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Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro

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4.2 stars(26 reviews)
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Small Group

Discover the magical lands of the Adriatic

13 days From £2,895 £2,745 per person
Booking Offer

Save £150pp on your Europe 2023 holiday when you book between 16th November 2022 and midnight 12th December 2022, for departure dates between 1st April 2023 and 31st October 2023.

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2023 Tour code: CSG23

About the tour

Join us on a voyage of discovery into magical Adriatic Southeast Europe as we learn the secret to beekeeping on the shores of Lake Bled, explore the pretty Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, lively and historic Zagreb, the seaside city of Split, historic Dubrovnik and unspoilt Montenegro.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – London and Munich

We take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, continuing by rail to Munich for an overnight stay.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
Day 2 – Bled

We continue through the Austrian Alps to Slovenia and Bled, an enchanting town set on the turquoise waters of glacial Lake Bled, surrounded by forested slopes and the jagged peaks of the Julian Alps. On arrival, we check into our hotel for three nights.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Discovering Bled

With a free day to begin exploring Bled and the surrounding area, you could take a boat to the delightful island near the lake's centre, home to the Church of the Assumption of Maria. Or you may like to visit Bled Castle. This thousand-year-old castle houses historic collections of weaponry and ancient jewellery. If you feel like stretching your legs, there's a three-mile circular walk around the lake, with views across the water.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 – Ljubljana

We explore Ljubljana, Slovenia's thriving capital, enjoying a guided tour around the Art Nouveau and Baroque buildings of the historic centre, seeing the remains of the Roman Emona, the medieval castle and other buildings with richly-decorated façades and arched entrances. We pass by the picturesque bridges which cross the Ljubljanica River, connecting the city centre with the vast Tivoli Park. Afterwards, we continue to the fascinating Postojna Caves. Entering via a small electric railway, we walk through the heart of this subterranean world.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Zagreb

Before our journey to Zagreb, we visit a local beekeeper. In an area where there's a buzz about all things bee-related, we learn more about the native Carniolan bee and how its honey is used in all sorts of ways; from insomnia cures to massage oils. We also enjoy a tasting of the sweet stuff, along with a glass of unique honey liqueur. Next, we depart Bled by train, crossing the Croatian border to reach vibrant Zagreb - our base for three nights. Wonderfully compact, the city's old centre is divided into the Lower Town - filled with splendid architecture and pleasant parks - and the Upper Town, a charming area of enticing streets.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Exploring Zagreb

We set out on a sightseeing tour with a local guide, visiting the Gothic St Mark's Church and the medieval quarter of the city ahead of a free afternoon. Zagreb's attractions are easily explored on foot and there are plenty of museums and galleries to discover as well as lively pavement cafés and restaurants where you can enjoy authentic Dalmatian cuisine. The Baroque Upper Town is where you'll find a variety of picturesque open-air markets and diverse shops selling a selection of local crafts or you could immerse yourself in the relaxed culture by unwinding in one of the many public parks.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 – Plitvice Lakes

Travelling by coach to Plitvice Lakes, we check into our hotel for the night. A collection of 16 turquoise lakes, interconnected with plunging waterfalls and surrounded by 116 square miles of verdant forest - Plitvice Lakes are Croatia's answer to paradise. A national treasure, and the country's most popular tourist attraction, this national park is home to rare animals including indigenous bears, deer, wolves and wild boar. This evening we enjoy dinner in our hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 – Plitvice Lakes National Park

We visit the famous lakes today, a UNESCO World Heritage site of cascading waterfalls - the largest of which is Veliki Slap with a drop of 200 feet - unusual karst formations and outstanding natural beauty. The delightful lakes are rich with minerals, which creates their blue-green colour, and surrounded by a variety of flora and fauna. Boasting 1,267 different plants - including 55 varieties of orchid and rare plants such as spurge-laurel, leopard plant and heartleaf oxeye - horticultural enthusiasts will have plenty to admire. The north-western section of the park is of particular interest, containing fir and beech trees believed to be up to 700 years old. In the afternoon, we join the train to Split, where we spend two nights.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Brac and Split

