An Adriatic Journey: from Trieste to Dubrovnik
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Overview
Highlights
- Christopher Wood, with the assistance of Dr Christopher Gribbin shows how Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Croat, Venetian, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish culture and trade travelled the sparkling Adriatic as you journey along Croatia’s magnificent panoramic coastline.
- Chart the Roman Empire’s Balkan history through grand monuments like Pula’s huge amphitheatre and Diocletian’s monumental palace at Split, later transformed into a medieval fortified town.
- Visit a masterpiece of the Byzantine world in the Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, with mosaics to rival Ravenna.
- Journey through the Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of Europe’s scenic wonders.
- View some of Europe’s greatest Romanesque monuments in Zadar and the tiny island city of Trogir, with its superb cathedral portal sculptures.
- Appreciate masterpieces of Venetian architecture like the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik and Dubrovnik’s churches and palaces.
- Skirt Montenegro’s deep fjord, fringed by awesome mountain ranges, to the medieval town of Kotor.
- Walk the well-preserved walls of Dubrovnik, and learn how this city-state avoided dominion by Venice and the Ottomans.
- Enjoy cosmopolitan Trieste and the picturesque Miramare Palace.
- Journey to the rejuvenated, historical Bosnian city of Mostar and see the beautiful 16th-century Ottoman Old Bridge, one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Accommodation in twin-share rooms with private facilities in 3 and 4-star hotels
- Breakfast daily, lunches and evening meals indicated in the tour itinerary, where: B=breakfast, L=lunch & D=evening meal.
- Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included
- Transportation as outlined in the tour itinerary by air-conditioned coach
- Airport-hotel transfers if travelling on the ASA ‘designated’ flights
- Porterage of one piece of luggage per person at hotels (not at airports)
- Lecture and site-visit program
- Tour Notes
- Entrance fees
- Use of audio headsets during site excursions
- Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals.
Itinerary
Orientation Walk & introduction
Welcome Meeting
Participants arriving on the ASA ‘designated’ flight into Venice will be transferred by private coach to the charming Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta located on Piazza Unità d’Italia, the monumental main squa...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Trieste walking tour, including Colle di San Giusto, Ancient Theatre, Basilica di San Giusto, Borgo Teresiano
Castello Miramare
Welcome Evening Meal at Harry’s Grill Restaurant.
Trieste is a thriving port situate...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Sixth-century Basilica Complex (Cathedral, Baptistery, Bishop’s Palace), Porec
Romanesque House, Porec (exterior)
Temple of Neptune (ruins), Porec
House of the Two Saints, Porec (exterior)
Today we cross t...
Meals: Breakfast
Amphitheatre, Pula
Gate of Hercules, Pula
Temple of Romae and Augustus, Pula
Arch of the Sergii, Pula
Rovinj
We leave Porec this morning for nearby Pula – the ancient colony of ‘Pieta Julia’. Now a large regio...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Church of St Mary of the Rocks, Beram
Nineteenth-century resort town, Opatija
We farewell Porec this morning and travel to the little church of St Mary of the Rocks, just outside
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Situated in the mountainous heartland of Croatia, this intricate network of sixteen lakes, placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, is set against mountains whose slopes are covered with d...
Meals: Breakfast
Museum of Sacred Art
Church of St Mary (visit to interior subject to opening times)
Romanesque Cathedral of St Anastasia
Pre-Romanesque Church of St Donat
Church of St Chrysogonus (exterior only)
Bishop’s Pala...
Meals: Breakfast
Cathedral of St James, Sibenik
Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Trogir
Loggia and Clock Tower, Trogir
Sea Gate and Fish Market, Trogir
Kamerlongo Castle and St Mark’s Tower, Trogir (exterior)
Church of St John the...
We will spend the rest of the day ...
Meals: Breakfast
Split Archaeological Museum
Archaeological Site of Salona
Palace of Diocletian
Cathedral of St Domnius (Mausoleum of Diocletian)
Temple of Jupiter
Chapel of St Martin
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed ci...
