Illyrian’s Path

(Ljubljana – Zagreb – Split – Dubrovnik – Kotor – Tirana – Ohrid – Skopje)

Day 1, Arrive to  Ljubljana

You will meet with our local guide at the Ljubljana Airport and start Ljubljana City Tour. After city tour, way continues to Bled lake, then you will have lunch and free time. Transfer to your hotel, check in and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel for you and for your travel partners. Accommodation at the hotel in Ljubljana.

L-D – Lunch, Dinner

**Lake Blade & Ljubljana Tour: Start today’s voyage by visiting one of the most beautiful jewel of Slovenia, Lake Blade. Entrance into Bled Castle : The oldest castle in Slovenia that is perched on a steep cliff overlooking the entire Vista of Lake Bled below. Enjoy a pleasant Pletna Boat Ride on the sparkling lake to an island church in the middle. A mesmerizing fairy tale view awaits you from Bled Lake Shore. Also, see the Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge and admire Preseren Square: A major meeting point, where festivals, Ljublijana carnival, concerts, sports, political, and protest events take place.

Day 2, Ljubljana – Zagreb

After breakfast, check out from hotel and transfer to Zagreb. Zagreb city tour, lunch and chek inn at the hotel. Free time before dinner. Dinner in hotel. Accommodation at the hotel in Zagreb.

B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Zagreb Tour: Start your Zagreb adventure with Ban Jelačić Square : central square of the city of Zagreb, and continues to Upper Town (Gornji Grad) : Lies on a high plateau and a home to Zagreb’s Cathedral and parliament building. Then you will visit Lotrščak Tower : Built to guard southern gate of the Gradec town Wall. Enjoy an aerial view of Zagreb city centre. Then, visit King Tomislav Square : A large park with a fountain in the center of the park that dedicated for a middle ages Croatian King named Tomislav. The lawns of this square are beautifully manicured and there are gravel paths for you to promenade around the large fountain in the center.

Day 3, Zagreb – NP Plitvice

Breakfast, check out from hotel,and get way National Park Plitvice one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe. After arrival we will have guided tour and boat ride.After finishing the tout we will have lunch. Transfer to hotel check in, free time and dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Plitvice.

B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Plitvice National Park: Here comes the highlight of this mesmerizing journey, a full day visit to the Plitvice National Park which often referred to in Asia as the ‘’Jiuzgaigou’’ of Europe. Enjoy scenic walks in this UNESCO World Heritage site with 16 terraced lates, inter-connected by faterfalls, gorges, rivers and forest. With an electronic boat ride, stand a chance to see the beauty of Great Waterfall : The longest and most spectacular waterfall in the park.

Day 4, NP Plitvice – Zadar – Split

After breakfast, check out from hotel and transfer to Zadar. After arrival we will have city tour and lunch. Continuous way to Split, city tour. After finishing check in at the hotel. Free time before dinner. Dinner in hotel. Accommodation at the hotel in Split.

B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Zadar tour : the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Listen to the unique and magical sound of Sea Organ : Music instrument that powered by waves of the sea. Experience Sun Solutation : A light Show through glass panels which is powered by the sun.

**Split Tour: Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site centers on the 4th century, Diocletian’s Palace : a well preserved fortress fortress and a living part of the Split Old Town. Discover sights of the palace. The Iron Gate : The only free port of entry during the Middle Ages and therefore, the enclosure between the outer and inner gate served as a courtroom where the fate of those seeking refuge in the palace would be decided. The Golden Gate: Main entrance for emperor and had double Gates creating a defense system or human trap where invaders would be captured between the outer and inner Gates into an enclosure or courtyard. Jupiter Temple: A temple dedicated to Jupiter, an ancient Roman God of sky and thunder and king of the Gods.

Day 5, Split – Dubrovnik –Trebinje

After breakfast at the hotel and check out from our rooms, we will continue to Dubrovnik. According to arrival, we will visit most attractive points of Dubrovnik. After lunch we we will continue  way to Trebinje  and have city tour. After finishing transfer to hotel, check inn and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accommodation in our hotel at Trebinje.

