Charming Croatia & Slovenia

None given.Charming Croatia & Slovenia
From sparkling coastlines, sun-drenched olive groves and terracotta-roofed towns to subterranean caves and beautiful lakes, discovering the landscapes of Croatia and Slovenia is like stepping straight into picture-perfect postcards. On this 14-day holiday, look forward to exploring the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana and the famous Lake Bled before meandering through to Croatia, stopping to enjoy a unique train journey through Postonja Cave along the way. From our base in stunning Rabac, we visit Pula, with its fascinating Roman ruins and relaxing squares, as well as Rovinj, a charming town of pastel-coloured buildings and cobbled alleyways. With the chance to uncover more of the idyllic Istrian Peninsula too, this is a wonderful way to tick some iconic destinations off your must-see list!

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Travel onwards through France and Germany to our overnight hotel in the famous Munich area of Bavaria, arriving in time for dinner.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
After a panoramic tour of the Bavarian city of Munich, with its stunning architecture and large squares, we continue onwards to Hotel Evropa in Celje, Slovenia.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
The elegant city of Ljubljana awaits, Slovenia's capital and one of Europe's greenest cities. As we wander through the beautiful streets, our guide highlights the intricate bridges and buildings built by Jože Plečnik, Slovenia's master of early-modern minimalist design, including the Triple Bridge, which connects Ljubljana's Old Town to the modern city. We also take in cultural monuments such as the National Museum and Opera House and stroll along the leafy banks of the emerald-green Ljubljanica River through the city's heart.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
We enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore the local sights.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
We spend the day discovering the natural beauty of Bled, one of the country's most popular destinations. Ringed by forested hills and looking out across the usually still lake to an island crowned by a Baroque church, Bled itself is a wonderful resort surrounded by stunning scenery. Listen as our local guide tells us about the history of Bled and its ties to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, and enjoy the views of Bled Castle, which overlooks the town from a lofty perch on the opposite shore, before spending some time at leisure in the lakeside resort. Sample a local specialty in one of the restaurants or perhaps take a gondola-like pletna across to the island, a style of boat that dates back to 1590 here!

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Leaving Slovenia, we travel to the Rabac area in Croatia, stopping en route at the remarkable Postonja Cave. We join the world's first railway in an underground cave for a unique journey through 14 miles of stunning ice formations, developed across centuries. By foot, we then meander through pathways and tunnels, exploring extraordinarily shaped natural columns and pillars. Watch the steady dripping of water along the dazzling white curves of the stalagmite called 'Brilliant' and see the Concert Hall, the largest inside a cave system where live performances are regularly held, before re-joining the train. A memorable experience to savour!

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Today we discover the history and architecture of the seafront city of Pula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Take a walk along its scenic harbour to enjoy the view of the sparkling Adriatic coast and learn about the Roman influence on the city's history while we wander among ancient ruins with our local guide. The highlight is undoubtedly Pula Arena, the 6th largest Roman Colosseum in the world, with its magnificent stone walls, terraced seating and underground network of tunnels and rooms where animals and gladiators awaited their fights. Afterwards, be sure to pick up a souvenir such as local olive oil in one of the little shops before sitting back with a coffee in the charming main square.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Why not join a lovely optional excursion and explore the idyllic towns of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula with a local guide? Visiting the towns of Motovun, Grožnjan and Poreč, we experience breathtaking views of rolling hills, enchanting forests, deep valleys and olive groves, scattered with solitary forts and church towers, and stretching out all the way to the sea. Learn about the rich history of each town while wandering among ancient Roman ruins, Gothic churches and Baroque-style villas and be charmed by the medieval towers, soaring walls and pretty squares filled with tiny cafés, restaurants, galleries and artisanal boutiques.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
After breakfast, we head to the picturesque and romantic town of Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula, once part of the Venetian Empire. As we stroll along the cobbled streets to the azure waters of the bustling old harbour, peppered with fishing boats, small ferries and traditional batana boats, it's easy to see why this is such a charming destination. You may like to visit the Church of St. Euphemia, a favourite gathering place for artists from around the world, while the Old Town is well worth exploring, with its pastel-coloured buildings, hidden alleyways and quaint boutiques.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Leaving Rabac, we head to our hotel in the Milan area, arriving in time for dinner.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Journey to the Dijon area, where we stay overnight.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
We travel to our overnight hotel in the Lille area.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia
Continue to Calais for our return ferry home.

Charming Croatia & Slovenia

- Return coach travel & ferry crossings
- First & last night on a bed & breakfast basis in France (last night with a light evening meal)
- Additional overnight stay on outward & return journey on a half-board basis in France/Germany/Italy
- 4 nights at the Hotel Evropa, Celje (JG4 rating) with dinner & breakfast
- 4 nights at a selected hotel in the Rabac area (JG4 rating) with dinner & breakfast
- Welcome drink
- 1 drink with dinner every evening at our Croatia and Slovenia hotels (house red or white wine or beer)
- Porterage
- Fruit & water in room on arrival
- Guided city tours of Ljubljana, Bled, Postonja, Pula & Rovinj
- En-route visits to Munich (includes panoramic tour), Postonja Cave & Reims
- Services of a tour manager

Optional excursion to the Istrian Peninsula (£29pp)

Charming Croatia & Slovenia

- Guided city tours of Ljubljana, Bled, Postonja, Pula & Rovinj
- En-route visits to Munich (includes panoramic tour), Postonja Cave & Reims
- Services of a tour manager
Hotel Evropa, Celje, Slovenia JG4
Standing proud in the historic Old Town of picturesque Celje, the Evropa Hotel is housed in a beautiful canary-yellow building. Each bedroom features free Wi-Fi, minibar, TV, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries, while other hotel amenities include a restaurant, sauna and a traditional café with up to 30 flavours of cake!
Hotel Rating
Accommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.

Selected Hotel, Rabac JG4
In Croatia, we'll stay at comfortable hotel (JG4 rating) in the Rabac area such as the Narcis, Hedera or Mimosa-Lido Palace. All rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.Your hotel will be confirmed approximately 3 weeks before departure, therefore we cannot guarantee that the hotel will have a lift and/or ground floor rooms and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.Hotel RatingAccommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.

Selected Hotels in France, Germany & Italy JG3 | JG3+
We'll stay at comfortable hotels (JG3 & JG3+ rating) in the areas of Metz, Munich, Milan, Dijon and Lille during our outward and return journey. All rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.Your hotel will be confirmed approximately 3 weeks before departure, therefore we cannot guarantee that the hotel will have a lift and/or ground floor rooms and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.Hotel RatingHotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.JG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.