Today we take a cruise to the island of Brač, where there's time for a walk along the breathtaking seafront and the option to swim at Zlatni Rat Beach, one of the most iconic locations in Croatia. Recognised as one of the most stunning beaches in Europe, its unique shape has earned it the nickname 'the Golden Horn'. In the afternoon we attend a traditional cooking demonstration that includes a tasting of a Dalmatian classis, Soparnik - thin dough filled with Swiss chard. Afterwards, you're free in Split to wander the warren of walkways which make up Diocletian's Palace or sample some of the delicious local street food. The locals are particularly fond of a dish called cevapi - grilled meatballs served in a flatbread with ajvar, a relish of roasted red peppers and aubergine.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 10 – Makarska Old Town

Today we travel along the Adriatic Coast to Dubrovnik for three nights, stopping on the way at Makarska Old Town, a cosmopolitan seaside town with a pretty promenade which sits at the foot of Mount Biokovo. Here, you may like to visit the Franciscan monastery, built by Bosnian monks in the 17th-century, or stop for something to eat at one of the lovely waterfront bistros.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 11 – Dubrovnik

We set out on a guided walking tour of Dubrovnik, a breathtaking Renaissance port known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. The city's Old Town is UNESCO protected, and you may recognise some of the terracotta streets and buildings from the many films and shows that have chosen this magnificent setting as a backdrop. Charming and picturesque, there's a rich array of buildings - from the world's oldest arboretum to one of the continent's oldest pharmacies, dating back to the 14th century. The looming parapets of this historic destination have seen their share of hardship over the years, most recently the tragic bombardment of the city during the Croatian War of Independence. Your afternoon is free. You might like to take a walk along the ancient walls or visit the historic Franciscan Church and Monastery complex.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 12 – Kotor

Travelling along the beautiful Dalmatian coastline to Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor, we board a boat to visit 'Our Lady of the Rocks', a man-made islet crowned by a small church. According to legend, this monument was created when the Virgin Mary appeared to local fishermen; after this sighting the fishermen dropped a stone on the spot each time they sailed by, for luck and protection. The stones now support a quaint church and museum, home to a famous 17th century painting by Tripo Kokoija, 'The Death of the Virgin'.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 – London

We transfer to the airport for our flight to London Gatwick, or elsewhere in the UK, where our holiday comes to an end.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

While every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Rikli Balance Hotel

Rikli Balance Hotel, Bled

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Hotel Lapad, Dubrovnik

Hotel Lapad, Dubrovnik

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Hotel Lyra

Hotel Lyra, Plitvice

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Radission Blu Resort Split

Radission Blu Resort Split

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Hotel Dubrovnik

Hotel Dubrovnik, Zagreb

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Trains

Eurostar
ICE Train
InterCity

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 26 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (12)
  2. 4 stars
    (7)
  3. 3 stars
    (6)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

K Cleave

5 stars

Submitted 25/Oct

We enjoyed the holiday and felt the hotels were very good

Collected by Trustpilot

C Shaxted

5 stars

Submitted 22/Oct

It was our first hoilday with themThe whole trip was a wonderful experience , and we are booking others. Couldn't have had a better guide .Five star's all round?? thanks for the memories P.

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Richard Cresenzo

5 stars

Submitted 20/Oct

Great Rail was terrific. A gorgeous trip with a fantastic guide, travel mates and food. Highly recommended!

Collected by Trustpilot

Richard Cresenzo
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Peter

3 stars

Submitted 5/Oct

I did send detailed review - Maybe this has not been seen .Good tours and visits to destinations. BUT 1) Big problems with DB German rail journeys including one long chaotic journey with no first class carriage and seating and difficulties with luggage (Munich / Bled) 2) Several hotels too far out from destinations (Munich; Split; Dubrovnik) 3)Provided holiday details occasionally at considerable variance from reality.

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Audrey

4 stars

Submitted 23/Sep

This was a great trip, the only reason I gave it 4 stars was the train travel through Germany which was out of the control of Great Rail Journeys.

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G Pegg

3 stars

Submitted 19/Sep

Sadly the trains were either late, running slow and in one instance our carriage was missing so we didn’t have seats. The itinerary left little time for relaxing or using the hotel facilities and on a number of occasions we arrived at the hotel around 10pm so missed dinner altogether. A very disappointing holiday as we felt completely worn out by the end.

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