B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Dubrovnik Tour: Capture moments during visits to the main attraction of Old Town Dubrovnic, City Walls: a World renowned iconic symbol of the White stone beauty, therefore the main reason why Dubrovnik is now known as the Pearl Of The Adriatic. Stroll through this vibrant city and lookout for landmarks such as the Onofrio Fountain and Harbor. Admire vibrant architecture of Rector’s Palace: A harmonious Gothic and Renaissance palace with certain Baroque additions.

**Trebinje Tour: Trebinje is one of the most beautiful cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is called “the city of sun and plant trees”. It is a small city and is best experienced by foot.Arslanagića bridge (Perovića brigde) built in the 16th century,as Ottoman bridge used to connect the road between Dubrovnik and Istanbul. In the sixties it was moved 5 km brick-by-brick to Trebinje to prevent being demolished for the building of a dam. Old Town (walk through one of the two old city gates). Between the old city walls of Trebinje, people still go about their daily lives as normal. It is home to two beautiful old mosques, small alleyways, a museum, and tons of cafes. Herzegovacka Gracanica Monastery constructed in the year 2000 and is an exact copy of the Gracanica monastery in Kosovo. This religious complex includes an impressive bell, icon gallery, parish’s home, amphitheater, fountain, church bookshop, museum and summer garden. The views of the city from the monastery are quite picturesque and can be seen from any point in Trebinje.

Day 6, Trebinje –  Kotor – Budva

Breakfast, check out from hotel,and get way to Dubrovnik, city tour. After finishing tour, continuous way to Kotor. Kotor City tour, and lunch during the tour. Transfer to Budva, city tour. Hotel check in, free time and dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Budva.

B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Kotor Tour: Visit beautiful Kotor Old Town, a well preserved urbanization typical of the middle ages built between the 12th and 14th century. The city’s old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites.The Stari Grad is fully walled (the mountain functions as a rear wall). Four gates offer access to the town: The Main Gate, along the Bay, the North Gate, the South Gate, and a smaller New Gate. There are no cars allowed in the Stari Grad.

The Kotor bay is the deepest natural fjord in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost to the waterfront) is spectacular.

**Budva Tour: Discover ‘’the place to be seen’’, Budva Old Town, a very old historical town where you can gaze the Adriatic Sea The old town of Budva lies on a little island that was linked to the land by a sandbar and in time turned into a peninsula. It is surrounded by ramparts originating from the 15th century including a medieval fortification system with city gates, defense walls and towers. The Old Town consists of narrow streets and alleys and small squares with precious monuments of different Mediterranean cultures that have marked the development of this town. Continue journey to the charming Sveti Stephan Island, a unique place not only Montenegro or Budva’s Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean. It stands on the cliff of a rocky island with roofs red like rubies. A sand isthmus looking like a stem connects it with the land. It came into existence in a unique way. Previously a fishing village, in 1960 it was converted into the old town, with its tower, narrow streets, shops and small churches, remained unchanged.

Day 7, Budva – Shkora – Tirana

After breakfast at the hotel and check out from our rooms, we will continue to Schkoder. According to arrival, we will visit most attractive points of Schkoder. After, we will start Tirana City Tour with our private coach. After our tour end transfer to hotel, check inn and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accomodation in our hotel at Tirana.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Schkoder City Tour : Shkodra, the largest city in the north of Albania is located on the east side of Shkodra Lake. The city is one of the oldest in Albania and it is also an important cultural and Economic center. Inhabited continuously since its foundation in the 4th century BC, Shkodra still is the classic example of a city with most modern and humorous citizen in Albania. Shkodra is also the center of Albanian Catholicism as well as a fine example of tolerance between religions, with the city comprising all the major faiths found in Albania.

