2015 Gustavus Study Tour: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro

Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro Study Tour
September 9 - 21, 2015

[Day 1] Wednesday, September 9 - Departure
Depart from the Twin Cities to Zagreb, Croatia.

[Day 2] Thursday, September 10 - Zagreb
Arrive in Zagreb
Meet your MCI Tour Manager, who will assist the group to awaiting chartered motorcoach for a transfer to the hotel via panoramic tour of Zagreb’s highlights including St. Mark’s Church, Flower Square, building of State Archives in Art-Déco style, Botanical Garden, etc.
Lunch on own in the city center.
Mid-afternoon hotel check-in.
Balance of the day at leisure.
Welcome Dinner and overnight.

Located in the heart of Europe; both old and youthful Zagreb bursts with the energy you would expect from a capital city. Explore many of the hidden corners, green parks, picturesque open-air markets, theatres, museums & galleries.

[Day 3] Friday, September 11 - Zagreb
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half-day sightseeing of Zagreb. Discover all major sights of Upper Town including St. Catherine’s Square, St. Mark’s Square with the House of Parliament, House of Government and St. Mark’s Church with its picturesque roof. Return to the Lower Town by funicular. Here we will see The Mimara Museum, Croatian National Theatre and Zagreb University
Also visit the Gallery of Old Masters, a fine art museum exhibiting the collection donated to the city by the illustrious Bishop Strossmayer in 1884. The museum is housed on the 2nd floor of the neo-Renaissance Croatian Academy of Arts & Sciences and contains works by many masterful artists.
Lunch included.
Balance of the day at leisure for sightseeing, shopping or other activities.
Evening dinner on own and overnight.

[Day 4] Saturday, September 12 - Zagreb / Jajce / Sarajevo
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Jajce for a short stop, where you can view the spectacular medieval citadel (rising up on a hill in the middle of town), beautiful old Ottoman-style homes, Pliva River waterfalls, sacred temple dedicated to the God Mitras, St. Luke’s Church, etc.
Lunch on own.
Continue to Sarajevo for dinner with the group and overnight.

Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in a beautiful setting amongst endless hills and large mountains. Due to its welcoming nature, Sarajevo contains one of the most diverse cultures in Europe. Few places on earth feature an Orthodox church, a Catholic church, a mosque and a synagogue within walking distance of each other. A walk through Sarajevo is a walk through its past.

[Day 5] Sunday, September 13 - Sarajevo
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a guided tour including a visit to the Baščaršija, Sarajevo‘s old town, where we can see the sebilj (fountain), Bezistan Sarači, Gazi Husref-bey's mosque and Tower Clock.
Also see Markale Market, Olympic buildings, National Museum, Marshal Tito Barracks, Sarajevo University Campus, Radio-Television Building, Ali-pasino polje, Oslobodjenje, Sniper Alley and a visit to the War Tunnel Museum. Enjoy a walk through part of the original tunnel (which connected occupied Sarajevo to free Sarajevo) and see a movie about the war in Sarajevo and learn about the role of the tunnel during the siege (1992-1995). Hear the stories about the life in this dark time and how that turned to a life full of hope.
Lunch on own.
Balance of the day at leisure for sightseeing, shopping or other activities.
Evening dinner with the group and overnight.

[Day 6] Monday, September 14 - Sarajevo / Mostar / Počitelj / Split
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Mostar and enjoy a guided tour through the historic center (a UNESCO World Heritage site). The Ottomans conquered Mostar in 1463 and brought Islamic influences and urban growth to the small town straddling the banks of the Nerevta River. The Stari Most (bridge) transformed Mostar into a thriving junction between east and west. Mostar developed architecturally and culturally under the rule of the Venetians, Austro-Hungarians, and Socialists. It was in the 1990’s when most of the Old Town and bridge were destroyed during the War, but since then, the bridge and town have been restored. Nestled in a mountainous region of modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar continues to be characterized by ethnic diversity and religious tolerance. Lunch include.

Continue to Počitelj for a visit. Počitelj is a beautiful medieval town situated on the left bank of the river Neretva. This stone town was built on a hill that dominates the riverbed of the Neretva River. In the architecture of Pocitelj the Mediterranean and Oriental styles intertwine and they simply invite you to stop by and take a walk down the narrow cobbled streets, climb the stone stairs and explore some of the secrets of this mysterious fortress.

