Croatia & Slovenia – Jewels of the Adriatic October 9 – 20, 2012

Land of a Thousand Islands – Enchanting Escape! Set along the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, the dramatic coastline of Croatia and Slovenia is home to secluded coves and unspoilt towns reminiscent of Europe the way it used to be. The architecture and cobbled streets of its medieval cities provides picturesque glimpses into the Middle Ages. Its Roman ruins, some of the finest in Europe, remind us of its ancient significance. Your Executive Worldwide Travel Tour Itinerary

	Tuesday, October 9– Depart Ottawa for Slovenia. Dinner and breakfast served on board. Wednesday, October 10– Arrive in Ljubljana, regarded as the cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative center of Slovenia. Check in at the Hotel Slon. Welcome dinner at hotel. D
		Thursday, October 11– After breakfast at the hotel, visit the sights of this fascinating capital city. Walk along the river Ljublijanica which passes through the town‘s centre. See the Three Bridges, Ljubljana Castle, and the old Baroque Town Hall. Continue on to Bled, an enchanting resort town by the lake shore, at the foot of the Julian Alps. Lunch at a local restaurant before a sightseeing tour of Castle Bled perched on a high cliff 100 m above Bled Lake. Ride on a traditional boat “Pletna” to the small island in the middle of the lake to see the 17th century Church of St. Mary of the Lake. Climb the stairs to the Wishing Bell. Overnight in Ljubljana. BL
	Friday, October 12 – After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Opatija, “the Croatian Nice,” with a stop at Postojna Caves for an electric train ride through a fantastic subterranean world of wondrously sculpted galleries, chambers and halls. Dinner and overnight at the Milenij Hotel in Opatija. Evening on your own to enjoy this lovely area. BD
		Saturday, October 13 – Following breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the western coast of Istria with visits to Porec, Pula and Rovinj. Built in the 2nd century by the Romans, Porec has preserved its Roman urban pattern. The Basilica of Euphrasius, the 6th century Byzantine masterpiece which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, contains some of Europe’s finest mosaics, sculpture and architecture. Lunch at a local restaurant in Rovinj, one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic coast, overlooked by the baroque Cathedral of St. Euphemia. Continue to Pula, an ancient city on the southern tip of Istria, known for its 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre. Return to Opatija for dinner and evening at leisure. Overnight Opatija. BL
	Sunday, October 14 – Breakfast at hotel and check out. Depart for Zadar whose exceptional monuments include the 9th Century Byzantine Church of St. Donat and the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia, both built on the paving stones of the Roman Forum. Dinner and overnight at the excellent Hotel Funimation. BD
		Monday, October 15 – After breakfast, check out and depart for the seaport of Split on the Dalmacia coast. Visit Sibenik, the oldest Croatian and Slavic city on the Adriatic and its 15th century Cathedral of St. James. Continue to Trogir, set on a small island just off the mainland, a gem of medieval Venetian architecture. Our afternoon tour of Split includes a visit to the Emperor Diocletian's vast Roman palace which now houses some of Split’s many historical and cultural buildings within its walls. See the Peristyle, Cellers, the Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral of St. Domnius. The town of Split, the Cathedral of St. James and Trogir have all been designated as cultural treasures by UNESCO. Check in at Hotel Atrium, yet another of the lovely hotels built to accommodate the region’s aristocratic visitors. Dinner at hotel. BD
	Tuesday, October 16 – Following breakfast at Hotel Atrium, a full day excursion to the Island of Hvar, a small but breathtakingly beautiful island which overlooks a scenic harbour. Known for its lavender fields, watercolour landscapes and historical treasures, Hvar has a long tradition of art and culture and has one of the first theatres ever built in Europe. Lunch on the island. Dinner and evening at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Atrium. BL
		Wednesday, October 17 – After breakfast and check out, proceed south along Makarska Riviera and Neretva Valley toward Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful stone cities in the wold. After lunch, a guided tour of medieval Dubrovnik, 1000 years old and ranked as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The walls of Dubrovnik girdle a perfectly preserved complex of public and private, sacred and secular buildings representing all periods of the city’s history, beginning with its founding in the 7th century. See Stradun, the city’s main street; the Rector’s Palace; the church of St. Vlaho; the Cathedral; three large monasteries, and the City Hall. Check in at the Excelsior Hotel, a luxury 5-star hotel located near the Old City of Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight at hotel. BLD
	Thursday, October 18 – Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a full day excursion by ferry to Korcula, where the 13th Century Cathedral of St. Mark shows the skill of Korcula’s sculptors and stone masons. Inhabited since prehistoric times and said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, this enchanting town is perched on a peninsula surrounded by strong 13th Century walls reinforced with towers and bastions by the Venetians after 1420. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer by ferry to the town of Orebic on the Peljesac peninsula, then travel south along Peljesac peninsula by motorcoach toward Dubrovnik. A short stop in Ston, a town enclosed by walls prior to 1000 A.D. The 41 towers, 7 bastions and 2 forts make this one of the largest and most interesting defensive structures in the Adriatic. Overnight in Dubrovnik. BL
		Friday, October 19 – Breakfast at the hotel followed by a morning at leisure. This afternoon, transfer to Cavtat, a well-known colourful waterfront community which Edward VIIIth and Wallace Simpson chose for their honeymoon. Continue on to the Konavle Valley, a rural farming area tucked within the mountains renowned for its excellent cuisine. In this area, the residents of the small villages maintain the old customs and traditional costumes are still worn by the inhabitants. The Konavle region is on the southernmost tip of Croatia, running from Cavtat south to the Montenegrin border. It includes the Konavle Valley or Konavosko Range which is protected on the northeast by karstic mountains, the highest of which is Mt. Snijeznica. Konavle is separated from the sea by a chain of lower hills. Most of the land is planted with vineyards and fruit trees. There are 20 villages in Konavle, the largest of which are Cilipi and Gruda which is the region's administrative capital. All except Cilipi and Gruda are on the slopes of hills or mountains. Farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants of the region, situated by the old mill and the small river Ljuta. After dinner, return to Dubrovnik. Overnight at Excelsior Hotel. BD
	Saturday, October 20 – After breakfast, morning free to visit more of the sights of Dubrovnik. This small metropolos of Croatian tourism, this ancient city with its monumental city gates can be entered only on foot, through its western Pile Gate or the eastern Ploce Gate. There are two further gates leading in from the old city harbour as well as the one opened in the 19th century to make communication with the northern suburb easier. The last gate mentioned is called the Buža Gate, or simply Buža. Check out of hotel around noon. Transfer to airport for our afternoon flight to Ottawa via Toronto. B
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