11 day Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro Tour

Highlights: Hike through Vintgar gorge and enjoy the play of the water | Bled Lake beauties, a Trademark of Slovenian tourism with a 1000-year-old castle | Triglav National Park in the heart of the Julian Alps and Lake of Bohinj

After breakfast, a morning drive to the sunny side of the Julian Alps. First, we start with a picturesque hike in a 1,6 km/1 mi long Vintgar gorge* which carves its way through the vertical rocks and is graced with waterfalls, pools, and rapids. A short ride brings us to the shores of the beautiful glacial lake of Bled surrounded by the Julian Alps. Bled is a trademark of Slovenian tourism, a nature escape of peace and fresh mountain air. Ready to feel the history? A medieval gothic castle of Bled, built on 130 m/426 feet high cliff, offers a journey back in time. An optional visit to the tiny island of Lake Bled with a traditional wooden rowing boat will offer a chance to ring a bell of wishes, most possibly 500 years old tradition. Let’s go deeper into Triglav National Park and drive through picturesque alpine villages and pastures to the biggest Slovenian lake, Bohinj.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Ljubljana

*Vintgar gorge is open to visitors from Easter time till November 1st.

Highlights: The Queen of the caves, Postojna cave magical underground formations | Venetian legacy of the medieval town of Piran on Slovenian portion of the Adriatic coast

Have you heard about baby dragons from Slovenia? It sounds like a fairy-tale, right? Postojna cave is a number one visited attraction in Slovenia, also called the Queen of the caves. A system of chambers, halls, and passages that we enter by open train adds to the experience of depths and adventure, that continues by foot. Countless stalagmite and stalactite formations are lit well enough even to take pictures. You will hear about Slovenia’s most unusual creature that lives in the cave. A short drive away is the Adriatic coast and the beautiful town of Piran, where we go next. For more than 500 years, Piran was part of the Venetian Republic. Narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together, beautiful squares and churches, are a perfect place to wander around this well-preserved medieval town. Perhaps an afternoon gelato on the seaside promenade before we head back to Ljubljana. Evening at leisure.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Ljubljana

Highlights: Zagreb City Tour with Lower and Upper part of the city

Morning departure from Ljubljana to Zagreb, Croatia. Drive through the Eastern part of Slovenia towards Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Welcome to Croatia! Our introduction to Zagreb starts at the central square ‘Trg Jelacica’ and continues to the Upper Town with a ‘Lotrscak Tower’ where a cannon is fired every day at noon. Zagreb’s most photographed building is a multi-colored tile roof of St Mark’s church, not far from the Parliament ‘Sabor’ and presidential palace ‘Ban’s palace’. We pass through the Stone Gate, where people quietly pray at the shrine of the Virgin Mary, while we continue to the Lower Town of Zagreb. Stroll at Tkalciceva street filled with ‘bohemian’ cafes, visit a fruit and vegetable market at ‘Dolac’, and complete the tour at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary. Evening at leisure.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Zagreb

Highlights: Hike in Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s first national park | Drive through Velebit mountain range | Little Venice of Dalmatia, Trogir

After breakfast, we will drive to the biggest and most famous Croatian National Park – Plitvice Lakes, one of Europe’s great natural wonders. Get ready for a beautiful experience in nature, with zig-zagging timber footbridges over azure-colored lakes. The Lakes of Plitvice are a scenic wonderland of 16 interconnected lakes, flanked by waterfalls and primeval forest. The green forests of the park give way to pebble-dashed shores lapped by turquoise waters. After the hike in the Plitvice Lakes National park, we drive towards the Adriatic sea. Witness a dramatic change in landscape, as you travel through Mediterranean olive groves on your way to the town of Trogir. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Little Venice of Dalmatia, or The Stone Beauty – Trogir, is a remarkable example of urban continuity. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period. Enjoy an evening at leisure and perhaps take a stroll in the old town of Trogir.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Trogir

Highlights: City tour of Split and Diocletian’s palace | Nature hike in the Krka Falls National Park

Start your day with a delicious and get ready for a private city tour of Split. Explore the ancient streets of the former Diocletian’s palace, now a lively residential area listed on a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your local guide will take you to some places you might saw in a TV fantasy drama, Game of Thrones. Explore the underground substructure of Diocletian’s palace to understand the magnificence of this ancient building. No visit to Split can be accomplished without a visit to its green market or Pazar, as locals call it. Next, we drive to the Hinterland of Dalmatia, to the Krka falls National Park, hiding beautiful valley of river Krka with beautiful waterfalls and green vegetation. We will have a moderate-paced walk through the park to experience nature at its best. Afternoon return to Trogir and evening at leisure.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Trogir

