• Activity Level:  1
  • Comfort:  4
  • Departs From: Venice
  • Location: Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia
  • Duration: 9 days (Fri-Sat)
  • Availability: FRIDAYS, monthly departures (not July)
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • 8 nights small group tour combining the best of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Austria
  • Venice, Bled, Bohinj, Klagenfurt, Wörth Lake, Postojna & Predjama Castle
  • Croatia including Rovinj, Opatija, Plitvice Lakes, Split
  • Divine Alpine fresh air, world famous Plitvice lakes and 4 more mezmerizing lake sights
  • Mediterranean historical towns, wrapped in exquisite taste of unique gastronomical experiences
  • Travel by modern air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking Tour Manager
  • Finishes in Split on a Saturday so you can join up with any cruise
  • Small Group - maximum 25 passengers
Book now (obligation free) pay later

9 days from Venice, Bled, Bohinj, Klagenfurt, Wörth Lake, Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle, Rovinj, Pula, Opatija, Plitvice and to Split

From Venice head to Slovenia, take a side trip to Austria, then onto Croatia and finish in Split.
Great to combine with a cruise from Split to see the Dalmatian Coast.
Ideal 8 night one-way Small Group Tour starting in Venice and heading to the Croatia coastline.
Visiting Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes and other fabulous natural sights along the way.
Istria Tour and overnight at Plitvice included!
Maximum 25 people per tour

Itinerary

Fabulous small group tour. Maximum 25 passengers!

Open age small group tour. Double/twin rooms available. Solo travellers must book a room for solo use.

Combining the best of Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Croatia, this 9 day small group tour takes you through some of the most picture-perfect sceneries and landscapes.

Ideal to combine with a cruise from Split:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/cruises/?departs=Split

See other Small Group Tours:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/tours/small-group-tours/

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
9 days from Venice, Lake Bled, Bohinj, Klagenfurt, Wörth Lake, Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle, Rovinj, Pula, Opatija, Plitvice Lakes and to Split

Hotel list:
Mestre: Hotel Antony Palace 4star or similar
Bled: Hotel Park 4star or similar
Rovinj: Hotel Eden 4star or similar
Plitvice Lakes area: Hotel Palcich 4star or similar
Split: Hotel Cornaro Split 4star or similar

INCLUDED:
• 8 nights Accommodation in 4 star hotels
• English-speaking Tour Manager
• Modern vehicle with air-conditioning
• Porterage and hotel taxes
• Shared arrival and departure transfers

Meals Included:
• 8 buffet breakfasts
• 2 lunches in a local restaurant
• 3 dinners
• 2 unique gastronomical experiences: truffle tasting and olive oil tasting

Sightseeing Tours Included:
• Guided tours of Venice, Bled, Klagenfurt, Opatija, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Split
• Included: Venice Vaporetto ride, Bled boat ride
• Entrances: Bled Castle, Postojna Cave (incl train), Predjama Castle, Plitvice Lakes, Pula Amphitheatre

NOT INCLUDED:
• Drinks / Meals not listed
• Tips and gratuities
• Transfers on other days

ITINERARY:
Arrival in Venice anytime and transfer from airport to hotel. Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. Late arrivals are possible.


Day 1: MESTRE (Venice) - Arrival
Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Mestre. Remainder of day at leisure to explore Venice.

DAY 2: Venice Tour, then BLED (B, D)
Meet you Tour Leader at the hotel reception at 09.00am. Departure towards Venice followed by sightseeing of this unique floating city. Enjoy a walking tour with an English-speaking guide before returning to land and continuing towards Slovenia. Dinner and overnight in Bled Lake area.
# Included: Walking Tour of Venice
# Included: Dinner at hotel

DAY 3: Bohinj Excursion – in BLED (B)
Enjoy a relaxing tour of glacier Lake Bled, one of the most popular destinations in Slovenia for its picturesque settings. After Bled boat ride, time at leisure on the island. Afterward, visit the Bled castle to admire wonderful historic city, lake and surrounding mountains – on a clear day you can see Slovenia’s highest mountain, Mount Triglav. Our final stop of the day will be Lake Bohinj, one of the best kept secrets in the area, which will give you an abundance of photo ops, as will the entire day. Overnight in Bled Lake area.
# Included: Boat ride on Lake Bled
# Included: Bled Castle Entrance

