Italy - Slovenia - Croatia - Serbia - Bulgaria - Turkey

Section I
Venice and the Balkan Peninsula
April 7 – 27, 2012 (20 days)
Price:  € 6228 / USD $8920
Single Supplement: € 1620 / USD $ 2320

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday, April 07               Journey start from Venice                                
Upon arrival in Venice, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Welcome dinner.
D  Ai Mori D'Oriente Hotel

Day 2 Sunday, April 08                  Venice
Getting familiarized with the vehicles.
Tour of Venice.
B/D  Ai Mori D'Oriente Hotel

Day 3 Monday, April 09                Venice – Cerknica, Slovenia  (226 km)
Leisure in the morning.
Afternoon we drive for about 3 hours through beautiful coast and countryside into Slovenia.  Our small country inn is set in Southern Slovenia’s thick forest.
B/D Rakov Skocjan Hotel

Day 4 Tuesday, April 10                Cerknica – Škocjan caves – Disappearing Lake – Ceknica
Today we will drive into Southern Slovenian Karst region to visit Škocjan caves.  Because of their unique natural features and cultural heritage they have been on the UNESCO world heritage list since 1986, and in 1999 were put on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance as the world’s largest underground wetlands. Accompanied by English speaking local guide we will walk through the labyrinth of subterranean passages and enjoy beautiful stalagmites, stalactites and other rock formations. Sport footwear and a warm sweater are recommended. The temperature in the cave is constant 12°C.
Afternoon trek around a mystical disappearing lake.
B/L/D Rakov Skocjan Hotel

Day 5 Wednesday, April 11          Cerknica - Rijeka, Croatia (150 km)
A leisure drive into Croatia and visit Opatija, a town in western Croatia on the Adriatic coast.
Then onto Rijeka to overnight visiting an old church ontop of the hill overlooking the harbor.
B/L The Grand Hotel Bonavia

Day 6 Thursday, April 12               Rijeka – Plitvice Lakes National Park (133 km)
After some leisure time in the morning, we will drive westbound along the scenic coast towards Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Arrive hotel in late afternoon.
B/D  Plitvice Hotel

Day 7 Friday, April 13                   Plitvice Lakes National Park to Zagreb (138 km)
Enjoy a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a string of 16 turquoise coloured lakes linked by 92 waterfalls and cascades and surrounded by densely wooded mountains and lush vegetation. Admire the landscape formed by the mineral-rich waters which carve new paths through the rock, and enjoy your time in the middle of nature.
Drive to Zagreb in the afternoon.  We will stay at a hotel located in the city center, it is easy to walk to the central square, trendy outdoor cafes and any cultural attractions to your like.
B/L  Zagreb Palace Hotel

Day 8 Saturday, April 14               Zagreb – Osijek (280 km)
Morning tour of Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. See the churches of St. Mark and St. Catherine, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government Palace.
Afternoon drive to Osijek, the most important military, economic, administrative and cultural centre of Slavonia, Eastern Croatia.
On route to Osijek, we will visit a winery town of Kutjevo.
We will stay in Osijek for 2 nights.
B/L/D Waldinger Hotel

Day 9 Sunday, April 15                 Osijek
We visit Tvrdja complex, built in the 18th century with impressive defensive walls and town gates, Romanic centre and main square. Osijek's Upper Town is a historical treasure trove: old sacral, cultural and historical monuments, Capuchin monastery, Neo-Gothic church of St. Peter and Paul, St. Anna chapel, classicist palace of the Virovitica County, theatre building, chambers of commerce… Located in the Lower Town is a series of late Baroque citizen houses, and Secessionist and late Baroque buildings in the New Town, and in Retfala the valuable Pejacevic family castle (18th century), and the church of Ascension of the Holy Cross with the Mausoleum of Count Pejacevics.
We will then drive to the countryside near Hungarian border, having picnic lunch if weather is good.
Return to Osijek in the evening.
B/L/D Waldinger Hotel

Day 10 Monday, April 16              Osijek – Belgrade, Serbia (160 km)
Drive to the Croatia-Serbia border town, Vukovar and visit a war museum in Ovcara.
Afterwards, drive to Tovarnik border to cross into Serbia.
Drive to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. If you've never been to Serbia, there's no better place to start. Belgrade is an open and welcoming city. The streets and squares of the capital are always busy and alive with people, mostly the young. Many indoor and open-air cafes and restaurants make a pleasant stop for coffee or beer. Some downtown streets are serene and gentle; others are busy and quaint, with a number of discreetly or centrally located luxurious shops selling works of art, jewellery and clothes. Check into the hotel for two nights.
B/L/D Excelsior Hotel