Early morning start to cross the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, where East-meets-West. In the heart of western Balkans is where Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian histories filtered through a Southern Slavic lens, bled together. Our first stop will be in Medjugorje, known for an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the 1980s. Now it is one of the most popular pilgrim places in Europe. We will continue to the town of Mostar, famous for the Old Bridge and UNESCO protected city center. Ottoman architecture, cobblestone streets, and a bazar will take you to the oriental world. We will enjoy some free time for shopping and perhaps a typical Bosnian lunch. In the afternoon we drive back to Croatia and continue to Dubrovnik, known as the pearl of the Adriatic Sea.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Dubrovnik

We start our day with a morning private tour of Dubrovnik’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, nestled in the southernmost part of Croatia, on the Adriatic coast. Get a glimpse into local life, as you explore the stone-paved streets inside the 16th-century bastions of the Old Town. Walk past Onofrio’s Fountain, visit the Franciscan Monastery, where Europe’s oldest pharmacy lies, admire Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral, museums, and perhaps ascend on top of the City Walls to see town’s hidden spots. The medieval fortress makes for a memorable workout. From every point, the walls give visitors a glimpse into the city’s construction and centuries of defense. For all the Game of Thrones fans, choose an option to visit filming locations for the King’s Landing and other GOT locations in the popular TV series. Or, drive to a nearby town of Cavtat to learn why there would be no Dubrovnik without it. The afternoon is at leisure or maybe hop on a romantic dinner cruise around the mighty walls of the old town.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Dubrovnik

Optional Nm 1: Game of Thrones Tour in Dubrovnik (2 hours)
Optional Nm 2: Resort town of Cavtat (half day)
Optional Nm 3: Dinner cruise around Dubrovnik walls (evening)

*Find a detailed description of optional tours under the price section

Early morning departure to Montenegro, a country of beautiful coastline, rough mountains, fascinating people, and history. Soon after the border, we start a  panoramic drive in UNESCO protected Kotor Bay with our first stop in the small town of Perast, hiding stories of its past glory days when it was an important center for seaman. The boat will take us to the island of Our lady of the rocks to hear the peculiar story of the Perast’s most famous landmarks. Continue along the bay, a photographer’s dreams, to the pretty port town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the orientation tour of the old town, we will admire the city walls, squares, and palaces and perhaps stop for a typical Montenegrin lunch, prosciutto, cheese, and wine. What else could one desire? We end our day in Budva, the poster child of Montenegrin tourism, an ancient town located on the peninsula inhabited for the last 7000 years. Evening at leisure and a chance to explore its atmospheric Stari Grad (Old Town).

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Budva

Today we go to the mountains that are surrounding some of Europe’s most spectacular seaside scenery. A scenic mountain drive reveals a different side of Montenegro. Cetinje, the old capital, today billed as the “royal capital”, is a place where single-storey cottages and stately mansions share the same street. We will visit King Nikola Palace, one of the smallest royal palaces in the world and your private local guide will revive proud Montenegro history. We will continue to the village of Njeguši, the cradle of Montenegro leaders and the birthplace of Montenegro Royal Dynasty Petrović. Njegusi village lies within the Lovćen National Park and is also known for the production of smoked ham and cheese. We will enjoy a snack of local delicacies in one of the typical village taverns and then slowly return to Budva to enjoy our last evening on the tour at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Budva

Possible transfer to the airport. Safe travels!

Meals: breakfast

Important message: If you need a transfer to the airport or want to continue with extension travel to neighbouring countries, let us know – we will handle everything for you.

Cavtat is a small town located 45 min south of Dubrovnik. It is known as the oldest settlement in the region of Dubrovnik, with the first inhabitants known to live there during ancient Greek time. Today, Cavtat is popular among rich and famous yacht owners, seeking privacy and normality of everyday life. After an orientation tour, free time to explore this cute little town and perhaps ascend to Mestrovic designed mausoleum of the historic Croatian family Račić, sitting in the cemetery with a magic view over Adriatic. Or simply stroll the promenade with a gelato in your hands.

When sunset begins, we sail out and take a tour around Dubrovnik. A dinner cruise is an authentic Dubrovnik-style experience that you can’t miss! Approximately two hours of cruising, a romantic dinner at sunset, and the view of the town walls from the sea is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.