DAY 4: to Klagenfurt - Worth Lake – in BLED (B, L)
Today we visit the neighbour country of Austria, which means this day will offer plenty of views of the Alps, impressive at any time of the year. In the historic county of Carinthia, enjoy a panoramic tour of popular vacation spot, the 20 km long Lake Wörth. We continue to the charming Klagenfurt, a university town with the beautiful Lindworm fountain dominating the old city square, the Altplatz. After the visit, and before returning to Bled Lake area, lunch in Klagenfurt area. Overnight in Bled Lake area.
# Included: Lunch in restaurant

DAY 5: to Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle, then ROVINJ (B, D)
Today we continue our trip toward Croatia and stop at the Postojna Caves. One of the largest underground cave systems in Europe hides wondrous geological creations and is home to the olm. Enjoy the included train ride. Next destination, Renaissance Predjama Castle situated on a high cliff, tells the 700 years old story of its predecessors and Postojna. Arrive at the enchanting coastal town of Rovinj in the late afternoon. Overnight in Rovinj.
# Included: Postojna Cave Entrance
# Included: Predjama Castle Entrance
# Included: Dinner at hotel

DAY 6: Istria Tour - in ROVINJ (B, T, T)
Our day will start with sightseeing the most precious jewels of Istrian Coast. A walk through labyrinths of cobbled streets will lead you through some of the most picturesque streets in Istria revealing the rich history of this stunning peninsula. Departure towards inner Istria for a sample one of the Istrian tastiest treasures, the truffle. The rest of the day offers a unique sensory experience - olive oil tasting rich in green scent and flavour of various sorts of extra virgin olive at one of the most renowned local producers. Afterward, visit one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world, the jewel of Pula, a 3000-year-old city, administrative centre of Istria. Overnight in Rovinj.
# Included: Walking Tour of Rovinj
# Included: Pula Colosseum Entrance
# Included: Truffle and olive oil tasting

DAY 7: to Opatija, then PLITVICE LAKES (B, L, D)
Traveling from Croatia’s biggest peninsula, we drive to Opatija. You will have time at leisure to enjoy this wonderful little town full of magnificent villas and old hotels, once a famous winter resort of the Austrian elite. Take a stroll through Lungomare promenade, visit Angiolina Park, or simply enjoy a coffee break at Wagner's terrace. After we pass Gorski Kotar Region, we arrive at the picturesque little town of Fuzine to explore the Vrelo Cave. Afterwards, lunch is awaiting us at the heart-warming restaurant Bitoraj, and will be a blend of the traditional, homemade food of the region. Through the lush green scenery, with everlasting impressions from the 'green lungs' of Croatia, the trip continues to the water empire of Plitvice Lakes. Overnight in the Plitvice area.
# Included: Lunch in restaurant
# Included: Dinner at hotel

DAY 8: Lakes Tour, then SPLIT (B)
After breakfast, let yourself be carried away by the fascinating labyrinth of evergreen woods and lakes interconnected with stunning waterfalls. The UNESCO protected oldest Croatian national park proudly carries the title of one of the world’s most impressive national parks. Our journey continues towards Split for a short evening walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest city on the Adriatic coast. On our walking tour, we explore Diocletian's Palace, built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the 4th century and see the Grgur Ninski Statue and will see the Cathedral and Bell Tower of St Domnius. Overnight in Split.
# Included: Guided Tour of Plitvice Lakes
# Included: Walking Tour of Split

DAY 9: SPLIT (B) - Departure
After breakfast, the land tour ends with everlasting memories of these glorious European highlights. Transfer to Split Airport or port is included.

B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner; T-Tasting
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Accommodations

Great accommodations are provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

 

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

 

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

 

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]

 

 

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Itinerary

  • Day 1: MESTRE (Venice) - Arrival
  • DAY 2: Venice Tour, then BLED (B, D)
  • DAY 3: Bohinj Excursion – in BLED (B)
  • DAY 4: to Klagenfurt - Worth Lake – in BLED (B, L)
  • DAY 5: to Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle, then ROVINJ (B, D)
  • DAY 6: Istria Tour - in ROVINJ (B, T, T)
  • DAY 7: to Opatija, then PLITVICE LAKES (B, L, D)
  • DAY 8: Lakes Tour, then SPLIT (B)
  • DAY 9: SPLIT (B) - Departure