Grand Balkan Tour; Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia; Zagreb-Athens 16nts (Saturday)

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia
Duration: 17 days
Availability: MONDAYS, May - September
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia
Duration: 17 days
Availability: MONDAYS, May - September
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

For all Dates and Prices click here

Highlights

This spectacular comprehensive Grand Balkan Tour encompasses the entire Balkan region in one fabulous experience!
Sightseeing tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Ohrid, Kalambaka and Athens
See Lake Bled and Plitvice Lakes National Park
Diocletian’s Palace and St. Duimus Cathedral in Split
Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik
National Museum in Tirana, St. Sofia in Ohrid
Fantastic landscapes of Meteora, known as “the rocks that fell from the sky”
Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi
See the immortal Acropolis and the Parthenon

Book now (obligation free) pay later

17 days from Zagreb, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tivat, Tirana, Ohrid, Kalambaka and to Athens

The best of everything... the Grand Balkan 16 nights tour!
Start in Zagreb, visit the Lakes, and the Dalmatian Coast.
Then down to Montenegro, through Albania, Macedonia and finish in Athens.
Guaranteed Departure Small Group Tour; Zagreb to Athens 16 nights

Itinerary

Open age Small Group Escorted Coach Tour (up to 24 passengers) conducted in English. Solo travellers must book their own room for solo use.

Other Small Group Tours:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/tours/small-group-tours/

Same tour, opposite direction:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/89/great-balkan-tour-albania-croatia-slovenia-16nts/

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
17 days from Zagreb, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tivat (Montenegro), Tirana (Albania), Ohrid (Macedonia), Kalambaka (Greece) and to Athens

INCLUDED:
• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Arrival transfer Zagreb (ZAG to hotel) on day 1
• Departure transfer in Athens (hotel to ATH) on day 17
• Breakfast daily and 10 dinners
• Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
• Professional Tour Director throughout
• Luggage handling
• Whisper technology enhanced touring
• Service charges and hotel taxes

Sightseeing Tours Included:
• Zagreb
• Bled
• Postojna Cave
• Plitvice Lakes
• Split
• Dubrovnik
• Kotor
• Tirana
• Ohrid
• Kalambaka
• Athens

Entrance Tickets Included:
• Postojna Cave
• Bled Castle
• Plitvice - Lower Lakes
• Split - Diocletian's Palace
• Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace & Pharmacy
• Shkodra - Rozafa Castle
• Tirana - National History Museum
• Ohrid - Cathedral of St. Sofia
• Meteora - Great Meteoro
• Delphi - Archaeological Museum of Delphi & Temple of Apollo
• Athens - Acropolis

Hotel list:
• Zagreb: Sheraton/Westin or similar
• Bled: Rikli Balance or similar
• Plitvice: Jezero or similar
• Split: Atrium or similar
• Dubrovnik: Lacroma or similar
• Tivat: Palma or similar
• Tirana: Colloseo or similar
• Ohrid: Granit or similar
• Kalambaka: Grand Meteora or similar
• Athens: Stanley/Titania or similar

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

#OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:
• Home hosted Dubelj with dinner
• Jet Set spot of rich and famous – Island of Hvar.

ITINERARY:

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.

Day 1, Saturday, arrival ZAGREB, CROATIA (D)
On arrival at ZAG airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at your Welcome Dinner.

Day 2, Sunday, ZAGREB (B)
This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside.

Day 3, Monday, to Ljubljana, and to BLED, SLOVENIA (B, D)
After breakfast head towards Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. See the most significant sights of the old city center on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. Then, continue to Bled.

Day 4, Tuesday, BLED (B)
An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was “discovered” by travelers in the middle of the 19th century. Since then, a small town of hotels, villas, and restaurants has developed around the lake, turning Bled into a lively, all-seasons resort. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and the lakeshore, and visits imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting the small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery.

Day 5, Wednesday, to Postojna, then Opatija and to PLITVICE, CROATIA (B, D)
Journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward, continue to the coast, have a stop in Opatija. Enjoy the walking tour of this fashionable resort in the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes.

Day 6, Thursday, to SPLIT (B, D)
After breakfast, have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split

Day 7, Friday, SPLIT - Hvar Excursion (B)
In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy at the beach or join us on an optional excursion to Hvar.
#Optional Excursion: Visit Hvar, the Jet Set spot of rich and famous – Island of Hvar.

Day 8, Saturday, to DUBROVNIK (B, D)
After breakfast travel to Dubrovnik. Day at leisure to explore Dubrovnik to your heart's content. Perhaps take a walk along the walls. Dinner at hotel.

Day 9, Sunday, in DUBROVNIK (B)
After the breakfast, walking tour of Old Dubrovnik visit the Rector's Palace, and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join us for an optional dinner excursion.
#Optional Excursion: home hosted Dubelj with dinner.

Day 10, Monday, to TIVAT, MONTENEGRO (B, D)
After the breakfast, continue to Tivat. On the way you will see Kotor Bay, the only South European fiord. Walking tour of town Kotor.

Day11, Tuesday, to Shkodra, then to TIRANA, ALBANIA (B, D)
After breakfast we leave Tivat and drive via Budva and Bar towards town of Shkodra, nowadays a major Albanian cultural center. Shkodra was the center of the Illyrian tribe Labeat and was taken by the Romans in the year 168 B.C. We have views of the Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city. Continue drive to Tirana.

Day 12, Wednesday, TIRANA (B)
On a Morning sightseeing tour, see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square) the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its façade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or simply just relax.

Day 13, Thursday, to OHRID, the REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA (B, D)
The lakeside resort of Ohrid is an important cultural and spiritual center, classified as UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Enjoy sightseeing tour will take you strolling through the cobblestone streets of the old town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, containing some magnificent frescoes from the 10th century.

Day 14, Friday, to KALAMBAKA, GREECE (B, D)
After breakfast, admire the fantastic landscapes of Meteora, known as “the rocks that fell from the sky”, where monks built their rock – top monasteries far away from civilization. Out of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are now active. The most important is Megalo of Great Meteoro, of peculiar architecture with its tall and intricate dome, twelve sides and fine frescoes.

Day 15, Saturday, to Delphi, then to ATHENS (B)
Your first stop is Delphi, where the famous Oracle once 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 Athens.

Day 16, Sunday. ATHENS (B, D)
See the highlights of Athens this morning on a sightseeing tour. This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amid reminders of a long and a glorious past: graceful temples, centuries – old monasteries and ornate Byzantine churches. Visit the immortal Acropolis, the Parthenon, said to be the most perfectly proportioned building of all time, Also, see 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. Join us for Farewell Taverna Dinner in the Plaka beside the Acropolis.

Day 17, Monday, departure ATHENS, GREECE (B)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport ATH for your departure flight.

NOTE: Because of the narrow and cobbled streets, walking is the primary way of getting around. Please make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes.

B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner

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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

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

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

Croatia Island Hopping Tour FAQ - 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]