Compare Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia Cycling Tour by Tourissimo vs Cultural Croatia: Dubrovnik, Dalmatia & Zagreb by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 12 days |
| Price From | $ 4,195 | $ 9,340 |
| Price Per Day | $ 524 | $ 778 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
Historic and scenic riding among vineyards, mountains, and lakes. There’s a lot of history involved in this cycling and multi-sport tour, with a focus on the years during and between the two World Wars. The itinerary also echoes the Mitteleuropean past of the area (on both sides of the boarder), when it was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled by the Habsburg family, a real crossroads between cultures. Our visit to the WWI Museum in Caporetto-Kobarid is the best way to get to know the history and the geography of these two regions. |
From medieval walled cities and forested national parks to sleepy islands and secluded coves, Croatia offers a wide range of places to visit, each influenced by its past Roman, Venetian, Napoleonic and Viennese rulers. |
Day 1: Grado - Aquileia
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Bernt
Terrain: Flat
Ride: 13 mi or 22 km
A private shuttle will take you to our hotel on an island-village on the Adriatic. Grado is Friuli’s lagoon city, a town with 1600 years of history, which can still be experienced by strolling the calli (streets) of the ancient city center. Grado was the first port of entry for ships headed upstream to nearby Aquileia, a powerful Roman city on the river Natisone.
After some lunch and presentations, we ride inland to Aquileia. The colony was founded in 180BC and served as a strategic frontier fortress at the northeast corner of Transpadane (on the far side of the Po river) Italy.
Back at the hotel, you will receive an overview of the tour program followed by dinner.
Day 2: Collio Hills
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: La Subida
Terrain: Rolling
Ride: 30 mi or 48 km
After fine tuning our bikes some more, we ride along the Natisone river and we reach Gorizia for a short visit and some lunch. Once a favorite spot of the Hapsburg nobility, since 1947 Gorizia has been split in two, with Nova Gorica developing on the other side of the Italian–Slovenian border. We are in the dramatic Carso area with its limestone formations, grottoes, and underground rivers. La Subida is a charming country hotel and the hospitality of the Sirk family is legendary. Tonight, we will have dinner at l'Osteria, which is part of the La Subida Estate. La Subida is a place that makes our guests feel at home and relaxed. It's unique.
Day 3: Cividale Loop
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: La Subida
Terrain: Hilly
Ride: 28 mi or 45 km
Today's ride leads us northward to Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO site). We will be pedaling through the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli wine area for about 30 mls of easy and rolling terrain. Cividale del Friuli will be our lunch stop and then we will head back to La Subida from a different road. Before reaching the hotel, we will stop at a local winery for lunch and wine tasting. The family-owned Grillo winery is in the center of the Schioppettino wine production (very rare and hard to find anywhere else in Italy). Relax back at La Subida before dinner.
Day 4: Bovec
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Alp
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 46 mi or 74 km (shorter option available)
Today's ride takes us out of Friuli, heading northeast to the border of Slovenia. We will notice the landscape changing as we ride through the lowest mountain pass of the Alps, a long, easy smooth climb that takes us to the former border between Italy and Slovenia. Entering Slovenia we will find ourselves in a lush, green landscape with the typical vegetation of a mountain region, with rivers, waterfalls, and forests. Silence and very few cars make this and the next rides heavenly. Our lunch stop is in Caporetto/Kobarid and we have planned a visit to the WWI museum, a small but very complete and interesting house where the people from Caporetto have collected pictures and objects through which they tell the history of WWI as it was lived by the soldiers and civilians in that valley where we bike during our tour. In the afternoon we cruise to Bovec following the Soča river valley. You'll have time to explore Bovec on your own ant to enjoy a cold beer while watching the sunset behind the high mountains that surround the valley where Bovec is nestled. A short walk to the center of Bovec and we will find our dinner table ready at a local Gostilna, a simple, typical ‘trattoria’ style restaurant where we can enjoy our Slovenian meal.
