ITINERARY
ITINERARY
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Corfu Town, Corfu
Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you…
Departs: 23:00
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Koper, Slovenia
Set along a wide horseshoe-shaped bay, Koper's a Medieval town where old and new go hand-in-hand. Lose yourself in the maze of streets, passing historical sights andbrowsing…
Time in port: 09:00 - 19:00Show Top Things to Do
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Caves & Castles
Explore the world famous Postojna Caves. Enter the mysterious world of underground caves and echoing halls. And be mesmerised by disappearing rivers and babbling brooks. A train will take you through the halls and corridors chiselled by the Pivka River. The remarkable ‘brilliant’ stalagmite, and the ‘spaghetti’ and ‘congress’ halls will take your breath away. Not to mention the artificial pool with the mysterious ‘human-fish’ in it. Continue on for a beautiful photo stop and some free time at Predjama Castle. Perched high up in the cliff, this Renaissance castle dates back to the 16th century, but some features of the old cave castle from past centuries still survives today.
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Piran & Portoroz - Little Italy
Piran’s a quaint town bursting with Italian charm. The whole place is one big attraction as it’s barely changed in 400 years. The old seaport of Piran lies at the end of the Piran peninsula, which gradually narrows between the bays of Strunjan and Piran. The peninsula reaches Cape Madona, ending with the Savrini hills. So needless to say, the setting’s really something. You'll experience a 60-minute walking tour around the town's Medieval layout, with winding streets and higgledy-piggledy houses rising in steps from the coast up into the hills. This will stand you in a good stead to explore Piran on your own during the extra 60-minutes of free time. Next, you will head over to the nearby Portoroz. This is the place to be if you want to kick back and relax. Use your 45-minute free time to visit the Blue Flag beach - the only natural sandy swathe in Slovenia. Or uncover the town's cultural attractions and a selection of Slovenian cafes and restaurants.
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Slovenia Off-road
You’ll discover a different side of Slovenia today – a part that coaches can’t reach. You’ll leave Koper port and head into the countryside, before jumping aboard a comfortable 4x4. Your driver doubles as your guide, and they’ll share knowledge on local specialties, while driving along forgotten country lanes between remote, picturesque villages. You’ll take in unforgettable viewpoints that can only be accessed using these smaller vehicles. This tour has limited spaces due to the amount of vehicles available.
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Zadar, Croatia
Zadar doesn’t put age before beauty, it offers them both at the same time. This Dalmatian city on the Adriatic Coast is one of the oldest in Europe, and its timelinecan…
Time in port: 09:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Panoramic tuk-tuk tour of Zadar
This trip offers up a speedy way to see Zadar’s most-snapped sights. You’ll be picked up from the port in an eco-friendly tuk-tuk, and take a drive towards pebble-fronted Kolovare Beach. From there, you’ll follow the coast past the swanky Marina Borik before stopping for a snap of the Sphinx of Zadar – a concrete-and-stone structure that’s wrapped in a romantic history. From there, it’s on to the waterfront Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun – the latter’s fitted with 300 solar panels which represent the solar system, while the organ is made up of 35 pipes which play out sounds powered by the waves. Then you’ll head back to your tuk-tuk, for a drive past the Roman Forum before a short walking tour of Zadar’s cobblestone streets. Once you’re done, your tuk-tuk will pick you back up and take you to the port.
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Plitvice National Park
The Plitvice Lakes National Park lives up to its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Over thousands of years, the bright turquoise waters skimming over the limestone and chalk riverbeds have created a series of natural dams. The result is a collection of waterfalls, caves and lakes embedded among thick forests. You’ll get almost 3 hours at leisure here, so you can explore the park at your own pace – and since it’s the largest national park in Croatia, there’s plenty to see. Aside from the much-photographed falls, you’ll find clusters of lakes, wide river canyons and forest-blanketed mountain slopes. Wildlife-wise, everything from butterflies to brown bears roam the forests, plus it’s home to over 1,000 different species of plants.
