Charming Croatia & Slovenia - JG Explorer

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

Travel onwards through France and Germany, stopping along the way in Baden-Baden for lunch at your leisure and time to explore. Set against the backdrop of the luscious and enchanting Black Forest, reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm fairytales, this pretty spa town is built on thermal springs – making it a popular destination for centuries. We continue to our overnight hotel in the famous Munich area of Bavaria, arriving in time for dinner.

After a panoramic tour of the Bavarian city of Munich, with its stunning architecture and large squares, we continue onwards to Hotel Evropa in Celje, Slovenia.

The elegant city of Ljubljana awaits, Slovenia's capital and one of Europe's greenest cities. As we wander through the beautiful streets, our guide highlights the intricate bridges and buildings built by Jože Plečnik, Slovenia's master of early-modern minimalist design, including the Triple Bridge, which connects Ljubljana's Old Town to the modern city. We also take in cultural monuments such as the National Museum and Opera House and stroll along the leafy banks of the emerald-green Ljubljanica River through the city's heart.

We enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore the local sights.

We spend the day discovering the natural beauty of Bled, one of the country's most popular destinations. Ringed by forested hills and looking out across the usually still lake to an island crowned by a Baroque church, Bled itself is a wonderful resort surrounded by stunning scenery. Listen as our local guide tells us about the history of Bled and its ties to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, and enjoy the views of Bled Castle, which overlooks the town from a lofty perch on the opposite shore, before spending some time at leisure in the lakeside resort. Sample a local speciality in one of the restaurants or perhaps take a gondola-like pletna across to the island, a style of boat that dates back to 1590 here!

Leaving Slovenia, we travel to the Rabac area in Croatia, stopping en route at the remarkable Postojna Cave. We join the world’s first railway in an underground cave for a unique 3.7-kilometre journey through stunning, centuries-old limestone formations. By foot, we then meander through pathways and tunnels, exploring extraordinarily shaped natural columns and pillars. Watch the steady dripping of water along the dazzling white curves of the stalagmite called ‘Brilliant’ and see the Concert Hall, the largest inside a cave system where live performances are regularly held, before re-joining the train. A memorable experience to savour!

Today we discover the history and architecture of the seafront city of Pula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Take a walk along its scenic harbour to enjoy the view of the sparkling Adriatic coast and learn about the Roman influence on the city's history while we wander among ancient ruins with our local guide. The highlight is undoubtedly Pula Arena, the 6^th largest Roman Colosseum in the world, with its magnificent stone walls, terraced seating and underground network of tunnels and rooms where animals and gladiators awaited their fights. Afterwards, be sure to pick up a souvenir such as local olive oil in one of the little shops before sitting back with a coffee in the charming main square.

Why not join a lovely optional excursion and explore the idyllic towns of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula with a local guide? Visiting the towns of Motovun, Grožnjan and Poreč, we experience breathtaking views of rolling hills, enchanting forests, deep valleys and olive groves, scattered with solitary forts and church towers, and stretching out all the way to the sea. Learn about the rich history of each town while wandering among ancient Roman ruins, Gothic churches and Baroque-style villas and be charmed by the medieval towers, soaring walls and pretty squares filled with tiny cafés, restaurants, galleries and artisanal boutiques.

After breakfast, we head to the picturesque and romantic town of Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula, once part of the Venetian Empire. As we stroll along the cobbled streets to the azure waters of the bustling old harbour, peppered with fishing boats, small ferries and traditional batana boats, it's easy to see why this is such a charming destination. You may like to visit the Church of St. Euphemia, a favourite gathering place for artists from around the world, while the Old Town is well worth exploring, with its pastel-coloured buildings, hidden alleyways and quaint boutiques.

Leaving Rabac, we head to our hotel in the Milan area, stopping en route in one of the most postcard-perfect towns of Lake Garda. Set on a picturesque peninsula on the southern shore, Sirmione is renowned for its turreted 13^th-century castle and maze of narrow, cobbled streets full of lovely shops and cafés. Later, we arrive at our hotel in time for dinner.

Sit back and enjoy the scenic journey through Switzerland with an en-route stop in Montreux. This charming resort offers the perfect spot for lunch or souvenir shopping, located on the shores of Lake Geneva with a stunning backdrop of the Alps. After some time here, we continue to Dijon, where we stay overnight.

We travel to our overnight hotel in the Lille area, breaking up the journey with time in Reims. There’s plenty to see, including the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims and Musée de la Reddition, which was the site of Germany’s official surrender at the end of the Second World War.

We enjoy a free morning in Lille, renowned for its Flemish-inspired food and architecture, before continuing to Calais for our return ferry home.