Dalmatia
Dubrovnik, Kotor, Plitvice, Logarska Dolina, Bled, Julian Alps, Venice, Split
Day 1: Arrive in the scenic seaside town of Dubrovnik. The ancient boundaries of the town are outlined by the old fortress walls, reportedly dating back to the seventh century. Take a walk on and around the walls for unique views of the city, then climb above the town to the mountain overlooking the maritime majesty, called Mount Srđ, which stands at 412 meters. The mountaintop views will allow you to see the variety of red roofs of Dubrovnik glittering beside the sparkling waters of the Adriatic. If you’re not up for the climb by foot, there is a rough road you can drive on or cable cars you can ride up. We suggest you plan to be up at the top around sunset for some stunning views. Afterwards, head over to the neighboring village of Cavtat for a quiet night away from the tourist throngs. Day 2: Grab your passports for a day trip to the small country of Montenegro and the glacier carved Bay of Kotor. The city of Kotor—like Dubrovnik—is surrounded by formidable fortress walls and a section runs up the mountain side where a trail gives you access to some very rewarding views and gentle summer breezes. There aren't any major sites in the city, but plenty of interesting churches and fountains. When you’ve seen the city, drive back to Cavtat for the night and grab a delicious dinner of Mediterranean seafood at the marina. Day 3: Get on the road early for a drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. You most likely won’t be able to make it to the park with much time to do anything but check into your room and get dinner, but you can at least appreciate the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Notice how this part of Croatia it is distinctly different from Dubrovnik. Where Dubrovnik has a warmer, Mediterranean feel, the area around Plitvice seems as though it is a part of Bavaria with very alpine looking architecture and scenery. Day 4: Make sure to bring your camera for non stop photo taking in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Every turn it seems reveals a new photo op among the gorgeous cascading waterfalls and interspersed rainbows. After hiking the naturally beautiful trails of Plitvice, drive across the border into Slovenia to the stunning mountain valley of Logarska Dolina. The area has serene mountain farms where local families lodge visitors and serve them exquisite meals made from ingredients grown and raised on the farm. Day 5: Drive Logarska Dolina’s Panoramic Road, but leave plenty of time to drive to Slovenia’s famous Lake Bled and a walk around the gorgeous lake. before retiring for the night, make sure to get a piece of Bled's famous cream cake for dessert. Day 6: After breakfast, take a hike to nearby Vintgar Gorge. As you walk down the path the Radovna River rushes through the narrow gorge with towering rock faces on either side. When you’ve finished the trail through the gorge, drive up through the wonderfully scenic Julian Alps. If you enjoy rafting, there are opportunities in Kobarid where you will stay the night. Day 7: Get up early to give yourself plenty of time for the drive to Venice as you only have one day in the expensive floating city to see all of the most important sites like Doge’s Palace, San Giorgio Maggiore and St. Mark’s. After the sites, leave youself plenty of time to get lost amid the many back lanes and small bridges before retiring to your room in this charming city. Day 8: Wake up and drive back to Croatia to see the unique city of Split. Split was the hometown of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and you can literally sleep inside the walls of the ancient palace. Wander the ruins of the palace and make sure to venture underground to the old water entrance that now houses a tourist market. Split can be filled with throngs of cruise ship passengers by day, but is delightful in the evening when they have all gone back to their ships. If you still have time, walk down the broad promenade along the shore like a local for a beautiful sunset stroll. Spend the night in this uniquely gorgeous city before ending your Dalmatian vacation! Day 9: Return flight home. |