17 Day Imperial Trail - Austria, Italy, Slovenia & Croatia
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Add return international airfares from $999 per person
✓ Small group tour, with a maximum of 20 travellers
✓ Incredible sightseeing including the stunning Austrian Alps, romantic Verona and Venice, the iconic waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park and Slovenia's fairytale Lake Bled
✓ 16 nights in 4-star hotel accommodation
✓ Daily breakfast, seven lunches & two dinners
✓ Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
✓ Transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles throughout
✓ Airport transfers included on the last day of tour
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Austria and its historic capital, Vienna. This evening, meet with your tour director and get to know the details of your tour. For those arriving during the day, spend some time exploring the city from your centrally-located hotel.
Our day starts with a sightseeing tour of Vienna, voted as one of the most livable cities in the world. Shaped by its artistic residents of the past, this is a city that has perfected the blend of tradition and history.
Walk in the footsteps of monarchs goneby through the inner city and around the Hofburg. Once the imperial palace of the Habsberg dynasty and one of the largest palace complexes in the world, the Hofburg is now home to a collection of museums, churches and the famous Spanish Riding School. Continue on to St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the Austrian Parliament, City Hall and Karlskirche, an 18th-century baroque church built by Emperor Charles VI.
Our tour will also take us beyond the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s famous circular road that replaced the old medieval city walls, to Schöbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another former residence of the Habsburgs, Schöbrunn Palace was the summer palace for notable monarchs including Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. Tour the imperial apartments, take a turn around the gardens or watch pastry chefs create their iconic apfelstrudel in the Court Bakery.
Enjoy the afternoon free at your leisure. Head to the Graben, Vienna’s famous shopping street for some retail therapy or unwind at one of the many cafes in the city centre — be sure to order a piece of Sacher torte with your coffee!
This morning, leave the empirical capital behind and drive towards Salzburg. Our first stop will be the famous Melk Abbey which contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty.
Continue to Linz, third-biggest city in Austria and capital of Upper Austria region for an included lunch and walking tour of this constantly changing and developing city. In the late afternoon, arrive in picturesque Salzburg with free time to explore the city after check-in.
After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of the old town of Salzburg and view iconic sites including the Cathedral, Franciscan Church, Mozart Square and the Salzburg Carillon. If you’re a fan of the Sound of Music, be sure to keep your camera ready as you’ll likely recongnise many filming locations of this family classic, including Mirabell Gardens and Nonnberg Abbey.
In your free time, why not head down Getreidegasse, the heart of Salzburg’s old town to No. 9 — Mozart’s Birthplace. One of Austria’s most visited museums, this is not to be missed for any fans of Mozart.
In the morning, we’ll head to the famous Swarovski Crystal World, opened in 1995 to mark the centennial anniversary of the company’s founding. Designed by multimedia artist André Heller, this unique and magical place is a beloved attraction that has brought moments of wonder to over 15 million visitors from around the world.
We’ll then continue to Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol region, and most famous for its home in the heart of the Austrian Alps. The city itself has some impressive medieval buildings to explore including the famous Golden Roof and St. Jacob’s Cathedral.
This morning, we leave Austria behind as we cross the Dolomites into Italy and head for Bolzano. After spending some time in Bolzano, taking in its magnificent Gothic buildings and alpine surroundings, we’ll drive to Lake Garda and arrive in the late afternoon. Relax with an evening at your leisure, enjoying the facilities at your hotel or taking in the magnificent views from the lakefront.
Today is yours to explore the stunning Lake Garda area. As Italy’s largest lake, there’s no shortage of activities to fill your day. Unwind by the beach, wander through nearby towns, or cruise out to the privately-owned Isola del Garda for a guided tour of the gardens and part of the Venetian neo-Gothic style villa — the choice is yours!
After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey through Italy and head south-east towards the Adriatic with a stop on the way in romantic Verona, the setting of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Enjoy a guided tour of the city to Piazza delle Erbe, UNESCO World Heritage Site Arena Di Verona — one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatre and of course, Juliet’s house. Stand on the infamous balcony and beckon to your Romeo, leave a note to your beloved tucked into the wall outside or rub the statue of Juliet for some of your own luck in love.
In the evening, we’ll arrive into the Mestre region of Venice and enjoy some of the nearby restaurants for dinner.
Welcome to the world’s most famous city on water, Venice. Catch a taxi boat directly into the heart of the city where our guided city tour will begin. Making our way to the striking St. Marco’s Square, listen to the stories of famous Venetians as we wander through the winding streets and canals past the Basilica with its famous mosaics and bell tower, the nearby Astrological tower, Doge’s Palace and Rialto bridge.
In the afternoon, enjoy free time to get lost and explore this magical city.
Start to say ciao to Italy as we head to northeast Italy’s most cosmopolitan city, Trieste. The famous Austrian Habsburg dynasty coined this city ‘the little Vienna on the sea’ and with its characteristic mix of languages, people and religions, it's easy to see why. Take a guided tour through the Piazza Unità and its surrounding palazzos, the Greek Orthodox Church of San Nicolò on the Trieste Canal Grande and the neighbourhood built at the behest of Maria Theresa of Austria.
