Balkan Holiday from Venice

Discover the very best of South-East Europe on this extraordinary Balkan tour of three unique countries - Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Starting point
Venice
Finish point
Dubrovnik
Duration
8 nights/9 days
Difficulty
Leisurely
Inquiry
Journey through five countries on an epic Balkan tour
Meet the unique and diverse cultures of these areas and their wonderful sights
Visit Lake Bled, the Plitvice National Park and Dubrovnik, and much more
Enjoy the diversity of beautiful natural sights as well as the historic places of the region
Lake Bled castle
Lake Bled castle
Ljubljana Center
Ljubljana Center
Split marina
Split marina

Itinerary

Day What we will do
DAY 1 Venice - Postojna Cave - Ljubljana
DAY 2 Bled - Bohinj
DAY 3 Zagreb
DAY 4 Plitvice National Park - Zadar
DAY 5 Šibenik - Trogir - Split
DAY 6 Split
DAY 7 Mostar
DAY 8 Ston - Dubrovnik
DAY 9 Dubrovnik
Day 1 - Slovenian Karst & Ljubljana

And we’re off! We will pick you up in Venice, either at the Airport or somewhere nearby, and cross the border into Slovenia. It won’t take long before we reach our first destination: the spellbinding Postojna Cave. It’s the oldest show cave, made even more impressive by its ‘human’ fish inhabitant.

Then it’s a short drive to Ljubljana, Europe’s prettiest capital. The Old Town, with its timeless architecture and medieval castle above the city, is bound to melt your heart the moment you set foot on its cobblestone streets. Colorful markets, historic squares, and the Ljubljanica River are sure to amaze.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Ljubljana

Included

Transfer from Venice airport
Postojna Cave entrance fee

Highlights
Hiking

WALKING:

1.5 km (0.9 mi) distance in Postojna Cave

Extra

Boat ride on Ljubljanica river
Ljubljana castle

Visiting old town Ljubljana
Visiting old town Ljubljana
Gornji trg Ljubljana
Gornji trg Ljubljana
Visiting old town Ljubljana
Gornji trg Ljubljana
Day 2 - The Alps

On the second day, we leave the city and head for the Alpine countryside, more precisely Lake Bled. It’s the iconic symbol of Slovenia. The church in the middle of the lake, an ancient castle atop a giant cliff, and the idyllic mountainous backdrop are out of this world.

The afternoon will be spent walking through a mystical gorge and visiting another glacial lake called Bohinj. It’s a wilder version of the one in Bled and promises stunning surroundings. We will top it off with a cable car ride to the top of Mt. Vogel for some amazing panorama.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Ljubljana

Meals

Breakfast

Included

Bled Castle entrance fee
Pletna boat ride to Bled island
Vintgar Gorge entrance fee
Vogel mountain cable car ride

Highlights
Extra

Entrance fee to the church on the island

Lake Bled Island
Island on Lake Bled
Island on Lake Bled
Day 3 - Croatian capital

Day number three: Croatia and its flourishing capital Zagreb. Drenched in culture, Zagreb offers superb sightseeing, which involves strolling down its streets and visiting places like the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and St. Mark’s Church. Zagreb is much bigger than Ljubljana, but its Old Town center is just small enough to wander around carefree. Sit down, have a coffee, and watch life go by in this renowned Balkan city.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Zagreb

Meals

Breakfast

Highlights

Zagreb old town
Zagreb cathedral

Day 4 - Plitvice UNESCO National Park

Another day, another fascinating destination. We like to mix things up, so on this day, it’s time for some more natural splendor: Plitvice National Park. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Croatia’s first national park. It prides itself on incredible limestone formations, characterized by waterfalls and 16 terraced lakes. We will take a walk down the interlinked walkways and hiking trails that wind around and across the water. It’s basically like entering a dream. In the evening, the Dalmatian coastal town of Zadar awaits us with its historic port and cozy bay.

