A Taste of the Balkans featuring Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina & Slovenia

What's Included

• Transportation

  Travel through the Balkans with a mix of private boat rides, scenic drives, and guided tours.

• Accommodation

  Experience a variety of accommodations throughout the Balkans, including the Royal Ariston Hotel in Dubrovnik, Cattaro Hotel in Dubrovnik, Colors Inn in Kotor, and Family Hotel Baranjska Kuca in Sarajevo.

• Meals

  Enjoy regional meals such as Mediterranean cuisine in Dubrovnik and a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo.

• Guided Tours

  Explore historical sites with local guides, including Plitvice Lakes National Park and the city of Zagreb.

• Cultural Experiences

  Participate in local activities such as preparing regional specialties and baking bread in Karanac.

• Boat Excursions

  Climb aboard a private boat to Our Lady of the Rocks and the coastal Kotor.

What's Not Included

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions such as the tour to Njeguši village and the Underground Bunker Exploration in Sarajevo are not included.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
  
  

• Flights

  International and domestic flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
  
  

Experiences

Explore Mostar to witness a blend of Middle East and European influences.Impact Moment: At a Serbian community center, meet the local women who sustain their community through their crafts.

Options

Kotor: Mount Lovcen and Coastal Vistas with Njegusi Village Travel up the winding road from Kotor towards Mount Lovcen, taking in magnificent views of the Bay of Kotor (the Boka) and mountains along the way. Stop in Njegusi, a quiet and peaceful village located on the slope of Mount Lovcen, about 900 meters above sea level. Learn about the tradition of prosciutto and homemade cheeses famously produced here and sample these specialties. Then continue through the mountain range until reaching the Adriatic coastline, with photo stops along the way including views of Sveti Stefan (Saint Stephen’s Island), once an islet fishing village, now luxury resort. Throughout the day, you can imagine yourself in scenes from the Bond film, Casino Royale, as you venture through Montenegro. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




Sarajevo: Live Like an Authentic Bosnian Villager Explore a different way of life and spend the day in an authentic Bosnian village. It all starts with a scenic drive through the highlands of Bosnia, where you can gaze out the window and admire sprawling greenery and soaring peaks. Then, strap on your hiking shoes because the rest of the journey to the remote village takes place on foot. After working up your appetite during a light hiking trip, enjoy lunch in a traditional Bosnian villager’s home. Spend some more time connecting with the locals before you set out once more to explore a picturesque canyon tucked among the mountain ranges. Conclude your day with a return hiking trip and a relaxing drive back to your hotel. Duration approximately 8 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 8 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


To participate in this option, guests should be in good physical condition. A short 30-minute hike is involved. Dress to be outside with comfortable shoes and layers.

Sarajevo: Underground Bunker Exploration Spend your morning touring the nuclear bunker of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. Nicknamed “Tito’s Bunker,” this underground military command center was built to protect the Yugoslavian president and up to 350 members of his inner circle. During your tour, you can explore historical relics and meander through a wide collection of rooms, from residential areas to places dedicated to strategic planning. Uncover this underground fortress, once a secret to the world. Duration approximately 3.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 8 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




Zagreb: Cultural Zagorje Depart Zagreb and head into the beautiful Croatian countryside of Zagorje known for its picturesque, gentle hills full of green forests, vineyards and cultivated fields. Begin by visiting historic Kumrovec, the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, lifetime president of the former Yugoslavia. A visit to the ethno village there is like stepping back in time as you stroll the small houses of the beautiful “Old Village.” Continue on to the delightful little town of Samobor, well-known as a foodie favorite. After a short tour, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant which ends with the famous Samoborske-Kremsnite, a Croatian delicacy of cake with custard cream. You will also sample Bermet, the aromatic, sweet and bitter wine made according to a centuries old secret recipe that is perhaps the most authentic Croatian drink. Duration approximately 6 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 12 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Culinaries

Get to know the locals by preparing regional specialties and baking bread in Karanac.See why Mediterranean cuisine is world-famous in Dubrovnik.In Sarajevo, join a local family in their home for a meal of regional dishes.

