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Home > Insight > Europe > The Eastern Discovery
We are the World's Largest seller of Insight Tours. Call us and find out why!| The Eastern Discovery | Save 10% Off this Tour - GUARANTEED! |
 | | Tour Operator | Insight | | Tour Code | E972 | | Vacation Quality | First Class | | Vacation Type | Escorted Tour | | Number of Days | 16 | | Starting Price | $3425 (Select Dates)* | | Single Supplement | $960 | | Triple Room Discount | $140 | | Countries Visited | Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey | | City Highlights | Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Kotor, Sofia, Split, Tirana, Vienna, Zadar, Zagreb |
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This tour has a well balanced itinerary with two nights in Vienna at the beginning, a relaxing two-night stay in Dubrovnik in the middle and two in Sofia and Istanbul at the end.
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ITINERARY
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16 DAYS ~ AUSTRIA ~ SLOVENIA ~ CROATIA ~ MONTENEGRO ~ ALBANIA ~ MACEDONIA ~
BULGARIA ~ TURKEY
Tour Pace - Not too fast and not too slow. This tour features a
well balanced itinerary with two nights in Vienna at the beginning, a relaxing two nights
in Dubrovnik in the middle and two in Sofia and Istanbul at the end. The other one-night
stays are comfortably reached in a day’s drive.
Fellow Passengers - A newly designed tour for Insight passengers
who are looking for something a little different. Guests with a sense of adventure are
attracted by the chance to retrace the ancient trade routes to Asia. This tour can also
link up with Insight’s Turkish tours.
DAY 1 – SAT – DEPART USA. Board your overnight
flight.
DAY 2 – SUN – VIENNA AT LEISURE. On arrival at Vienna
Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:00, 12:00
& 15:00. Why not take a stroll through the Stadtpark to see the golden statue of
Strauss. Meet your Tour Director and fellow guests for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Hilton.
DAY 3 – MON – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING. A sightseeing
highlight this morning is a guided visit to the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and
gardens. Sightseeing continues past St Charles’ Church and tours the
‘ring’, seeing the Opera House, the Hofburg Imperial Residence
and Parliament Building. Your tour concludes with an informative look at Viennese
café culture. Consider spending time in Prater Park and riding its famous
ferris wheel. (BB)
DAY 4 – TUE – VIENNA – ZAGREB. Head south through
Styria’s forested mountains, past Graz and over the Slovenian border to the
700-year-old university town of Maribor. Follow the Drava River to Croatia and its
capital, Zagreb. On your guided tour see Roosevelt Square, the
attractive facades of Ban Josip Jelacic Square, the Cathedral, and, in the
medieval Upper Town, the Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St Marks Church
and Pope’s Tower.
Hotel: Sheraton. (BB)
DAY 5 – WED – ZAGREB – PLITVICE REGION. Time is at
leisure this morning. Maybe take an optional excursion to the home of the late Marshall
Tito in Kumrovec, before departing for one of Europe’s natural wonders, Plitvice
National Park.
Hotel: Jezero. (BB,D)
DAY 6 – THU – PLITVICE REGION – ZADAR. Tour the
Plitvice Lakes, a wonderland of 16 lakes flanked by thundering waterfalls and primeval
forest. Visit Korana Canyon’s 230 foot high falls and Tomicevo Pogledalo for views
over the park. A delightful drive brings you to the Dalmatian coast’s
sparkling deep blue seas and rocky islands.
Hotel: Kolovare. (BB,D)
DAY 7 – FRI – ZADAR – SPLIT. Head down the coast to
visit Trogir. Founded by the Greeks in 400BC but now renowned for its fine
cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko Palace. Continue to the ancient port of
Salona to admire the Roman Baths, Necropolis and Amphitheatre. Stay tonight
in Split where, 1700 years ago, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace.
Explore the labyrinth of streets and historic buildings within that same palace.
