Highlights: Dubrovnik, Choices on Tour, Kotor, Mostar, Sarajevo, Home-Hosted Dinner, Plitvice Lakes, Impact Moment, Motovun, Rovinj, Truffle Hunt, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Zagreb

Explorations: These small group tours give travellers access to the world in a truly authentic way. On these active, immersive journeys, travellers connect with the cultures of the world on a deeper, more meaningful level in ways that are hard to replicate. The group size is kept small, allowing these journeys to be the most active, engaging, and rewarding experience possible.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Saturday, May 7, 2022 Overnight Flight
Uncover a region where rocky coastlines and towering mountains meet a complex history and medieval city walls. As you make your way through the Balkans, get a glimpse into generations of traditions and connect with welcoming locals.

Day 2: Sunday, May 8, 2022 Dubrovnik, Croatia – Tour Begins
Discover the twisting cobblestone streets and burnt-orange rooftops of Dubrovnik, your gateway to the Balkans. Meet your fellow travellers and look out over the sparkling Adriatic Sea during dinner, featuring local seafood dishes. (D)

Day 3: Monday, May 9, 2022 Dubrovnik
Personalize your day in Dubrovnik because it’s your choice! See the famous city walls from a new perspective and join a local guide on a kayaking tour -OR- explore the city with a guide on foot and then discover the city walls on your own -OR- embark on a tour of the city before venturing to Lokrum Island with a local guide, where you can swim or meander along the wandering peacocks. The remainder of the day is yours to do as you please. (B)

Day 4: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Dubrovnik – Kotor, Montenegro
Leave Croatia and make your way into Montenegro. Get acquainted with Kotor’s Old Town (UNESCO), taking advantage of some free time to explore. Settle into your historic hotel – an 18th-century building that is part of the original city walls. Enjoy a fresh Mediterranean dinner as the day draws to a close. (B, D)

Day 5: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Kotor
Start your morning on a private boat and head to the nearby islet of Our Lady of the Rocks. Visit the church before continuing on to the seaside village of Perast. Return to Kotor – the rest of the day is yours. Perhaps you’ll go on an optional excursion to a family-owned olive grove, where you’ll tour the property before enjoying some local snacks. (B)

Day 6: Thursday, May 12, 2022 Kotor – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo
Cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina and spend time in Mostar, home to the iconic arched Stari Most bridge (UNESCO). Explore with your guide before discovering the area on your own. Continue on to Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital city where East meets West, and your home for the next 3 nights. Reminiscent of a European Jerusalem, find an ever-evolving conglomeration of religious sects all living in harmony. Perhaps you’ll take an evening stroll with your Tour Manager to get familiar with the area. (B)

Day 7: Friday, May 13, 2022 Sarajevo
With an expert guide, discover Sarajevo, perhaps most famous as the starting point of WWI. As you make your way along the storied roadways, admire the significant blend of religions and architectural styles. Take advantage of free time before it’s your choice! Uncover the city’s past with a local siege survivor, spending time in the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum before visiting the bobsled track on Trebevic Olympic Mountain -OR- visit Gallery 11/07/95, which documents the city’s 20th-century turmoil through photography. (B)

Day 8: Saturday, May 14, 2022 Sarajevo
Enjoy time on your own today. Consider an optional excursion to Lukomir Highland, where you’ll hike to a remote village and bond with locals over lunch. Or maybe you’ll embark on an optional tour of Tito’s Bunker, exploring the former president’s personal hideout. No matter how you spend the day, connect with locals at a homehosted dinner. Enjoy regional favourites such as klepe (meat dumplings) and burek (flaky filled pastries). Drink Bosnian coffee as you listen to traditional folk music. (B, D)

Day 9: Sunday, May 15, 2022 Sarajevo – Plitvice, Croatia
Make your way through Bosnia and into northern Croatia, arriving in Plitvice in the late afternoon. Your hotel supports a Serbian community centre where local women produce traditional crafts and bake homemade goods. During this Impact Moment, learn how the local women are keeping the community alive through their traditions and crafts. As the day ends, enjoy an authentic “under the bell” dinner, where lamb and vegetables are slow-roasted under a giant iron bell for hours. (B, D)

Day 10: Monday, May 16, 2022 Plitvice Lakes – Motovun
Take in the forested landscape of Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO) with a guide. Walk along the cascading lakes and the free-flowing waterfalls before cruising through the park by boat.
Head to the Istrian Peninsula, where rolling hills and vineyard rows meet seaside towns full of Mediterranean cuisine. For a 3-night stay
in Motovun, settle into the Roxanich Wine and Heritage Hotel, nestled at the base of a hilltop village. (B, D)

Day 11: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Motovun – Rovinj – Motovun
Travel off the beaten path to the fishing village of Rovinj. Uneven cobblestone streets lead into sidewalk cafes, boasting an atmosphere
of welcoming locals. After getting acquainted with the humble port town, take advantage of some free time to explore on your own. Return back to Motovun – the rest of the day is yours. (B)

Day 12: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 Motovun
Feel like a local and join a family on their forested property for a truffle-hunting adventure. Follow their friendly dogs on your quest for the coveted mushrooms, then sit down for a tasty truffle-inspired lunch. Head back to town for an evening on your own. Consider joining your Tour Manager on a leisurely walk to the top of the village for views of the surrounding area. (B, L)

Day 13: Thursday, May 19, 2022 Motovun – Bled, Slovenia
Cross into Slovenia and spend time at Lipica Stud Farm, the famous breed of the Habsburgs Empire. Meet purebred Lipizzan horses, dating back to the 16th century, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride to a picnic lunch in the meadows. End your day along the shores of Lake Bled. With the Julian Alps towering along the skyline and the ethereal turquoise water lapping against the tiny islet, enjoy an evening on your own to take in the tranquil beauty of Bled. (B, L)

Day 14: Friday, May 20, 2022 Bled
Today it’s your choice! Experience the old-world charm of a traditional Pletna boat ride, heading to Lake Bled’s island and its 17th-century cathedral -OR- visit the nearby village of Bohinj with a local guide, getting a feel for everyday life and learning about Slovenian traditions. The remainder of the afternoon is yours. (B)

Day 15: Saturday, May 21, 2022 Bled – Ljubljana – Zagreb, Croatia
Head to Ljubljana, where curving canals and picturesque bridges form the capital of Slovenia. See the city with a local guide, strolling along an intriguing mix of foreign architecture. Take advantage of some free time to explore on your own. Continue on to Zagreb, the storied capital of Croatia. After independently discovering the city, toast to the end of your Balkan adventure at a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 16: Sunday, May 22, 2022 Zagreb – Tour Ends
Wish Croatia goodbye as you depart for home. (B)