Somehow, even though I know theyve done this many times before, their interactions with us were genuine and heartfelt. Our guide, Marijan, did an amazing job bringing it all to life for us. We loved Ljubjiana and Slovenia in general, beautiful country. Marvel at the changing colours of sparkling waterfalls as they cascade down high rock edifices in the forested environs of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. "The mountain town of Lagkadia. We loved every moment of this tour. The sites were carefully chosen I feel with that in mind. She was well organized, professional, extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. But I was impressed with the tour guides' credentials and was looking forward to hearing more.". Highlights "I have 3. "My first glimpse of Lake Bled took my breath away. "The Castle Wall at Dubrovnik was amazing!". "My "Wow" moments on previous tours centered around the man-made beauty seen in the cathedrals and museums. Great hotels, good choices of experiences, beautiful countries, great tour guide and local tour guides. Guide for entire tour was amazing! We also had a couple 'special' stops along the way: a vineyard/winery and a farm where we had a super nice lunch. Some of the destinations were windy and the microphone did not have a wind shield so it was hard to hear or there were loud popping plosives when the mic was held inches from the lips. On this tour, you'll meander from pristine hill towns to sun-soaked islands, lacing together the best destinations in this diverse region: Slovenia's charming Ljubljana, fairy-tale Lake Bled, and cut-glass Julian Alps; Croatia's seaside Rovinj, waterfall-laced Plitvice, historic Split, Dalmatian isle of Korula, and picture-perfect Dubrovnik; and an enlightening visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina's once-war-torn town of Mostar. This tour was the perfect introduction to an unfamiliar and beautiful region. See our FAQ | Email tour@ricksteves.com. "Plitvice lakes National Park was spectacular.". Ben is a wonderful guide and shepherded our group through our two weeks together with expert care and enthusiasm for the areas we visited. The first was Plitvice National Park and the second was walking the walls of Dubrovnik.". We appreciated learning more about the history of the area and, especially, about the destructive and tragic war in the 1990s and its aftermath. Nudist beaches are specially marked as FKK in Croatia. From $2895. "Plitvice Lakes National Park was amazing! It was magical!". Can't wait to go on the next one! The tour flexibility to weather and illness was seamless to a wonderful Experience. Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro Tour | Great Rail Journeys Find something that suits your pocket or adventure type, and check in weekly for fresh new deals. Really fun and informative tour. "Plot ice lakes national park was my wow moment. Enjoyed our visits to the winery and the donkey farm. I also loved floating in the water in Korcula, on the stony beach, on our vacation from our vacation.". "Mostly because it was completely unexpected, the visit to the Planica winter sports facility.". 2024 11 Day Croatia and Slovenia Tour from Zagreb to Dubrovnik Travel 11 days, 2 countries and 11 cities Accommodation 10 nights Meals 10 Breakfasts, 1 Welcome Reception, 1 Be My Guest, 1 Dinner, 1 Farewell Dinner Itinerary View day-by-day trip itinerary It was wonderful. No bus. Croatia's glittering Adriatic coast, charming cobblestone towns and thriving food and wine scene are certain to reward curiosities. "Getting a better understanding of the history of these countries". Hiking around the lakes and seeing the beautiful blue-green color of water was a memory that I will not forget". I loved Ljubljana, such a relaxed place, I could imagine living there. "In a nutshell, the natural beauty and magnificent of the Plitvice National Park. Most tour members arrange to fly into Ljubljana (LJU) and out of Dubrovnik (DBV) choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. ", "Loved the island of Korcula. "We love this holiday so much we have returned several times . Our hotels and restaurants were fine. Bus and driver excellent. As travelers, group tours are not the norm for us and this was a stretch--and a perfect choice for these countries with a super group of people, a very fine tour leader, and exceptionally informed local guides. The Korcula sunset from the top of the Tower, The breathtaking views of the Adriatic and the city of Dubrovnik from the top of the city walls and the very interesting museum visit in the Solvenian Soca valley at Kobarid. "Slovenia was surprisingly beautiful. "I was amazed at how well preserved Dubrovnik was. We were lucky enough to catch the first shuttle out and got to enjoy walking the park 'backwards' - we got the more stunning parts of the park almost to ourselves. Outgoing people. