17 Days Exploring Balkan - K0807 - 17DZAGATH

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Sightseeing Tours: Zagreb, Bled, Plitvice, Split, Dubrovnik, Tivat, Tirana, Ohrid, Kalambaka, Athens


Day 1, Sunday

Croatia, Zagreb - Arrival Day

On arrival you will be met by an IBMT representative and transferred to your hotel in Zagreb. The rest of the day is free. You can meet your fellow travelers tonight at the welcome dinner. (D)


Day 2, Monday

Day 2, Monday

Zagreb

This morning you will enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. (B)

 


Day 3, Tuesday

Day 3, Tuesday

Slovenia, Ljubljana - Bled

Today we head to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. You will see the most significant sights of the old city center on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. We continue to Bled. (B, D)


Day 4, Wednesday

Day 4, Wednesday

Slovenia, Bled

An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was “discovered” by travelers in the middle of the 19th century. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and the lakeshore, and visits imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting the small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply enjoy the enchanting scenery. (B)


Day 5, Thursday

Day 5, Thursday

Postojna to Croatia, Opatija - Plitvice

Our journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward we continue to the coast and stop in Opatija. Enjoy the walking tour of this fashionable resort in the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes. (B, D)


Day 6, Friday

Day 6, Friday

Plitvice Lakes - Split

After breakfast have your camera ready as you will take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split. (B, D)


Day 7, Saturday

Day 7, Saturday

Split

In the morning, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then you will see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy at the beach or join us on an Optional Excursion to Jet Set spot of rich and famous – Island of Hvar. (B)


Day 8, Sunday

Day 8, Sunday

Split - Dubrovnik

After breakfast, our journey takes us to Dubrovnik. Take the rest of the afternoon at leisure. (B, D)


Day 9, Monday

Day 9, Monday

Dubrovnik

After breakfast, you will have walking tour of Old Dubrovnik visit the Rector's Palace, and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join us for an Optional Excursion: Home hosted Dubelj with dinner. (B)

 


Day 10, Tuesday

Day 10, Tuesday

Montenegro, Tivat

After breakfast we leave Dubrovnik and head towards Montenegro, viewing Kotor Bay, the only South European fiord and tour of old town Kotor, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Continue to Tivat for an overnight. (B, D)


Day 11, Wednesday

Albania, Tirana

After breakfast we leave Tivat and drive via Budva and Bar towards town of Shkodra, nowadays a major Albanian cultural center. Shkodra was the center of the Illyrian tribe Labeat and was taken by the Romans in the year 168 B.C. We will see the Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city. Continue drive to Tirana. (B, D)


Day 12, Thursday

Day 12, Thursday

Tirana

On a Morning sightseeing tour, you will see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square) the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K.  Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its façade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or simply just relax. (B)


Day 13, Friday

Day 13, Friday

The Republic of North Macedonia, Ohrid

Drive to the lakeside resort of Ohrid is an important cultural and spiritual center, classified as UNESCO’s World Heritage site. You will  start your morning sightseeing with a walk through the cobblestone streets of the old town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, containing some magnificent frescoes from the 10th century. (B, D)


Day 14, Saturday

Day 14, Saturday

Greece, Kalambaka

After breakfast, admire the fantastic landscapes of Meteora, known as “the rocks that fell from the sky”, where monks built their rock – top monasteries far away from civilization. Out of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are now active. We will visit either Roussanou or of Great Meteoro*. On to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight. (B, D)


Day 15, Sunday

Day 15, Sunday

Kalamba - Athens

Your first stop this morning is Delphi, where the famous Oracle once foretold the destiny of men. The temple of Apollo in which the Oracle functioned, was built in the 6th century B.C. Also see the Sacred Way, the Stadium and the Castilian Fountain, where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the Oracle. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which contains an impressive collection of finds from the site, including the beautiful “Bronze Charioteer”, before continuing to Athens. (B)


Day 16, Monday

Day 16, Monday

Athens

After breakfast we will go in a sightseeing tour of the Highlights of Athens. This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amid reminders of a long and a glorious past: graceful temples, centuries – old monasteries and ornate Byzantine churches. Visit the immortal Acropolis, the Parthenon, said to be the most perfectly proportioned building of all time, you will also see the Erectheion with the Porch of the Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Wingless Victory. Below the Acropolis lies the Ancient Agora and the Theaters of Dionysus and Herodus Atticus. Your afternoon and evening are free. Join us for a farewell Taverna dinner in the Plaka beside the Acropolis. (B, D)

 


Day 17, Tuesday

Day 17, Tuesday

Depart Athens

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Athens for your departure flight. Thank you for choosing IBMT Tours. (B)


