Dubrovnik to Rome – 17 days

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. The jewel of the Dalmatian Coast, your journey begins in Dubrovnik, a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by city walls. Although it experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the Old Town remains as charming as ever with its tiled roofs and stone buildings. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque and full of character, and its Old Town can easily be covered on foot. After tonight’s group meeting at 6 pm, maybe head out for a walk around Dubrovnik. Later, maybe enjoy a meal with the group and get to know your fellow travellers.

This morning after breakfast, take a day trip to Elaphiti Islands – a small archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik. Travel to Lopud, where you’ll hike from the main village to Sunj Beach with your leader. Explore the old churches, old fortress and incredible views along the way. When you arrive at the beach, enjoy some free time to relax, swim, or find a good spot to settle for a couple of hours for a long lunch. After, return to Dubrovnik where you’ll have the late afternoon and night free. Walk along the city walls of ‘Game of Thrones’ fame, enjoying breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. Visit Big Onofrio’s Fountain, built by architect Onofrio della Cava in the 15th century to supply water to the city or check out the Franciscan monastery, home to one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning pharmacies, founded in the 13th century. Tonight, kick back on Banje Beach or find a good spot with a sunset view for dinner.

This morning you’ll take a public bus up the coast to Split. If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly the soul. On a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it’s the second-largest city in Croatia. Enjoy a free afternoon in this stunning seaside town, exploring the historic streets and making sure you see the World Heritage-listed Diocletian’s Palace. For a more in-depth introduction to the city, why not join an optional guided tour with a local guide? Dinner by the sea is recommended, whether you’re a fiend for fresh seafood or just want to catch the deep colours of the sunset.

Enjoy a free day in Split today. At the heart of its atmospheric Old Town is a fascinating city-within-a-city – the remains of a third-century palace built for Roman Emperor Diocletian. Some places might have protected such an impressive complex in a museum, but not enigmatic Split. These ancient walls now house a vibrant mix of shops, cafes, restaurants and houses. Step back in time as you stroll the sprawling maze of passageways and courtyards – you’ll also find a 16th-century synagogue and a courtyard often filled with music. If your feet tire, why not sample Croatia’s fine coffee culture with a frothy kava from a cafe on the Riva waterfront promenade – a prime spot for people-watching. In the evening, Split boasts an increasingly bustling nightlife scene, so grab a few of your fellow travellers and hit the bars.

Today you will visit one of Croatia’s most beautiful sites – Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park was given UNESCO World Heritage status 20 years ago and is 19 hectares of wooded hills surrounding 16 stunning turquoise lakes, all connected by a series of waterfalls. The area is populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and some rare bird species, and the thick, primeval forest vegetation of beech trees, fir spruce and white pine adds another element to the park’s beauty. You’ll have free time to explore or simply follow your leader to see the best spots – all trails in the national park are well marked, so it’s difficult to get lost (but make sure you follow the national park rules, which your leader will outline). Look to the canopy for over 120 species of birds, including hawks and owls. After your memorable visit to the lakes, you’ll drive to Croatia’s capital Zagreb.

This morning after breakfast, take an orientation walk with your leader as they point out the local amenities and attractions in Zagreb. For lunch, you’ll head to Dolac Market – the main market in the city and a great spot to pick up local favourites. The upper level offers seasonal fruits, vegetables, preserves and olive oil and the bottom level sells cheese and meats. Stop by a bakery for a taste of cevapcici (grilled minced meat) – a traditional market snack. The rest of the day is free, so you might want to check out the gothic Zagreb Cathedral, with its twin spires that dominate the city’s skyline. Maybe start at Ban Jelacic Square, the city’s central point, and visit one of the excellent museums like the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships.

Travel by train this morning across the Slovenian border and arrive in the cosmopolitan capital of Ljubljana (pronounced ‘Lyub-Li-Yana’). Check in to your accommodation and then head out on a short orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the day is free for you to delve deeper into this beautiful city. Located in the centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a city full of style and sophistication, history, monuments, churches, museums and great restaurants. Maybe wander around the old city centre, renowned for its unique architectural appearance. The Old Town consists of three main squares and Baroque houses, and you can visit the Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Nicholas, and the Dragon Bridge. Stop at the central Preseren Square, dedicated to the Slovenian romantic poet France Preseren.

