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. There’s a tobogganing slide not far from your hotel. Or choose to go Alpine climbing, skiing, ice skating, 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:

• Toboggan slide at Kranjska Gora
• Alpine climbing, skiing, or ice-skating in winter
• 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 and 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 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

An overnight flight takes you to Madeira, Portugal, today.

Arrive today and settle into your hotel before a Welcome Briefing, where you’ll meet other travelers joining you for enriching discoveries. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Set out this morning for a half-day city tour. Cultural Discovery: Browse the fragrant stands of the marketplace brimming with produce carted in from all over the fertile island and stroll the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. Then ascend to the town of Monte, 1,800 feet above the sea. Splendid views greet you from here, but you might thrill more to the mode of transport you’ll use to return to Funchal: a traditional two-seater wicker toboggan or “basket sled.” A pair of pilots — skilled and expert carreiros — guide you downhill for the steep mile-long journey. Back in the city, enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, experience more of Funchal on your own with a night at leisure.

Today, craft your own itinerary with a day at leisure.

Head to the Funchal airport for your flight to Lisbon, where you'll join the base program.

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. Active travelers may enjoy a round of golf, ballooning, horseback riding, cycling, rafting, canyoning, tennis, squash, tubing, ziplining, and more! Speak with your City Host for guidance. 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.

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 Features:

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

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

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.

Included Feature:

• Half-day tour of Kranjska Gora and Planica Museum

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

Transfer to Ljubljana airport for your flight home.

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Funchal, historic capital of the lush “Garden Island” of Madeira, Portugal. In the early 1400s, the discovery of the island 323 miles off the coast of Africa was a catalyst for the Age of Discovery. Embark on a short orientation walk alongside your Cruise Director, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps exploring the highlights of this lovely town, including its 15th-century cathedral and the scenic Santa Caterina Park, and stopping at a café to sip some of the island’s eponymous wine.

Set out this morning for a half-day city tour. Cultural Discovery: Browse the fragrant stands of the marketplace brimming with produce carted in from all over the fertile island and stroll the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. Then ascend to the town of Monte, 1,800 feet above the sea. Splendid views greet you from here, but you might thrill more to the mode of transport you’ll use to return to Funchal: a traditional two-seater wicker toboggan or “basket sled.” A pair of pilots — skilled and expert carreiros — guide you downhill for the steep mile-long journey. Back in the city, enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, experience more of Funchal on your own with a night at leisure.

Today, craft your own itinerary with a day at leisure.

Head to the Funchal airport for your flight back to the U.S.