Custom Concert Tour Sample Destinations

New York City
Croatia
Spain
United Kingdom Germany/Austria
Italy
Czech Republic

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"...I want to thank you and your staff for a truly wonderful tour. Your company did an outstanding job putting together this custom tour package for us."

Lindy Rust, Choir Director
Crescent City, CA

DAY 1: Depart from USA

Depart the USA on a flight bound for Zagreb, Croatia. Select meals, snacks and refreshments will be served on the flight.

DAY 2: ARRIVE IN ZAGREB, CROATIA

Morning arrival in Zagreb, Croatia. Upon arrival in Zagreb, your Music Contact International tour escort will greet your choir at the airport. Together, board your waiting motor coach and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Settle in and refresh before meeting your tour escort and local guide in the hotel lobby to embark on a city tour. Often referred to as the meeting point between Western and Eastern Europe, Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, as well as its cultural and economic center. This city was originally two separate medieval towns built atop two adjacent hills. Today, you can see the stark contrast between the Old Town, or upper town, and the New Town, or lower town. See the gothic Cathedral of St. Stephen, originally built in 1094, the Church of St. Mark with its beautiful pattern-tiled roof depicting various coats of arms, and the Neo-Classical Parliament building, among other sites. After your tour, enjoy lunch on your own or with your tour escort and free time for shopping and independent exploration.

A special Welcome Dinner will be planned for your choir at the hotel or local restaurant.

DAY 3: ZAGREB—EXCURSION TO VELIKI TABOR AND KUMROVEC • CONCERT*

After breakfast in the hotel dining room, depart the hotel for a local church where your choir has been invited to sing during the service. Perform a short concert after the service for the congregation and have time to mingle afterward. There will be time for lunch on your own following the service. In the early afternoon, depart for Veliki Tabor, one of the most famous and best preserved castles in Croatia. Once a royal residence and now a museum, this castle sits atop a bare hilltop making it visible from great distances and adding to its imposing character. Enjoy a tour of this castle before departing for Kumrovec. Kumrovec was the birthplace of Marshal Tito, former Yugoslavia's leader from the end of World War II to 1980. His house, which dates from 1860, has been turned into a museum and the surrounding houses restored to appear as they did in the 1800s. Enjoy a tour of Kumrovec and have some free time for shopping before heading back to your hotel for the evening. A group dinner can be arranged upon request.

DAY 4: ZAGREB—ZADAR

Following breakfast in the hotel, check out and load the motor coach. Depart Zagreb for Zadar, with a stop at Plitvice National Park en route. Founded in 1949, this area of 200 square kilometers is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is particularly know for its amazing waterfalls. Enjoy a walk around the rivers, lakes and caves on boardwalk-style bridges and paths winding all around the park.

After your visit to Plitvice, continue on to Zadar. Once the main base for the Byzantine Navy, Zadar has a long history of conflict and prosperity. You can see high stone walls and gates built to protect this port town in the city center as well as beautiful churches and palaces throughout. Upon arrival in Zadar, check in to your hotel. Time permitting, take an orientation walk around the hotel neighborhood with your tour escort. The rest of the evening is free. A group dinner can be arranged upon request.

DAY 5: ZADAR—SIBENIK

Enjoy breakfast, then meet your local guide in the hotel lobby to embark on a walking tour of Zadar. This city's present layout dates back to Roman times when straight roads and a forum were built. Take the pedestrian bridge across the small strait dividing the new town from the old town peninsula. See the various high fortified walls surrounding the city as well as ornate gates which served as city entrances. The Sea Gate is one of the most ornate with its stone memorial of the lion of St. Mark. You will walk by and see several beautiful churches and palaces, the most interesting of which is the Church of St. Donat. This church is one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the region. Its circular ground plan with three circular apses makes this church unique among others built in the 9th century. Following your tour, have some free time for lunch and shopping.

In the afternoon, check out of your hotel and depart for your visit to Krka River National Park en route to Sibenik. Krka National Park covers an area of 142 square kilometers and protects the middle and lower stretches of Lake Visovac. In the middle of the lake is the monastery of Visocvac, founded by Fransiscans in 1445. There are also breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding hills, forests and waterfalls. Enjoy a boat trip to Visovac and tour this small island monastery. Perhaps you will see one of the island's most beautiful inhabitants—a very colorful peacock! Afterward, enjoy a short walk through the shops and restaurants nestled between waterfalls and lazy rivers. Continue on to Sibenik and check in to your hotel. A group dinner can be arranged upon request.

