14 Day Croatia, and Passion Play
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2022
DAY 01: NORTH AMERICA / EUROPE. Tour members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport three hours prior to their departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served in-flight.
DAY 02: ZAGREB. Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your tour manager who will ensure your arrival is a smooth one. Board you private motor coach and head into Zagreb and your hotel, the 4 Points Sheraton. Following check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy your surroundings. We’ll get together again this evening for dinner where you can meet your fellow travelers and discuss the trip ahead. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03: ZAGREB / LJUBLJANA. After breakfast we begin our city tour of Zagreb, situated on the River Sava. The city is historically divided into two sections, the lower and upper towns. Our tour manager will show us the sites including Mirogoj, the famous cemetery of Zagreb, and then continue to Upper Townand a walking tourthat will finish atSt. Stephen’s Cathedral. Our afternoon tour will take us to Ljubljana, the capital of the new state of Slovenia. Ljubljana became the capital of the new state, the heart of the political, economic, cultural and scientific life of the Slovene nation in 1991. Our guide will explain the history of the city during your visit of the old center, dominated by the castle which has great views for miles around, the cathedral of St Nicholas consecrated in 1707 and the baroque parish church built in 1646. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Hotel Toplice, located at the lakeshore of Bled.
DAY 04: BLED / POSTOJNA. After breakfast, a local guide will meet us at the hotel for a sightseeing tour of the ideal Slovenian resort, encompassing many of the country’s natural wonders – tranquil waters surrounded by impressive peaks of the Julian Alps. The image of Bled with the castle, the lake, and the island in the middle of the lake are sights by which Bled is known to nearly the entire world. The Bled Castle, a silent witness to its former power, resolute and proud on a high rock above the lake, stands watch over the town. The Bled Lake is known for its exceptional beauty. In the middle of the lake lies the island with the Church of Assumption. The island and the church have a rich history. Inside the church there is the wishing bell from 1534. Some leisure time is provided to enjoy the atmosphere and taste the famous cream slices (KREMSNITA), or an optional boat ride to the island. In the afternoon we drive to Postojna. The drive will take us about two hours until we reach our hotel Jama for dinner and overnight.
DAY 06: POSTOJNA / OPATIJA. Today we set off to visit to the remarkable Postojna Cave - a mysterious place with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over millions of years. The 20-kilometre-long underworld system is a miracle in itself, but one gets truly astounded at the look of the mysterious human fish (Proteus anguinus) and wondering of the strange form of life preserved in the underground kingdom. Here we board a special cave train and enjoy a tour of the cave with an experienced guide. Time is also spent at the charming Predjama Castle built on a sheer rock and the home of the cunning knight, Erazem. After a short stop for souvenirs and a cup of coffee, we continue on our bus ride to Croatia and Opatija. Dinner and overnight at the hotel Ambassador in Opatija.
DAY 07: OPATIJA / PLITVICE LAKES. Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we proceed to Plitvice Lakes. After we check into our hotel, we will take an afternoon tour of the National Park. Declared a world heritage site in 1979, this stunning National Park is one of Europe’s unique natural treasures. The park is made up of 16 little lakes that are linked by waterfalls and surrounded by dense forests. We’ll take a guided walking tour of the park following by leisure time to make use of the panoramic trains and electric boats to explore the park independently. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08: PLITVICE LAKES / ZADAR / TROGIR / SPLIT. A two and a half-hour drive will take us this morning to Zadar, one of the most attractive tourist regions in Croatia. A must see here is the church of St. Donat, the symbol of the city and the Archaeological Museum, established in 1830 and one of the most important in Croatia. Also taste the famous liqueur Maraskino, a home-made specialty produced in Zadar since 1821! We’ll then stop in the harbor town of Trogir where we spend a little time exploring the cultural and historical monuments, art and original architecture. Continue to our hotel in Split for dinner and overnight.
DAY 09: SPLIT / MAKARSKA / DUBROVNIK. This morning, after breakfast, our local guide will be waiting to take us on a sightseeing tour of Split - a city with a 1,700-year old tradition. A variety of archaeological, historical and cultural monuments, among which is the well-known Palace of Diocletian (inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List) certainly occupies a special position. Our guide will show you the historical significance of the city including its many museums: the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments - a capital Croatian cultural project established in 1893 in Knin; the Archaeological Museum from 1820 (one of the oldest in Croatia) and the Treasury of the Split Cathedral, including a valuable collection of religious art and more. An hour drive later we find ourselves in Makarska for a short stop. Makarska combines the beauty of sea, coast and mountains and boasts the clearest sea in the Adriatic. The coast is decorated by golden beaches edged by green pines and the Biokovo Mountain that stands guard over the unique beauty of the coast, and the highest mountain in the Mediterranean. We then continue along the Adriatic coast to our hotel in Dubrovnik for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: DUBROVNIK. After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, our local guide will meet us at the hotelfor a walking tour of “The Jewel of the Adriatic’ so called by Lord Byron. Although over 70% of the buildings were damaged in some way during the 1991 war, most of the damage has now been repaired and the city is back to its stunning best. Originally a Venetian port and one of the world’s major ports and trading centers up until the 17th century, Dubrovnik is classified in its entirety by UNESCO as a world heritage site and it’s easy to see why. Our guide will take us to see the 15th century Onofrios fountain, built to celebrate the completion of the city’s water system; the magnificent Rector’s Palace which dates from the 17th century and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times; the tiny Sigurata church that dates from the 11th century; St. Blaise’s church with the small silver statue of St. Blaise that survived the fire which destroyed the original church in 1706; and the stunningly pretty Sponza Palace whose delicate ‘lace’ stonework has survived multiple earthquakes. The afternoon is free to spend as we wish before our farewell dinner at a local restaurant and entertainment this evening.Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 11: DUBROVNIK / MUNICH. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Munich, Germany. Upon arrival we are met and drive to Linderhoff. and Linderhoffs Castle - built by mad King Ludwig - a dazzling castle set high in the Bavarian Alps. Then on to Oberammergau, home of the world-famous Passion Play which is performed once every ten years. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 12: PASSION PLAY. The entire day is devoted to attending a performance of the world famous Passion Play which is held once every ten years in this charming small Bavarian village. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 13: OBERAMMERGAU / MUNICH. This morning we return to Munich. Our sightseeing tour of Munich includes the gothic Rathdus (town hall) with its famous glockenspiel, the awesome twin-spired Frauenkirche, Marienplatz, imperial residence Alte Pinakothec and other principle places of interest. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 14: MUNICH / NORTH AMERICA. After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our return the United States of America. The end of a most enjoyable journey.