Optional add-on – 1 day of Kornati Islands:

The Kornati Islands are an archipelago off the Dalmatian coast, near the city of Zadar. The islands are a national park, the natural beauty of which is beyond comparison. A day trip to the Kornati is certainly an add-on option worth exploring.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Zadar

Meals

Breakfast

Included

Plitvice National Park entrance fee

Highlights

Plitvice National Park

Day 5 - Towns of Šibenik & Trogir

Šibenik. It’s our next destination. A walking tour of the town’s lovely sights include the 15th-century Cathedral of St. James with its 71 sculpted faces, the 14th-century Prince’s Palace, and the white stone St. Michael’s Fortress with its open-air theatre and views of Šibenik Bay and the neighboring islands. A stone’s throw away is Trogir, a truly magical medieval town connected to the mainland and an adjacent island by bridges. Trogir is a well-preserved blend of Renaissance, Baroque and Romanesque architecture. After we are sufficiently inspired by all we have seen on this busy day, we drive down a bit further to Split, Croatia’s second-largest city.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Split

Meals

Breakfast

 

Highlights

Šibenik
Trogir

Day 6 - Split and surroundings

Waking up in Split, the choice of how you spend the day is entirely yours. The city’s gorgeous old center and marketplace are certainly entertaining, or you can hop on a boat tour of nearby islands of Hvar and Vis, two of the most exotic islands on this southern part of the Adriatic. Another option is to visit the Roman ruins of Solin. It was once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and holds some very soul-enriching secrets. Whichever option you pick, a superb time is guaranteed.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Split

Meals

Breakfast

Highlights

Split
Roman heritage of Split
Dalmatian coast with islands

Extra

Hvar & Vis boat trip
Solin

Day 7 - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Our next pit-stop is in yet another country. We are going for a captivating tour of Mostar, the cultural heritage jewel of southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is known worldwide for its iconic Old Bridge, a reconstructed medieval arched bridge that connects the two sides of the city over the Neretva River. Narrow alleys, local markets and squares promise an interesting visit back in time. Mostar’s amazing Turkish heritage also included the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque and stunning views from its minaret.

Optional add-on – 2 days of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia:

Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo is truly a city worth visiting. It’s steeped in history and a hub of cultural symbiosis. A two-day addition to your holiday will take you to see all the highlights Sarajevo has to offer and feel the rhythm of this classic Balkan beauty.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Mostar

Meals

Breakfast

Highlights

Mostar old town
Turkish heritage of Bosnia
Mostar bridge

Day 8 - Walled-off towns of Ston and Dubrovnik

Our Balkan Holiday might be drawing to a close, but that only means we’ve saved some more fantastic locations for last. The first is Ston, an ancient settlement with roots stretching back to antiquity and an impressive wall that is simply a must-see. The second is Dubrovnik, one of Europe’s most praised and best-preserved trading ports. Dubrovnik’s iconic Old Town is encircled by a massive stone wall from the 16th century and the town’s architecture spans through the centuries and includes the baroque St. Blaise Church, the Renaissance Sponza Palace, and the Gothic Rector’s Palace.

Accommodation

Overnight stay in Dubrovnik

Meals

Breakfast

Highlights

Ston
Ston walls
Dubrovnik old town
Dubrovnik walls

Day 9 - Dubrovnik and departure

The final day is spent in Dubrovnik. Because the place is so incredibly interesting and there is such an enviable list of things to see. Getting lost in its maze of alleys, walking along its colossal, or hiking up the nearby hill for some crazy hot views – whatever strikes your fancy, Dubrovnik has you covered.

Optional add-on – 1 day to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro:

Not that far from Dubrovnik is the small state of Montenegro. An optional extension of your Balkan experience is a visit to Kotor, a charming medieval old town with a rich and ancient history and breathtakingly stunning surrounding landscape.

Meals

Breakfast

Cliffs in Dubrovnik
Cliffs in Dubrovnik
Cliffs in Dubrovnik

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Included in price

English-speaking guide*
Comfortable transportation*
9 nights 3* accommodation with breakfast
All entrance fees as in the itinerary
* not included on self guided tours

Venice is a perfect starting point for venturing to other parts of Europe. One of our favorites is unquestionably the Balkan region. Ah, the food, the natural wonders, and the culture – it’s the sweetest combination ever!

The first destinations are just over the border in magnificent Slovenia. From world-famous Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle to sightseeing in Ljubljana and soaking up the wonderland of the Alps.

Then it’s time to get to know Zagreb, the vibrant capital city of Croatia. The city’s architecture and charming old town will leave you speechless, as will the natural grandeur of Plitvice National Park, a forest reserve with captivating lakes and waterfalls within a limestone canyon. For a dose of culture and Mediterranean climate, we continue our journey to Šibenik, a coastal town in Dalmatian, before visiting the ancient spectacle of Trogir and popping over yet another border to Bosnia and its pearl of Mostar.

