This odyssey through the Adriatic and Ionain seas visits historic ports and fabled shores, tracing ancient trade routes and celebrating the legacies of powerful empires. History spans the millennia here — from Paleolithic times to Roman conquest, from Byzantine rule to Venetian dominance. Discover the architectural legacies of these powerful civilizations on this Adriatic tour with visits to superb Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque palaces, monasteries, and churches. A hallmark of Adriatic adventure travel, enjoy time to follow the winding lanes in ancient town centers, pause in fountain-splashed plazas, and savor the local scene in bustling marketplaces. Photographers can appreciate the glow of afternoon sun on red-tiled rooftops, along with sweeping views of quaint harbors and dramatic promontories.
Highlights
Discover dramatic scenery and amazing archaeology in Montenegro and Albania
Spend time in Dubrovnik, a beautifully-preserved medieval masterpiece
Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valletta, Malta’s charming capital
Explore the stunning Greek and Roman ruins of Syracuse
Enjoy ample opportunities to explore charming seaside towns
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Spend a full day exploring historic Valletta, a World Heritage Site. The Knights of St. John built Valletta in the 16th century, constructing an impregnable fortress-like town in a strategic harbor-ringed setting. Their auberges — large inns where they lived — remain intact. A city tour highlights the fortress, bastions, ramparts, churches, and the national museum. Continue to the Tarxien Temples, a series of monolithic edifices built between 2400 and 1800 BCE. This evening, board the Island Sky and set sail for Sicily.
This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Agrigento, a World Heritage Site. The exquisite architecture of the Valley of the Temples dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries BCE and includes the Temple of Zeus — the largest Doric temple from Greek antiquity. A scenic drive through rolling countryside brings you to a private winery and villa for a lunch of delicious Sicilian fare, accompanied by local wines. Continue to Licata for a short tour of the town center.
Dating from the 5th century BCE, Syracuse was one of the most powerful Greek cities — defending its sovereignty against rivals such as Carthage, the Etruscans, and the Romans, who later overcame the city in 212 BCE, followed by the Arabs. Tour the exterior of the Saint John Catacombs and explore the nearby Archaeological Museum and the Archaeological Park, a World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Roman Amphitheater of Augustus; the Ear of Dionysius, a grotto with an extraordinary echo; and the massive 15,000-seat Greek Theater. Return to the ship, at port in Ortygia, for lunch, before striking out for a walking tour of the old town. Highlights include the ruins of the 6th-century BCE Apollo Temple — the oldest in Sicily — and the Piazza Duomo, built around the ancient Temple of Minerva.
Visit the famous morning fish market in Catania’s town square where a colorful variety of local products are on display. An inland drive takes you through a series of photogenic villages to Piazza Armerina, famous for its superb Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale. Enjoy lunch at a Sicilian restaurant near the Greek site of Morgantina, then tour the ruins and visit the small, but excellent Aidone Museum. Return to Catania with free time before dinner on board, or choose to enjoy the local cuisine on your own, and perhaps sample some of the wines from the many vineyards nourished by the rich volcanic soil of Mt. Etna.
Visit the World Heritage Site of Butrint, a veritable chronological repository of its various inhabitants: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians. Among its archaeological highlights are the baptistery with its colorful floor mosaics, superb amphitheater, and medieval fortress. From the ruins, take in the splendid views of the surrounding mile-high mountains.
Historically, Dalmatia lay at the crossroads of empires, invaded by waves of conquerors from Illyrians to Austrians. In Kotor, witness the same beautiful scenery that captivated kings for centuries. At this World Heritage Site explore luxurious palaces, towers, and Romanesque and Gothic churches. Return to the ship for lunch and relax on deck as the magnificent Dalmatian Coast unfolds in scenic splendor. Dubrovnik has been a strategic seaport since the 13th century. Its Old Town, a medieval masterpiece surrounded by fortified walls, is a World Heritage Site. Arriving in the evening you have the chance to see the lights of Old Town reflecting off stones smoothed over by centuries of footsteps. Enjoy independent time for dining, strolling the labyrinthine streets, and participating in the lively evening scene.