Must See

Experience Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO) by foot and by boat.Lake Bled is a photographer’s dream with its stunning views.Climb aboard a private boat to Our Lady of the Rocks and the coastal Kotor.

Choice Highlights

Dubrovnik A group of refugees from Epidaurum (today’s Cavtat) founded Dubrovnik in the first half of the 7th century. The city was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire through the 12th century. From 1205-1358, Dubrovnik fell under the sovereignty of Venice. Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state between the 14th century and 1808 as the Republic of Dubrovnik. It flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries and became the chief shipping rival to Venice. A devastating earthquake in 1667 killed over 5,000 citizens and marked the beginning of the decline for the Republic. The Republic officially met its final demise in 1808 after Napoleon’s armies conquered it and Marshal Marmont abolished the Republic and integrated it into the Illyrian provinces. Since 1808, Dubrovnik has fallen under attack, been occupied and annexed several times, most recently as part of the second Yugoslavia (1945-1991); however, it continues to be one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities on the entire Adriatic. With its medieval walls that surround the old city, and the ancient buildings contained within, Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage site unlike any other.

Dubrovnik City Walls or Cable Car Ride Personalize the rest of your day because, it's your choice! Explore the famous city walls, still standing from the Middle Ages -OR- hop into a cable car for incredible views of the enire city from above.



Dubrovnik City Walls

Activity Level 3

Included entrance to the city walls only. Entrance tickets can be used throughout the day. Walking 1.2 miles. Travelers do it at leisure, without Tour Manager or local guide.



Cable Car Ride

Activity Level 2

Included cable car tickets (both ways). Tickets can be used throughout the day. Choice to be accompanied by Tour Manager.

Kotor

Mostar

Sarajevo

Sarajevo Siege Tour or Gallery 11/07/95 Take advantage of free time for it's your choice! Uncover the city past with a local siege survivor, spending time in the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum before visiting the bobsled track on Trebevic Olympic Mountain -OR- visit Gallery 11/07/95, which documents the city's 20th-century turmoil through photography.



Sarajevo Siege Tour

Activity Level 3: Guests should be able to walk on some uneven terrain and be able to stand for one hour at a time.



Gallery 11/07/95

Activity Level 2

Gallery is visited with audio guides so travelers can experience it at leisure. There are two flights of stairs to enter the gallery. Tour Manager to accompany guests to the gallery.

Home-Hosted Dinner

Etno Village Karanac

Osijek

Cooking with Locals

Wine Tasting

Zagreb Located in the northwest of the country, Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. Zagreb is a city with a rich history dating from the Roman times to the present day. Zagreb is the most important transport hub in Croatia. The city is known for its diverse economy, high quality of living, museums, sporting and entertainment events.

Museum of Naive Art

Plitvice Lakes

Impact Moment Experience an Impact Moment when you learn how the local women are keeping the community alive through their traditions and crafts.

Novo Mesto

Ljubljana Often nicknamed the "City of Vine and Wine", uncharted Ljubljana is a picturesque city well known for the Dragon Bridge, housing the world's oldest wooden wheel with an axel, and the Central Market. The most prominent sight is the Castle built on an old Roman stronghold with breathtaking views over the city.

Lake Bled Set in an Alpine backdrop, the lake adjoins the town of Bled. With a maximum depth of 100 ft, the lake is a mix of glacial and tectonic origins. Surrounding Bled Island, known for its pilgrimage church, Lake Bled is popular with rowers.

Mode of Transport

Travel through the Balkans with a mix of private boat rides, scenic drives, and guided tours. Enjoy a private boat to Our Lady of the Rocks, explore Kotor Bay, and cruise through Plitvice Lakes National Park by boat. Transportation includes scenic drives through Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Slovenia.

Accommodation

Experience a variety of accommodations throughout the Balkans, including the Royal Ariston Hotel in Dubrovnik, Cattaro Hotel in Dubrovnik, Colors Inn in Kotor, and Family Hotel Baranjska Kuca in Sarajevo. Enjoy the charm of Le Premier Boutique Hotel in Osijek and the Grand Plaza Hotel near Plitvice Lakes.