This morning we visit Split’s archaeological museum, where we view a number of intriguing finds dating from preh...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Old town of Hvar
Early this morning we make our way to the Split ferry terminal, where we board a ferry to the island of Hvar – a jewel of the Adriatic famed for its gentle weather, the perfume of its lavender fields and its c...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Island tour with visits to several small villages and Starigrad
Lunch and wine tasting at a family restaurant in one of Hvar’s charming villages
Time at leisure in late afternoon
This morning we will further enjoy...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Narona Archaeological Site
Mostar Old Town and Ottoman Old Bridge
Today we return to the mainland and drive along some of Croatia’s most beautiful coastline before heading inland to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovi...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
City Walls, Gates and Forts, Dubrovnik
Today we continue our exploration of Mostar before returning to the coast and crossing the border back into Croatia. We then follow the beautiful scenic road that runs alongside the Adriat...
Meals: Breakfast
Cathedral and Treasury
Church of St Blaise
Fountain of Onofrio
Franciscan Monastery
Afternoon at Leisure
This morning we return to Dubrovnik to continue our exploration of this splendid city. We begin with a v...
Meals: Breakfast
Montenegro: Old Town of Kotor
Today we journey along the dramatic and spectacular mountain coastline into Montenegro. Skirting the winding Bay of Kotor, a deep inlet in the shadow of cliffs, we arrive at our next destination, the walled ...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Renaissance Rector’s Palace and Museum of the City of Dubrovnik
Dominican Monastery
Afternoon at Leisure
Farewell Evening Meal
Today we will return to the old town of Dubrovnik where we will visit the rema...
Meals: Breakfast
Airport transfer for those taking the ASA ‘designated’ flight
Today our tour ends in in Dubrovnik. Those taking the ASA ‘designated’ flight will be transferred to the airport.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ASA Cultural Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
ASA Cultural Tours Reviews & Ratings
Other ASA Cultural Tours Reviews
I have had great time
I have travelled with ASA twice in the past 15 years: to Turkey and Spain & Morocco. Those tours helped me to better understand history and art, learn about Isla...
Tour Operator
In 1977 Christopher Wood left university teaching to inaugurate Australians Studying Abroad (ASA) because he wanted to take learning from the classroom into the world. Chris began leading small groups of university students to Europe during the holidays in order to enhance their campus studies. In the 1980s ASA’s offerings grew to include educational tours for the general public, and ASA exploded as a major public education organisation in the 1990s. In Australia and America, meanwhile, Chris pioneered the much-used current phrase ‘cultural tourism’ long before others understood what it truly meant.
All ASA tours reflect a belief that learning is as much an act of imagination and experience as a garnering of information, based on the assumption that an intimate relationship exists between geography, history and culture. Our tours aim to give you unique insights into different cultural traditions by travelling to the places where each tradition evolved, and tracing how climate, geography, demography and politics interact to create specific types of art and culture. The physical experience of different landscapes, environments and communities that generate myriad colours, sounds and scents is the first step to understanding different cultures and enjoying these diverse places.
Many years on, ASA is no longer a one-man show. It now employs 12 permanent staff and a collective of consultants and local contributors in some 45 countries around the world, including an ever growing team of dedicated and experienced group leaders and lecturers, including international experts who interact with, educate and help ASA travellers to interpret the cities, monuments and landscapes through which they pass and the customs, rituals and performances they witness on their journeys of discovery.
We, therefore, strive on a daily basis to make each tour a better experience for our ASA travelling community by enhancing the programs with local hosts who provide inimitable insights into their regions and particular aspects of their landscapes and cultures. There is great excitement in the office when we receive emails confirming special events or access to private sites like exclusive musical performances, receptions in private villas or palaces, or visits to international artists, gardeners and designers who give generously of their time to welcome our groups not only to their projects but to their private studios and homes.
ASA programs relate very particular experiences of places, many of them not available to other travellers, to a broad vision of the world, by exploring the layers of history and the stories each has to tell. By unravelling the full tale of a place from the specific to the broader context, ASA tours show you the trees and the wood.
The whole team at ASA take pride in offering you an extraordinary experience and looks forward to welcoming first time participants to our programs, and extend a special greeting to our returning travellers. Travel with us and learn about the world in an exciting, challenging new way!