Day 5: Bovec
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Alp
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 23 mi or 37 km
Bovec is known as the adventure capital of Slovenia, and we have a full day here to rest and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities: kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking and more. Kayaking in the emerald waters of the Soca River while immersed in the landscape of high peaks, forest and waterfalls is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. For those who like hiking there are some interesting trails with historical traces of WWI and WWII just outside of Bovec, with a war cemetery, two old forts and some bunkers and tunnels dating back to the Napoleon era and WWI. A bike ride will also be available if you want to explore the countryside up to the edge of Triglav National Park, in a remote little valley where only sheep and cows are witnesses to our slow-paced ride through paradise. Dinner is on your own.
Day 6: Fusine Lake to Bled
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria Bled
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 37 mi or 59 km
Today we’ll go across the Alps to reach Tarvisio, a town on the border where Italy, Austria and Slovenia meet. A bus will shuttle us and our bikes over a mountain pass and down to the enchanting Fusine lakes where an easy and flat bike path starts. We’ll follow the bike path along the valley, once again immersed in a beautiful forest and with mountains all around us. Past the town of Kranjska Gora we’ll leave the main path and enter a secondary valley, now riding on an unpaved (but smooth) bike path. This valley, the Radovna Valley, is the most beautiful, magical and enchanting place of the whole tour. Streams, small waterfalls, tall trees, water mills, a few old farmhouses and some cows are what we will see during the almost 10km of riding in this heavenly valley. Once we leave the valley we will be very close to Bled and if time and weather permit we can take a detour to admire the Vintgar Gorge, a canyon carved by the Vintgar River. A boardwalk runs along the gorge and from there we can view waterfalls and rapids.
Bled is our final destination today. We’ll bike along the lakeshore to reach Hotel Astoria in the center of Bled. Dinner will be at a castle overlooking Lake Bled. If time allows it, you can visit the interesting museum inside the Bled Castle.
Day 7: Ljubljana
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Allegro Garni Hotel
Ride: None
Today we’ll transfer by private bus (about 1 hr) to Ljubljana. Upon arriving, you will have a guided visit of the town center of this UNESCO-recognized gem. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore on your own and to do some shopping. We will enjoy our final dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.
Day 8: Ljubljana
Meals: Breakfast
Terrain: Departure
Ride: None
After breakfast, we’ll provide a transfer to the Ljubljana airport.
Day 1 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
You’ll be welcomed at Dubrovnik airport by your private driver who will escort you to your hotel and assist you with check in. The afternoon is free to settle in and explore as you wish, perhaps take the opportunity to discover the surrounding area on foot, venture to the nearest beach or take a stroll around the old town to soak up its vibrant atmosphere and admire the historic architecture.
Day 2 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a walking tour of Dubrovnik’s old town introducing the history of the city, its various rulers and its architecture as you wander the narrow streets. You’ll explore the defensive walls for an overview of the city, visit a Franciscan monastery and the Lovrijenac Fortress before finally taking a cable car to the top of Mount Srđ for panoramic views over the town, coast and islands.
Day 3 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Heading south from Dubrovnik with your private guide , you’ll explore the Konavle Valley, the cultural hub of southern Dalmatia which is about 30 minutes’ drive away. You’ll visit the former home of Croatian artist Vlaho Bukovac in Cavtat, stop at a silk embroidery workshop in Gruda and explore the Konavle County Museum before visiting a local home to sample a traditional peka dish, cooked in a domed, cast-iron pot on an open fire, before returning to Dubrovnik.
Day 4 Split
Dubrovnik , Split
Leaving Dubrovnik by private transfer, you’ll make the scenic two-and-a-half hour journey through the mountains into Bosnia and Herzegovina for a tour of the historic town of Mostar. You’ll see its renowned bridge that spans the Neretva River and walk its winding streets, before heading on another 40 minutes to the medieval town of Počitelj. From here, it’s a two-hour drive to Split where you’ll check into your hotel.
