This is the best option for exploring the Balkans escorted tours include Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia  with luxury air-conditioned coach and professional English speaking guide, followed by relaxing Adriatic cruise

Day 1 -  Zagreb – arrival, Tuesday

Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight.

Day 2, Zagreb – Bled/Slovenia – Ljubljana, Wednesday Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city’s historical center, St. Mark’s Church with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theater and the University. Free time, then departure towards Slovenia. Explore Lake Bled and its mountainous environs and stunning topography. Continue to Ljubljana. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - Ljubljana – Plitvice, Thursday

 Morning city tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and a home to one of the oldest Philharmonics in the world. Explore the baroque town buildings and stroll beside majestic Ljubljanica River. Departure for Plitvice. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice region.

Day 4 - Plitvice – Trogir – Split, Friday

Morning tour of the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level, are connected in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood. Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. Then departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Split.

Day 5 - Split – Mostar/Bosnia & Herzegovina – Dubrovnik, Saturday

 After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik, via Bosnia & Herzegovina. Short stop in Mostar, recently included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with its elegant Old Bridge. Continuation to Dubrovnik.

Day 6 - Dubrovnik, Sunday

Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight.

 Day 7 - Dubrovnik – Budva/Montenegro – Shkodra/ Albania – Tirana, Monday

 Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Departure for Tirana; we drive inland via Budva, crossing the Albanian border at Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

Day 8 - Tirana – Ohrid/North Macedonia, Tuesday

Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history and housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the North Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid. Bohinj

 Day 9 - Ohrid, Wednesday

Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School” was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the church of St. Sofia (11th century=, the most eminent mediaeval monument in North Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. In the afternoon a short drive to visit St. Naum Monastery built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Dinner in a local restaurant. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 10 - Ohrid – Skopje, Thursday

Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Pateleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

 Day 11 - Skopje – Kolašin/Montenegro, Friday

Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Pec and Berane and along the impressive Moraca River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954 m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

Day 12 - Kolašin – Cetinje – Kotor – Dubrovnik, Saturday

Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrovic. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St. Triphun, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik driving along the picturesque bay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 13 - Dubrovnik – embarkation, Sunday

 Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Gruž harbor and embarkation. Meet your fellow travelers and your Cruise Manager during the Welcome reception followed by dinner. This evening you can relax or take a walk through Dubrovnik’s vibrant streets.

 Day 14 - Dubrovnik – Korcula, Monday

Early in the morning we set sail for the island of Korcula, with swimming stop, if weather permits, in one of pristine bays, time to relax and lunch onboard. Continue towards Korcula, the most preserved medieval town, thought to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. We will spend the night here. Take a walking tour of Korcula which takes you through its narrow, cobbled streets full of history. Evening is free to explore the town on your own.

Day 15 - Korcula – Pucišca, Tuesday

Our journey then continues towards Pucišca, situated on the island of Brac, village of the stone sculpture, where you can visit amazing stonemason school (optional). Lunch onboard before arrival in Pucišca, enjoy a swim in one of Brac’s many lovely coves and bays, if weather permits. Enjoy Captain’s Dinner onboard and overnight in Pucišca.

Day 16 - Pucišca – Omiš – Split, Wednesday

We depart for Omiš before breakfast, its fortresses are silent stone reminders of the power of the pirates who once made their homes and fortunes here. You will have a possibility to book a short walking tour, followed by boarding a small boat and sail into Cetina River Canyon, a protected nature area, continuing to Radman Mills for a local specialty snack. After visiting Omiš set sail to Split with a stop along the way to swim and relax, with lunch onboard. In the afternoon we arrive at Split to spend the night.

 Day 17- Split – Stari Grad, Thursday

Morning sail towards Stari Grad, swimming stop and lunch onboard. Stari Grad is one of the oldest towns in Europe, with many affordable konobas and restaurants in the backstreets of the old town. The Stari Grad Plain and the old town center of Stari Grad have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008. Your evening is free to explore Stari Grad on your own.

Day 18 - Stari Grad – Hvar – Mljet, Friday

Departing from Stari Grad in the morning, we sail to Hvar for a sightseeing tour. Hvar town shows you the first public theater in Europe (older than Shakespeare’s theater in the UK) and many more historical sites. Return to the boat for lunch and sail towards Mljet – Croatian greenest island, which will hypnotize you with its beautiful untouched nature and its cultural heritage. We arrive in the heart of Mljet National Park which encompasses five types of forests, many species of birds and two deep lakes. If you want to visit Mljet National Park, walk to the entrance where you can purchase the ticket to walk around the Veliko jezero (Bog Lake) and Malo jezero (Small Lake) and join the boat ride to St. Mary Isle. Spend the night in Mljet.

Day 19 - Mljet – Dubrovnik, Saturday

In the morning we continue our adventure by sailing back to Dubrovnik with lunch onboard and a stop for swimming. Afternoon in Dubrovnik at leisure and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 20 - Dubrovnik – departure, Sunday

After breakfast it’s time to disembark. You will be transferred to Dubrovnik Airport or your Dubrovnik hotel.

Departure Dates 

May 23
Jun 13
Sep 5, 19

Call on 0330 390 0999

Tour includes:

 Arrival shared transfer from Zagreb Airport to hotel and departure shared transfer from Dubrovnik harbor to Dubrovnik Airport on the first and the last days of the tour.

•  12-night accommodation in hotels 4* on half board basis
•  Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout
• English-speaking tour director throughout for land portion
• 7-night accommodation on board (superior category boat) in a cabin with private bathroom, A/C and LCD TV ? Daily buffet breakfast ? 6 lunches (4 courses) during cruise
• Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Dinner during cruise
• Water dispenser during cruise
• Complementary fresh fruits available daily during cruise
• Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager throughout
•  Daily cabin servicing, fresh bed linen and towels midweek during cruise
•  Free Wi-Fi on board
• Sightseeing tours included:
• Local guides for sightseeing tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana, Split, Dubrovnik, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Kotor, Korcula and Hvar
• Entrance fees to Bled Castle; Plitvice National Park; St. Lawrence Cathedral in Trogir; Diocletian’s Palace and St. Duimus Cathedral in Split, Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana; St. Sofia, St. Clement and St. Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of King Nikola I Petrovic in Cetinje; St. Triphun Cathedral in Kotor Supplements (optional):
• Omiš & Cetina River Excursion – river boat ride, snack in Radman Mills (prosciutto, cheese, homemade bread, wine, water) – 25 EUR per person
• Entrance to Mljet National Park: up to 25 EUR per person (depending on the season) – to be paid at entrance. Guide free of charge. Rates do not include:
• Drinks, extra meals

 All other entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions Hotel list:

 ZAGREB: International 4* or similar

 LJUBLJANA/BLED: Kompas 4* or similar

 PLITVICE: Park 4* in Otocac or similar

 SPLIT: President 4* or similar

 DUBROVNIK: Adria 4* or similar

 TIRANA: Sky Tower 4* or similar

 OHRID: Metropol 4* or similar

 SKOPJE: Karpoš 4* or similar

 KOLAŠIN: Bianca 4* or similar Note:

 In case of unfavourable weather and/or sea conditions, the cruise itinerary may be modified in the interest of passengers’ safety.

Diamond Star reserves the right to change the vessel provider if deem