14-Day Adriatic & Balkan Discovery: Venice, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro & Albania

DAY 1 | Sunday – Depart for Italy

Begin your once-in-a-lifetime Adriatic and Balkan adventure! Fly to Venice, Italy, the city of canals, history, and romance, ready to explore medieval towns, scenic islands, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

DAY 2 | Monday – Arrive in Venice

Arrive in Venice and transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure to soak in the Venetian atmosphere. Meet your Tour Manager at 6 PM for a welcome orientation and dinner.

Overnight: Venice | Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 | Tuesday – Venice City Tour

Discover the magic of Venice, starting with Murano, the island famed for its colorful glassware. Visit a local glassblowing factory and witness this centuries-old craft. Continue to the main island for a guided walking tour:

• St. Mark’s Square

• Doge’s Palace, the former residence of Venetian rulers

• Bridge of Sighs, a romantic and iconic landmark

• Basilica of San Marco, blending Byzantine, Roman, and Venetian architecture
  Optional: Take a Gondola Ride to see Venice from its famous canals.

Overnight: Venice | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 | Wednesday – Trieste Sightseeing en route to Bled

Depart Venice and journey toward Slovenia, stopping in Trieste, a historic Italian port city. Enjoy a guided walk through the main piazzas, the Roman theater, and the Jewish quarter. Continue to Bled, a picturesque town set amidst the Julian Alps. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Bled | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 | Thursday – Resort City of Bled

Experience Bled, surrounded by mountains and pristine lakes. Tour along the lake shore, then ascend to Bled Castle, perched dramatically on a cliff. Optional experiences include:

• Postojna Cave: Explore a network of underground chambers, stalactites, and stalagmites via a cave train

• Radovljica Medieval Town & Dinner: Savor traditional Slovenian cuisine with local wines

Overnight: Bled | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6 | Friday – Ljubljana & Opatija

Drive to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming capital. Explore the Old Town, featuring:

• Baroque & Art Nouveau architecture

• Three Bridges Square

• Town Hall & Robba Fountain
  Spend free time before continuing to Opatija, Croatia, a stunning coastal town, for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight: Opatija | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 | Saturday – Full Day in Opatija / Optional Istrian Peninsula Tour

Relax in Opatija, famous for its beaches, Austro-Hungarian heritage, and scenic promenade. Alternatively, join the optional Istrian Peninsula tour visiting:

• Pula, home to one of the world’s largest Roman amphitheaters

• Rovinj, a picturesque coastal town with charming lanes

Return to Opatija in the evening for dinner or independent exploration.

Overnight: Opatija | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8 | Sunday – Pakovo Selo, Krka National Park, Split

Travel along the scenic Adriatic coast to Split. En route, stop at:

• Pakovo Selo, a quaint Dalmatian village

• Krka National Park, famous for its Skradinski Buk waterfalls and lush landscapes

Arrive in Split, check into your hotel, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Split | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 | Monday – Explore Split, Travel to Dubrovnik

Walk through Split’s Old Town, built around the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace:

• Roman Peristyle

• Cathedral of St. Domnius

• Temple of Jupiter
  Travel along the Adriatic coast to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, and enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10 | Tuesday – Dubrovnik City Tour / Optional Silk Wonder & Old Mills

Explore Old Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:

• Rector’s Palace (Gothic & Renaissance)

• Sponza Palace

• Orlando Tower & Luza Square

• Franciscan Monastery & one of Europe’s oldest pharmacies

Optional experiences:

• Silk Wonder & Old Mills Tour

• Traditional Croatian Dinner

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 11 | Wednesday – Montenegro & Bay of Kotor

Cross into Montenegro to visit the stunning Bay of Kotor. Enjoy:

• Boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks

• Guided walking tour of Kotor Old Town, including:

  • Cathedral of St. Tryphon

  • Maritime Museum
    Spend the night in Budva-Becici with dinner included.

Overnight: Budva-Becici | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 12 | Thursday – Shkodra & Tirana City Tour

Drive to Tirana, Albania, stopping at Shkodra, one of Albania’s oldest cities. In Tirana, tour:

• Skanderbeg Square & statue

• Et’hem Bey Mosque

• Palace of Culture

• Bunk’Art 2 Museum, an ex-nuclear bunker revealing Albania’s Cold War history

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 13 | Friday – Full Day in Tirana / Optional Kruje Tour

Enjoy leisure time in Tirana or join the optional Kruje Tour:

• Walk through the old bazaar

• Visit the Ethnographic Museum

• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

Farewell dinner with your Tour Manager rounds off the journey.

Overnight: Tirana | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14 | Saturday – Depart Albania

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, concluding a breathtaking journey through the Adriatic & Balkan gems.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

• Venice: Murano glass, Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica & optional Gondola Ride

• Bled: Iconic Bled Castle, serene lake views, optional Postojna Cave

• Opatija & Istrian Peninsula: Stunning coastline, historic towns, local cuisine

• Split & Krka National Park: UNESCO sites & cascading waterfalls

• Dubrovnik: Walk Old Town, Franciscan Monastery, optional Silk & Old Mills tour

• Montenegro: Bay of Kotor, Our Lady of the Rocks, medieval Old Town

• Albania: Tirana sightseeing & optional Kruje cultural tour

Package Includes

• Flights: New York–Venice / Tirana–New York (other departures available)

• 12 nights First Class accommodations

• 20 meals: 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners

• Hotel porterage, transfers, sightseeing per itinerary

• English-speaking Tour Manager & local guides

• Entrance fees & comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring

Special Features

• Gondola ride in Venice for a unique city perspective

• Explore Bled Castle, perched above a pristine alpine lake

• Marvel at Krka National Park waterfalls

• Walk Diocletian’s Palace in Split, a Roman architectural treasure

• Tour Dubrovnik, Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor & Albania’s cultural landmarks