The tour is specially tailed for the Asian market, focusing on the most famous tourist venues of Balkans, Italy and Austria. In 12 days, spend in Europe, the guests will be visiting 7 countries (Turkey, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Vatican, Austria, Slovenia), but yet they will still have unique travel experience.
We stand out from the crowd because we prefer smaller groups (15 – 35 guests), hiring only highly experienced local guides, using the most ECO-friendly ways of transport possible, following the “leave no trace” policy to assimilate into the local environment. We are also avoiding the most tourist occupied times of the year (June, July, August) to assure the shortest waiting times at border crossings and to avoid overbooked hotels.
After the trip, the guests will be feeling like a part of our team!
ITINERARY
Manila (Philippines) – Istanbul (Turkey) plane 11h
Boarding time and starting the evening flight towards Europe.
Istanbul (Turkey) – Zagreb (Croatia) plane 1h 50min
Late night arrival to Istanbul airport, arranging border and visa formalities, transfer to the hotel to have a little rest before breakfast and the Istanbul city tour, guided by the experienced local guide. Sights we are going to see: The Walls, The Golden Horn, The Fishing district, Taksim Square, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent. We will be having lunch in between before being dropped at the airport and taking a connecting flight to Zagreb. Dinner will be served on the plane.
Zagreb (Croatia ) – Sarajevo (BiH) bus 380 km
After evening touch down, immigration procedure and meeting our team, we are to be taken to the hotel in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia for check–in. Morning starts with early breakfast, boarding the coach and 5-6 hours drive to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a border crossing halfway to our final destination, which sometimes can take more time than usual. Expect arrival to Sarajevo at lunchtime. Hotel check-in and lunch, followed by a guided city tour, where we are going to see Catholic Churches, Old Library, Fire of freedom, City Bazaar, Begova Mosque, Orthodox Church, Fatih Mosque. After the city tour, we will have dinner and overnight. No worries, we are coming back to Zagreb and do the city tour on the last day, before flying back home.
Sarajevo (BiH) – Mostar (BiH) – Dubrovnik (Croatia) bus 240 km
Relaxed breakfast and starting the drive to a mystic little town Mostar, having lunch, followed by the city tour with an experienced local guide. Sights we are going to visit: The old stone bridge from the 16. century, remains of the Turkish Quarter, Karadjoz-bey Mosque. Afzer leaving Mostar, there will be approximately another 2,5 hours drive before reaching the main gem of Croatia, Dubrovnik. There is another border crossing on the way, so a little hold back is possible. After reaching Dubrovnik, check-in at the hotel and dinner it will be time to have rest and prepare for the new day.
Dubrovnik (Croatia) – Makarska (Croatia) – Split (Croatia) – Ancona (Italy) bus 210 km + ferry 300 km
Starting the day with the morning breakfast and check-out, carried on with the Dubrovnik city tour. Sights we are going to visit: The intact Old city proper, Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe, Dubrovnik Cathedral, Game of Thrones shooting spots. We will prodeed with the 3h drive to Makarska. There are two border crossings on the way as we will be entering BiH and driving over its territory for 10 km, before entering Croatia again. No border delay is expected. The drive itself along the Adriatic coast is just amazing. Lunch in Makarska and another 1,5h drive before reaching Split, where will be some free time, dinner and boarding on the boat, which is going to take us across the Adriatic sea. That is right, the night will be spent on the boat, accommodated in the private double rooms, while sailing towards Italy.
Ancona (Italy) – Vatican (Vatican) – Rome (Italy) bus 270 km
Entering Italy and breakfast in port town Ancona, followed by the 3h drive to Rome, the capital of Italy. Check-in at the hotel, lunch, and the Vatican guided tour as one of the highlights of the trip, where we are going to visit Vatican Museum, admire the frescoes of Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel, Peters Basilica, the most magnificent church in Christendom, followed by the dinner in a traditional Italian restaurant and overnight.
Rome (Italy) – Florence (Italy) bus 290 km
Breakfast, check-out and then the Rome city tour, wherewe are going to see The Coliseum, site of gladiatorial combats, Roman Forum, Piazza Navonna, and the Spanish Steps, followed by lunch and transfer towards the north as Florence will be our next destination. Hotel Check-in and having some free time for shopping and going around before dinner and overnight.
Florence (Italy) – Venice (Italy) bus 260 km
Breakfast, check-out, and head towards another scenic destination. We are going to visit the floating city, Venice. After check-in, lunch and the city tour, where we are going to visit Marks Square, Basilica of St. Mark, Doges Pallace,, Bridge of Sighs, whach a demonstration of Murrano traditional glass-blowing, before dinner and overnight.
Venice (Italy) – Gorizia (Italy/Slovenia) – Bovec (Slovenia) bus 170 km
After breakfast and check-out, we will board the couch and head towards our next destination. It is time to say goodbye to Italy as we are going to enter the country on the sunny side of the Alps, Slovenia. Making a short stop in the border town(s) Gorizia and Nova Gorica (one town, split by the border). Actually, the border has more representative role now, as the borders aren’t being watched in the Schengen area. Then we will be entering the famous Soča river (Emerald river) valley, which will lead us all the way to Bovec. Hotel check-in, lunch and free time, followed by dinner and overnight.
Bovec (Slovenia) – Vršič pass (Slovenia) – Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) – Villach (Austria) – Bled Lake (Slovenia) – Ljubljana (Slovenia) bus 170 km
After breakfast and check-out, the way is going to lead us into the Alps. Mountain road with several sharp turns and spectacular views will take us to the top of the Vršič pass, which happens to be the highest road pass in Slovenia. After the descent and reaching one of the most popular ski resorts of Slovenia, we are going to make a short stop in Planica, the biggest Nordic center of the Balkan, where the bravest ski jumpers flying over 250m, using nothing else but skies. Time for us to take a jump. Jump across the Alps into Austria for a quick stop, before proceeding back to Slovenia to visit a gem of the Alps, Lake Bled. Lunch and the Bled tour. Sights we are going to see: Traditional boat (Pletna) ride to the island with the Old Church of Assumption of Mary, lakeshore full of Swams, Bled Castle, located on a cliff high above the lake. After that, we will only have a short drive (45min), before reaching our hotel in Ljubljana, having dinner and overnight.
Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Postojna cave (Slovenia) – Ljubljana (slovenia) bus 110 km
Ljubljana… The greenest capital of Europe and our home for the next two days! Breakfast, followed by boarding the couch and head to Postojna, to visit the biggest cave of Europe, Postojna cave. A cave system, hollowed by the Pivka river over two million years ago is 24km long and contains numerous halls, caverns and passages. It also has a strong 2nd world war heritage. We will be exploring the cave from the underground train. After the cave trip, it will be time for lunch and a short drive back to Ljubljana for the city tour guided by an experienced local guide. The sights we are going to see: Funicular ride to Ljubljana Castle, City Hall, Cathedral of St. Nicolas, Triple and Dragon Bridge, Preseren and Star Square. Dinner and overnight.
Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Zagreb (Croatia) – Istanbul (Turkey) bus 150 km + plane 1h 50min
Breakfast and check-out, boarding the couch and head back to where we began our trip, Zagreb, Croatia. After passing the border and entering Zagreb we will proceed with the city tour, visiting Dolac Bazaar, St. Mark Church, Stone Gate, Popes Tower, Ban Jelacic Square, Lotrseak Church, Mirogoj Cemetery, followed by lunch and some free time, before we make our last drive to Zagreb airport, wish you a safe flight back home and say goodbye.
Istanbul (Turkey) – Manila (Philippines) plane 11h
Goodbye to Europe and hello to Asia.
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