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9-Nights Adriatic Escape - Small Group from $4,625
Insight Vacations
OFFER ID 1630691
Adriatic Escape - Small Group
Journey through Croatia, Slovenia and Italy on an intimate small-group exploration of the Adriatic. Stroll through Zagreb’s historic squares, cruise across Lake Bled in a traditional pletna boat and marvel at the vast karst formations of Postojna Cave. Discover Istria’s coastal gems - from the Roman heritage of Pula to the Venetian charm of Rovinj - before arriving in Venice, where a gondola ride through hidden canals brings your journey to a memorable close.
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Lake Bled: Glide across the emerald waters of Lake Bled aboard a traditional pletna boat, a method of transport unique to this region. On Bled Island, climb 99 stone steps to the Church of Mother of God and ring the legendary Wishing Bell, a centuries-old tradition said to bring good fortune to those who hear its chime.
- Lake Bled: Visit Vila Bled, once the summer retreat of Marshal Tito, the former leader of Yugoslavia, today it offers a peaceful setting to take in the stunning alpine views. Relax on the terrace and enjoy kremšnita, Bled’s famous cream cake, paired with coffee as you soak in the serene surroundings.
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Krk: Savor a Farm-to-Table lunch at a family-owned winery, where locally sourced ingredients highlight the island’s culinary traditions, paired with Krk’s signature Žlahtina wine.
- Pula: Enjoy an authentic local dining experience in Pula, savoring regional specialties made with fresh, local ingredients.
- Choose between two experiences at Lake Bled.
- Lake Bled: Glide across the emerald waters of Lake Bled aboard a traditional pletna boat, a method of transport unique to this region. On Bled Island, climb 99 stone steps to the Church of Mother of God and ring the legendary Wishing Bell, a centuries-old tradition said to bring good fortune to those who hear its chime.
- Lake Bled: Visit Vila Bled, once the summer retreat of Marshal Tito, the former leader of Yugoslavia, today it offers a peaceful setting to take in the stunning alpine views. Relax on the terrace and enjoy kremšnita, Bled’s famous cream cake, paired with coffee as you soak in the serene surroundings.
- Ljubljana: Meet inspiring individuals at Soncek – Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering adults with disabilities through meaningful employment and community integration. Learn how their Care and Work Center provides guidance, care, and adapted jobs, allowing members to create handcrafted souvenirs, artwork and other unique items. Your visit directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
- Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft. This workshop directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Travel by funicular in Zagreb • Enjoy a gondola serenade in Venice
- Visit Postojna Caves • Pula Arena
- City tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana, Krk, all with Local Experts.
- Welcome Dinner in Zagreb • Farm-to-Table Lunch in Krk • Celebration Dinner in Venice
- Zagreb: Your Local Expert guides you through this two-tiered capital. Explore Donji Grad, the Lower Town, and see Ban Josip Jelacic Square and the cathedral.
- Zagreb: Ride the funicular to Gornji Grad, the medieval Upper Town, to view the former Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St. Mark's Church and the Lotršcak Tower.
- Ljubljana: Explore this elegant capital with your Local Expert, to see the castle City Hall, Cathedral of St. Nicholas and Triple Bridge.
- Postojna Cave: Enter by mini-train into these world-famous cave systems, before walking through an illuminated fairyland of stalactites and stalagmites.
- Krk: Uncover Krk’s layered history with your Local Expert, from its Roman roots to its medieval fortifications. Walk through the island’s walled old town, see traces of Venetian influence, and visit landmarks like St Mary’s Cathedral and Frankopan Castle, home to Croatian nobility.
- Pula: Join your Local Expert to explore one of the world’s best-preserved Roman amphitheatres. Walk through ancient corridors, hear stories of gladiator battles, and learn how this impr
9 nights from $4,625 per person
Insight Vacations: Adriatic Escape - Small Group
Day 1 - Welcome to Zagreb
Welcome to Zagreb, Croatia’s vibrant capital. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers before enjoying dinner, the perfect start to your journey across the shores of the Northern Adriatic and beyond.