ASA Cultural Tours
ASA Open-Age tours
ASA offers around 30-40 journeys each year to some 45 countries around the world. There is an average of 16-17 participants (and a maximum of 26) on any trip. A number of our tours, particularly our city-based tours, are limited to a maximum of 20 participants. ASA welcomes travellers from other countries. We already have regular travellers from New Zealand, Canada, Britain and the USA.
University Credit Courses and School Overseas Study Programs
We also organize study tours on behalf of institutions including the University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University and St Catherines Girls School.
Why join an ASA Cultural Tour?
Broaden your understanding of human history in all its fascinating and colourful diversity on an ASA Cultural Tour. Expert lecturers will bring alive for you the monuments and sites included in the itinerary. They, and expert local guides, will provide comprehensive background talks and on-site commentaries, enriching your travel and cultural experience. ASA provides unique experiences not available to the ordinary traveller – access to private homes and palaces, international experts, behind-the-scenes visits to museums, libraries, studios and archives. You will enjoy festivals, theatre performances, amazing dining experiences and other memorable highlights.
Why join an ASA Literary Tour?
Discover the places and people behind the books! Visiting places connected with literature brings the excitement of recognising homes and landscapes long familiar to the imagination, of connecting loved novels and poems with the lives and environments of the authors and seeing first hand the countryside they described. An ASA Literary Tour includes writers’ homes, seeing original manuscripts, theatre performances, museums, and much more. In gardens, ruins, castles, villages, churches and graveyards you will discover the effect of environment on a writer and investigate the role played by a sense of place in literary creation.
Why join an ASA Cultural tour for Garden Lovers?
ASA garden tours are led by expert horticulturalists and offer the chance to visit exclusive and stunning gardens. They feature meetings with garden owners, head gardeners and internationally renowned landscape architects. Included in the garden tours are visits to stately homes and chateaux, to national parks, historical monuments, museums and vineyards. Many tours feature local festivals, some memorable culinary encounters, music and literary connections. You will discover the interactions between designers, artists, architects, writers and landscape as you explore some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. A feast for the eye and the mind!
Well-Researched, carefully crafted itineraries
True to ASA’s pioneering role in the development of cultural tours, great thought and energy go into carefully researching our itineraries. These are always designed and developed in-house. Research begins with isolating a number of important themes to guide our teaching program. These are then taken into account when choosing guest lecturers, selecting site visits that tease out the themes, with special attention to privileged access to places that would not be available to most travellers. We also look for distinctive accommodation, interesting performances, and any fascinating festivals in the countries we visit. We prepare pre-tour resources, including reading material, and also research and write special handbooks for many tours, or find the most appropriate books to send to participants.
Special Events and privileged access to people and places
ASA’s careful research and accumulated expertise offer you privileged access to places and experiences that are not available to most tourists. Tours often include visits to private palaces, villas, country houses and gardens hosted by their owners. They may include special ‘behind the scenes’ or ‘out-of-hours’ visits to famous museums and monuments that are usually packed during conventional visiting hours. We also have a huge network of local experts who have become ‘friends of ASA’. Many are leaders in their field, like Eduardo Mencos, Spain’s most famous avant-garde gardener and garden writer.
Experienced, engaging, enthusiastic tour lecturers
ASA tour lecturers are noted not only for their broad knowledge and the expertise they bring to their tours, but also for their articulate, enthusiastic commitment to ASA’s focus upon meaningful and enjoyable ‘on the spot’ learning. Our lecturers give comprehensive background talks and on-site commentaries in concert with international experts and local guides. Many of our lecturers have been leading tours from 10 to 30 years and over 38 years ASA has been privileged to work with some 500 local and international experts who are world leaders in their fields.