Day 5 Split
Split
Today, you’ll make your way into Croatia’s highlands taking a half-hour drive to Klis Fortress, which repelled Ottoman attacks for several centuries. Next, you’ll continue to Sinj where you’ll learn about the importance of the Alka Festival, an annual equestrian competition that commemorates a Croatian-Venetian victory over the Ottomans in 1715, via a state-of-the-art museum experience. Finally, you’ll stop outside the town of Omiš for a cooking presentation of soparnik, a flatbread dish that pre-dates Italian pizza.
Day 6 Split
Split
Your local guide will teach you about the history of Split as you explore the historic district, most of which is set within the bounds of the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace. Originally built for the Roman emperor as a retirement home, it is still in use, its ancient buildings buzzing with life. In the afternoon, you can wander the city independently, relax at your hotel or perhaps explore Marjan Hill from where you’ll get panoramic views of the city and coast.
Day 7 Šibenik
Split , Šibenik
From Split, your driver-guide will take you to nearby Salona to see one of the most significant archeological sites in the country: the ruins of an ancient city dating to the 2nd century BC. From here, you’ll drive on for half an hour to the medieval walled city of Trogir to see the imposing Kamerlengo Fortress, before finishing your day with a tour of historic Šibenik, an hour’s drive away. After your tour, you’ll check into your hotel for two nights.
Day 8 Šibenik
Šibenik
Just a half hour from Šibenik is Krka National Park, a lush combination of dense forests, scenic trails and tumbling waterfalls. Your private guide will take you along the trails to scenic lookouts where you can get sweeping views of the falls before you join a boat ride to visit the island of Visovac which is home to a working Franciscan monastery. From Krka, you’ll visit Vizzulin winery for a country-style lunch and wine tasting.
Day 9 Plitvice Lakes
Šibenik , Plitvice Lakes
Continuing north with your driver for about an hour, you’ll stop in the coastal town of Zadar for a walking tour of the historic sights and a chance to see the Sea Organ, an art installation which uses the rhythm of the waves to produce evocative sounds. From here, you’ll drive through lush mountain scenery for roughly an hour and a half to Plitvice Lakes National Park for a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site waterfalls and trails before checking into your hotel.
Day 10 Zagreb
Plitvice Lakes , Zagreb
Leaving the forested hills, you’ll make the two-hour drive to the northern border and the cosmopolitan capital city of Zagreb. Your private guide will lead you on a walking tour through the old town to see the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian architecture of the city. From here, you’ll make your way to the nearby Mirogoj Cemetery, a grand resting place for Croatia’s most eminent citizens, before checking into your hotel.
Day 11 Zagreb
Zagreb
On your final day, your driver will take you on a two-hour journey to Slovenia for a visit to the diminutive capital, Ljubljana, and nearby Lake Bled. After taking a walking tour of the city, you’ll drive on for about 50 minutes to explore Bled Castle, and then take a traditional pletna boat ride to the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary on Bled Island, with the scenic Julian Alps in the background. You’ll then return for your last night in Croatia.
Day 12 Return home
Zagreb
After checking out, your private driver will escort you to Zagreb airport for your international flight home.
Day 1 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
You’ll be welcomed at Dubrovnik airport by your private driver who will escort you to your hotel and assist you with check in. The afternoon is free to settle in and explore as you wish, perhaps take the opportunity to discover the surrounding area on foot, venture to the nearest beach or take a stroll around the old town to soak up its vibrant atmosphere and admire the historic architecture.
Day 2 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a walking tour of Dubrovnik’s old town introducing the history of the city, its various rulers and its architecture as you wander the narrow streets. You’ll explore the defensive walls for an overview of the city, visit a Franciscan monastery and the Lovrijenac Fortress before finally taking a cable car to the top of Mount Srđ for panoramic views over the town, coast and islands.