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Zadar by Foot
Zadar is one of the oldest towns on the Dalmatian Coast, having passed through the hands of the Romans, Crusaders, Croatians and Venetians. As you’ll see on this walking tour, it’s the last two who visibly made their mark – a mix of Croatian and Venetian architecture makes for a scene of pastel-pale buildings with terracotta roofs. The Old City is separated from its modern counterpart thanks to its spot on a protruding tongue of land. Your guide will lead you around this ancient part of town, which is still clutched by well-preserved walls. A jumble of Croatian monuments, archives, museums and libraries can be found here. Unsurprisingly, it’s also home to Croatia’s first university. A few more firsts were conjured up within its walls – the first Croatian novel and the first Croatian-language newspapers. Other highlights include the imposing Church of St. Donatus and the artefact-filled Museum of Antique Glass. After the tour, you’ll have the chance to explore the city in your own time before heading back to the ship.
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Ancona, Italy
As you drift into Ancona’s bustling harbour, you’ll have front-row views of the town’s historic landmarks. The waterfront’s backed by crumbling defensive fortifications,…
Time in port: 08:00 - 16:00Show Top Things to Do
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Ancona Walking Tour
Pretty Ancona’s been an under-the-radar tourist spot for a few years now, hiding age-old landmarks and striking architecture behind its front of a bustling harbour. Today you can peel back the layers of this central Italian seaport, discovering a history that stretches back to 400 BC. Your guided walking tour will take in the must-sees, like the Arch of Trajan – an 18-metre-high Roman arch made from Turkish marble – and the impressive Ancona Cathedral – AKA the Cathedral of San Ciriaco. It sits on a hilltop which was once the site of a Greek acropolis, and shows off an interesting mix of Byzantine and Gothic architecture. You’ll also take in the photo-perfect Mole Vanvitelliana – a pentagon-shaped, 18th-century artificial island, which was built for Pope Clementine. After your tour you can head back to the ship with your guide, or choose to spend some more time in the city.
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A Picture Perfect Bayside Duo - Porto Novo and Sirolo
Calling all budding photographers – sandy beaches and plunging cliff faces are your models today, as you make a beeline for the coastal villages of Portonovo and Sirolo. A half-hour drive will land you on a hilltop above Portonovo, a bay that’s part of the Conero National Park – it’s an unmissable photo opportunity thanks to the Blue Flag beach that sits below. Catch a snap of Italy’s trademark turquoise water lapping at the shore, as well as the fortress-turned-hotel that’s nestled on the sand. Next you’ll call in at Sirolo, to pay a visit to the local church. This village also shows off plenty of camera-friendly angles – think sea views and tree-shrouded hilltops. Take some free time to explore the village, too – there’s a Medieval town centre and a bevy of restaurants and bars.
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Frasassi Caves
Take a journey below the surface today, as you head deep into some of Italy’s most famous caves. A 90-minute drive away from Ancona is where you’ll find the Frasassi Caves – two huge grottos that lead to a labyrinth of underground rooms. The rooms follow on from one another for more than 13 kilometres, and have names like the ‘Great Cave of the Wind’ and the ‘Room of the Candles’. They were discovered in 1971, and are brimming with striking stalagmites and stalactites. You’ll have two hours to take a tour of the caves.
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Ancient city walls. Higgledy-piggledy red rooftops. Cobbled streets worn by time. That’s Dubrovnik, a heart-stealing city that you just know you’re going to love themoment…
Time in port: 09:00 - 19:00Show Top Things to Do
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King's Landing Game of Thrones Location Tour
This one is tailored just for Game of Thrones fans, visiting some of the most iconic locations from the TV series. Our tour starts outside the walls at Pile, a rocky cove with a stone jetty poking out from the shore, the spot from where Sansa Stark plotted her daring escape from King’s Landing. Next we climb the steps to Fort Lovrijenac, better known to fans as The Red Keep. Its height offers great views of show locations such as Blackwater Bay, the House of the Undying Dungeon, and Joffery's name day Tourney, as well as spectacular views of the terracotta rooftops below. Your tour will then take you through the Pile Gate and onto the Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik Old Town. Your guide will tell you all about it's history, while showing you more filming locations such as the infamous steps from Cersei's 'walk of shame'.
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Best of Dubrovnik
On this tour you’ll stroll beneath a blanket of terracotta rooftops to discover why Dubrovnik has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll step into the walled city through Pile Gate, where you’ll be transported back in time on a guided walk through the cobbled streets. Afterwards, the time is yours to spend as you like. Pick your own path through the winding lanes, gaze up at the Baroque buildings, and breathe in the scent of freshly-baked pastries from the pavement cafés. You’ll get to explore the medieval town of Cavtat, too, which was once a Roman and Greek colony. Nowadays, it’s a pretty port town that spills down a tree-cloaked peninsula. You can look forward to some incredible views on the drive along the Zupa coastline, too.
