer from the tour hotel to Zagreb airport or hotels in Zagreb. You can leave your bags at hotel reception if your departure is after check-out time.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
===================================================================

Inclusions

No inclusions provided

Restrictions

Tour is not suitable for persons with restricted mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

 

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

 

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

 

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]

 

 

Discover Croatia logoCNTB Logo

Photos

Zagreb
Zagreb

Video

Make an enquiry Book now (obligation free) pay later

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Available Special Offer
UNAVAILABLE / SOLD OUT
Click on available dates (blue or red) for pricing
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Itinerary

  • DAY 1 Wednesday ZAGREB; D
  • DAY 2 Thursday ZAGREB – BLED B, D
  • DAY 3 Friday BLED – LJUBLJANA – PLITVICE; B, D
  • DAY 4 Saturday PLITVICE – ZADAR – SPLIT; B, D
  • DAY 5 Sunday SPLIT – DUBROVNIK; B, D
  • DAY 6 Monday DUBROVNIK; B, D
  • DAY 7 Tuesday DUBROVNIK – MOSTAR – SARAJEVO; B, D
  • DAY 8 Wednesday SARAJEVO – BELGRADE; B, D
  • DAY 9 Thursday BELGRADE – NOVI SAD – OSIJEK/VUKOVAR; B, L
  • DAY 10 Friday OSIJEK/VUKOVAR – ZAGREB; B, L
  • DAY 11 Saturday DEPARTURE; B