Your journey starts with an overnight flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia.

After arriving in Ljubljana, you'll transfer to Lake Bled, where you settle in to your lakeside hotel. Later, gather for an included dinner at your hotel.

Spend the day exploring this scenic region, starting with a trip to the Bled Castle, set atop a cliff towering over the lake. Then, move on to the nearby Bohinj Lake, where you'll explore the village of Ribcev Laz and ride the cable car up Vogel Mountain for the spectacular views. You'll have time for lunch on your own, enjoying some of the Alpine specialties known in the northwest of Slovenia. You’ll taste the influences of Austria and Northern Italy in the local cuisine. Afterwards, return to Lake Bled for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you'll take a lovely ride on the lake in a traditional gondola called a pletna.

Prefer a more active day? In Bled and nearby Bohinj and Kranjska Gora, there are numerous fun-filled opportunities for you to take advantage of, depending on the season. Choose to go Alpine climbing, geocaching, and more. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, you can enjoy a round of golf, ballooning, horseback riding, cycling, rafting, canyoning, tennis, squash, tubing, ziplining, and more! Speak with your Cruise Director for guidance.

Active Features:

• Alpine climbing, golf, horseback riding, rafting, and ziplining in summer

Today takes you to Kranjska Gora, a four-season mountain resort that’s lively and green during the summer months. Located under the highest of the Julian Alps, near the glacial lakes of Triglav Park and magnificent waterfalls, this this scenic resort town is nestled between the Austrian and Italian borders. Enjoy a lovely walk from Jasna Lake to center of Kranjska Gora.

Later, back in Lake Bled, the day is yours to spend at your leisure. You may like to take a walk or opt to go on a boat ride. This evening, enjoy dinner at Gostilna Lectar, a popular local restaurant that is one of the oldest trattorias in Slovenia and prepares traditional, regional Slovenian Alpine specialties, local wines, and traditional sweets known as “Lectar Hearts.” We will also enjoy a presentation on gingerbread making here.

Active Feature:

• Walk or boat ride at Lake Bled

• Dinner of Slovenian Alpine cuisine, with local wines and traditional sweets
• Presentation on gingerbread-making

After breakfast, take a walking tour of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city. Then, move on to Zagreb and join day 2 of the base program.

Included Feature:

• Walking tour of Ljubljana

Today, you’ll board an overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Madrid.

Arrive in Madrid today. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative who will assist with your transfer to the hotel. After checking in, enjoy time at leisure before tonight’s Welcome Dinner at the hotel.

Explore vibrant Madrid on foot, walking through Plaza Sol and Plaza Mayor, savoring city views, and passing multiple other historic monuments. Later, visit the city’s Mercado Central for an included tapas tasting! The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to further explore. Tonight, enhance your tapas discoveries with a chance to have dinner on your own in this city of gastronomical delights.

Included Feature:

• Walking tour of Madrid with included tapas at Mercado de San Miguel

Enjoy a free day to pursue your own interests with recommendations provided by your Cruise Director. Wander the city’s many squares, shop for espadrilles and other classic Spanish products, and get your fill of tapas. The evening is at leisure with dinner on your own.

Enjoy a panoramic tour that shows you even more Madrid highlights on your way to the train station. Here, you’ll embark on a high-speed train to Barcelona, where you’ll join Day 2 of the base tour.

After breakfast, transfer to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, for a guided sightseeing tour. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. You could wander around the bustling Prešeren Square, stroll through Tivoli Park or along the art nouveau Dragon Bridge, take in the views at Ljubljana Castle, or shop for souvenirs in lovely boutiques. The city has a wonderful farmers' market that's easy to wander around with many good regional wines, farm cheeses, and meats. Don’t forget to enjoy lunch on your own at any of the tempting local restaurants and cafés; Slovenia is renowned for its farm-to-table cuisine.

Later, you'll transfer to Lake Bled, where the rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure. Dinner is included tonight at the hotel.

• Half-day tour of Ljubljana

• Golf, horseback riding, rafting, and ziplining in summer

Spend the day exploring this scenic region, starting with a trip to the Bled Castle, set atop a cliff towering over the lake. Then, move on to the nearby Bohinj Lake, where you'll explore the village of Ribcev Laz and ride the cable car up Vogel Mountain for the spectacular views. You'll have time for lunch on your own, enjoying some of the Alpine specialties known in the northwest of Slovenia — you are sure to taste the influences of Austria and Northern Italy in the local cuisine. Afterward, return to Lake Bled for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you'll take a lovely ride on the lake in pletna, a traditional gondola.

Included Features:

• Half-day tour of Bled Castle
• Visit Bohinj Lake and ride a cable car up Vogel Mountain

Today takes you to Kranjska Gora, a four-season mountain resort that’s lively and green during the summer months, while a winter wonderland with incredible skiing in the colder seasons. Located under the highest of the Julian Alps, near the glacial lakes of Triglav Park and magnificent waterfalls, this this scenic resort town is nestled between the Austrian and Italian borders. Enjoy a lovely walk from Jasna Lake to the center of Kranjska Gora. 

This evening, enjoy dinner at Gostilna Lectar, a popular local restaurant that is one of the oldest trattorias in Slovenia and that prepares traditional, regional Slovenian Alpine specialties, local wines, and traditional sweets known as “Lectar Hearts.” We will also enjoy a presentation on gingerbread-making. 

 
Included Feature:

• Half-day tour of Kranjska Gora and Planica Museum

• Presentation on gingerbread-making, with a dinner of Slovenian Alpine cuisine at a local restaurant

• Walk from Jasna Lake to the center of Kranjska Gora, and around Lake Bled

Transfer to Ljubljana airport for your flight home.

Today, you’ll leave Barcelona on a high-speed train bound for Madrid. Upon arrival, you’ll be whisked away on a panoramic tour of Spain’s capital city. Afterward, check into your hotel and enjoy dinner on your own in this city of gastronomical delights.

Included Feature:

• Panoramic Madrid tour

Explore vibrant Madrid on foot, walking through Plaza Sol and Plaza Mayor, savoring city views, and passing multiple other historic monuments. Later, visit the city’s Mercado Central for an included tapas tasting! The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to further explore. Tonight, enhance your tapas discoveries with another opportunity to have dinner on your own.

Included Feature:

• Walking tour of Madrid with included tapas at Mercado de San Miguel

Enjoy a free day to pursue your own interests with recommendations provided by your Cruise Director. Wander the city’s many squares, shop for espadrilles and other classic Spanish products, and get your fill of tapas. The evening is at leisure, with dinner back at the hotel.

Transfer to Madrid’s airport for your return flight home.