Grand Balkan Tour 2012
| Duration: | 12 days / 11 nights |
| Routing: | Zagreb – Plitvice – Trogir – Split – Dubrovnik – Budva – Shkodra – Tirana – Ohrid – Skopje – Kolašin – Cetinje – Kotor – Dubrovnik |
Tour Includes:•Transfers Airport – Hotel – Airport at start & end of tour |
Sightseeing Tours Included:•Zagreb |
Entrance Fees To:•Plitvice Lakes National Park |
Hotels (or similar):•Zagreb: International (4*) |
| Per Person NZ$ Tour Code: 2012-A107 | Twin Share | Single |
| May 30 | 2,491 | 3,145 |
| Jul 11 Aug 08 Sep 05 | 2,597 | 3,250 |
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1, Wednesday: Zagreb
Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 2, Thursday: Zagreb – Plitvice
Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city’s historical centre, St Mark’s Church with its multicoloured roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre and the University. Afternoon departure for Plitvice and then tour the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level, are connected in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood, Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. (B, D)
Day 3, Friday: Plitvice – Torgir – Split
Morning departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. (B, D)
Day 4, Saturday: Split – Dubrovnik
After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik. Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik included on 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. (B, D)
Day 5, Sunday: Dubrovnik
Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. (B, D)
Day 6, Monday: Dubrovnik – Budva – Shkodra – Tirana
Departure for Tirana; we drive inland to Budva known for its Old City encircled by walls from the Venetian period. Continuation to Shkodra – once a capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana. (B, D)
Day 7, Tuesday: Tirana – Ohrid
Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, a visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history, also housing rare finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. (B, D)
Day 8, Wednesday: 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 (11th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. Afternoon short drive to 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. (B)
Day 9, Thursday: Ohrid – Skopje
Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, includes the Kale Fortress, Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas is one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarvings, 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. (B, D)
Day 10, Friday: Skopje – Kolašin
Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, the town 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. (B, D)
Day 11, Saturday: 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 Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, 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. (B, D)
Day 12, Sunday: Dubrovnik
Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Dubrovnik Airport. (B)
