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20 Day
Conducted Tour
       
Balkans and the Dalmatian Coast

For only $6,485
per person twin share
This price includes airport taxes and levies

Tour departs Australia May 29 and returns June 17, 2012
This is good value for a tour to this area as all of the following are included:
For people without a travel partner wishing to travel at twin share rates, we will do our best to match them up with someone else, but this is not guaranteed. For a single room there is an extra cost of $875.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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 Itinerary for Balkans & Dalmatian Coast Tour

Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner

26.09.11 Depart Brisbane at 2.40pm on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 236, arriving in Singapore at 8.50pm.
Depart Melbourne at 3.45pm on SQ 228, arriving in Singapore at 9.35pm.
Depart Sydney at 5.50pm on SQ 242, arriving in Singapore at 12.10am.

27.09.11 All passengers depart Singapore at 1.50am on SQ 490, arriving in Istanbul at 7.45am.
Depart Istanbul at 12.10pm on Turkish Airlines TK 1053, arriving in Zagreb at 1.15pm. Transfer to your Zagreb Hotel with the rest of the day free.

28.09.11
(B/D)		 We will explore the city of Zagreb, which is the capital of Croatia. It has 770000 inhabitants and it is the political and economic centre of Croatia. We will experience the past and present of Zagreb by walking through the streets of the lower and upper town. We visit the Zagreb Cathedral, followed by the lovely atmosphere of Dolac Market. Our walk will also take us to St. Mark's Church and Lotrscak Tower from where noontime is announced by cannon firing. We culminate the day with a tour of Maksimir, the oldest public cultivated park in Europe. Dinner will be at the hotel.