Hotel: Dalmina. (BB)
DAY 8 – SAT – SPLIT – DUBROVNIK. Travel through
charming fishing villages to Dubrovnik. A guided sightseeing tour in the
Old Town explores the stone-paved streets inside the 16th century bastions. See
Onofrio’s fountain and the Rector’s Palace, the city
walls, as well as the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. Your hotel is
beautifully situated overlooking Lapad Bay.
Hotel: Ariston. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – SUN – DUBROVNIK AT LEISURE. Today is at leisure.
Perhaps relax in one of Dubrovnik’s cafés or take a lovely walk around the
Lapad peninsula. Why not join a sunset cruise tonight? (BB)
DAY 10 – MON – DUBROVNIK – TIRANA. Over the border
in Montenegro, visit the Old Town of Kotor, perched beside the only
European fjord outside Norway. Continue to Albania and stop in the town of Shkodra
before continuing to the Albanian capital, Tirana. Hotel: Sheraton Hotel &
Towers. (BB,D)
DAY 11 – TUE – TIRANA – OHRID. Take a guided
sightseeing tour of Tirana before heading to the Albanian border and crossing
into Macedonia. Reach Lake Ohrid to stay in the pretty resort town of the same
name.
Hotel: Flamenco Donco. (BB,D)
DAY 12 – WED – OHRID – SOFIA. First stop is in the
Macedonian capital city of Skopje to see the main square, the mosques
and old Turkish buildings. Cross the north of the country to reach the Bulgarian
border, and make your way to the capital, Sofia, for dinner at your hotel.
Hotel: Hilton. (BB,D)
DAY 13 – THU – SOFIA SIGHTSEEING. Sightseeing takes in
the St Sofia Church across the square from the golden domed St Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral and the archeological complex, dominated by St George’s
Church. Explore on your own or perhaps take an optional excursion to the magnificent
Rila Monastery, the largest and most important symbol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
(BB)
DAY 14 – FRI – SOFIA – ISTANBUL. Head east, joining
the road to Turkey taken by the Romans, the Crusaders and others over the centuries. Once
over the border, continue to Istanbul, uniquely located on two continents.
Hotel: Barcelo Topkapi Eresin. (BB)
DAY 15 – SAT – ISTANBUL SIGHTSEEING. Tour the highlights
of Istanbul, including St Sophia and a visit to the famous Blue Mosque.Visit
Topkapi Palace, former seat of the Ottoman Emperors, to admire the treasures of the
Sultans, before finishing the tour at the 4,000 shops, tea houses and cafés of
the Grand Bazaar. But first enjoy an informative lesson from your guide on how to
haggle! Celebrate your amazing journey with a Highlight Dinner, complete with traditional
entertainment. (BB,HD)
DAY 16 – SUN – RETURN TO USA. The tour ends with a
transfer to the airport. Or why not combine this tour with Wonders of Turkey or a
Greek Island cruise? (BB)
Note: Visas are required for many countries on these tours - please check with
your Travel Agent.
The Golden Explorer - REF:
E973
If you prefer to start your tour in Istanbul, the Golden Explorer operates the same
itinerary as above, but in reverse. However, for operational reasons, The Golden Explorer
has one less dinner, and does not stay in Zadar, but has 2 nights in Zagreb
instead.
Notes
REF: E972. Prices are per person sharing a twin.
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Insight's Airport Shuttle Service
Transfers operate on the days and at the times shown in the itinerary. Passengers arriving ourside these days and times have the option of either purchasing a transfer (see Conditions) or making their own way from/to the airport.
Airport transfers in Istanbul operate at all times provided we have received correct flight information.
2009
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WHATS INCLUDED
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Highlights - There are many contrasting highlights, including thestately elegance of Vienna, epitomised by Schonbrunn Palace, the scenic wonderland of thePlitvice National Park, the past isolation of Albania, and the discovery of lesser knowncities like Skopje, Ohrid and Sofia.
