Adriatic Dream: 10-Day Croatian Journey including Bosnia & Montenegro

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Walking Tour of Split Old Town & Diocletian's Palace

This two-hour guided tour will take you to the Roman emperor Diocletian's 1700-year-old palace which was built as his personal rest home. Walk from the Bronze Gate through the central hall of the ancient cellars is the main communication line between the busy waterfront promenade, the Riva, and the palace's main forecourt, the Peristyle. You'll also stop by the Cathedral of St Duje, one of the most beautiful cultural attractions on the Adriatic coast, the Roman temple of Jupiter (latterly a Christian baptistry), the fabulous Golden Gate, and the medieval Croatian bishop who introduced the Croatian language in religious services.

Early Morning to Evening

Excursion to Beautiful Hvar Island

Hvar has a reputation as the Croatian Ibiza, i.e. lots of young people partying as if their lives depended on it, but it's actually much more than that and remains relatively unspoiled and comparatively affordable in relation to the mainland coast. Both of its main towns, Hvar and Star Grad, are lovely medieval towns full of traffic-free alleys surrounded by ancient stone houses; these act as a romantic backdrop to the towns' many cafes from where you can indulge in people-watching and view the fancy yachts filling up the harbor. In the summer, you can take a passenger-only 1-hour catamaran trip directly to Hvar Town. In other months, Hvar is still relatively easy to get to via a 2-hour car ferry to the main island port of Stari Grad. If you do take the ferry, it's still just a short bus or taxi ride to Hvar or Stari Grad - you can even walk to Stari Grad from the ferry port. Keep in mind though that you must be quick off the ferry to catch the bus. If you can afford it, taking a private boat is the ultimate way to experience Hvar, as you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe along the way. Also keep in mind that while Hvar is happening in the warmer months, it is quite sleepy in the off season. Many restaurants and attractions will be closed, but if you enjoy exploring in peace and quiet, it is the perfect time to visit.

Early Morning to Evening

Excursion to the Idyllic Brač Island

The third-largest of Croatia's islands, Brač is also the nearest major island to Split and therefore the easiest to get to with ferries running regular 50-minute trips to Supetar, an attractive former fishing village with shallow and swimmable pebbly beaches. On the opposite side of the island is the similarly picturesque village of Bol, boasting the magnificent beach of Zlatni Rat, pictures of which adorn just about every advertising brochure there is on Dalmatia's islands. Zlatni Rat has a mild-breezy climate that makes it perfect for windsurfing. Bol is accessible from Supetar by public bus, but to get around the island to see smaller coastal settlements like Postira, Pučišća, Povlja, and Milna, and the highest peak of Vidova Gora, it's best to take a guided tour, hire a taxi, or rent a car. Renting a bicycle is also a great option for exploring the island. This will also give you the chance to explore the island's beautiful interior, with its scrub-covered rocky uplands interspersed with fertile valleys, where you'll find vineyards, olive groves, and orange trees. You'll also see the great man-made piles of limestone built up over centuries by small farmers clearing a place to grow their crops. Just keep in mind that if you visit Brač in the off season, it will be very sleepy. This is great if you like to explore without crowds, but not so great if you mind closed restaurants and attractions.

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Private Transfer from Split to Dubrovnik via Mostar

Your own personal driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you all the way to the southern Dalmatian coastal city of Dubrovnik via a detour to the beautifully reconstructed old Ottoman town of Mostar in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Mostar was heavily damaged in the Balkans wars of the early 1990s, but the historic core of the town has been restored to its glorious former self, including its iconic arched bridge from which you can watch daredevil divers plunging into the rather shallow waters below, and all its old mosques.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Please be aware the car service can fit up to 1 checked item of luggage and 1 personal item per person, such as a purse or small backpack. If you think you will have more baggage, please inform your travel consultant as this may result in an additional fee.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town

Dubrovnik was able to accumulate vast fortunes as a safe trade route into the Balkan hinterland and thus create a remarkably beautiful city and gargantuan fortifications that remain astonishingly well preserved to today. On this two-hour private guided walking tour, you will experience the supreme delight of viewing the old town almost as it was centuries ago and learning about the history and culture of the city through the ages.

Morning/Mid-Day

Excursion to Lokrum Island

Almost a stone's throw from Dubrovnik's walled city, the island of Lokrum is the perfect getaway spot if you're looking for some quiet walking, lounging in the sun or bathing in crystal clear waters from rocky beaches far from the clamor of the crowds and motorboats. There's also an exquisite little green lagoon on the island connected to the sea by a tunnel through the rocks that makes for an impossibly romantic swimming spot. Plus there's an atmospheric old Benedictine monastery with a good quality restaurant, a handful of cafes and ice-cream booths, and a botanical garden to which admission is normally included in the price of the ferry to the island. Getting there is easy - during the warm months there is a ferry that leaves Dubrovnik's Old Port every 30min beginning at 9 am and finishing at 7 pm. Once arrived its easy to explore since the island is criss-crossed by trails.

Morning to Late Afternoon

Excursion to the Elafiti Islands

A day trip to one of the lush, vegetation-carpeted Elafiti Islands presents the perfect opportunity to savor the Croatian Adriatic at its unspoiled, get-away-from-it-all best. The largest three islands – Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan – are the ones you will likely aim for as it's only those that are permanently inhabited and serviced by ferries. All the islands have nice beaches, attractive harbor towns and are peppered with enchanting stone churches and old fortresses.  Tourism in the Elafiti remains very low key despite the influx of day-trippers and numerous boat excursion operators; the almost total absence of cars contributes to the relaxing ambiance, as private vehicles on not allowed on any of the islands except Šipan.

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Guided Excursion to Montenegro

Barely one hour from Dubrovnik, the Montenegro Littoral provides visitors with incomparable natural beauty and a dizzying array of historical sites. On this private excursion, your driver will take you to the mouth of the Bay of Kotor and along a road that snakes through the towns of Risan and Perast to the port city of Kotor.

To Be Determined

Transfer to Airport by Taxi or Bus

Dubrovnik has one main airport, Dubrovnik Airport, also referred to as Čilipi Airport. The most affordable way to reach Dubrovnik airport is by public bus (15 HRK), however, this will take quite a lot of time. You can still save quite a bit of money in comparison to a taxi by taking the direct Atlas Shuttle bus (40 HRK). The buses pick up near the western entrance to Dubrovnik, Pile Gate, and departs roughly every 30 minutes during the day. Your hotel can arrange a reliable taxi which will cost roughly 260-400 HRK. UberX is also available, or you can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about 2 hours and 45 minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with over two hours to spare, depending on traffic. Keep in mind that if staying in Old Town, the taxi cannot pick you up directly from the hotel, meaning you will have to walk to the Pile Gate with your bags. If this is an issue, be sure to arrange assistance with a private transfer service or with your hotel beforehand.