Croatia Air/Cruise/Hotel, $2,295

On the seventh morning, you'll wake up in Brach, the largest island in the Adriatic Sea off the Dalmatian coast, with the highest peak of all of the Croatian islands. You'll spend most of the day exploring Brach, famous for its stone quarries and numerous sanctuaries. The marble used to build the White House in D.C. originates from this island. After a lunch hosted by local families, you'll set sail for Hvar.

Since 3,500 B.C., rule over Hvar, the longest of the Croatian islands, has passed from the Greeks to the Romans to the Ottomans to the Austrians to the French. You'll tour the Old City (Stari Grad) and its surrounding farms, vineyards, and olive groves before you sail to the medieval town of Korcula, on the island of the same name, for an evening of traditional klapa music, sung in four-part harmony.

Old Town of Dubrovnik (Bertrand Gardel/Hemis/Corbis) [enlarge photo]

After a day of sightseeing in Korcula, you'll sail to Ploce and then take a three-hour ride by private bus to the city of Mostar in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia. The city was named after a four-centuries-old bridge linking its Christian and Muslim quarters. The bridge was destroyed by a bomb in 1993 during the civil war, but it was rebuilt in 2004.

You'll have lunch in the 9,000-year-old village of Blagaj, famous for its Byzantine fortresses. Then you'll return to your ship in Ploce, where you'll stay one final night before disembarking.

After a short bus ride, you'll arrive in the medieval city of Dubrovnik situated at the country's southernmost tip and offering breathtaking views of the Adriatic. Also known by the Latin name Ragusa, the former city-state once rivaled Venice. You'll check in for one night at the 147-room Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, steps away from the walled Old Town (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Sponza Palace, the Rupe Ethnographical Museum, and a Franciscan Monastery (St. Blasius Church) are nearby. On the final morning, you'll be transferred to Dubrovnik's airport to catch your flight home.

For an additional $445 per person, you can add three extra nights to your vacation either before or after your trip. The pre-trip option includes three nights in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city famous for its Old Europe charm. The post-trip extension covers a three-night stay in Dubrovnik. Single supplement is $245 for Ljubljana and $195 for Dubrovnik. The add-on includes accommodations, daily breakfast, one dinner, a city tour, and transfers.

For more on tips on what to see and do, visit the Croatian National Tourist Board website.

The package's valid travel dates are during the winter, when temperatures average at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you go, check the weather forecast, the exchange rate, and the local time at BudgetTravel.com.

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