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly even terrain. This tour was very thoughtfully laid out, with a good balance between guided tours, group activities and independent time. "So many wows but I would have to say sunset from the bridge in Mostar. Delicious food, esp. 2) Experiencing Stolac and Mostar in Bosnia through the eyes of a local guide who actually lived through the war was an absolute favorite. "Every day, there were multiple wow moments. Truly an amazing wonder, fabulous scenic hike & spectacular day! Sleep in an Istrian hill town. 10 Best Croatia and Slovenia Tours & Trips 2023/2024 - TourRadar I did it all though, loved every step (loads of walking) and thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of everywhere we traveled. Great trip with an excellent guide, Mariam. Home Eastern Europe Croatia If you're obsessed with food, wine, history and natural beauty, this European destination on the Adriatic coast is like no other. Also, this park has an abundance of water (streams, waterfalls, mist, lakes) so it looked like a lush rain forest. Have not seen anything like it. In 14 days, we saw a lot, learned a lot, and experienced a lot. Our guide got us up early and headed the right way to avoid crowds, so our experience of the place was optimal!". The varied natural beauty of the country and the beauty and accessibility of the city were notable. Triple the normal size, and the power of the falls, surrounding us, makes one realize how minuscule humans are in comparison. Better yet, I wish RS would have a new tour that would focus on Bosnia. "My first wow moment of the trip and probably my favorite was upon visiting Pula and seeing the almost intact amphitheater. I have never been on a tour before. She managed every day and all of the details so smoothly , making it all look so easy! Very happy with the tour guide Anja and the driver. The accommodations were comfortable and well situated. 10 Best Croatia Tours & Trips 2023/2024 (with 421 Reviews) - Bookmundi Leaving Mostar behind us, we'll make our way to a Serbian Orthodox monastery, where we'll learn about the role Christianity plays in the region. Bus: 4 hours. Tours of Croatia & Croatia Destination Guide | Trafalgar I want to travel in a maximum group size of up to: Copyright TourRadar. Croatia Family Activity Holiday. Top 10 Slovenia Tours & Vacation Packages 2023/2024 - 556 Reviews Croatia & Slovenia: The Old-World Adriatic | EF Go Ahead Tours Also, the beautiful city of Ljubljana and the Julian Alps. Best of the Balkans . We loved the stops at local wineries and restaurants and felt the close bond that Tina, our guide, had with the proprietors. "Bosnia stood out as an incredibly complex region and our time there was both beautiful and stimulating.". And Sanel upheld our high expectations for the RS guide based on our two previous tours. For me it was the combination of beautiful vistas, learning more about former Yugoslavia (even the hard stuff) and experiencing Roman and Medieval architecture. At the top of my list is our magical walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park!". Bus left at 8 am often, even if "on our own" that afternoon. "The ? Our guide Saso was excellent, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Everything was great. The last night a special treat when a tour member(Babette) sang "Ava Maria" for all of us, it was awesome!!!!!". Then you'll be free to roam this stone city and its walkable walls that seem to have sprouted up out of the sea. The Julian Alps was such an experience. I always wondered why Yugoslavia broke up into so many countries, and was able to learn why from the perspective of people from several of the countries. Very nice mixture of group time and time on our own to explore. Best of Croatia and Slovenia Tour 2023 | Trafalgar 4.5/5 stars on Tripadvisor! Great guides, beautful views, charming old cities, good food and wine. Excellent itinerary and very educational. The activities were all fun and interesting and provided knowledge about countries we generally didn't know much about. The 13 couples on our tour were a pleasure to be around. 10 Best Croatia Tours & Trips 2023/2024 - TourRadar We'll take in the panoramic view from Bled's hilltop castle, then leave you with free time to stroll around the lakeside town or maybe hop aboard a boat to the chapel-topped island. This is coming from someone who hadn't wore a mask in the last year. "Plitvice Lakes were stunningly beautiful. The city seemed literally frozen in time.". Europe was just reopening to tourists when we were there, so there werent huge tour crowds but services (restaurants, historic sites, etc.) The Kremsnita cream cake at Lake Bled was almost as good as the beautiful views. Looking for the ultimate getaway? Old old towns with narrow cobblestone streets.". Pltivice was still worthwhile, it was occasionally raining, but not a washout, so still enjoyable. Great group also. Perhaps more important, this was one of the best groups we've traveled with on a Rick Steves tour. Good sampling of regional cuisine. My favorite natural beauty spot was Plitvice National Park. With the exception of having to wear masks on the bus, the adventure was fabulous. and a hike around Lake Bled. Our tour manager in Croatia & Slovenia, Primoz , was outstanding and fun! Everything was very organized and went off without a hitch. The only