Adriatic Voyage: Croatia, Montenegro & Greece (2023)

Arrive in Venice, Italy’s ever-enchanting floating city with its iconic architecture and gondola-dotted canals. This afternoon, transfer to your luxury expedition small ship and join your fellow guests for a welcome briefing in the evening.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: D

Get to know your Expedition Team this morning with some stimulating talks in the Theatre before arriving at your first port. Split is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting historic sites seemingly around every corner. Explore its Old Town, including the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, which offer some of the very best Roman ruins to be found in the Adriatic, with ancient walkways flanked by columns and passing beneath beautiful arches. Add an optional excursion to nearby Trogir, a charming town with roots stretching back to the third century BC. While in town, stop to see majestic Kamerlengo Castle, built in the 15th century. Alternately, foodies can combine the Split excursion with a market visit and tasting of local favourites along the way. Return to the ship with time to change for your festive Captain’s Welcome dinner.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Cruise to Kotor, located in a secluded Dalmatian Bay and rich in medieval houses, palaces and churches. Explore these picturesque sites on a guided walk led by local experts and your Expedition Team, viewing beautifully preserved Roman buildings and visiting a 17th-century palace that today houses the Maritime Museum. Its cathedral, built in 1166, showcases the remnants of 13th-century frescoes as well as a Venetian art collection spanning six centuries. For a more comprehensive picture, opt for a full day of exploring, taking in the highlights of Kotor along with a boat excursion to Perast, a finely preserved Baroque city. Alternately, experience the Bay of Kotor on an exhilarating speedboat ride and beach break, with the option to swim the sapphire-like Blue Cave. This natural wonder glows with light reflected from its sandy bottom and is best appreciated with an optional swim. Another excursion option takes you by boat to Gospa od Skrpjela to visit Our Lady of the Rock Church, built in the Baroque style in 1632 and featuring artworks by local master Tripo Kokolja, including his 33-foot-long Death of the Virgin. Later, return to your luxury ship for cocktails and a briefing on the next day’s adventures.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Your luxury ship returns to Croatia for a day in Dubrovnik, rightly lauded as one of the jewels of the Mediterranean. Its medieval buildings and imposing defensive walls rank it among the most iconic cities in Europe, and Game of Thrones fans enjoy the added thrill of recognizing the realife locations of many King’s Landing landmarks. With so much to see and experience, there are a variety of options for spending your day here, starting with a guided walk through the town’s medieval monuments, such as the Domican Monastery and Cathedral, the Sponza Palace, the Rector’s Palace and Onofriou’s Fountain. You can likewise opt for a full-day experience that combines a Dubrovnik tour with a sightseeing expedition into the countryside, complete with a winery visit and fresh lunch at a local farm. Food lovers can enjoy some of the region’s most lauded delicacies, including mussels, oysters and olive oil, on a culinary excursion to the village of Orasac and the city of Ston, where you taste fresh shellfish. Meanwhile, active enthusiasts have their choice of a kayaking tour of the Dubrovnik city walls — including a visit to Lokrum Island to swim and explore — or an excursion through the Konavle Valley by bike, following a scenic off-road route through orchards and vineyards, where you stop for a wine tasting.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Even among the beautiful and scenic Greek isles, Corfu stands out for its lush greenery as well as its charmingly winding streets and whitewashed houses. Experience Corfu’s most beautiful and renowned landmarks alongside expert local guides and your Expedition Team, visiting the town’s prominent sites including the Esplanade, the Town Hall and the Church of Saint Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu. Another option is a visit to the Achilleion Palace, former residence of Kaiser Wilhelm II and one of the most renowned royal villas in Europe, followed by a short walking tour of the town. Corfu is also a wonderful dining destination, highlighted by two excursion options. Delve into an in-depth culinary excursion, during which you visit: a 200-year-old market; a tavern specializing in bourdetto, a casserole-like local dish; a delicatessen where the fresh ice cream is not to be missed; and a shop vending a unique kumquat liqueur. Or opt to roll up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson in cooking Greek dishes at a villa in beautiful Kommeno Bay, afterward enjoying your freshly made lunch with local wine and spectacular views from the villa’s terrace. Alternatively, active guests can choose an off-road mountain bike adventure to a secluded village, complete with a stop in a local taverna for a fresh snack.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Like Corfu, Cephalonia is an island known for its green landscapes, with mountains that rise above crystalline blue waters. Immerse yourself in this beautiful island in a variety of ways. Visit the monastery named for St. Gerasimos and see the two-room cave where the medieval monk lived; his remains are kept in a reliquary on site. Joined by your Expedition Team and expert local guide, pair your monastery excursion either with visits to the picturesque villages of Sami and Assos or a trip to the magical underground lake at Melissani, lit with dazzling colour when the sun crests overhead. Alternatively, active explorers can set out on a guided sea kayak excursion along the jagged coastline, stopping for a swim at Emplisi Beach. Or for active adventure on land, choose a guided hike across the island, beginning at the village of Fiscardo and taking in a lighthouse, a church and breathtaking beach. =