DAY 6: EXCURSION TO TROGIR AND SPLIT • CONCERT*

In the morning, have breakfast and prepare for today's excursion to Trogir and Split. Meet your local guide and tour escort in the lobby and depart for Trogir, one of the jewels of the Dalmatian coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around every nook and cranny on this island, one can find interesting architectural ornaments, such as detailed stone work adorning gates and doors and beautiful coats of arms. See the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, built in the 1100s, with its beautiful carved doors and statues, the Town Hall, from the 15 century, with its various coats of arms, among other sites. There will be time for lunch on your own in Trogir or Split.

In the early afternoon, depart Trogir for Split, home to Emperor Diocletian's vast Roman Palace. Diocletian became emperor in 284 and engaged in a major overhaul of the Roman administrative system. He is responsible for dividing the vast empire into two parts, with an Augustus at the head of one and a Caesar at the head of the other. Unbeknownst to many is the fact that this palace in Split is the one of the best preserved from Roman times in existence today. Currently, the structure is part museum and part housing for locals. Enjoy a tour of this amazing structure and see various palatial rooms and courtyards alongside clothing lines and local children playing soccer. Continue your tour around Split and see the People's Square, which was once the main center of business and city administration. Today, there are several shops and cafes dotting this square. Also see the Brass, Silver and Golden Gates which served as entrances to the palace and city.

Following your tour and some free time for shopping, return to your hotel in Sibenik to prepare for this evening's concert. Dinner will be arranged for your choir to complement your concert schedule. After dinner, depart the hotel for Sibenik Theater in the new town area. Perform a Friendship Concert in this historic theater with a local choir. There will be time to mingle with the choir and audience afterward. Return to the hotel for the evening.

DAY 7: SIBENIK—DUBROVNIK • Concert*

After breakfast in the hotel dining room, check out of your hotel and load your motor coach. Depart the hotel for Dubrovnik. Rest stops and a stop for lunch on your own will be made. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, check in to your hotel and have some time to refresh before meeting your local guide in the lobby. Together, depart the hotel and embark on a city tour of Dubrovnik. Set on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is an incredible sight to behold. The medieval, fortified old town lies on a small peninsula jutting out into the Adriatic. Parks and citrus trees surround the imposing walls, which can be several meters thick and tall. See the Big Fountain of Onofrio, built by a Neapolitan architect in 1438, as you enter the old city through Pile Gate. Also see the Franciscan Monastery, which is now partly a museum, and its beautiful courtyard. Following your tour, enjoy some free time for lunch on your own, shopping and independent exploration.

In the evening, return to your hotel and have some time to prepare for this evening's concert. Enjoy dinner on your own and depart for the old town. Perform a concert in Fortress Revelin, constructed in the 15th century to house and protect the city's treasures. Today, the Fortress serves as a unique venue for various events. Return to the hotel after your concert for the evening.

DAY 8: EXCURSION TO KOTOR, MONTENEGRO

Following breakfast in the hotel, depart for Montenegro (PASSPORT REQUIRED!), which recently voted for and won independence from the former Union of Serbia and Montengro. In June of 2006, Montenegro declared indendence and became the 192nd member nation of the United Nations. Arrive in Kotor along the Adriatic coast and embark on a city tour. Kotor is a city of winding, criss-crossing streets, hilltop fortresses and wonderful courtyards hidden between alleyways and historic buildings. Several of these buildings are listed on the UNESCO World Hertiage Site list. See the Cathedral of Sveti Tripun, the symbol of Kotor, built in Roman times. Also see the churches of Sveta Ana from the 12th century and Sveta Marija from the 13th century. Have some time for lunch on your own and shopping before returning to Dubrovnik.

Your afternoon is free to enjoy in Dubrovnik. Perhaps take a stroll along the city walls or visit the Dubrovnik museum. Another option is to relax by a waterside café or shop in one of the old city's many shops.

In the evening, a festive Farewell Dinner is arranged for your choir at a restaurant serving local specialties. There will be ample opportunity to recount the highlights of you tour!

DAY 9: Welcome Home!

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for the Dubrovnik's Airport and your return flight to the United States.

This tour was designed as a concert tour for a choir and ran in 2006. Please let us know if you would like us to research prices for this tour for 2007 or would like to discuss an alternative itinerary.