15D/14N - 2020 Gorgeous Balkan with Adriatic Cruise

day 01 sun Dubrovnik – Arrival

Upon arrival at Dubrovnik Airport, transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Meeting with your tour guide.

day 02 mon Dubrovnik – Budva - Montenegro –Shkodra - Albania – Tirana

Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Departure for Tirana; we drive inland via Budva, crossing the Albanian border at Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

day 03 tue Tirana – Ohrid -Macedonia

Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey and a visit to the National Museum representing the fl ow of Albanian history and housing the finds from archaeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

day 04 wed Ohrid

Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School” was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the church of St. Sofia (11^th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. In the afternoon a short drive to visit St. Naum Monastery built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel for overnight. Dinner at local restaurant.

day 05 thu Ohrid – Skopje

Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the fi nest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

day 06 fri Skopje – Kolašin - Montenegro

Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Kosovo and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

day 07 sat Kolašin – Cetinje – Kotor – Dubrovnik

Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Budva and Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St. Triphun, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik driving along the picturesque Bay of Kotor.

Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

day 08 sun Dubrovnik Embarkation

Breakfast at your hotel. Afternoon transfer to the boat. Embarkation at Gruž port. Meet your fellow travellers and your Cruise Manager later at an on-board Welcome Reception. This evening, you can relax or take a walk through Dubrovnik’s vibrant streets. Welcome Dinner and overnight on the boat.

day 09 mon Dubrovnik - Korčula

We set sail for the island of Korčula around two o’clock, with swimming stop, if weather permits, in one of pristine bays, time to cool off, relax and lunch on-board. Continue towards Korčula, the most preserved medieval town and best known as the birthplace of Marco Polo, to spend the night there. Take the walking tour of Korčula which takes you through its narrow, cobbled streets full of history. Evening is free to explore the town on your own.

day 10 tue Korkula-Pučišća

In the morning we set sails towards the island of Brač, village of the stone sculpture and music culture

Pučišća, where you can visit amazing stonemason school (optional). Lunch on board. Enjoy a swim in

one of Brač’s many lovely coves and bays, if weather permits. Overnight onboard.

day 11 wed Pučišća – Omiš – Split

We depart for Omiš before breakfast, it’s fortresses are silent stone reminders of the power and might

of the infamous pirates who once made their homes and fortunes here. You will have a possibility to book a

short walking tour, followed by boarding a small boat and sail into Cetina River Canyon, a protected nature

area, continuing to Radman Mills for a local specialty snack. After visiting Omiš set sail to Split with a stop

along the way to swim, cool off and relax, if weather permits, with lunch on board. In the late afternoon we

arrive at Split to spend the night. Arriving in Split, take a guided tour of the city, the seafront promenade,

and Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace. The historical centre of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your evening is free in Split to enjoy.

day 12 thu Split – Hvar

Stop in Bol, a small town on Island Brač, for a swim at the Golden Horn. Enjoy the 530 m long golden pebble beach said to be the best in Croatia. It is unique in that it changes shape and position depending on the winds. Return to your boat for lunch, then head to Hvar. Hvar is one of the most popular islands in the Adriatic and a meeting point for the international jet set. A sightseeing tour of Hvar town shows you the fi rst public theatre in Europe (older than Shakespeare’s theatre in the UK) and many more historical sites. Your evening is free to explore Hvar on your own. Note: Due to the limited capacity of the Hvar harbor (during peak season in July and August) port of call can be substituted for Stari Grad/Jelsa. In that case transfer by bus will be organized to and from Hvar

day 13 fri Hvar – Mljet

Departing from Hvar in the morning, our sail to Mljet Island includes a stop for swimming, if weather

permits, and lunch on board. Croatian “Greenest Island” will hypnotize you with its beautiful, untouched nature and its cultural heritage. We arrive in the heart of Mljet National Park which encompasses five types of forests, many species of birds and two deep lakes. If you want to visit Mljet National Park, walk to the entrance where you can purchase the ticket to walk around the Great Lake and the Small Lake and join the boat ride to St. Mary Island. Have a Captain’s Dinner onboard. We will spend the night in Mljet.

day 14 sat Mljet – Dubrovnik

In the morning we continue our adventure by sailing back to Dubrovnik. Lunch on board with stop for swimming. Early in the afternoon we arrive in Dubrovnik.

day 15 sun Dubrovnik - departure

After breakfast it’s time to disembark. You will be transferred to Dubrovnik airport or your Dubrovnik hotel.

Inclusions: accommodation in 4* hotels except in Dubrovnik 3*, breakfast and dinner daily (excluding day 4 in Ohrid breakfast only), arrival transfers from Dubrovnik Airport to hotel, then to port for embarkation and to Dubrovnik Airport or hotel on the last day of the cruise, local guides in: Dubrovnik, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Kotor, Split, Hvar, Korčula, guiding on Mljet and in Omiš free of charge, air-conditioned motorcoach, English speaking tour escort.

Seven nights cruise on the Superior category boat*, cabin with private facilities, captain’s dinner, buffet breakfast and 6 lunches by four courses, commencing with the, welcome dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 8, water provided on tables during lunch, complimentary fresh fruits available daily, professional English-speaking Cruise Manager, free Wi-Fi on board, service charges and taxes.

Sightseeing: entrance fees to: Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana, St Sofia, St Clement and St Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje; St Triphun Cathedral in Kotor.

Exclusions:, tourist tax + port tax - EUR 35.00 per person to be paid on board the vessel in cash · Supplement for Omiš & Cetina River excursion is 20,00 EUR per pax · Entrance to the Mljet National park, cca 25,00 EUR per person to be paid at entrance if clients want to enter, guiding free of charge · Drinks on-board, extra meals.

Hotels: Dubrovnik – Ivka, Tirana – Sky Tower, Ohrid – Metropol, Skopje – Karpos, Kolasin – Bianca

Ship: Superior Category boat
Note: Tour is conducted in English & Spanish