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G Adventures
OFFER ID 1569669
Classic Balkans: Zagreb to Tirana
Get ready for a 22-day Balkan adventure where every twist and turn is drenched in history and jaw-dropping natural beauty. Stroll through the otherworldly landscapes of Plitvice Lakes National Park, where shimmering lakes and cascading waterfalls create a scene unlike anywhere else. Dive deep into Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dramatic past to uncover the stories that shaped its present. Along the way, visit historic churches, UNESCO treasures, and vibrant art colonies, all while taking in the stunning scenery. Trust us, this trip will leave you marvelling at just how incredible life can be.
Highlights
Enjoy the stunning lakes and waterfalls at Plitvice and Krka National Parks, Wander past historic churches and monuments in Split and Dubrovnik, See the spectacular Kravica and Kocuša Waterfalls, Be immersed in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history in Mostar and Sarajevo, Set off on a boat tour of the Bay of Kotor and visit the old town of Perast, Spend 2 nights at eco-lodges in the mountains of Montenegro
Accommodation
Hotels (19 nts), Eco Lodge (2 nts).
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12.
Meals Included
21 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: DES?A Women's Centre Visit, Dubrovnik
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Zadar Walking Food Tour, Zadar
Your Foodie Moment: Oyster Farm Food and Wine Experience with Lunch, Uvala Bistrina
Your Foodie Moment: Trebinje Market Tour, Trebinje
Your Local Living Moment: Apiary Visit, Trebinje
Your Local Living Moment: Cheese Making Farm Visit, Trebinje
Your Foodie Moment: Sarajevo Food Tour, Sarajevo. Orientation walks in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik. Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park. Hike in Krka Lakes National Park. Full-day excursion to the islands of Prvic and Zlarin from Šibenik. Walk along the old city wall of Ston. Tvrdoš Monastery Visit and Wine Tasting. Orientation walk in Trebinje. Visit the town of Stolac and the necropolis tombstones. See Kravica and Kocuša Waterfalls. Dinner and wine pairing at a winery in Citluk. Visit the Pocitelj Ottoman stone town. Hike to the Blagaj Fortress. Visit the Dervish Monastery. Guided walking tour of Mostar. Turkish House coffee experience in Mostar. Guided tour of Tito's Bunker. Kotor orientation walk. Boat tour from Kotor to Perast. Budva Old Town walk. Visit Ostrog Monastery. Full-day excursion to Biogradska Gora National Park. Kolašin 4x4 Off-Road Excursion. Orientaion walk of Podgorica. Theth National Park visit. Walking tour of Shkoder. Walking tour of Kruje. Transport to/from all included activities and between all destinations.
21 nights from $4,904 per person
G Adventures: Classic Balkans: Zagreb to Tirana
Day 1: Zagreb
Arrive at any time. After a welcome briefing, set off with your CEO on a orientation walk to get your bearings of the area and to see some of the street graffiti art on the way to an optional group dinner.
Day 2: Zagreb/Plitvicka Jezera
Travel south from Zagreb to the stunning and iconic Plitvice Lakes National Park. Explore the park’s forests, crystal waters, and cascading falls with our CEO for incredible scenery, natural beauty and photo opportunities. Continue to the hotel in the evening, check in and relax before a delicious dinner.
Day 3: Plitvicka Jezera/Šibenik
Depart the hotel after breakfast and drive to the coastal city of Zadar. Discover the city on a walking food tour with a local guide, exploring the historic city centre and important landmarks and culminating in a secluded garden for lunch and wine tasting. Continue to Krka National Park for a hike through the lush forest along the river to a series of spectacular waterfalls. Finish the day in the nearby city of Šibenik and enjoy a free evening.
Day 4: Šibenik
Set off on a full-day excursion to explore the nearby islands of Prvic and Zlarin. Take the ferry first to Prvic and explore the old town and other parts of this small island with your CEO then hop on the next ferry to the nearby island of Zlarin. Populated since ancient times, Zlarin has many historical monuments worth exploring and and offers incredible views over the islands natural vistas towards the Adriatic Sea. Return to Šibenik in the afternoon and take a stroll through the old town with your CEO before enjoying the rest of the day and evening at leisure.