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Itea lies in the arms of the Corinthian Gulf, surrounded by olive groves and the beautiful mountains of Giona and Parnassus. It’s also the gateway to mystical Delphi, revered by ancient Greeks as the centre of the world. Delphi is also known for its oracles, who dispensed divine wisdom and amassed donations that made the city one of the most prosperous in Greece. Explore its remaining treasures, which include the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of Athens and the well-preserved stadium. Alternatively, take a scenic drive to the monastery at Ossios Loukas, a Byzantine church with more medieval mosaics and frescoes intact than any other church in Greece. After exploring the church, drive past the quaint village of Arachova before arriving at the village of Delphi for expansive views of the olive-tree-dotted valley. A different kind of hidden gem is the small town of Galaxidi, once a prosperous boat-building town and now site of a museum commemorating the town’s naval heritage; stop at the seaside taverna for ouzo and appetizers after exploring on foot. Beekeeping has been practiced on Itea since ancient times, and you have the option to learn about this art with a visit to a family-owned apiary, where you sample its delicious homemade honey. Return to your luxury ship for an afternoon of relaxation and more talks led by your Expedition Team. Today, you also enjoy an unforgettable experience when you transit the Corinth Canal, the bridge joining the Ionian and Aegean seas. Most cargo and cruise ships are too broad to enter this century-old canal, but your narrow-beamed expedition small ship handles it comfortably, cruising past the near[1]vertical rock walls with plenty of room to spare. Tonight, look forward to your evening recap as well as dinner and conversation on deck under the stars with the new friends you’ve made.

‘Le Bougainville’ | Meals: BLD

Bid farewell to your Expedition Team and crew as you disembark in Athens this morning. Continue on your post-tour extension to Thessaloniki or transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Meals: B

This journey contains some active elements, including walks over uneven terrain.

Note: Itinerary is for guidance purposes only and may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances including weather, medical emergencies and other conditions beyond A&K’s control at the sole discretion of the Captain.

Minimum age is 7 years.

Categories 4–8 include butler service aboard the ship.

First group event: embarkation between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Sep 20.

Last group event: disembarkation by 9:00 am on Sep 27.

Note: Proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 is required for this journey, including a booster shot if vaccination was received more than four months prior to departure (two months for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).

Included with this Luxury Expedition Cruise

• An Exclusively Chartered, All-Inclusive Voyage Led by A&K’s Expedition Team and Local Guides
• Airport Meet and Greet and Transfers
• Private Balcony with Every Onboard Accommodation and Butler Service with Every Suite
• Maximum Personnel-to-Guest Ratio of 1 to 1.3 and ship occupancy limited to 80 percent
• Culinary Program Featuring French-Inspired Cuisine, Including House Drinks, Afternoon Tea and Pastries
• 24-Hour Room Service and Breakfast in Bed on board
• Choice of Curated, All-Inclusive Shore Excursions
• Enrichment program, lectures and presentations
• Traveller’s Valet Laundry Service on board
• All Gratuities, Port Charges and Taxes
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on Board and in Hotels
• Onboard Service from an English-Speaking Staff, Including an Accredited Physician
• 24/7 A&K On-Call Support