This morning, venture into the surrounding countryside, passing lovely traditional villages and farms en route to the charming town of Cavtat. Stroll along the harbor, browse the lively market, and enjoy views of photogenic red-roofed houses flanked by shimmering blue waters and green, forested mountains. Return to Dubrovnik for a city tour including the main square; the 14th-century Dominican Monastery; the Franciscan Monastery and its Romanesque cloister; and the Cathedral, completed in 1713. Or, walk along the city’s southern walls with beautiful views of the fortress and old Dubrovnik’s terracotta rooftops. Enjoy free time this evening to explore, or dine ashore on your own.
Korçula, an exquisite Dalmatian island, boasts an intact medieval stone village that dazzles photographers. On a walking tour, view several monasteries and enjoy a performance from a local a capella group. During lunch on board cruise through Croatia’s lovely offshore islands to the port of Split, once an important center of the Roman province of Dalmatia. This afternoon choose from two excursion options. The first is a tour to ancient Solin, the archaeological site of the ancient Roman settlement of Salona whose excavations have revealed temples, an amphitheater, early Christian churches, and Roman baths, illustrating centuries of both war and peace and great prosperity. Or, choose to remain in Split for a walking tour of the city built by the Emperor Diocletian and one of the Adriatic’s finest monuments from the Roman period — the 4th-century Palace of Diocletian, a World Heritage Site. This astounding complex was constructed of locally quarried white limestone, tufa from nearby river beds, and hand-shaped bricks. Marble from Italy and Egyptian granite were imported for columns and sphinxes, flooring, and details. Tour the palace, its cellars, the cathedral, and sprawling courtyards from which flow the streets and buildings of medieval Split that today remain the soul of its bustling daily life.
This morning disembark in Sibenik, Croatia’s oldest settled town. A walking tour visits the town’s crowning glory and World Heritage Site, St. James Cathedral. A 15th-century masterpiece, it is adorned with a remarkable frieze of 71 finely sculpted faces of men, women, and children that highlight the superb blending of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Or, enjoy a delightful hike in Krka National Park, following boardwalks amid travertine waterfalls, a water-sculpted gorge, and picturesque stone watermills.
Day 12: Venice, Italy | Disembark
1 Breakfast
In the morning, sail into the shimmering lagoon of Venice. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your independent flight.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$11,980
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Standard Suite
Magellan Deck, Suites #255-262. Averaging 226 sq. ft. (21 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and portholes with exterior views.
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Superior Suite
Columbus Deck, Suites #329-348. Averaging 237 sq. ft. (22 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and a large window with exterior views.
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Premium Suite
Marco Polo Deck, Suites #416-428. Averaging 226 sq. ft. (21 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and a large window with exterior views.
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Corner Suite
Marco Polo Deck, Suites #414-415. Averaging 237 sq. ft. (22 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and large windows with exterior views.
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Deluxe Balcony
Erikson Deck, Suites #505-512. Averaging 225 sq. ft. (21 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and a private balcony.
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Owner's Balcony
Explorer Deck, Suites #601-604. Averaging 237 sq. ft. (22 sq. m) and equipped with two single beds which can be configured as a double bed upon request. Separate sitting area, spacious closets, private facilities with walk in shower, television, vanity with stool, small refrigerator, and a large private balcony.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Cabins may be available for single occupancy at 1.6 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Mandatory medical insurance: Travelers should have a minimum US$50,000 (or equivalent) of emergency medical coverage prior to embarkation. It is recommended that you and all members of your party have comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip delay (interruption or after departure coverage), baggage, and repatriation.
Initial deposit is 25% of cruise fare (minimum $1200) plus the cost of kayaking (if applicable), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Bank Transfer, Check, or Credit Card
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.