Europe Private Tour (AUA008) 6 Balkan Countries (10D9N)

Today, we welcome you at Vienna Airport, then take you to visit Schönbrunn Palace. You will tour all 40 rooms of Schönbrunn Palace, the largest Rococo-style palace in Austria and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the lavish decorations in each room of Schönbrunn Palace, once the imperial residence of Emperor Franz Joseph, Empress Maria Theresa, and other Austrian rulers.

Next, explore the Old Town, the Vienna State Opera, the Austrian Parliament Building, and Stadtpark.

When it is time, travel to Graz, a distance of 200 kilometers, taking about 2 hours.

Graz is a historic city with a rich heritage and is the second largest city in Austria after Vienna.

Stroll through the beautifully preserved Old Town, which suffered relatively little damage during World War II and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Take the funicular up to Schlossberg, a fortress perched on a hill overlooking the city.

Visit Hauptplatz, the central square of Graz, and admire the City Hall (Rathaus) and the Erzherzog Johann Fountain. This lively area is filled with charming shops and inviting cafes and restaurants.

hotel Overnight Graz, Austria · example hotel Centro Hotel Strasser ***

Depart for Bled, Slovenia, covering a distance of 215 kilometers in approximately 2.5 hours. Visit Lake Bled, home to a romantic church set in the middle of the lake. It is Slovenia's most celebrated and beautiful warm-water lake. Legend has it that in the 19th century, an ill man came to heal using the waters of Lake Bled and made a full recovery, making Lake Bled internationally famous.

Visit Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia. Take a boat out to Bled Island in the middle of the lake, where the Gothic Church of the Assumption of Mary stands. Tradition says that couples marrying here must have the groom carry the bride up all 99 steps to the church before ringing The Wishing Bell inside for good fortune.

Afterward, journey to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, located 54 kilometers away. This charming, compact city has it all—mountains, rivers, streams, caves, bridges, forests, castles, and much more.

See the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most), crowned at each end with iconic dragon statues crossing the Ljubljanica river. Visit Preseren Square and explore Ljubljana Castle, set atop a 376-meter hill. Originally an ancient fortress standing for hundreds of years, it now welcomes over 1 million visitors annually. The view from above offers a stunning panorama of the entire city, easily accessible via the funicular railway. Afterward, stroll through Town Square, home to St. Nicholas Cathedral, distinguished by its green dome and twin bell towers rising above the city roofline.

hotel Overnight Ljubljana, Slovenia · example hotel Vila Teslova ***

Today, let's explore a cave that is over half a million years old! Depart from Ljubljana on a 53-kilometer journey to visit Postojna Cave, Europe's largest and most magnificent show cave, and the only cave in the world with an underground train. Admire the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites inside.

A short drive away, visit Predjama Castle, located just 10 kilometers from the cave. Over 800 years old, it is Europe's only surviving cave castle, dramatically built into the mouth of a cliffside cave.

Next, travel to the coastal town of Rovinj, Croatia, covering a distance of 140 kilometers in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Explore the Old Town perched on a hilly peninsula jutting into the sea. Visit the historic Church of St. Euphemia, which remains standing in the Old Town. Walk up the Old Town hill for sweeping views of the Adriatic coast, a marina filled with yachts, and picturesque islands.

hotel Overnight Rovinj, Croatia · example hotel Villa Monsena ****

Today, we take you to Pula, located just 36 kilometers away, taking less than 1 hour to reach. It is the largest city on the Istrian Peninsula, with many surviving historic buildings, and traces of dinosaurs have also been discovered here. Visit the Amphitheatre, reminiscent of Italy's Colosseum and the 6th largest arena built during the height of the Roman Empire, uniquely situated right by the Adriatic Sea. Then admire the Pula Forum gate.

Next, visit the Temple of Augustus.

In the afternoon, travel to Opatija, 100 kilometers away, a scenic seaside resort town known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Admire the Maiden with the Seagull statue, the iconic symbol of this town. Afterward, continue to Lika, the region home to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Relax here for the evening to prepare for exploring Croatia's renowned national park the following day.

hotel Overnight Lika, Cratia · example hotel Pansion Winnetou ***

Today, immerse yourself in the natural wonders of Plitvice Lakes National Park, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia, celebrated for its cascading lakes. Inside the park, there are plenty of activities tailored to your preferences: walking along scenic nature trails, admiring waterfalls, rowing on the lake, or hiking around all 16 interconnected lakes (be sure to complete your activities within the day, as overnight stays inside the park are not permitted). Stroll along the wooden boardwalks encircling the crystal-clear lakes and marvel at the majestic Big Waterfall (Veliki Slap).