How our education programs work
Each tour demands a distinctive education program. On a number of tours your tour lecturer, or a local or international guest speaker, will give special illustrated talks in your hotel before or after a day’s activities. These are supplemented or substituted by general talks or site briefings on your coach; these coach talks are especially important if an itinerary does not allow time for hotel lectures. We place special emphasis upon informed on-sight commentary, which links the general themes of the tour and hotel talks to what you actually see. Where available we use ‘whisperers’, individual units with earplugs that allow you to listen to the on-site commentary but also give you freedom to explore for yourself. These ‘whisperers’ are excellent when we are in a crowded site or if you are a little hard of hearing; ASA group members swear by them!
Educational and Practical Information
ASA is renowned for the wealth of educational and practical information published for tours. Handbooks and site notes written exclusively for ASA by experts often support a tour. Other tours are supported by compilations of important articles providing in-depth information. In some cases, we choose the most apposite reference books available, which you receive prior to departure. We also produce pre-tour reading lists and detailed practical information.
Accommodation
We take great care in selecting your accommodation. We prefer hotels in a very central location in walking distance to sites of interest and restaurants. Where possible we select hotels that complement the theme of each tour (including heritage hotels, boutique hotels with historical charm or ‘design’ themes). Examples include the famous Parador of Santiago de Compostela and the extraordinary London hotel designed by Philippe Starck.
Limited hotel changes
Wherever possible, tours hinge on a limited number of ‘hubs’ from which we make day trips. This means less moves and therefore less packing and un-packing and more time to achieve practical chores. It also allows you time to explore a place better, and enjoy personal interests, such as attending theatre and music performances.
Diverse culinary experiences
The full experience of a place involves all the senses: of sight, sound, fragrance, feel and taste. Our detailed research team enjoys finding interesting ways to enhance your culinary delights. These may include Michelin star restaurants, or establishments that are famous for their local cuisine, their design, and/or associations with famous people and events. On a range of tours you will enjoy visits to distinctive wineries or even foraging in local markets for a group picnic lunch.
Leisure time
All tours are planned to include leisure time. The amount of time varies from tour to tour, from half days at leisure to days that finish early. Leisure time occurs on days when interesting sites like museums are open or offers visits to markets and souqs that lend themselves to individual exploration, or you may just want to sit in a café and ‘people watch’.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare: Australia – Venice, Dubrovnik – Australia
- Personal spending money
- Airport-hotel transfers if not travelling on the ASA ‘designated’ flights
- Luggage in excess of 20 kg (44 lbs)
- Travel insurance
If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:
More than 75 days before departure: $500.00**
75-46 days prior 25% of total amount due
45-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
30-15 days prior 75% of total amount due
14-0 days prior 100% of total amount due
**This amount may be credited to another ASA tour departing within 12 months of the original tour you booked. We regret, in this case early-bird discounts will not apply. We take the day on which you cancel as being that on which we receive written confirmation of cancellation.
16 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 7 Dinners
Will the Tour Price or Itinerary Change?
If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price. We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. If an ASA tour is forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all tour monies paid. Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.
Travel Insurance
ASA requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. A copy of your travel insurance certificate and the reverse charge emergency contact phone number must be received by ASA no later than 75 days prior to the commencement of the tour.
Final Payment
The balance of the tour price will be due 75 days prior to the tour commencement date.
Limitation of Liability
ASA is not a carrier, event or tourist attraction host, accommodation or dining service provider. All bookings made and tickets or coupons issued by ASA for transport, event, accommodation, dining and the like are issued as an agent for various service providers and are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by each service provider. ASA is not responsible for their products or services. If a service provider does not deliver the product or service for which you have contracted, your remedy lies with the service provider, not ASA. ASA will not be liable for any claim (eg. sickness, injury, death, damage or loss) arising from any change, delay, detention, breakdown, cancellation, failure, accident, act, omission or negligence of any such service provider however caused (contingencies). You must take out adequate travel insurance against such contingencies. ASA’s liability in respect of any tour will be limited to the refund of amounts received from you less all non-refundable costs and charges and the costs of any substituted event or alternate services provided. The terms and conditions of the relevant service provider from time to time comprise the sole agreement between you and that service provider. ASA reserves the sole discretion to cancel any tour or to modify itineraries in any way it considers appropriate. Tour costs may be revised, subject to unexpected price increases or exchange rate fluctuations.
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