Day 1 – DEPART USA – Today, we depart our local airport for our connecting flight to Dubrovnik. We enjoy complimentary beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast while aloft.

Day 2 - MEDJUGORJE - This morning, we arrive in Europe where we board our connecting flight to Dubrovnik. There, we are met by our Tour Manager and transfer to our coach bus for our journey to Medjugorje. Upon arrival in Medjugorje, we transfer to our accommodations and are introduced to our host family. Depending on the arrival time, a light snack may be served. This evening we enjoy our “welcome” dinner. Overnight in Medjugorje.

Day 3 - MEDJUGORJE – Today, we visit the famous Church of St. James, where we join with other English-speaking pilgrims to celebrate Mass and an introduction at the shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Peace. Depending upon schedules, our full-time local guide will introduce us to one of the Medjugorje Visionaries, who will share a talk with us. We break for lunch on our own before we make our way through the vineyards to Apparition Hill (locally known as Podbrdo), praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as we make our way upward. It was here that Our Blessed Mother first appeared to the young visionaries. Following our time there, we return to the village. Dinner and overnight at our guest house.

Day 4 - MEDJUGORJE - This morning, we proceed up “Cross Mountain” (locally known as Mt. Krizevac). On the way, we pray the Stations of the Cross as we make our way to the summit. Following our time there, we return at the Church of St. James for Holy Mass. We break for lunch on our own, before enjoying a short ride to the nearby town of Mostar, an Ottoman Empire gateway for centuries. While in Mostar, we visit the Ss. Peter and Paul Monastery and enjoy the breathtaking views from the tallest bell tower around! We return to Medjugorje with the remainder of the day at leisure for prayer or relaxation. Dinner and overnight at our guest house.

Day 5 - MEDJUGORGE/SARAJEVO – Today, we journey east to the historic gateway city of Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our first stop is the Cathedral of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Though unassuming on the outside, the interior is richly decorated in beautiful Italian style frescos. The Bishop, who commissioned the construction is entombed here as well. It is locally noted for the impressive statue of Pope St. John Paul II, who visited this Cathedral in 1997. Following our visit, we stop for lunch on our own at one of the many local cafés that dot the area. Following lunch, we briefly stop at Emperor’s Bridge, which crosses the Miljaka River, dividing the city in half. This bridge is the oldest in Sarajevo, ordered built by the founder of the city, Isa-Beg Ishaković, the 1st Ottoman governor. From this bridge, we have one of the best views in the city. We then conclude our day with a visit to the cliff-side “Yellow Fortress”, named after the unique stone material, used in its construction. It sits on Jekovac Cliff, and is often also referred to as Jekovac Fortress, and from its location, we have the best views of the surrounding area in Sarajevo! We proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Sarajevo.

Day 6 - SARAJEVO - This morning, we visit the impressive Church of the Holy Archangels Michael & Gabriel. Though rebuilt many times over the centuries, the foundations are believed to date back to sometime in the 500AD timeframe! Inside we find a magnificent collection of Orthodox/Byzantine icons dating back to the 13th century. The church also houses many important relics, including the hand of St. Thecla, one of the early martyrs and a follower of St. Paul. We stop for lunch on our own before our visit to the intriguing Cathedral of the Nativity, a baroque style Cathedral built for the Orthodox Serbians in the latter half of the 19th century. The Muslim presence was still very strong in the area as this was part of the Ottoman Empire. They protested vigorously to its construction, since it’s height and bell tower would surpass all existing mosques in Sarajevo at that time. Construction was done under guard of more than 1,000 troops and completed in 1872! Following our visit, we return to our hotel to relax before dinner and overnight.

Day 7 - SARAJEVO/SPLIT – Today, we depart to head west to cross the border to Croatia. Along our route, we stop in Makarska, a center of the coastal vacation area on the beautiful Croatian coast and have free time for lunch on our own along the promenade overlooking an idyllic bay. We continue along the spectacular Magistrale coast road to the City of Split, where we will enjoy a short sightseeing tour including the 3rd century Diocletian Palace and Cathedral of St. Dominus, formerly the Mausoleum of the Emperor Diocletian, known as “the largest and best-preserved Roman palace in the world”. We enjoy our dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 8 - SPLIT/DUBROVNIK - This morning, we begin our travel south along the beautiful scenic coast to Dubrovnik. Upon entering the city, we break for lunch on our own before our first stop, the Dominican Monastery, which was built in the 14th century, not only to house the Dominican Order but to serve as a fortress as well. We break for lunch on our own before continuing our day in Dubrovnik. We proceed to the Assumption Cathedral, a grand piece of architecture which took over three decades to complete, only to be destroyed a short time later. It is rumored that Richard the Lionhearted funded the construction after being shipwrecked nearby at the end of the 12th century enroute from the crusades. We conclude our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel. Drive time 3 hours

Day 9 - DUBROVNIK - Today, we visit the nearby Church of St. Blaise, the Patron Saint of the City of Dubrovnik and an icon we see throughout the city during our travels. We then journey to the Franciscan Monastery, built in the 14th century, which is not only a wonderful piece of architecture but also houses precious manuscripts from very early in the Franciscan Order. We stop for lunch on our own before visiting the Church of the Holy Annunciation, our next stop. This wonderful Byzantine-style church houses an impressive collection of ancient Catholic icons and manuscripts, one of the larger collections outside the Vatican! We conclude our day with a visit to St. Savior Church in Old Dubrovnik. Originally built in the early 16th century to give thanks to God for sparing the city during a very destructive earthquake in 1520AD, which spared this area but ravaged many of the surrounding local villages! Tonight, we enjoy our “farewell” dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 10 - DUBROVNIK/USA – This morning, we transfer to the airport to board our connecting flight to the USA arriving later today with memories of a lifetime and a special connection to this part of the world.