Next in line is another dose of the Adriatic Sea, so it’s back to Croatia and the sunny city of Split. A boat ride away are the picture-perfect islands of Hvar and Vis, which certainly come highly recommended. The final leg of our Balkan adventure is reserved for the medieval town of Ston and the most famous port in Dalmatia – Dubrovnik. The latter may be famous for the Game of Thrones, but its soul is much deeper and the town simply has to be put on your bucket list.

There are also several incredible add-on options you can extend your holidays with. Croatian Istria, Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo, the Kornati Islands and Montenegro’s Kotor – each has must-see properties and is definitely worth considering. If a longer adventure is more to your liking, visit The Balkan Tours for some more comprehensive experiences.

In short, a Balkan Holiday is a road trip of a lifetime. For a more detailed line-up of the wonderful things you can expect to experience, please check out our itinerary. Then grab your passport and join us!

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Things to know

The included pickup in the price published on our website is in Venice airport and drop-off at the end of the holiday is in Dubrovnik. For any changes, please notify us upon booking. The included transfers are all the transfers between places and/or activities specified in the itinerary.

On your holidays you will have an experienced tour leader/tour guide, who will look after you for the entire duration of the tour. At some locations, city tours are conducted by professional local guides. All of our guides will make sure that you will receive expert guiding combined with great fun and memorable experiences.

Both our back office team and our guides know where to go. We can give you recommendations or even pre-book some places for you. You can be adventurous and find places on your own. Either way, let us know if you would like any sort of help.

It really depends on the level of your restriction. Vegetarian options are fairly easy to find in Slovenia and Croatia, but vegan dishes, on the other hand, are extremely hard to come by in rural areas and in smaller towns. Please note, that the places where we stop off for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu. We suggest you keep this in mind.

It is important to dress for the season. Slovenia has all 4 seasons, so please check the weather forecast before the holiday regarding temperatures and rainfall. When you are close to the Alps, you can see all 4 seasons change in the same day, so your best bet is to always bring an extra layer and rain gear. Croatia gets very hot, especially during the summer, so we advise you to do as locals do and bring your swimsuits to cool off in the balmy Adriatic. Visiting religious buildings, such as churches and mosques, you will need modest clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.

If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way. It is your holiday, after all! As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customize your itinerary and create your own adventure!

We want to give you the opportunity to really see the best of the Balkans, so for those of you prepared to spend a longer holiday in our region, we offer the option to extend your holiday for a few days in some areas. We believe that these places should not be missed if you have a few extra days you can spare.

Ivana
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Self guided: From: 1,990€/person
Join a group: From: 2,540€/person
22.5.2022 - 30.5.2022
19.6.2022 - 27.6.2022
31.7.2022 - 8.8.2022
11.9.2022 - 19.9.2022
Private guided: From: 3,990€/person
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Self-guided

For travellers that want flexibility and independence. We organize the holidays of your choice, but the adventure of getting around is all yours. You will get a fly & drive itinerary with activities, accommodations and travelling tips with full support of our team for any emergencies or concerns.

Small group

For solo travellers or travellers who wish to meet other like-minded souls, don’t want to stress about trip planning and would maybe like to enjoy some time on their own as well. You will be travelling with our tour leader in a small group of maximum 8 people in a comfortable van with accommodation, entrance fees and a detailed plan of activities arranged. For guaranteed tour departures we have a minimum of 4 people.

Private guided

For travellers who want a holiday based on their preferences and needs. You don’t need to worry over itinerary planning or your next move, and at the same time you can enjoy the holidays at your own pace and take as much time on your own whenever needed. We take care of the entire organization and provide you with a professional guide, accommodation, transportation and plan of activities.

Only the Best

Our professional team of locals with vast experience in tourism has cherry-picked the best things to do in Slovenia for all sorts of travellers.

Expert Local Guides

Our professional guides know the best places, are great to be around, and will go that extra mile for you.

100% Made in Slovenia

We are based in Slovenia and all of our holidays are of our own design, making the prices and experiences better for you.

Trusted by Many

We are a fully bonded and insured travel company, keeping your money safe and with thousands of satisfied customers in the past, we still put you first.

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