**Tirana City Tour : Explore Tirana starting with National Historical Museum: the country’s largest museum which holds many of the country’s archaeological treasures. Visit Et’hem Beu Mosque: the oldest buildings left in the city. Capture the beauty of Tabake Bridge: a famous stone footbridge that takes its name from the many butchers and tanners who operated in the area during the Ottoman era in Albania. Checkout The Pyramid: also known as ‘’Enver Hoxha Museum’’, a structure and former museum in Tirana. Proceed transfer to the airport for your flight back home; bringing back wonderful memories and momentous souvenirs from Awakening Illyrian Dream vacation.

Day 8, Tirana – St. Neum  – Ohrid

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to St. Neum Monastery. Continuous way to Ohrid, lunch and city tour. Transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Ohrid.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**The Monastery of Saint Naum is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the Republic of Macedonia, named after the medieval Saint Naum who founded it. It is situated along Lake Ohrid, 29 kilometers south of the city of Ohrid. The original monastery was built on this very same plateau, in 905 by Saint Naum of Ohrid himself. Taken down between the 11th and 13th century, the monastery was then rebuilt in the 16th century as the multidomed byzantine structure that you see today. It is, without any doubt, one of the most attractive Macedonian tourist destinations. With a wonderful surrounding area, the St. Naum Monastery is a popular day trip where you can enjoy both nature and religious heritage.

**Ohrid tour: Ohrid,a city of UNESCO, with history more then 2500 years, will give you answer to your question about pre-history, ancient times, medieval period upon today. Ohrid is the largest city on Lake Ohrid that once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. We start the sightseeing tour from the Archaeological Museum. Climbing to the top, we pass by a number of smaller and larger churches, each of which has its own story.We enter the old city, or Samuil’s fortress, where in the X and XI centuries it was the capital of the Macedonian emperor Samuil. From the fortress there is a beautiful view of the lake, a new part of the city, to the core of the old town and the surrounding mountain. In return we visit the Early Christian Basilica, following is the Church of St. Clement (St. Panteleimon).

Day 9, Ohrid – NP Mavrovo – Matka Canyon – Skopje

After breakfast moving to NP Mavrovo to admire it s nature. Next stop will be  Matka Canyon Matka is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Macedonia and is home to several medieval monasteries. Lunch on the way. Arriving to Skopje. Transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Skopje.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Mavrovo Trip : We will start our inspirational tour to the National Park Mavrovo. In approximately 2 hours drive from Ohrid, you will arrive to Mavrovo, where our friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you around the place to see the memorable sunken church of St. Nikola, based in the artificial lake Mavrovo and the spectacular scenery around. From Mavrovo, the tour continues to the monastery complex St. Jovan, nested on the slopes of mountain Bistra, from where you get  perfect opportunity for photo shooting session.

**Matka Canyon – A gorge in which a rich complex of medieval building survives, including churches, monasteries and remnants of a fortress (the medieval town of Matka).There are dozens of caves and large number of endemic plants and animals. Matka was one of the largest refugee centers during the glacial period resulting in the presence of high number of relic and endemic plants, 20% are endemic or relic spices. Among Tertiary relics, the most significant are the kosani violet and  natay’s Ramonda (Ramonda natalie).It is also important to mention that there are 77 species of Balkan endemic small butterflies in area of Matka Canyon, while 18 other species are new to the science.

Day 10, Skopje – Istanbul

After breakfast check out form hotel, and we will start with Skopje city tour. After finishing city tour, transfer to Skopje airport for your flight home…

*B – Breakfast

**Skopje Tour: Listen as your guide tells you about the square’s many important monuments and sculptures. These include the statue of Tzar Samuil, ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, and statues of Goce Delchev and Dame Gruev,  two leaders of the Macedonian liberation struggle in the beginning of 20th century. Head out to the main pedestrian street in Skopje and visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje. Cross the Vardar river via the 15th-century Stone Bridge from where you can see more sculptures of figures from Macedonian history.  Continue walking to the old part of the city and to the Old Bazaar to explore its stalls and Ottoman architecture. Visit the most famous church in Skopje, Sveti Spas, the Church of the Ascension of Jesus, with its wood-carved iconoclasts.