Croatia & the Adriatic Tour

Your tour commences this evening in the delightful town of Trogir. Join us for a welcome drink at your hotel before we walk to the nearby old town, to enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know, your Tour Manager and fellow travellers. 

This morning enjoy an orientation tour of this remarkably preserved town. Heavily influenced by the Greek, Roman and Venetian Empires, the core of Trogir is a mass of tiny alleys and charming squares, filled with shops and restaurants. In the afternoon we are joined by a local guide as we drive up into the rugged hills behind Split to visit the ruined castle of Klis. This is the most famous fortress in all of Croatia with a remarkable history spanning a thousand years, and the views down across Split and the Adriatic are astounding. Continuing to the port of Split our guide will take us on a walking tour through the vast 4th century Diocletian Palace complex, the Cathedral and pedestrian friendly town centre. Later you will enjoy free time to explore the beautiful old town which is littered with numerous alfresco cafés, and where the shopping is rumoured to be the best in Croatia. Tonight we enjoy a local restaurant dinner before returning to Trogir.

First stop of the day will be in the beautiful Krka National Park. A boat takes us to the dramatic Skradiniski Buk falls before heading down stream to the town of Skradin. Later we stop in Šibenik, the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic. Here
we are joined by a local guide who takes us into the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Cathedral of St James. Your evening is
at leisure in Trogir.

Mid morning we return to Split to catch a ferry over to the famous Adriatic island of Hvar. Cruising out between the islands of Brac and Solta we arrive at the oldest port on the island, Starigrad. Time to enjoy a break and stroll through the town before crossing the island to the delightful harbour of Hvar town, where we stay the next three nights. 

Your day is completely at leisure to do as much or as little as you choose! Hvar port is regarded as perhaps the most beautiful within the Dalmatian Islands. The cobbled alleys which wind up from the big, open main square are littered with restaurants, cafés and shops. For the more active, you can go on boat trips to the nearby islands, or perhaps take an energetic walk up to Castle Spanjola. From here, there are breathtaking views across the islands and down onto the picturesque harbour – teeming with expensive cruisers and yachts. 

A day to explore the island! First stop of the day will be on the other side of the island at the pretty port of Jelsa. Later we will visit a local vineyard to enjoy a tasting of the excellent local wines before driving along a spectacular ridge, past timeworn villages, along the spine of the island. This incredibly scenic old mountain road is called the ‘lavender road’ and the steep mountainsides are covered with stone enclosed fields of lavender (lavender blooms on Hvar throughout the month of June). Reaching the Bay of Milna, we have included a leisurely lunch in a charming restaurant with a terrace over the rocky shoreline. Later we return to the delightful port of Hvar to enjoy an evening at leisure.

After a leisurely start we enjoy the drive down the entire length of Hvar Island to the port of Sucuraj, where we board a ferry and cross back to the mainland at Drvenik. We continueto Mostar in the country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. On arrival we will meet a local guide for a walking tour of this amazing town. Ravaged and smashed in the Balkans War, Mostar has now been lovingly rebuilt and the locals are intensely proud of their Stari Most (Old Bridge) – a curious humped back pedestrian bridge spanning the River Neretva – a reconstruction of the original 16th century Ottoman bridge. A place where adherents of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism have coexisted for centuries, this cultural melting pot makes a fascinating visit. Mosques and churches stand side by side with charming riverside terraced cafés and the occasional, bomb damaged, bullet pock-marked ruin. We stay here two nights. This evening we enjoy dinner in a local restaurant accompanied by local wines. 

This morning we are joined by a local guide to visit the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the amazing city of Sarajevo – nominated as the European Capital of Culture for 2014. Once the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo suffered the longest siege of a city in the history of modern warfare (1992-1996) during the Balkans Conflict. To the locals it was the ‘Bosnian War for Independence’. Since then Sarajevo’s rebuilding programme has galvanised the city. Highlight of your guided tour will be a visit to the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide to learn about the events that took place during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995.

The remainder of your afternoon and evening will be free back in Mostar. A perfect time to find your own riverside terrace restaurant.

Returning to the Dalmatian Coast we visit the remarkable twin towns of Ston and Mali Ston. Famous for having the longest complete city walls of any city in Europe, you will be struck by the giant fortifications extending completely over the wild mountain side linking these two small towns. Scenically, the tiny bay is wonderful however, we are here for the oysters of Mali Ston, which are reputed to be the finest in the world. On arrival we will board a small boat to visit the Oyster beds and sample fresh oysters, washed down with a glass of wine. Back ashore, it is time for a lazy lunch in the famous Bota Sari restaurant which is built into the ancient castle walls. Delightful! Later this afternoon we arrive at the famous city of Dubrovnik. Our hotel for the next four nights is superbly located within easy walking distance to Dubrovnik’s old town. On arrival, join us for a welcome drink on the beach terrace overlooking the sea and Dubrovnik city. 

In the 15th and 16th centuries Dubrovnik became the heart of a maritime empire to rival Venice. This morning we are joined by a local guide who will breathe life into this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Listed, walled city – from the finely carved facades of the renaissance palaces, lining the broad pedestrian walkways and squares, to the churches and the baroque Cathedral. First impressions are so important so to begin our tour we catch the cable car up to the scenic lookout on top of Mount Srd. What a fantastic way to introduce you to the city! We have also included entrance to the old Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary. The rest of your day is at leisure. Later this afternoon, when the heat has gone from the day, and the crowded cruise ships have departed, make sure  you enjoy a peaceful walk along the top of the city walls. Running almost two kilometres around the entire city, and flanked by turrets and towers, a walk along the ramparts is a wonderful experience. 

Today we will enjoy a full day excursion to the country of Montenegro. Reaching the dramatic fjord like Bay of Kotor we will make a stop at the little village of Perast. Here we will enjoy a boat ride out and around the twin islands of St. George and Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rock). Arriving in Kotor we are met by a local guide for a short orientation tour. Lunchtime will be in the beautifully preserved walled city of Kotor. Returning to our superb hotel, the rest of the day and evening is at leisure to relax in your hotel or explore Dubrovnik town. 

Your day is at leisure. Maybe relax in your delightful hotel located directly beside the deep blue Adriatic, or walk into town to explore the narrow alleys, squares and churches that litter the old town. Time to shop or sit and enjoy a leisurely lunch in this city which is aptly named the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Late afternoon we board a traditional Dalmatian boat to cruise south along the coast to the picturesque port of Cavtat where we enjoy our farewell dinner in the excellent family owned ‘Restaurant Leut’. We return to our hotel by coach. 

 

Your tour ends today after breakfast.