Enjoy lunch in a traditional trattoria before departing Italy for Slovenia. Arrive into Slovenia’s capital and largest city, Ljubljana, with free time in the late afternoon.
After breakfast, it’s time to explore the colourful Slovenian capital. Lined with outdoor cafes and restaurants, follow the Ljubljanica River on a guided walking tour as it intersects the city’s old town, passing through Preseren Square, over the Triple Bridge, the fish market, town hall and Ljubljana Cathedral. To complete our tour, we’ll take the funicular up to the castle hill and learn more about Slovenia’s history at one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, Ljubljana Castle. Be sure to admire the stunning views across Slovenia from the castle walls!
This evening, we’ll meet for an included dinner.
Say goodbye to stunning Slovenia as we drive to Croatia. Upon arrival to its capital, embark on a walking tour of Zagreb including the Gornji Grad and the historic Kaptol district, home to churches, palaces, museums and galleries. Then, enjoy a free afternoon to discover the city on your own time.
Our journey in Croatia continues as we head to one of the country's most famous sights, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Plitvivce Lakes. Easily one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, Plitvice National Park will absolutely take your breath away.
With its exceptional natural beauty, this area has always attracted nature lovers and was Croatia’s first proclaimed national park. Wander through the paths around 16 emerald-turquoise lakes that are connected to each other by a fabulous system of waterfalls. After an included lunch, we’ll once again reach the shores of the Adriatic to stay at the seaside holiday village, Opatija.
This evening is yours to explore from your centrally-located hotel.
Istria is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, located at the head of the Adriatic and shared by three countries – Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Today, we’ll visit Rovinj, one of the most picturesque towns in Croatia. Its old town was built on what was once an island (now connected to the mainland) and is easily one of the most photogenic towns on the Mediterranean.
We’ll also visit one of the Istrian agritourism farms for local tastings of produce before continuing north to Porec, a town smaller than Rovinj but no less quaint. Stroll through the narrow streets of its old town before returning to Opatija in the afternoon.
Leave the coast behind as we drive inland and cross the border back into Slovenia. Our destination for this morning is truly a sight to behold; the medieval marvel of Predjama Castle. An incredible renaissance fortress, Predjama is the largest cave castle in the world, built within the mouth of a cave with access to a complex system of secret tunnels.
We’ll also visit nearby Postojna Cave and take the world’s only train journey inside a cave to explore breathtaking caverns and towering stalagmites and stalactites. Be sure to keep an eye out for the so-called baby dragons that also reside here, deep within the cave system!
Enjoy an included lunch before travelling to the Julian Alps, where you’ll be surrounded by rolling hills and pristine nature.
Get ready for a day of unforgettable sightseeing in this Alpine fairytale setting! Even though you will wake up surrounded by the beautiful Julian Alps, more immense natural beauty awaits as we visit Lake Bled, considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
With a church perched on an island in the middle of the lake, and a striking medieval castle sitting on the cliffs above, Bled will not easily be forgotten. And neither will your next stop; Lake Bohinj, the largest lake in Slovenia. Here, we will take a cable car up Mount Vogel for incredible views down over Triglav National Park.
After an included lunch, spend some free time admiring the surrounding beauty of the lake shore before driving back to our hotel in the Julian Alps. Reminisce on your adventure at a farewell dinner this evening.
After breakfast, your journey across this beautiful part of Europe concludes with an included transfer from the Julian Alps to Ljubljana Airport.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package includes international airfares or has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city.
If international airfares are included this will be stated in the ‘Inclusions’ section
Alternatively, if international airfares can be added to your booking you will be able to select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and flights will be added to your booking.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Baggage
Included baggage differs based on your country of origin. Included baggage will be as per the following:
|
Country of Origin |
Carry-on Baggage |
Checked Baggage |
|
Australia |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
New Zealand |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
United States of America |
15lbs |
45lbs |
|
Canada |
15lbs |
45lbs |
|
India |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
United Kingdom |
7kgs |
20kgs |
Baggage allowances provided by the airline might differ to the values stated above. However limitations are required due to transport storage restrictions on your selected tour or package.
Flight requests, amendments or preferences
We understand customers may wish to request changes to their included airfares. If you wish to fly with a certain airline, land at a certain time or change your flight in other ways we will gladly provide you with a personalised quote tailored to your specific requirements.
To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service? By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchase to make your request.
We would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for the following requests:
We are currently unable to provide a quote for the following requests:
If we can’t fulfill your request and you still wish to proceed with the booking, please select Land Only (excluding UK customers). This will allow you to travel on the land portion of the package without the included airfares. You will then be able to arrange your own flights separately.
FAQs
For more frequently asked questions please view our FAQs section.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $2,356.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport Information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
Minimum of 10 and a Maximum of 20 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
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New Zealand
United States
Canada
India