disappointment was losing 18 of 27 of our 'merry band of travelers' to Covid. i like the unusual experiences, the farm with a home cooked meal, the wine and cheese, in Slovenia, at a local home, eating grapes off the vine, walking around Lake Bled, with an umbrella, going to Plitvitc National park for the 2nd time in my life- How lucky am I. Korcula was a fairy tell experience, eating chese and wine on a boat ride - sunset!!". A short drive into Slovenia's Julian Alps brings us to the azure jewel of Lake Bled. "Plitvice Lakes National Park. This was our 4th Rick Steves' tour and each one has exceeded our expectations. "Plitvice Falls, It had been raining for several days, with trails around the upper lakes being closed. "The incredible blues of the waters, and so pristine! The tour was well-organized, with a good balance of scheduled time and free time. "The scenery of the alps in Slovenia and Plitvice Lakes National Park.". It was worth the two year wait! It was different from my expectation. Tame foam covered rapids during an overwhelming river rafting expedition down the inspirational Soca River. Mariam was a terrific guide; knowledgeable, passionate, and entertaining. 14-Day Itineraries Best of Croatia & Slovenia: Zagreb, Ljubljana, Istria, & Dalmatia - 14 Days Best of Croatia & Slovenia: Zagreb, Ljubljana, Istria, & Dalmatia - 14 Days View Map Experience the best of Slovenia and Croatia on this in-depth tour. "History. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. "Challenging to narrow this to just one - there many great moments. Our guide was a key factor in making this tour very enjoyable from Day 1. There were a couple of places I wish we could have stayed at longer; the ampitheater in Puna, and Plitvice. Great group, great food, great opportunities to learn and have fun. 3 days: Dubrovnik This tour was informative and surprising at times. ", "Unexpectedly, Bosnia was an interesting and informative stop.". I would highly recommend this tour and our guide Saso. I liked the group time and the time to explore alone. Great tour for anyone. Any time between April and October is a good time to take a Best of the Adriatic tour. I learned so much about the area. This is a very active tour! Best Croatia Tours & Holidays 2023/2024 | Intrepid Travel AU Best of Croatia and Slovenia 4.5 176 reviews Best of Croatia and Slovenia Discover the Balkans Choose a classic journey or extend to cruise the Adriatic Sea Deals available Save up to 312 From 2,125 Find this price Available Dates Easy Quote Your itinerary Dates & prices Reviews Deals available From 2,125 Available Dates Chat Now Your itinerary "Hard to say there was one "wow" moment because there were several like; walking the old town's waterfront of Ljubljana, the "old towns of Kurcula and Dubrovnik, the walk on the trails of Plitvice waterfalls, the beautiful panoramic bus ride from beginning to the end. The breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s was most evident and there were 2 superb local guides sharing history and personal stories.". It was very short. Also all the Roman ruins i got to see.". "There were 5: Slovenias Julian Alps/Soca River Valley, Plitvice Lakes National Park, on the way to the Istrian Peninsula, (just outside Kobarid) where a family invited us into their home to sample wines/food for lunch, the Island of Korcula, and lastly the 800-year-old stone city in Dubrovnik. Unfortunately, one of us tested positive for Covid midway through resulting in having to leave early. That might be the WOW if we had to pick just one. I love the fact that transportation and accommodations are taken care of. Met some great people and Sanel did a good job managing everyones needs. Perfect mix of education, beautiful sites and free time to tour as a local. The main guide was excellent. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. At times, we felt that we were literally surrounded by thundering waterfalls! ", "Many "wow" moments, one was the view from Dubrovnik Old Town toward the sea.". Thoroughly enjoyed this tour. The most popular month to go is September, which has the highest number of tour departures. 10 Best Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia Tours & Trips 2023/2024 - TourRadar Timing was excellent, sleeping accommodations were adequate, a time on our own was much appreciated. We had to go home - medical emergency - and are REALLY dissappointed as we loved the first few days of Slovenia and Croatia (that we were able to participate in). Stroll through the Old Town, stopping to see Zagreb Cathedral, and experience the lively bustle of the Dolac open-air market, where vendors sell fresh produce and local handicrafts such as baskets and lace.Continue to the Zagreb Funicular, the first means of public transportation in Zagreb, and enjoy a tasting of . Great combination of time alone and time with the group. Today we'll cross the border into formerly war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was my 12th RS tour. We'll spend our day exploring the Istrian Peninsula, studded with Roman ruins, Venetian architecture, and a landscape evocative of pre-tourist