Day 1: Rome
Buongiorno! Welcome to Rome. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive early – and it’s recommended that you do to soak in all this incredibly historic city has to offer – maybe grab an espresso and hit the streets. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. When the formalities are out of the way, get your first taste of Italy with your group at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Monteriggioni / San Gimignano Region
Today, join a private guide for a trip to the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza Navona and inside the Pantheon. Make your way to Campo de Fiori, where a local fresh produce market has been held since 1869. Join your leader for a quick stop at a local bar for a granita (an iced Italian espresso), then have lunch at a classic local restaurant that’s frequented by Romans. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Colosseum – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Then, the evening is free for you to explore at your own pace.
Day 3: Monteriggioni / San Gimignano Region
Start your day with an early-access visit to the Vatican Museums with a local guide. You’ll get there well before everyone else, offering a much quieter experience in the Sistine Chapel. After you’ve taken it all in, you’ll head to Monteriggioni – a medieval walled town with over a dozen towers once used to defend Sienese territory from the Florentines. You’ll have time to explore this tiny hilltop spot before arriving at your Feature Stay accommodation near San Gimignano. This country hotel with views of a tree-studded landscape features an outdoor pool and an onsite restaurant. Tonight, indulge in an included gourmet dinner made with local ingredients that pays homage to traditional Tuscan dishes, with a modern twist.
Day 4: San Gimignano Region / Siena
Start the day in San Gimignano – the ‘Town of Fine Towers.’ Explore the medieval Old Town centre and its Gothic and Romanesque architecture with your leader. This region is also renowned for its ancient Vernaccia grapes, which are the basis for one of Tuscany’s finest white wines. Your group will visit a local agriturismo, where you’ll explore the vineyards and sample some of their celebrated wine before enjoying an included lunch featuring regional cheese, fine olive oil and bruschetta. Then, take a private vehicle to the city of Siena, where your leader will show you the most interesting sites on an orientation walk. At the city’s heart is Piazza del Campo – home to the biannual Palio horse race and nearby the Siena Cathedral. Return to your Feature Stay accommodation for another delicious dinner.
Day 5: Pisa / Lucca / Florence
Today you’ll visit Pisa. It’s not always possible to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa due to its precarious state, but as your leader shares the history of this legendary building, you’ll have the opportunity to take a photo from the ground. Your next stop is historic Lucca – one of Italy’s most beautiful but underrated cities – where you’ll take a short walk with a local expert guide along the city’s beautifully preserved Renaissance walls. From here, you’ll take the short journey to Florence where the evening is yours to walk the cobbled streets, eat gelato and soak up the unmistakenly Tuscan atmosphere.
Day 6: Florence
This morning, join a private guided walk of Florence, including a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia – an art museum renowned for its collection of sculptures, including the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo. You then have a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Perhaps you’ll visit the Uffizi, which is highly recommended, as it’s one of the oldest galleries in the world. Maybe head to Piazzale Michelangelo for sweeping views of Florence’s timeless skyline and sample some of the culinary delicacies on offer from across Tuscany, with dishes known for their freshness, simplicity and quality. Olive oil, beans and herbs are a feature here.
Day 7: Venice
In the morning, head to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Venice. When you arrive, take an orientation walk with your leader so you can get acquainted with the city’s maze of canals and learn about its unique history. Then, make your way to Palazzo Pisani, which was once home to one of the most powerful Venetian dynasties and now houses the Music Conservatory of Venice. You can also take the stairs to the rooftop for a spectacular aerial view of the city. Venice is renowned for its glass, so end the walk with a visit to a glass-blowing factory to learn about the art of its production. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore before joining back up with your group in the evening for a Venetian dinner.
Day 8: Venice
Today is yours to explore Venice at your leisure and there’s plenty to explore among the bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas – practically unchanged for 600 years. Maybe walk to St Mark's Square and the Basilica, Doges’ Palace, Accademia Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. In the evening, join your new leader and group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Venice is famous for seafood and fresh Veneto vegetables – maybe try some fritto misto (a mix of fried seafood) or risotto with asparagus.
Day 9: Ljubljana / Bled
Say farewell to Venice this morning and travel to Ljubljana – a city full of style and sophistication. When you arrive, take a guided tour around the Old Town. Learn about the city’s history as you visit Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Nicholas and the Dragon Bridge. You’ll also visit the open market before continuing to the lakeside town of Bled. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy your scenic surroundings.
