Welcome to Sarajevo! Meet your driver upon your arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and relax after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may want to acquaint yourself with the city. Take a stroll from the hotel along the Miljacka River. Pay attention to the variety of architectural styles, from modern skyrise buildings to Austro-Hungarian grandeur, to the Ottoman-era shops and restaurants nestled in the old quarter known as Baščaršija. In the evening, you’ll meet up with your group and tour leader to enjoy a welcome dinner featuring local Sarajevo specialties in The Four Rooms of Mrs. Safija and discuss the upcoming week! We will be staying at the lovely Hotel President or similar during our time in Sarajevo.

This morning we’ll start with breakfast at the hotel and then take off on a private half-day tour of Sarajevo! Our guided tour takes you on a journey through time – from the Ottomans to Austro-Hungarian rule to Tito’s Sarajevo and the city’s recent, sad past. You’ll not only hear about the city’s history and visit its most important sights such as the old Basar or the assassination site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – you’ll also learn a lot about the traditions and different cultures that shaped and still shape this place and learn how people live here today. The “Jerusalem of Europe” has always been a place, where the 4 different religions lived together peacefully and shaped each other’s traditions. On your walk, meet a traditional Baklava maker who is the last one to prepare Dzandar-Baklava – a Sarajevo specialty that takes three days to make – and watch a 4th generation coppersmith at work. We end our tour with a tasting of local meats and cheeses at a local marketplace. After that, we go for a Bosnian coffee where you can ask your guide all the questions you might still have and learn about the Bosnian life philosophy ćejf. You’ll have some free time to go back to your favorite stops or Barcasija in the afternoon hours, while the evening is reserved for a visit to Hedona Boutique Winery to enjoy a 7-course food and wine dinner, including a tour of the cellars. Evening at leisure in Sarajevo.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then meet your driver in the hotel lobby. We will continue our journey to Kravice Waterfalls and Mostar. Our first stop will be Kravice Waterfall – This natural phenomenon provides a cool refuge for rejuvenation and the ideal ending to your day exploring the best that Bosnia and Herzegovina have to offer. After the tour, we’ll head to Royal Vineyards for wine tasting and lunch. Royal Vineyards are located in Gnojnice, 12 kilometers from Mostar and cover an area of 100 hectares. The best and highest quality wines of the region are produced in this area. In addition to the autochthonous Žilavka and Blatina varieties, which are highly valued in the world today, the first-class Vranac is also produced here. Our final stop before heading back to Sarajevo is charming Mostar, known as the city where “east meets west”, and the Old Bridge which stands as a symbol of the town’s turbulent past.

After breakfast, make your way to Lukomir, the loneliest village of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located almost 1,500 meters above sea level. Its semi-nomadic inhabitants still live off the land and agriculture, like they did hundreds of years ago. Upon arrival, follow your guide through the small village inhabited by 15 families, meet locals, visit the village mosque, marvel at the medieval tombstones of the Bosnian church and enjoy the view down into the second-deepest canyon of Europe. After the 45-minute tour, a snack of Uštipci and some mountain tea is waiting for you at “Na Krovu Svijeta” – on top of the world in a traditional, rustic restaurant. You can enjoy another hour of leisure time after lunch to stroll through the village, hike along the Rakitinica canyon for a little bit of just sit down and enjoy the peaceful village atmosphere. Around 1.00 PM, we leave Lukomir and make our way to Javorov Do for lunch. Here, guests can enjoy traditional Bosnian dishes such as pita, teletina ispod sač and more. Arrival back in Sarajevo should be around 6 PM in the afternoon. It’s our last evening in Sarajevo, enjoy it!

Today we will check out of our Sarajevo hotel after breakfast. We are heading to Banja Luka – a charming and vibrant city located in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality, Banja Luka is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Our first stop is in Winery Jungic. Jungic Winery came into existence out of spite and love for wine. It is hard to say which one prevailed. Spite was a decision breaker while lots of love was required to endure in that strenuous vine path and to create a tradition. It was out of spite that the owners wanted to prove how top-quality sorts of grape vines could also be grown in their region although many people thought and tried to persuade them to the contrary. At Vinarija Jungić, learn how a Bosnian winemaker did not want to give up on his dream of planting vines on the slopes of his home village of Markova. Thanks to his stubbornness paired with his love for wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Rhine Riesling now grow on the slopes only 20 minutes from Banja Luka. After a tour of the cellar and vineyards, enjoy a local lunch and a tasting of Jungić’s premium wines in their “konoba“– a traditional Bosnian tavern. Evening at leisure to explore Banja Luka on your own. We will be checking in to Hotel Courtyard by Marriott Banja Luka for our time in this city.