29.09.11
(B/D)		 Today we will drive to Plitvice National Park and see UNESCO world natural heritage site of Plitvice Lakes. We will walk on one of the most magnificent sites in Croatia. Here sixteen lakes, each at a different level join the other in a series of cascading waterfalls surrounded by dense phenomenon or rare unique beauty. We continue to Zadar for an overnight stay. 
30.09.11
(B/D)		 After breakfast we will explore Zadar, ancient capital of Dalmatia. The city is located along the Dalmatian coast. It offers a variety of Architectures and Styles, where Corinthian columns stand alongside Romanesque churches. Zadar was part of Italy until 1947 and one still finds Italian influence.
We will also see the Roman Forum from the 2nd century BC, the 9th century pre Romanesque church of St Donatus and St Elias church. We will drive to Sibenik next. The city is located in an area of several hundred inlets spread out to the open blue sea, forming many channels, bays and droves of rare beauty. Our last stop of the day will be at Trogir and overnight in Split.
01.10.11
(B/D)		 Today we will explore the city of Split. It is a vibrant city of shouting stall owners, in-transit travellers and white-suited sailors who give it a noisy, night-on-the-town feel. At the heart of all this, Diocletians' Palace lies, a crumbling old town, and some of the most outstanding classical architecture in the world, which we will enjoy visiting today.
02.10.11
(B/D)		 Today we will drive to Dubrovnik. In the afternoon we stroll through the old walled heart of Dubrovnik. All motor vehicles are banned from the centre and our transport drops us off outside the Pile Gate, where we visit the Franciscan Monastery, housing one of the world's oldest pharmacies, the old harbour, St Laurence Fortress, the Sponza and Rector's Palaces and other points of interest in this best preserved European walled city.
03.10.11
(B/D)		 Free day in Dubrovnik to enjoy this spectacular city.
04.10.11
(B/D)		 After a leisurely day at Dubrovnik coast, we will drive to Montenegro Border after a short drive. We will explore the coastal towns of Adriatic of beautiful Montenegro. We will first visit Unesco heritage list town, Kotorin Kotor Bay. After sightseeing in the old town we will continue to Stevi Stefan for a short visit, then we will have dinner and stay in Budva. Overnight in Budva.
05.10.11
(B/D)		 Today we drive inland up the mountains, where we cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina. We take a breathtaking drive along the River Neretva and through the Bosnian Mountains. In the afternoon we will tour in Mostar, a picturesque town, more than 5 centuries old and made famous by the old Turkish bridge that once was the only means uniting the city over the emerald waters of the Neretva River. The bridge always played a central role in the lives of its inhabitants. The original bridge was wooden, built at the beginning of the 15th century, and it was a very important link of the two parts of Herzegovina, not only strategically but also in respect of trade linking the sea to the interior. This soon brought the urgent need to replace the old unsafe wooden chain bridge with a new bridge that could meet the growing requirements. The construction of the bridge began in 1557 and continued for nine years, making it the masterpiece of Hajrudin, and under the close observation of the Caliph, Suleyman The Magnificent (builder). Overnight in Sarajevo. 
06.10.11
(B/D)		 We start with a walking tour of Sarajevo. This magical town with all its charms takes us instantly back to the Ottoman days as we visit beautiful Ottoman mosques, old quarters and the authentic Turkish 'carsija', with its oriental sweets shops, cafes and traditional Bosnian food. Sarajevo is also a town in which for more than 400 years mosques, orthodox churches, roman-catholic churches and Synagogues have been standing together.
07.10.11
(B/D)		 Today we will drive to Belgrade, capital of old Yugoslavia and capital of today's Serbia. After a scenic route we have dinner and overnight at hotel.
08.10.11
(B/D)		 In the morning we will see architectural wonders such as the National Theatre, National Museum, Serbian Academy of Science & Arts in the famous Knez Mihajlova Street. In the afternoon, we will drive for Bulgaria. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Sofia.
09.10.11
(B/D)		 After breakfast, we will have a half day city tour of Sofia. We shall visit the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Church of St. Sofia, which gave the name to the city, the Round Church of St. George dating back to the 4th century.
Later on we shall see the Russian church of St. Nicholas, the buildings of the National Theatre and the Parliament. In the afternoon we will depart for Veliko Tarnovo. We will see the medieval capital of Bulgaria and walk in the castle where the Bulgarian kings once lived. Visit to the oldest merchant street in the town called Samovodska Charshia where we can see the masters who pursue their crafts according to old traditions. Dinner & accommodation will be in Veliko Tarnovo.
10.10.11
(B/D)		 We drive to the Turkey border, arriving in Edirne. If time permits we will see Selimiye mosque and bazaars of former Ottoman capital. If there is insufficient time we will do this the following day.
11.10.11
(B/D)		 In the morning we depart by coach for Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul for a two night stay.
12.10.11
(B)		 Full day city tour including the spectacular Byzantine church of Chora, Dolmabahce Palace & the Istanbul Archeology Museum. 
13.10.11
(B)		 Transfer to Istanbul Airport, departing at 1.30pm on SQ 491, arriving in Singapore at 5.00am the next morning (14.10.11)
14.10.11 Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 7.00am on SQ 241, arriving in Sydney at at 5.30pm.
Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at 9.50am on SQ 245, arriving in Brisbane at 7.30pm.
Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.55am on SQ 217, arriving in Melbourne at 8.15pm.
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Conditions for Macleay Valley Travel's Balkans & Dalmatian Coast Tour

Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $600.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 10 weeks prior to departure. 
Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.
Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.
Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.A Visa is required for Turkey, but can be issued on arrival in Istanbul. Current cost $30 USD, but this is subject to change.
Basic Tour Price and Taxes -  Air taxes and fuel levies to the value of $645 are included in the basic tour price, therefore, as air taxes and fuel surcharges change regularly the exact amount will be advised at time of final payment. Total tour cost may therefore change by a small amount.
Not Included in the Cost - All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), travel insurance etc. 
Breakaway Fee
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set itinerary will incur a breakaway fee.
Health and Fitness
Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.
Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of out tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department. Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies. 
Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.               
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