Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro

We meet at our Departure Office in London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Brussels. In the Belgian capital, we change trains for Cologne and continue to Munich or Ulm for the night.

After a relaxed morning on Day 2, we continue our journey across beautiful Bavaria, through Austria and the mighty Austrian Alps into Slovenia. We arrive in Bled, an enchanting town set on the shimmering, turquoise waters of the glacial lake bearing the same name. Surrounded by forested slopes and the jagged summits of the Julian Alps, the lake is crowned by Bled Castle. On arrival, we check into our hotel for three nights.

Day 3 is free for you to explore Bled and the surrounding area. Perhaps take a boat to the delightful island near the lake's centre or visit Bled Castle. This thousand-year-old building looks like a fairytale castle and houses collections of weaponry and ancient jewellery.

• Day 1 - Eurostar Meal, Dinner
• Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 3 - Breakfast

oday's excursion takes us to Ljubljana, Slovenia's thriving capital city. We enjoy a guided tour around the Art Nouveau and Baroque buildings of the historic centre before continuing by coach to the fascinating Postojna Caves. Entering via a small electric railway, we take a guided walk into the very heart of this wonderful subterranean world.

On Day 5, we depart Bled by train, crossing the Croatian border to reach vibrant Zagreb. 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. 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.

We enjoy a guided tour on Day 6, visiting sights such as the 14th-century Gothic St Mark's Church and the medieval quarter of the city. You have a free afternoon to continue exploring. Perhaps stop by Dolac market and sample some traditional fare, such as strukli, pastries filled with cottage cheese.

• Day 4 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 5 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 6 - Breakfast

Travelling by coach to Plitvice Lakes, we check into our hotel. This evening we discover the local area with a guide, visiting a nearby Serbian village that saw major conflict in the Yugoslavia and Bosnian wars. We return to the hotel for a cooking demonstration of Balkan cuisine, which we enjoy for tonight's delicious dinner.

On Day 8 we visit the famous Plitvice Lakes. These sixteen lakes are part of a National Park and are connected by cascading waterfalls, the largest of which, Veliki Slap, has a drop of 200 feet. Plitvice Lakes boast UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to the unusual karst formations and outstanding natural beauty here. After lunch in a local restaurant, we take the train to Split, spending two nights in this city built in honour of the Roman Emperor, Diocletian.

We take to the water on Day 9, enjoying a scenic cruise to the island of Brac. Your afternoon is free in Split. Perhaps wander the narrow walkways of Diocletian's Palace.

• Day 7 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 9 - Breakfast

Our coach takes us along the Adriatic Coast to Dubrovnik, stopping along the way at Makarska Old Town. Our home for the next three nights, on Day 11 we set out on a guided walking tour. A breathtaking Renaissance port and the 'Pearl of the Adriatic', Dubrovnik's old city is UNESCO protected, and you may recognise some of the terracotta streets and buildings from HBO's Game of Thrones. Your afternoon is free. Perhaps take a walk along the ancient walls which overlook the city, or step back in time with a visit to the historic Franciscan Church and Monastery complex.

• Day 10 - Breakfast
• Day 11 - Breakfast

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 who then dropped a stone on the spot every time they sailed by for luck.

We fly to London Gatwick on Day 13 and our holiday ends.

Your luggage will travel with you rather than via our luggage transfer service.

• Day 12 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 13 - Breakfast