Meet with your driver in front of the hotel, we are saying goodbye to beautiful Bosnia & Herzegovina and heading to Slovenia! Slovenia is one of central Europe’s best-kept travel secrets! Where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain meets the Karst, it’s the heart of Europe. Over half of the country is covered with trees that give you a feeling that you are always sounded by forests. After our drive and upon arrival we’ll leave the luggage in our hotel, the beautiful city center Boutique Hotel As, and head for lunch in a local restaurant. Afterward, meet with our private local guide and enjoy the walking tour of Old Town Ljubljana, followed by a visit to one of the best wine bars in Ljubljana, owned by Movia Winery. In the evening enjoy people-watching along the riverbanks, which come alive after dark on warm weekend evenings.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will meet with our driver in front of the hotel. Today we’ll visit one of the must-see places in Slovenia, Lake Bled. Upon arrival, we will meet with our professional guide for a private walking tour of Bled town followed by a Pletna boat ride and a visit to the Church of the Assumption of Mary which you reach after 99 steps. The wishing bell is another attraction because when you ring the bell, make a wish and it will be granted. A boat ride with ‘Pletna’ – a traditional boat made by locals, is among the must-do things when visiting Bled. Not only because of the authentic boat experience but a true journey back in time. Standing paddlers will take you to the island with 99 stone steps on the way to the Assumption of Mary church and the fortune bell. We’ll make sure not to skip tasting Bled cream cake, the notorious local dessert, famous all around Slovenia. Followed by lunch at Bled Castle restaurant, where local and regional dishes are made in a contemporary and sophisticated way with an aim to preserve the gastronomical heritage of the Upper Carniola region and Slovenia. After lunch, we’ll head to Vintgar Gorge, just 20 min away from Bled, and enjoy an hour’s walk in Vintgar Gorge. The highlight is a 1600m wooden walkway through the gorge, built in 1893 and continually rebuilt since. It crisscrosses the swirling Radovna River four times over rapids, waterfalls, and pools before reaching 16m-high Sum Waterfall. Afterward, we will drive back to Ljubljana for our last evening in the capital of Slovenia– enjoy Ljubljana.

Morning departure from our hotel and meeting with our driver for a private transfer from Zagreb to Rovinj in Istria. When in Istria, only a short drive away takes us to the Kabola Winery. The story of wine growing in the Markežić family dates back to 1891 when it laid the first cornerstone with Momjan Muscat. Since then, hardworking and patient hands have been weaving the incredible tale of their wines, inspired by the desire to stand out by being genuine and unique. They’ve managed to shape their recognizable style through the Kabola brand. Since 2009 all their production of wine and olive oil is organic and environmentally friendly. Proof of their success arose in articles and positive reviews from world-famous experts. The wine produced in amphorae is the crown of their work. Nature and earth have endowed Kabola Winery with an entirely new dimension in Malvasia and Teran. Prolonged fermentation in amphorae and aging without removing the marc and the lees until late spring bring out its nobility. The grapes are born from the land, and they bestow their juices to the land to turn them into wine. Finally, we will drive to Rovinj and check into the hotel and relax. Grand Park Hotel harmoniously situated on Rovinj’s eastern shore, offers remarkable vistas of its picture-perfect old town. Later in the evening please join us for the evening walk in the Old Town of Rovinj.

Our last day on the trip will end with an adventure. In the morning, we will depart for the day’s journey to explore the Istrian peninsula. Our next stop is Motovun – the medieval, captivating hilltop town as one of the characteristic symbols of the Istrian interior. The position and views of Motovun make it one of the most beautiful towns in the Istrian inland. In Motovun, we will visit Tomaz Winery – it is located at the foot of the mythical city. The tradition of wine production dates back to 1918, and today this winery owns about 22 hectares of vineyards dominated by indigenous varieties, Istrian Malvasia, Teran and Muscat. The Central Istria Riviera, known as Green Istria, embraces a multitude of small places with a long history and fortresses on hills with picturesque bell towers. Before you know it, you will plunge into a gorgeous atmosphere of hill towns and seaside villages, dramatic beaches and rose gardens, and delicious wine, olive oil, and truffles. Your journey will take you further to Istria inland, which is so much different from the coast, followed by beautiful scenery and impeccable lines of spacious vineyards before you reach Buzet. Drive back to beautiful Rovinj, a free afternoon to indulge in the property and enjoy some beach time. In the evening, we will wrap up this journey with a wonderful farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants in Rovinj.

After breakfast, sadly it’s time to say goodbye. It will be time to check out and head to Venice or continue your travels from here!