Choose your preferred dates and book your trip today

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Dates & Rates


Departure date Start Date End Date Starting At Double Occupancy Single Price Child Price Book
4 May 2024 5 May 2024 21 May 2024 $4,695 $5,845 $4,695 BOOK BOOK NOW
15 Jun 2024 16 Jun 2024 2 Jul 2024 $4,949 $6,099 $4,949 BOOK BOOK NOW
27 Jul 2024 28 Jul 2024 13 Aug 2024 $5,259 $6,824 $5,259 BOOK BOOK NOW
7 Sep 2024 8 Sep 2024 24 Sep 2024 $5,095 $6,524 $5,095 BOOK BOOK NOW

* All prices in USD

Services Included:

  • First class hotels
  • Arrival transfer Athens’ airport to the hotel on day 1
  • Departure transfer hotel to Zagreb airport on day 17
  • Daily Breakfast
  • 10 dinners included
  • Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
  • Professional Tour Director throughout
  • Licensed local guides
  • Luggage handling (1 pc per person)
  • Whisper technology enhanced touring
  • Service charges and hotel taxes

NOTE: Because of the narrow and cobbled streets, walking is the primary way of getting around. Please make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes.

 

Services Not Included:

  • Airfare & Departure taxes
  • Tips to guide/driver & hotel staff
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal extras and meals not mentioned above

Book This Tour Today

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TestimonialsTestimonials

Still traveling but wanted to thank you for planning a marvelous trip.  It is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Best, 

Susan Lachtman

 

The IBMT Bar Mitzvah tour was fantastic! It was the perfect blend of family time and peer group time, of sites with religious/historic significance and just plain fun. The guide was personable and informative, and even the bus driver was great. All the details were attended to and you didn’t have to concern yourself with or worry about a thing. It was a true vacation. We would highly recommend it to anyone. If you are going to Eilat, Petra is a must!

We went on a church group to the Holyland with IBMT Tours and had a great trip, everything was planned for us perfectly. There was over 123 people in four different bus groups and things went smoothly, I thought it was going to be hectic with that many people in the group but IBMT did a wonderful job and made sure the buses did not go convoy, every bus had its own time table and itinerary for the day, our guide Dani was so knowledgeable and loving. We love you IBMT and we will recommend you guys. Thanks for everything you have done for us.

We just returned from Israel on an IBMT Bar Mitzvah Tour for our three grandsons.  We had enough family members to warrant our own bus.  After checking out many tour companies we went with IBMT and all of us were glad we did.  The hotels were fabulous and the rooms allotted even more so.  From the INBAL in Jerusalem, KFAR BLUM in the Galilee, the SHERATON in Tel Aviv, to the ROYAL BEACH in Eilat we couldn’t have asked for more.  Our meals were equally excellent.  Beginning with a welcome reception at the INBAL to the closing dinner at the CANAAN restaurant in Tel Aviv one and all loved them.

It was a busy tour made even more so by my husband who was determined the grandchildren see “everything”.  Fortunately for us, we had the best guide when Ornan (from IBMT) gave us GADI.  All of the groups loved their guides but Gadi was  special.  He was able to reach the kids (ages 7-13) as well as the adults.  His knowledge, willingness to adjust the schedule, and good nature gave him a soft spot in all of our hearts.  He filled in at Yad Vashem when the guide droned on a bit too much for some of us.  He searched out a cemetery where a father, grandfather and great grandfather was buried and proceeded to enlighten us on the rituals and customs of a military cemetery.  He adjusted our times to include those little extras.  When weather precluded the camels, we visited Qumran.  After the Bar Mitzvahs, some wanted to walk down Masada - again, no problem. 

We loved everything.  Friday night dinner with an Israeli family (coincidentally the husband was from Toronto), meeting the soldiers on the kibbutz, the Druze lunch, sampling different foods at the shuk, the bullet factory and on and on.  Although the weather was precarious in December, it didn’t stop us and we were able to celebrate Chanukah in Israel...menorahs  everywhere, sufganiyot of every kind, celebrations in the street galore.

Would we recommend this tour...without a moments hesitation.  We had a family trip of a lifetime.  Thank you also to our bus driver Louie, whom we all loved and who got us around safely. 

“Gadi” - what else can we say ... g double o - d, j-o-b. Good job, good job.  V-e-r-y-n-i-c-e, very nice, very nice.💕

 

 

I cannot imagine a better, more organized, more perfect experience! IBMT went above and beyond all expectations!

Loved the trip! The itinerary was fantastic and really kept us moving. We were able to see and do so much. Best of all was our tour guide Natalie. She was very kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable on every aspect of Israel.

5/5

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