DAY 1: UK - Venice area.
Fly to Venice where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. (D)

DAY 2: Venice area - Trieste - Postojna - Ljubljana - Bled area.
This morning, leave Venice on your way to Trieste, a historic city close to the Slovenian border, which was once one of Europe's leading centres of music and literature. Enjoy a panoramic drive around this lovely city with its cathedrals, castles and main square before crossing into Slovenia towards Postojna, famed for its spectacular caves. Here, you'll experience a tour of this atmospheric cave system, believed to be 4 million years old and one of the world's most impressive underground networks. Afterwards, head north to the capital Ljubljana, with its charming castle and old quarter, before motoring through majestic countryside into the area around beautiful Lake Bled for a two-night stay. (B, D)

DAY 3: Bled.
Fashionable Bled stands on idyllic Lake Bled, a stunning two kilometre long lake of turquoise waters framed by the snow-capped Karavanke Mountains, which form the natural boundary between Slovenia and Austria. Today, you'll have time to explore this magnificent setting in your own way. Whatever you do, don't miss our optional excursion to soak up the best of your breathtaking surroundings. (B)

DAY 4: Bled area - Villach - Spittal - Salzburg.
Bid farewell to the Bled area this morning to visit Villach a celebrated and pretty spa town scenically set on Austria's Drava river. From here, we pass through even more awe-inspiring mountain scenery to Salzburg, our base for the next two nights, arriving at our hotel in the early evening. (B)

DAY 5: Salzburg.
The place of Mozart's birth and the 'Sound of Music', graceful Salzburg bursts with Baroque splendour and the skyline, composed of medieval spires, is dominated by the imposing 11th century Hohensalzburg Castle. Today, why not take the opportunity to make the most of this charming city on an optional, locally guided tour of its major landmarks? This afternoon, enjoy more spectacular scenery on an excursion to the shores of Lake Wolfgang for an idyllic boat trip over its waters, before returning to your hotel. (B, D)

DAY 6: Salzburg - Grossglockner - Dolomites area.
Another day of scenic wonder as we travel along the spectacular Grossglockner mountain road to the Dolomites. En-route, you'll stop to admire the impossibly romantic Alpine panoramas around you before the scenery gradually changes into the mighty landscapes of the Dolomites. Thanks to the unique geology of this rugged, canyon-filled range, these haunting, hulking mountains turn dusky pink at sunset, giving them a mystical aura and linking them to many an enchanting local legend. Overnight in a hotel in the area. (B, D)

DAY 7: Dolomites area - Cortina - Venice.
Today, enjoy a scenic drive back into Italy to the 'Pearl of the Dolomites', Cortina. One of Italy's top alpine and ski resorts, Cortina lies in a magnificent valley surrounded by meadows, pine woods and the soaring peaks of the Tyrolean Dolomites. After a stop in this picturesque town, we descend to the Venetian plains on our way to the wonder that is Venice. This exquisite city sits on a honeycomb of little canals and makes an unforgettable sight with its entrancing arched bridges, ornate palaces, quiet piazzas, grand churches and legendary gondolas. Relish its elaborate architecture and romantic atmosphere on a canal boat ride to majestic St Mark's Square, the heart of this incredible city. Overnight in the Venice area. (B, D)

DAY 8: Venice.
Transfer to the port of Venice to embark your cruise ship, MSC Musica. Your cruise is full board from dinner this evening until breakfast on day 15. (B, D)

DAY 9: Bari.
Facing the Adriatic, on the edges of the plateau of the Terra di Bari, Bari is divided into two main parts marked out by the Corso Vittorio Emanuele: the old city, a network of medieval streets and monuments, where visitors will lose themselves in the beauty of the impressive Romanesque-Pugliese structures, and the quarters which were developed after 1820 and characterised by perfectly straight streets and squares. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Katakolon.
Katakolon on Greece's Peloponnese is the gateway to ancient Olympia, which was not only the birthplace of the Olympic Games, it was also a sanctuary dedicated to the god Zeus. Highlights of an optional excursion to Olympia include the ruins of the spectacular Temple of Zeus and the vast stadium, built to hold 45,000 spectators. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Santorini, Greece - Mykonos, Greece.
Santorini is a beautiful crescent shaped island with sheer cliffs that rise out of the sea. Visit Thira town thought by many to be the lost city of Atlantis. Take a walk through the streets, with their characteristic white houses, with blue domed roofs and wonderful views over the sea. In the evening the ship docks at the fascinating Greek island of Mykonos famed for its cosmopolitan nightlife and Greek hospitality. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Piraeus (for Athens), Greece.
After breakfast why not join an optional sightseeing tour of the Acropolis and Athens? The tour includes a visit to the Parthenon and the Acropolis museum, followed by a tour of the city by coach. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Corfu.
This picturesque island is a popular holiday destination, and is known for its splendid beaches. The Old Town of Corfu has many colourful shops and lovely arcades and the surrounding countryside is filled with rich orange and olive groves. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Dubrovnik.
Noted for its imposing buildings, squares and fortified walls, Dubrovnik is Croatia's best preserved medieval city. It lies on the rugged southerly coast beside olive and pine bordered shingle beaches. (B, L, D)

DAY 15: Venice - UK.
Early morning arrival in Venice is a wonderful lasting memory. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)