Hotels - The predominantly modern hotels on this tour include therefurbished Vienna Hilton; the centrally located elegant Sheraton hotel in the capitalcity of Zagreb; the Jezero in the magnificent Plitvice National Park and the FlamencoDonco in Ohrid.
Premium Highlights
A guided visit to the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and gardensTour the Plitvice Lakes, a wonderland of 16 lakes flanked by thundering waterfallsand primeval forestVisit Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, then admire the treasure of the Sultans atTopkapi Palace
Personal Insights
A complete guide, from a local, on how to haggle in the Grand Bazaar; the technique,the pitfalls and how much to pay! Beat the shop keepers at their own game!An entrée to the history and significance of Viennese café culture
Additional Excursions & Sights
Tour the ring road of Vienna past the Imperial Palace, Parliament and OperaHouseVisit the Slovenian town of Maribor - reflecting its medieval, baroque and Sovietpast!See Zagreb’s Ban Josip Jelacic Square and Cathedral and tour the UpperTownSee the Cipiko Palace and Romanesque Cathedral in TrogirExplore Split’s historical buildings built within the walls ofDiocletian’s PalaceSee the Amphitheatre, Roman Baths and Necropolis in SalonaSee Onofrio’s Fountain, Rector’s Palace and the awesome city walls ofDubrovnikAdmire the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries in Dubrovnik Old TownVisit the old town of Kotor situated on its fjordVisit the cobbled streets, small shops and cafés of the pretty lakeside resortof OhridSee the churches, mosques and old Turkish buildings in SkopjeSee the golden dome cathedral, centuries old churches, and Soviet-era buildings ofSofiaSee all the sights of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Topkapi Palace -and haggle in the Grand Bazaar!Scenic drives - Plitvice region and Dalmatian coast
Insight's First Class Services
Escorted by a professional Tour DirectorLuxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toiletInsight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterageInsight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information packAirport Shuttle arrival transfer at scheduled times on Day 2 and departure transferon Day 16
Quality Dining
Highlight Dinner with traditional entertainment in Istanbul (HD)14 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, orBuffets, plus tea or coffee (D) | | ^Top |
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HOTELS
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VIENNA - Hilton
ZAGREB - Sheraton
PLITVICE - Jezero
ZADAR - Kolovare
SPLIT - Dalmina
DUBROVNIK - Grand Hotel Park
TIRANA - Sheraton Hotel & Towers
OHRID - Flamenco Donco
SOFIA - Kempinski
ISTANBUL - Conrad | | ^Top |
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| May 02 - May 17, 2009 | Call Us | $3425 | Call Us | $3083 |  | | May 16 - May 31, 2009 | Call Us | $3475 | Call Us | $3128 | | | May 30 - Jun 14, 2009 | Call Us | $3499 | Call Us | $3149 | | | Jun 13 - Jun 28, 2009 | Call Us | $3499 | Call Us | $3149 | | | Jun 27 - Jul 12, 2009 | Call Us | $3550 | Call Us | $3195 | | | Jul 11 - Jul 26, 2009 | Call Us | $3625 | Call Us | $3263 | | | Jul 25 - Aug 09, 2009 | Call Us | $3625 | Call Us | $3263 | | | Aug 08 - Aug 23, 2009 | Call Us | $3625 | Call Us | $3263 | | | Aug 22 - Sep 06, 2009 | Call Us | $3625 | Call Us | $3263 | | | Aug 29 - Sep 13, 2009 | Call Us | $3590 | Call Us | $3231 | | | Sep 12 - Sep 27, 2009 | Call Us | $3590 | Call Us | $3231 | |
Note: All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. Please call us toll free at 1-800-935-2620 to confirm availability and current pricing on all our discounted specials. The prices on this website are not guaranteed until a deposit has been made. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in these prices until a booking has been confirmed by one of our agents. Some land prices may include an internal air component and discounts will not be offered on the internal air component. Discounts will not be offered on packages with a land price of less than $500. |
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