Crossing the Balkans

Today you’ll be picked up by your driver and guide who will take you to Ljubljana in Slovenia, a journey of roughly two hours. After a tour of the harmonious Slovene capital, you’ll head to nearby Lake Bled with its island church and views of the Julian Alps. Before returning to Zagreb, there’s time for a cable car ride for views over the equally impressive Lake Bohinj.

From Zagreb you’ll drive south through the Dinaric Alps for about two hours to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of Croatia’s most popular sites. Your guide will take you along the various trails to scenic lookouts where you’ll get sweeping views of the tumbling falls. After your visit, you’ll continue south for about two and a half hours to the vibrant seaside city of Split.

Split’s central attraction, Diocletian’s Palace, dates to 400 AD and is one of the best-preserved ancient ruins in Croatia. Your private guide will walk you through the city, taking you to buildings of particular interest, pointing out important architectural details and explaining how such an ancient city, protected by UNESCO, can still grow and develop while protecting its historic structures.

From Split, you’ll take a one and a half hour ferry journey to the island of Hvar, where you’ll take guided tours of the historic ports of Hvar town and Stari Grad to explore their winding streets and see the imposing fortified houses and 15th-century churches and convents. As you drive around the island, you’ll enjoy scenic hilltop and coastal views and get to stop at a winery for a tasting, before returning by ferry to Split.

Leaving Split, you’ll embark on a two-hour drive crossing the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina. You’ll stop off to stroll around the medieval village of Počitelj on your way to Mostar, a culturally rich city heavily influenced by the Ottomans. Your guide will show you around Mostar’s cobblestone streets, where you’ll see a variety of architectural styles, and have time for a traditional Turkish coffee and a visit to the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque before continuing on to Dubrovnik a further two and a half hour drive.

Your private guide will join you in the morning and spend the day showing you around Dubrovnik’s historic core. You’ll walk the medieval city walls, explore the polished limestone back streets, visit Lovrijenac Fortress and take a cable car to the top of Mount Srđ for panoramic views of the city. Along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s complex history and the waves of invaders who wished to control it.

Croatia has a small but highly regarded wine industry, which you’ll learn more about as you tour the Peljesac Peninsula, about an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik, with your driver and guide. You’ll visit two wineries for tastings and snacks before heading for the ancient town of Ston to dine on their award-winning oysters and mussels on a local farm.

Leaving Dubrovnik and Croatia behind, you'll cross the border to Montenegro, passing the dramatic coastal mountains, to the Bay of Kotor, a journey of about two hours. You'll have the afternoon at leisure to relax at your hotel and enjoy the waterfront views.

Today you’ll enjoy a private tour of the cobbled streets, palaces and churches of Kotor and nearby Perast, and take a trip to the artificial island, Our Lady of the Rocks, which sits in the bay topped by an 18th-century church.

Finishing your trip, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.