Accommodations: Sheraton Zagreb
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Zagreb Sightseeing and on to Ljubljana
Uncover the rich history of Zagreb with your Local Expert, exploring Croatia’s two-tiered capital. Admire the Art Pavilion, originally constructed in Budapest in 1896 and later transformed in Viennese Art Nouveau style. Stroll past the Academy of Sciences and Arts and through Zrinjevac Park before riding the world’s shortest funicular, just 66 m (217 ft) long, to St Mark’s Church, famous for its vibrant tiled roof. See Lotršcak Tower, once guarding the city’s southern gate, where a cannon has marked midday since 1877. Continue to Ljubljana for a walking tour to explore Slovenia’s capital city. Visit the Soncek Association for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where artists with cerebral palsy craft unique Slovenian souvenirs. This inspiring visit offers the chance to support their work and learn about the association’s impact. Later, enjoy a dinner of local Slovenian specialties.
Accommodations: Exe Lev Ljubljana
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Lake Bled, Jewel of the Slovenian Alps
This morning’s Insight Choice experiences will see you exploring Lake Bled according to your tastes. You can glide across the water on a traditional pletna boat to Bled Island, and climb 99 steps to the Church of Mother of God to ring the legendary Wishing Bell. Or, visit Vila Bled, once a retreat for Marshal Tito, and savor kremšnita cream cake with coffee on the lake-view terrace. Return to Ljubljana for an afternoon at leisure and perhaps join an Optional Experience to Pr’ Krac for a traditional dinner showcasing Slovenia’s rural heritage.
Accommodations: Exe Lev Ljubljana
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Postojna Caves and across the border to Croatia Relaxed Start
Begin your day delving deep beneath Slovenia’s surface as you travel by underground train through the Postojna Caves. With its cathedral-like chambers and peculiar rock formations, this natural wonder is also home to the world's only underground post office. Cross into Croatia to your resort hotel on the Rijeka coast, surrounded by the scenery of Risnjak National Park and Ucka Nature Park This evening, you may wish to join an Optional Experience to Opatija, a refined coastal resort favored by Austro-Hungarian royalty, to savor local specialties in a setting steeped in imperial grandeur.
Accommodations: Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort and Spa
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Explore the island of Krk Relaxed Start
Enjoy a Relaxed Start before venturing to Krk, one of the oldest inhabited islands in the Adriatic. Explore the walled city alongside your Local Expert, who will share stories of its layered past. Visit St. Mary's Cathedral, admire the 16th-century bell tower and see the formidable Frankopan Castle, once home to one of Croatia’s most influential noble families. Later, savor a Farm-to-Table lunch at a family-owned winery. Here, you'll discover the island's deep-rooted viticultural traditions while sampling dishes crafted with local ingredients and paired with wines found nowhere else in the world. Return to Rijeka for a leisurely evening to unwind at your own pace.
Accommodations: Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort and Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 - Rovinj & Pula, Jewels of Istria
Spend your morning in picture-perfect Rovinj, a coastal gem of pastel facades and cobbled lanes. You’re free to stroll its charming streets, perhaps browsing local boutiques or enjoying fresh Adriatic seafood paired with crisp Istrian wine beside the water’s edge. Continue south to Pula, capital of the Istrian Peninsula, known for its Roman legacy and lively Mediterranean atmosphere.
Accommodations: Park Plaza Histria
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Discover Roman Pula Relaxed Start
Join a Local Expert to uncover Pula’s layered history, beginning at the Pula Arena: one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres still standing. Built in the 1st century CE under Emperor Augustus, it could seat up to 20,000 spectators and was once the site of gladiatorial contests. Continue exploring the city’s key sites, gaining insights into its role as a strategic port through Roman, medieval and Austro-Hungarian eras. This evening, enjoy an authentic local dining experience in a traditional setting, where you’ll sample regional dishes rooted in Istria’s culinary heritage, made with local ingredients and age-old techniques.
Accommodations: Park Plaza Histria
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Piran, Jewel of the Istrian Coast, and on to Venice Relaxed Start
Start your day with a visit to Piran, a medieval gem on the Gulf of Trieste, where Venetian and Austro-Hungarian influences echo through its winding streets and ancient town walls, built to defend against Ottoman invasions. Cross the border into Italy and stop in Trieste, a vibrant port city shaped by Latin, Slavic and Germanic cultures, and home to the famous Barcolana regatta. Enjoy time at leisure to explore before journeying across the Venetian Plain to the Queen of the Adriatic, Venice.
Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Venice
See Venice’s age-old traditions come to life as you watch master artisans demonstrate the delicate craft of Murano glassblowing. Then, experience the city as it was meant to be seen, by gliding through its labyrinth of canals on a traditional gondola. This evening, come together for a final dinner, celebrating your journey in this extraordinary floating city.
Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Arrivaderci Venice
Your journey from Zagreb to Venice is at an end, say arrivederci to your Travel Director and newfound connections. Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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