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City Walls Kayaking
Here’s a novel way to get to know a place – in a kayak. After a short bus transfer, you’ll set off on a kayaking tour skirting the city’s famous city walls, taking in fortresses, caves and islands along the way. First off, you’ll row between the forts of Bokar and Lovrijenac. One of the oldest of its kind, Bokar served as the protector of Pile Gate and City Bridge. It was even used as a prison at one time. Lovrijenac, meanwhile, guards the west entrance and is the only fortress that stands alone. While all the other fortresses form part of the city wall system, this one stands high on its own rock, a position which earned it the title ‘the Gibraltar of Dubrovnik’. Today, instead of cannon balls, you’ll often hear the words of Shakespeare resonating off its chunky walls – it’s used for Shakespeare productions as well as Dubrovnik’s summer festival. Leaving the forts behind, you’ll steer a course round the city walls to the Betina cave where you’ll stop for a snack. Then it’s time to check out the island of Lokrum. According to legend, Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore here after being shipwrecked in 1192. Luckily a similar fate doesn’t await you! You’ll sail safely back to starting point where your bus will be ready to return you to the port.
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Kotor, Montenegro
For years, the travel-savvy have kept Montenegro under their sunhats. But now the cat’s creeping out of the bag – and it’s hardly surprising. A tiny republic in southeast…
Time in port: 08:00 - 15:00 | Tender to shoreShow Top Things to Do
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Highlights of Montenegro
The port of Kotor finds a home on the world’s southernmost fjord - or the ‘Bride of the Adriatic’, as it’s also known. As places go, it’s beautiful. Think blue seas. A stony shore. Green mountains. All drenched in the heavenly scent of lemons, oranges, mimosas and camellias. And here’s your chance to explore this gorgeous part of the world. First you’ll stop at the mountain village of Njegusi to taste the region’s delicious smoked ham and cheese. Stomach full, you’re ready for Cetinje. Known as the ‘Valley of Gods’, it was once the smallest European capital and it’s filled to bursting with beautiful buildings. Here you'll visit the King Nikola's palace before having some free time to stroll around. Next you’re off to Budva - the most popular tourist destination on Montenegro’s map. And quite rightly so. Beautiful architecture meets seductive sandy beaches in this spot. Perhaps that’s why lots of millionaires decide to live here. Want to join them?
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Walking Tour of Kotor
When a town is two thousand years old like Kotor there are plenty of stories to tell. Its ancient Roman beginnings. Its Middle Ages struggle of ownership between Goths, Saracens and Serbians. Its Venetian past. With a history like this, it’s no surprise Kotor has got itself a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And what better way to explore it than with a guided walking tour? In every stone of its timeworn walls, on every fresco painting and every hidden alley, you’ll relive its glorious past. The old town centre is still really well preserved and the criss-crossed narrow streets and squares have monuments at every corner. From Prince’s Palace and Napoleon’s Theatre to the most recognisable symbol of the city - the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Tryphon – you’ll be mesmerised from the word go. And how many towns in this part of the world have preserved their fortifications from the Middle Ages? Not many. But Kotor is one of the few. The chunky walls surrounding the old town are impressive to say the least - at some places they reach 20 metres in height and 16 metres in thickness. If you don’t believe us, you’ll have plenty of time to measure them in the free time you’ll get here. Have we given you enough reasons to join our guided visit to Kotor? We think so.
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Traditional Kotor
The olive farm starring on this trip is perched on the Bay of Kotor. Spectacular scenery comes as standard in these parts, thanks to the huge expanse of water mirroring the surrounding mountains. Pretty villages speckle the coastline and – after stopping to take a quick photo of the bay – we’ll reach a small peninsula called Luštica, home to a farm owned by the Moric family. A welcome drink in the 900-tree-strong olive grove marks the start of the tour, during which your guide will reveal all about the family’s artisan style of olive cultivation, harvest and production. We’ll then wander towards the village of Tići, checking out the old and new mills on the way. The best is saved for last – you’ll get to taste-test the family’s extra virgin olive oils alongside a spread of homemade breads, seasonal fruit and local brandy. To top things off, the day will finish with a whistle stop tour of Kotor.
Corfu Town, Corfu
Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you…
Arrives: 07:30