Then it is off to Split for dinner with the group and overnight.

The entire western end of town is a vast, wooded mountain park with beaches below and pathways above. A refurbished harbourside promenade lined with cafés makes for a pleasant stroll, and the high coastal mountains set against the blue Adriatic provide a striking frame.

[Day 7] Tuesday, September 15 - Split / Hvar
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half-day guided tour includes People’s Square (Town Hall), Braća Radića Square, Church of St. Frances, Seven Castles and entrance to the Roman Palace of Diocletian. The remarkable Diocletian’s Palace (a World Heritage site) makes a visit to the city more than worthwhile. In the center of town, within the ancient walls of Diocletian’s Palace, rises the majestic cathedral surrounded by a tangle of marble streets containing shops and businesses.
Lunch on own.
Afternoon transfer to Hvar via boat.
Evening dinner with the group and overnight.

The town of Hvar is the largest settlement on the island of Hvar. The seven century-old walls, with fortifications towering above them, keep watch over Hvar as they slope down toward the town and its Venetian loggia. Hvar’s harbor to the sea, its unique healthful climate and its beaches and restaurants, make it a wonderful vacation destination.

[Day 8] Wednesday, September 16 - Hvar
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a morning tour of Hvar including the waterfront promenade, Piazza (a square generally considered the most beautiful of the kind in Dalmatia), St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Palaces of Groda, Theatre of Hvar, Cathedral of Hvar, Old Walls, and a visit to the Fortress.
Lunch on own.
Afternoon at leisure for beach time, shopping or other activities.
Evening dinner on own and overnight.

[Day 9] Thursday, September 17 - Hvar / Dubrovnik
Breakfast at the hotel.
Return to the mainland via boat and board your motorcoach for a transfer to Dubrovnik.
En route, enjoy lunch in Ston along the Pelješac Peninsula.
Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, the balance of the day will be at leisure.
Evening dinner on own and overnight.

Nicknamed the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, Croatia has a wealth of attractions for visitors. The city's seafront location, coupled with its beautiful and historic old town, is helping Dubrovnik make a comeback to its top spot as a destination in the Dalmatia area. The old town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is home to Croatia's artistic and intellectual elite and frequent cultural activities are the norm.

[Day 10] Friday, September 18 - Dubrovnik
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half-day guided tour including Pile Gate, Onofrio’s Fountain, Sponza Palace, Orlando’s Column, City Bell Tower, Rector’s Palace, the Church of St. Blaise, and a walk around the city walls. The city walls are famous all over the world, which run uninterrupted for 1,940 meters encircling the city. This complex structure, one of the most beautiful and strongest in the Mediterranean, consists of a series of forts, bastions, casemates, towers and detached forts.
Lunch on own.
Afternoon at leisure for sightseeing, shopping or other activities.
Evening dinner in a private home and overnight.

[Day 11] Saturday, September 19 - Dubrovnik / Cetinje / Boka Kotorska
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning excursion to Cetinje, a treasure of Montenegrin cultural and historical heritage. Here we will visit the Cetinje Monastery. The monastery was repeatedly destroyed during Ottoman attacks and rebuilt. The chapel to the right of the courtyard holds the monastery’s proudest possessions: a shard of the True Cross (the pièce de rèsistance of many of Europe’s churches) and the mummified right hand of St John the Baptist.
Lunch included.
Continue to Boka Kotorska. Boka Kotorska, or Kotor Bay, is a place of stunning natural beauty – a vast butterfly shaped expanse of water surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery. Boka Kotorska is remarkable for its wonderful coastal scenery and the many pretty villages and towns that dot the shoreline. Spend some time at leisure in the old city of Kotor, one of the most exquisitely preserved medieval centers in the Mediterranean. Narrow alleyways open out onto piazzas, churches and palaces.
Return to Dubrovnik for dinner on own and overnight. 

[Day 12] Sunday, September 20 - Dubrovnik
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full-day at leisure for a beach visit, shopping or other activities.
Lunch on own.
Evening Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.
Return to your hotel for overnight.

[Day 13] Monday, September 21 - Depart
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Dubrovnik’s airport for return flight.

For information, go to cost and inclusions.

Every effort will be made to follow this itinerary as printed, yet it is subject to change due to unforseen circumstances.

Trip arrangement provided by MCI Travel.