Adventure Travel Exclusive Tour

   The Eastern Adriatic coast is the most beautiful coast in the Mediterranean! The Romans settled and built villas, places to indulge in leisure, entertainment and delight. Nowhere else throughout the Mediterranean will you find so many islands, bays, covers, picturesque beaches and cliffs gilded with sunshine. The towns along the coast are true jewels of Mediterranean architecture.

Itinerary:

Day 1 October 25 (Mon) Overnight Flight
Depart from Newark Airport for your overnight flight to Ljubljana

Day 2 October 26 (Tue) Ljubljana - Opatija, Croatia
Welcome to Ljubljana, Slovenia where we are met by our tour director and transferred to Opatija, on the coast of the Adriatic. At the turn of the century, Opatija established itself as the high-class retreat of numerous crowned heads of Europe, plus the likes of Mahler, Isadora Duncan and Chekhov. Tonight join the group for a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 3 October 27 (Wed) Opatija- Moscenice- Pula- Porec
Today our full day excursion takes us to the hill town of Moscenice, with its narrow streets and magnificent views, and not to be missed sample of local brandy. Following a visit to the museum and a demonstration of olive oil making we continue to Pula to see the first century amphitheater and the city’s many artifacts from its time as a Roman colony. After some free time for lunch and shopping we continue to the picture perfect town of Porec, where we visit the city center and the Euphrasian Basilica Complex, a World Heritage Site. (B,D)

Day 4 October 28 (Thr) Bled- Local Farm visit
Today we travel north to Slovenia, which is very reminiscent of Austria and Germany in its landscape. We marvel at the serene beauty of Lake Bled nestled in the snow capped Julian Alps. Enjoy the old world charm of taking a “Pletna” boat to the island on the lake to visit St. Mary’s Church and the wishing well. We continue through the landscape dotted with villages to a working farm, where we have lunch and enjoy meeting the host family. We enjoy a lunch of home made food including incredible cheeses this area is known for. In the late afternoon we return to Opatija. (B,L)

Day 5 October 29 (Fri) Lipica – Winery visit
For those who always thought the famous dancing horses of the Vienna horse school were Austrian, today will be a surprise as we visit the Lipizzaner horses at their home in the Lipica Stud Farm. Charles II, Archduke of Austria, founded the farm in 1580 to breed horses for his powerful family, the Hapsburgs. Your next stop is one of the finest wine producing areas in the region where you have the opportunity to sample some locally produced varieties. (B,D)

Day 6 October 30 (Sat) Opatija –Plitvice Lakes
Today you travel to the staggeringly beautiful Plitvice Lakes, a Croatian national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. The breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. We will have lunch in one of the many ethnic restaurants in Plitvice Lakes. (B, L)

Day 7- October 31 (Sun) Opatija- Hum- Rovinj
Today we visit the hilltop village of Hum which consists of no more than a couple of dozen houses clustered around a church built by the Venetians when they were here. Hum, is billed as the smallest town in the world (population: 23) and is remarkable because the entire town is ringed by a medieval wall that you could stroll round in about three minutes. It is so well preserved that it looks more like a movie set than a real town. It is surrounded by rolling hills that stretch to the horizon in every direction, not another building in sight. Stop at a restaurant built into the town's medieval wall and serves freshly baked bread, which we dunk in an Istrian olive oil. Continue on to Rovinj, a picture-postcard pretty coastal town with a harbor lying at the foot of a steep hill topped by a beautiful Italianate church that has a replica bell tower modeled after the one in St Mark's Square in Venice. (B, D)

Day 8 November 1 (Mon) Opatija
Your day today is at leisure to stroll along the wide avenues dotted with palm trees, enjoy the vendors along the seaside promenade; marvel at the many opulent villas all recently restored or shop for presents. Tonight we have a festive Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant with a choice of beverages including wine. (B, D)

Day 9 November 2 (Tue) Ljubljana- USA
This morning we depart for the airport and our flight home with fond memories. (B)