Day 10: Lake Bohinj / Bled
This morning you’ll drive through the misty Sava Bohinjka Valley to beautiful Lake Bohinj – the largest permanent natural lake in Slovenia. Take a cable car to the top of Mt Vogel, where you’ll be greeted by views of evergreen woods sloping down the mountains to blue waters. Take some time to enjoy the area before returning to Bled – renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then take a pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) to the island on Lake Bled and climb up the 99 steps to St Mary’s Church. Enjoy a free evening where you can seek out the famous Bled cream cake (nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims that theirs is the best).
Day 11: Postojna Caves / Motovun / Buzet
This morning, begin your day with a visit to the Postojna Caves. This 20-km (12.4 mi) network of passages, galleries and chambers is the largest classic karst cave in Europe. Take an open-top train ride through narrow tunnels into the jungle of stalactites and stalagmites, before your leader explains the geology of this natural wonder. Continue to Motovun – sitting atop a cone-shaped hill and surrounded by the bountiful Mirna River Valley. The forests here are famous for truffle hunting. Today, you’ll have the chance to sample this local product combined with fritaja (Croatian omelet), a local speciality, on a visit to a family-owned farm. Then, head to the hilltop village of Buzet, which sits on top of a hill and is filled with traditional Istrian houses and streets.
Day 12: Plitvice
Today, make the most of a late morning before heading to the villages of Slunj and Rastoke on the banks of the Korana River. Take a walk through the beautifully preserved villages and admire the traditional wooden houses and water mills. From here, head to your hotel just outside Plitvice Lakes National Park. When you arrive, you have the option to head out on a leisurely walk with your leader to get your bearings. Then, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to spend at your leisure.
Day 13: Plitvice Lakes National Park / Zadar
Early this morning, you’ll explore one of Croatia’s most beautiful sites before the crowd arrive – Plitvice Lakes National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a fairytale land of wooded hills, turquoise lakes and waterfalls. Your local guide will show you a quiet, alternative route, so you can experience a side of the park few visitors see while learning about the natural environment as you walk. After, drive to the walled city of Zadar. Take an afternoon city tour with a local guide, learning the ancient history of the Roman Forum, built in the 1st century, and St Donatus’ Church. Visit the reconstructed Romanesque Church of St Chrysogonus, St Mary’s bell tower, St Anastasia’s Cathedral, and the People’s Square. Finally, visit the Three and Five Wells Squares. There is also an opportunity to visit the Gold and Silver Museum. In the late afternoon, top off the day with a local food tasting, including prosciutto, pancetta, dried sausages, goat cheese and olives, and sample maraschino, a sweet cherry brandy originating from Zadar. After, relax and enjoy a drink overlooking the bay.
Day 14: Zadar
The day is yours to continue to get to know Zadar. There are several excellent museums to visit, including the Museum of Church Art, the Archaeological Museum and the National Museum. Don’t forget to visit the famous ‘Greeting to the Sun’ and the ‘Sea Organ’, two of the more modern sights of Zadar. The latter is a manmade organ on Zadar’s Riva that works with the motion of the waves and 35 pipes to create a musical soundscape. Maybe visit the vibrant fish markets of this port town, take a dip in the clear coastal waters, or explore the cafe culture and do some people-watching.
Day 15: Split
You’re in for a treat today – heads out for a Signature Experience in Tugare, a small 14th-century village with original structures and stone houses that reflect its past. Head to a local family home, where you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink of homemade rakija and a traditional dessert. Then, help prepare soparnik, a protected regional dish, with time to talk to your friendly hosts. While the soparnik is cooking, you’ll tour the village with a local guide who will explain what you’re seeing in this abandoned village. Then, go enjoy that delicious soparnik you made! After, continue to Split, Croatia’s second-largest city. It’s an enviable spot in the heart of the Dalmatian coast, set on the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea and sitting against a backdrop of coastal mountains. Check into your Feature Stay accommodation – a boutique hotel with centuries of history (it started its life in the 1700s as the first cafe in Split!), situated on the most beautiful square in the city. This evening you may like to head to one of Split’s restaurants with your group for dinner.
Day 16: Split
Your adventure comes to and end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to extend your stay in Split, just get in touch with your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.