Today is a free day to explore Ljubljana further. You have the option of heading on a day trip to Bled – gifted with immense natural beauty, Bled ranks among the most beautiful of alpine resorts. Its fairy tale-like scenery includes a castle, a stunning lake and a picturesque island topped with a church, which is a dream to explore. Take a Pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) across sparkling Lake Bled to its island, then climb the 99 steps to St Mary’s Church. Be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake, too – nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims their cream cake is the best! There’s also plenty of action for adrenaline junkies on offer today, like rafting, caving, cycling, canoeing, boating or swimming.

This morning, travel by bus to one of the world’s most unique and romantic destinations – Venice. Renowned for its canals, Venice comprises hundreds of small islands connected by nearly 400 bridges. Its famous sights – such as the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace (the ruler of Venice), the Piazza San Marco and the evocative Bridge of Sighs – are easily explored by foot. Don’t miss the chance to take a gondola ride through the romantic canals! It’s also heavily recommended that you sample a slice of tiramisu (coffee-soaked sponge cake), the region’s specialty. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and try two other local specialities – fresh lobster and squid ink pasta.

Enjoy free time in the watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas today, practically unchanged for the last 600 years. Rich with artistic masterpieces, modern Venice combines history with contemporary life through food, performance, art and architecture. Take a walk around the maze of streets behind San Marco Square and begin to understand the complex canal system as you find the next delicious thing to eat. You’ll have a meeting tonight at 6 pm to meet the new members of your group.

This morning, head out for an orientation walk of the city and marvel at the Classical, Gothic, and Baroque styles of architecture surrounding San Marco Square. Your leader will show you where to get the best cicchetti today, a tasty local snack that Venice is famous for. For lunch, maybe get involved in the lively social scene at a local bácaro or simply watch the world go by at a restaurant perched on the edge of the canals. Then you’re free to explore Venice at your own pace. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Maybe take the Vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for views over the city. Or fulfil a bucket list favourite and take a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola if you haven’t already.

Board a morning train through the scenic north of Italy to the once important naval base of La Spezia (approximately 6–7 hours). La Spezia is known mainly as the gateway to the gorgeous Cinque Terre (Five Lands). The name comes from the five tiny villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – positioned on a series of coves between sheer cliffs. On arrival in La Spezia there won’t be too much time to explore (that’s what tomorrow is for), but after checking into your hotel perhaps get your bearings with a short walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione or head out for dinner with the group.

Spend today exploring winding footpaths and pastel coloured villages with your included Cinque Terre Pass. Your leader will walk you to two of the five villages, and the pass gives you access to the paths and trains of the area for 24 hours. Please consult your leader on which walking section is right for you, as some have challenging uphill stretches, narrow paths, steep cliffs and foot bridges. Alternatively, take the train between any of the villages, or back to the group’s base in La Spezia whenever you want. After working up an appetite, maybe take advantage of an optional pesto class. Focaccia is also a speciality in this area and makes a great start to lunch, if you’d prefer.

Depart La Spezia today and catch a train to Florence (approximately 2.5 hours). On arrival, check into the hostel and go for a brief walk around the immediate area to get your bearings. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. The Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello and Michelangelo all lived in Florence at the height of their creative reign. Food is a major part of the city’s identity and the optional activities on offer reflect this. Maybe explore the city’s culinary history (and taste some local treats) on a Florence Foodies Walk with Urban Adventures. Carnivores might be drawn to try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the Florentine Beef Steak, essentially a huge T-bone steak that comes with classic sides.

Enjoy another day in beautiful Florence. It’s impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so the best idea is to relax and pick a few things you really want to do. Maybe start with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia where you can see Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, or perhaps stop by the Uffizi, one of the world’s oldest art galleries. Active types might want to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is set on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, to take in beautiful views of the city – a lovely way to while away the day. There are plenty of optional activities on offer during your time here, so be sure to grill your leader for the details on each so you can get a sense of what interests you.

Take the morning train to Rome (approximately 2 hours). Join your leader on an orientation walk around the city to see icons such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Phew. After all that walking it’s probably time for lunch. Maybe grab a slice of the good stuff and a strong espresso at the Piazza Navona. You can spend your afternoon how you wish and there are plenty of heavy hitters to choose from. Maybe enter the Vatican and check out St Peter’s Basilica. Within the Vatican, art lovers could visit the Sistine Chapel to admire the timeless work of Michelangelo, while history buffs may enjoy a jaunt through the ancient halls of the Pantheon. Rome is packed full of trattorias that cater to every taste and budget, so this evening maybe link up with the group for dinner.

Your adventures come to an end today. There are no activities planned and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time after check-out. As there is so much to see in Rome, we recommend you stay a little longer to soak it up. We are happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Please speak to an agent at the time of booking.