Afterward, journey to Zadar, the historic former capital of Dalmatia. Explore Zadar's central square, visit the ancient Church of Saint Simeon, and see the Roman Forum, the largest across the eastern Adriatic coast. Admire St. Donatus Church, the largest Byzantine church in Dalmatia, and St. Anastasia Cathedral.

Afterward, we take you to relax by the sea and experience the world's only natural musical performance at the Sea Organ (Morske Orgulje). It is created from 35 large pipes inside marble steps stretching 230 feet along the coast. When water flows into the pipes of the lower steps, it produces various musical tones that play along to the natural rhythm of the waves and wind. In addition, this spot is considered one of the most beautiful sunset viewpoints in the world.

hotel Overnight Zadar, Croatia · example hotel Hotel Mediteran ***

Today, we take you to explore the town of Trogir, covering a distance of 130 kilometers with a travel time of about 1.5 hours. Trogir is a historic town in Croatia that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Admire the charming historic buildings and visit the limestone Kamerlengo Castle (Kamerlengo Fortress).

In the afternoon, we take you to Split, located just 28 kilometers away. Visit Diocletian's Palace, which was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1979. The palace's main entrance is the Golden Gate, leading into the central hall that connects to other rooms.

Admire the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Venus, and the Temple of Domnius, which blend harmoniously together, and visit St. Duje Cathedral (St.Duje Cathedral), featuring a beautiful bell tower that serves as the iconic symbol of the city.

hotel Overnight Split, Croatia · example hotel Inn The Heart Of The Palace ***

Today, we depart for Dubrovnik, a distance of 229 kilometers taking about 3 hours of travel.

Dubrovnik is an ancient city nicknamed the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” renowned for its well-organized layout. We take you to tour Old Town Dubrovnik, encircled by towering ancient sea-facing walls stretching 2 kilometers along the coast. This old town area was also a filming location for the series Game of Thrones.

Walk through Pile Gate, which features a statue of Saint Blaise, the city's patron saint. See the Large Onofrio's Fountain, visit The Cathedral Treasury (Dubrovnik Cathedral), admire the historic clock tower, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere filled with shops, cafes, ice cream parlors, and souvenir boutiques.

hotel Overnight Dubrovnik, Croatia · example hotel Hotel Petka ***

Today, we depart for Kotor in Montenegro, traveling a distance of 92 kilometers, which takes about 2 hours.

Explore Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage town nestled at the end of a fjord-like bay flowing in from the Adriatic Sea. Tour the old town and the large square, Trg Sv. Tripuna, home to the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Kotor Cathedral).

When the time comes, we journey to Albania, covering a distance of 201 kilometers in about 4 hours. Explore Tirana, the capital of Albania. We take you to see Tirana's main square (Skanderbeg Square), featuring an equestrian statue of Skanderbeg in its center. The Clock Tower is one of the city's oldest structures and a landmark symbol of visiting Tirana. We also visit Rinia Park in the heart of the city.

hotel Overnight Tirana, Albania · example hotel New W Hotel ****

Today, we set off to explore two cities in Macedonia. The first is Ohrid, covering a distance of 135 kilometers with a travel time of 2.5 hours.

Explore Ohrid, a lakeside town recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and renowned as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans.”

We take you to see Lake Ohrid and the old town, admiring the historic houses, charming shops, and inviting restaurants. Visit the Orthodox cliffside church set beside the lake, the Church of St. John at Kaneo, where you can take in panoramic views of the lake stretching as far as the eye can see.

Next, we head to Skopje, the capital and largest city of Macedonia. Visit the beautiful Macedonia Square, featuring the monument of Alexander the Great. See the triumphal arch Porta Macedonia and the stunning Stone Bridge (Stone Bridge or Dusan Bridge) spanning the Vardar River.

hotel Overnight Skopje, Macedonia · example hotel Hotel Super 8 ***

There is no tour scheduled today. We take you to Skopje International Airport for your connecting flight to Vienna Airport to return safely to Bangkok.