Tuscany. Loved the mix of city and country and national parks. The tour members were a great group to share memories with. The engaging guides, undiscovered locations, and authentic group experiences helped me understand the area's complex history and culture. All the local guides were also excellent. He also played music from the region that I thought added a lot to the experience. Tour stops well planned and interesting. Ljubljana was an excellent start city. "I have taken the COVID leap and I am finally back in Europe to experience more countries and their people.". "Lake Bled, Plitvice National Park, walk the walls of Dubrovnik.". Trogir, Korcula, Zadar, Hvar, and many other towns showcase even more of the beautiful history and culture of Croatia, too. Lastly, I appreciated the "off the beaten path" stops like visiting a donkey farm and enjoying a home cooked meal outside of Korcula; and experiencing an intimate farm to table meal at small winery in Goce. Best Croatia Tours & Vacations 2023/2024 | Intrepid Travel US Especially appreciated the Bosnia-Mostar trip very informative. What a fun tasting and lunch in a beautiful setting.". Our guide Daria was knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and caring. Sanel (guide) was excellent, the choice of locations was thoughtful and interesting, hotels were good, local guides superb. Idyllic islands and the remnants of Venetian riches dot this epic Croatia and Slovenia tour from Zagreb to Slovenias green capital, all the way along Croatias sparkling Adriatic coastline with a stop in Bled youll be talking about years to come as you meet your warm hosts Monika and Gregor on their organic farm. Learning about the atrocities in WW I, WW II, and separation from Yugoslavia 1993-1995 was enlightening and sobering. We rented bikes for our free day and had such fun exploring the countryside.". The guide was helpful and knowledgeable, and the other members of he group were friendly and interesting. Anja our tour guide was exceptional. There is a great mix of group activiites and time on your own. "Not much opportunity for WOW. Half our group got sick. We only did the first half because we got Covid and had to quarantine/drop out of the tour, but what we did was a fantastic experience. If all of Rick Steves' guides are as great as Anya, it will be a pleasure to sign up for other tours. ", "Pleetvice National Park and ruin of roman amphitheater.". Miriam is absolutely one of the best guides in the business. There is so much variety on the tour from mountains to lakes to the coast. Was as advertised, meaning tour was demanding regarding walking, when needed to get up and load the bus, or meet with group and local guide. Abundant natural wonders, delicious cuisine, thrilling architecture and other . What a joy to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with everything planned out and no stressing about anything! It definitely exceeded expectations. Boat: hour. The tour was an excellent mix of city tours, nature and smaller village experiences. Loved our bus driver. This evening we'll take an orientation walk through town. "The waterfall hike at Plitvice Lakes National Park". "Guide had an impressive knowledge of history". No fault of Rick Steves tour, but reality is that there still is Covid out there. I've been around Europe a bit, but hadn't been to this part before -- it's unique. Lots of special touches just to make us have fun and for our enjoyment. We knew little of the area before we went, but were so impressed with the friendliness of the people, the beautiful countryside and their knowledge of english. It was great to revisit places we had seen before and experience them through his eyes. The month with the most departures is September, making it the most popular time to visit Croatia And Slovenia. I liked out tour guide, Sanel. The standard cabin on your cruise is located on the ship's lower deck. This trip greatly exceeded my expectations!!!! This trip had been on my bucket list. Our guide was knowledgeable and just a wonderful person. Tonight is all yours to savor the local cuisine and do a little exploring on your own. 5 - Excellent. Best of Croatia & Slovenia: Zagreb, Ljubljana, Istria, & Dalmatia - 14 As always, a Rick Steves tour comes with excellent guides, great tour members, memorable experiences and a great itinerary. Our tour guide Ben did a great job of teaching us about the culture, history and food of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia! Many thanks to our excellent, knowledgeable guide Sao, and our really skilled driver Toma! I owned a tour company as a group leader & have used RS guidebooks in the past. "The WW II museum with its amazing mixed media and the guide explaining the battle there.". The hotels were comfy, breakfast buffets great way to start the day, the bus was definitely traveling in style, the itinerary was so inclusive yet broad, and then at the very top, Sanel. "Probably driving through the Julian Alps. Starting in Dubrovnik, the "Adriatic Pearl," you'll venture through Dalmatia, stopping in medieval Ston before reaching the ancient Roman cities of Split and Zadar.