Day 11 Tuesday, April 17              Belgrade
We visit various city quarters, including New Belgrade on the left bank of the Sava River, the luxurious residential area of Dedinje and the picturesque Old town. Between these visits we will pass en route St. Sava Church, Slavija Square, Belgrade Palace, the 'New Court', City hall, the Federal Parliament, Terazije street, the National Theatre and the National Museum.
A highlight of the tour is our brief visit to the archaeological and historical site of Belgrade Fortress. Situated at Kalemegdan, the remains of the old city's fortifications from the 1st to the 18th centuries overlook a spectacular panoramic view of the Sava and Danube confluence.
B/D Excelsior Hotel

Day 12 Wednesday, April 18        Belgrade – Lopatnica, Kraljevo, Central Serbia (180 km)
Today after some leisure time, we drive to Central Serbia and visit some of the most amazing Serbian monasteries along the way. We will have an opportunity to spend two nights at a local farm.
B/L/D Milojevic Farm Stay

Day 13 Thursday, April 19            Central Serbia (Kraljevo)
Around the farm area, there are beautiful mountains and valleys. We will take a day hiking in the area and enjoy the natural surroundings.
B/L/D Milojevic Farm Stay

Day 14 Friday, April 20                 Central Serbia – Sofia, Bulgaria (484 km)
This morning we will visit the Monastery of Studenica, situated 39 km southwest of Kraljevo, it is one of the largest and richest Serb Orthodox Monasteries.
After lunch, drive to Sofia, Bulgaria. Check into hotel at the city centre for 2 nights.
B/L/D Anel Hotel

Day 15 Saturday, April 21             Sofia
 A walking city tour will take up the whole morning. Visits include: Alexander Nevski Cathedral, National Assembly Square, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Former Royal Palace (now Ethnographic Museum and National Revival Art Gallery), National Theatre, National Archaeological Museum, Presidency, St. George Rotunda, Central Square with closed market, St. Nedelya Old Metropolitan Church, the 16th century Banya Bashi Mosque and the Synagogue.
Afternoon at leisure.
B/D Anel Hotel

Day 16 Sunday, April 22               Sofia – Plovdiv (132 km)
Drive to Plovdiv, entering the old city and settle in our historical hotel.
Afternoon, tour the old city including the Roman theatre, the Roman mosaics, and the presumed beginning of Via Trayana.
Plovdiv is a modern city with an ancient spirit and charm, emanating from its numerous remains of old times. We will spend two nights here.
B/D Hebrosh Hotel

Day 17 Monday, April 23              Plovdiv
This morning head towards the beautiful Rodopi Mountains (the widest mountain massif in Bulgaria) passing through the pretty town of Asenovgrad.  Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Asen's fortress - a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 12th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone inscription carved by King Ivan Asen. Going deeper in the Rodopi Mountains towards Bachkovo Monastery, we will visit this second largest monastery in Bulgaria, founded in 1083, one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria’s history.
Lunch will be at a restaurant by the Waterfall.
After lunch a light hike in the Red wall reserve will lead us to see a beautiful waterfall, chapels, the miraculous icon as well as drink holy water out of the sacred well of a chapel. Return to Plovdiv for dinner.
B/L Hebrosh Hotel

Day 18 Tuesday, April 24              Plovdiv – Istanbul, Turkey (380 km)
Drive towards Turkey via Svilengrad. After border-crossing formalities, will drive into the crowded city of Istanbul. Check into a centrally located hotel in Sultanahmed area.
B/L/D Seven Hills Hotel

Day 19 Wednesday, April 25        Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul!
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 unequalled for its mosaics, and the Haghia Sophia dedicated in 536 AD during the reign of Justinian, we will also visit Topkapi Palace, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror.
B/L Seven Hills Hotel

Day 20 Thursday, April 26            Istanbul
Full day at leisure for shopping or walking around.
This evening we shall have a memorable dinner on a boat cruising along the Bosphorous to celebrate the successful completion of this unforgettable driving adventure.
B/D Seven Hills Hotel

Day 21 Friday, April 27                 Istanbul 
This will be the end of the first section and the beginning of the second section of the journey.
Those who drive from Venice to Istanbul will be transferred to the airport to board your onward flight.
Those who start the trip in Istanbul will arrive today and be greeted at the airport then transferred to your hotel.
Welcome dinner for the new arrivals.
B/D Seven Hills Hotel