This will be a backpack experience using a mix of mostly public buses and local trams/metros in some cities. Croatia is an expensive destination and we are visiting during the peak months. We stay in pensions and hostels in rooms, some private and some shared bath ranging from 2 to 4 pax sharing room. Its quite important participants are able to manage their own luggage and we suggest backpacks . As usual, you pay for your own meals, entrance fees, within-the-town taxis/trams and other activities, unless stated otherwise.
Day 0 KLIA:: Assemble in KLIA by 12 midnight SUNDAY 24 JUN 2012.
Day 1 KLIA Vienna: Fly Qatar Airways QR623 to Doha at 0335AM Monday arriving 0600AM. Connect to Qatar Airways QR095 to Vienna departing 0840AM arriving 1330AM. From Vienna Airport, we take the Public Shuttle to our Vienna accommodation near the Westbanhof Train Station. We take a tram to visit the 1,441-room Schonbrunn Palace, the seat of the Habsburg Empire. Overnight Vienna.
Day 2 Vienna: We visit the 1.5km long Naschmart, Vienna's most popular food market. Then we walk to the Old Town including the Albertina and Hofburg areas and the Museum Quarter. Group is free to wander about on their own for the rest of the day. Option to see an opera at the State Opera House at cheap standing room tickets. Overnight Vienna.
Day 3 Zagreb: We take the metro to U3 Erdberg Station for our morning bus to Zagreb 5hr. We have the rest of the day to visit the Old City with its Dolac Market, Zagreb Catheral and Jelacic Square. Overnight Zagreb.
Day 4 Plitvice National Park & Bihac: We charter a bus to take group to UNESCO Plitvice NP 140km 2:15hr and spend a good part of the day wandering about Europe's version of China's Juizhaiguo. The Park has many walking trails and good facilities for visitors including restaurants as well as cheap eats places. Entrance fees 110 kunas (Rm70) is payable. After we finish, we will hop across the Croatia/Bosnia border into Bihac 22km away. Overnight Bihac.
Day 5 Bihac: Optional morning white water rafting trip including traditional Bosnian lunch, cost Euro40. In the afternoon we take it easy in and visit the Old Town which is centered on the banks of the Una River. Overnight Bihac.
Day 6 Travnik and Sarajevo: Our charter bus takes us to medieval town of Travnik, some 4hr away The local market was very busy with a good mix of multi-religious Bosnians going about their business in this small town place. We then proceed to the medieval Turkish castle, which was the seat of the Turkish viziers who ruled Bosnia from 1699 to 1851. In the afternoon we move on to Sarajevo 90 km 2hr. Overnight Sarajevo.
Mostar Bridge / Medugorje near Mostar
Day 7 Sarajevo Old Town: Walking distance from our guesthouse, is the picturerisque Turkish Bazaar called the Bascarsija (Turkish Quarter). We organise a half day walking tour with a local English speaking guide. The group are free to explore thiscapital city of Bosnia using the local trolley/tram. Second night Sarajevo.
Day 8 Sarejevo Vrelo Brosne: Vrelo Brosne is 12km away on Tram 3 to the last stop Ilidza. Its another 10min to the beginning of Vrelo Brosne, which is tree-lined road/path of 3km that leads to a series of natural springs and streams and a good-sized park, full of locals enjoying the sun. Third night Sarajevo.
Day 9 Medugorje & Mostar: We charter a bus to take us first to Medugorje 163km 2:30hr. arly bus to Medugorje, which is an important pilgrimage site for Christians because of apparitions of Mother Mary, who first appeared to 6 local shepards on top of a nearby hill. The 6 also claimed that they saw the Apparition on several occassions. According to the local brochure, some 20 million visitors have been here since the first Apparition. We move on to Mostar late noon 36km 45min. Overnight Mostar.
Day 10 Mostar: This touristic town is touted as a transplanted Turkish Town. It's famous landmark is the Old Bridge of Mostar and the surrounding area, which is a UNESCO site. Here one finds a couple of Turkish mosques, legacy of the Ottoman empire in an almost completely Muslim area but there are also an almost equal number of Christians located on the side of the bridge. Second night Mostar.