Day 3 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Heading south from Dubrovnik with your private guide , you’ll explore the Konavle Valley, the cultural hub of southern Dalmatia which is about 30 minutes’ drive away. You’ll visit the former home of Croatian artist Vlaho Bukovac in Cavtat, stop at a silk embroidery workshop in Gruda and explore the Konavle County Museum before visiting a local home to sample a traditional peka dish, cooked in a domed, cast-iron pot on an open fire, before returning to Dubrovnik.
Day 4 Split
Dubrovnik , Split
Leaving Dubrovnik by private transfer, you’ll make the scenic two-and-a-half hour journey through the mountains into Bosnia and Herzegovina for a tour of the historic town of Mostar. You’ll see its renowned bridge that spans the Neretva River and walk its winding streets, before heading on another 40 minutes to the medieval town of Počitelj. From here, it’s a two-hour drive to Split where you’ll check into your hotel.
Day 5 Split
Split
Today, you’ll make your way into Croatia’s highlands taking a half-hour drive to Klis Fortress, which repelled Ottoman attacks for several centuries. Next, you’ll continue to Sinj where you’ll learn about the importance of the Alka Festival, an annual equestrian competition that commemorates a Croatian-Venetian victory over the Ottomans in 1715, via a state-of-the-art museum experience. Finally, you’ll stop outside the town of Omiš for a cooking presentation of soparnik, a flatbread dish that pre-dates Italian pizza.
Day 6 Split
Split
Your local guide will teach you about the history of Split as you explore the historic district, most of which is set within the bounds of the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace. Originally built for the Roman emperor as a retirement home, it is still in use, its ancient buildings buzzing with life. In the afternoon, you can wander the city independently, relax at your hotel or perhaps explore Marjan Hill from where you’ll get panoramic views of the city and coast.
Day 7 Šibenik
Split , Šibenik
From Split, your driver-guide will take you to nearby Salona to see one of the most significant archeological sites in the country: the ruins of an ancient city dating to the 2nd century BC. From here, you’ll drive on for half an hour to the medieval walled city of Trogir to see the imposing Kamerlengo Fortress, before finishing your day with a tour of historic Šibenik, an hour’s drive away. After your tour, you’ll check into your hotel for two nights.
Day 8 Šibenik
Šibenik
Just a half hour from Šibenik is Krka National Park, a lush combination of dense forests, scenic trails and tumbling waterfalls. Your private guide will take you along the trails to scenic lookouts where you can get sweeping views of the falls before you join a boat ride to visit the island of Visovac which is home to a working Franciscan monastery. From Krka, you’ll visit Vizzulin winery for a country-style lunch and wine tasting.
Day 9 Plitvice Lakes
Šibenik , Plitvice Lakes
Continuing north with your driver for about an hour, you’ll stop in the coastal town of Zadar for a walking tour of the historic sights and a chance to see the Sea Organ, an art installation which uses the rhythm of the waves to produce evocative sounds. From here, you’ll drive through lush mountain scenery for roughly an hour and a half to Plitvice Lakes National Park for a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site waterfalls and trails before checking into your hotel.
Day 10 Zagreb
Plitvice Lakes , Zagreb
Leaving the forested hills, you’ll make the two-hour drive to the northern border and the cosmopolitan capital city of Zagreb. Your private guide will lead you on a walking tour through the old town to see the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian architecture of the city. From here, you’ll make your way to the nearby Mirogoj Cemetery, a grand resting place for Croatia’s most eminent citizens, before checking into your hotel.
Day 11 Zagreb
Zagreb
On your final day, your driver will take you on a two-hour journey to Slovenia for a visit to the diminutive capital, Ljubljana, and nearby Lake Bled. After taking a walking tour of the city, you’ll drive on for about 50 minutes to explore Bled Castle, and then take a traditional pletna boat ride to the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary on Bled Island, with the scenic Julian Alps in the background. You’ll then return for your last night in Croatia.
Day 12 Return home
Zagreb
After checking out, your private driver will escort you to Zagreb airport for your international flight home.