Day 5: Šibenik/Makarska
Travel south along the coast today to the port city of Split. Explore the city with your CEO on an orientation walk to see some of the main sights and landmarks then enjoy free time for lunch and to continue exploring on your own with the chance to visit the Diocletian's Palace and the Riva promenade. In the late afternoon continue by bus to the city of Makarska to check into the hotel and enjoy a free evening.
Day 6: Makarska
Enjoy a full free day to take advantage of the many optional activities available in and around Makarska. Perhaps take a ferry to the island of Brac to explore on your own, take a tuk tuk tour, go zip-lining in the nearby town of Tucepi or just relax on the local beach.
Day 7: Makarska/Dubrovnik
Set off from Makarska along the coast and make a stop at a small bay called Uvala Bistrina to lean all about the local oyster farming and to sample some fresh ones and with wine and lunch from local ingredients. Take some free time to wander the town of Ston and to walk along the massive and historic Ston City wall which rewards those who climb it incredible views of the town and the surrounding mountains. Continue driving in the afternoon to Croatia's capital city, Dubrovnik and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 8: Dubrovnik
Discover Dubrovnik today on an orientation walk with your CEO through the old part of the city and seeing some of the city's most iconic buildings and landmarks. Make a stop at the G Adventures-supported Deša project, a non profit organization dedicated to empowering and employing women in the community. Then, take the rest of the day to continue exploring on your own, take an optional kayak excursion or relax in one of the many cafés and watch the world go by. Regroup in the evening for an optional final dinner out on the town.
Day 9: Dubrovnik/Trebinje
Enjoy a free morning in Dubrovnik for further exploration or for some last-minute shopping before departing around midday for Bosnia and Herzegovina. After driving across the border, make a stop at the Tvrdoš Monastery and sample some of the local wine then continue to a view point at the Hercegovacka Gracanica Temple to enjoy a great view of the city of Trebinje. Make a final stop at Arslanagic bridge before arriving to the hotel. In the evening, set off with your CEO on an orientation walk along the river and into the old town. Get your bearings of the area on the way to an optional group dinner.
Day 10: Trebinje
Today is all about local flavours, culture and long-standing traditions.. Explore the organic market to sample some options and learn of the local specialties before transferring to a women run apiary and see how they manage the hives. Continue to a farm that has specialized in cheese making for more than 5 generations. Visit the farm and share a delicious farm-to-table lunch with the family. Understanding the local culture is made easier by immersing yourself in the cuisine, and there is no better way than this. The rest of the day is free after returning to Trebinje in the aftenroon.
Day 11: Trebinje/Citluk
Head out of Trebinje in the morning by bus for a day of highlights. First, stop in Stolac to see the town centre then visit a UNESCO-listed site with ornamented necropolis tombstones to get a glimpse into how people lived in the Middle Ages. Continue to the spectacular Kravica waterfall and carry on to the lesser-visited Kocuša Waterfall to enjoy the scenery and have time for lunch. Later, travel to the town of Citluk for the night and cap off the day with dinner at a winery, paired with their locally produced wines.
Day 12: Citluk/Mostar
Immerse yourself in history today by visiting the Pocitelj Ottoman stone town and art colony, taking a short hike to the Blagaj Fortress, and soaking in the natural beauty of the Dervish Monastery, built on cliffs by the water at the mouth of the Buna River. Later, continue to the city of Mostar and set off on a guided walking tour before spending the rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 13: Mostar/Sarajevo
Transfer from Mostar to Sarajevo today, stopping at Tito's Bunker along the way. Explore the underground complex and learn of the Cold War-era history that made it come to be in the former communist Yugoslavia. Continue to the vibrant city of Sarajevo and be immersed in the local culinary scene on a history and food tour that will serve as a delicious dinner this evening and a great introduction to the city.
Day 14: Sarajevo
Take advantage of a free day to get the most out of the beautiful city of Sarajevo. Dive into the history and tragic past with countless museums and culturally significant monuments, take a graffiti art tour or just relax and sample local flavours at one of the many cafes.
Day 15: Sarajevo/Kotor
Depart from Sarajevo after breakfast for the drive into Montenegro with a stop at Bileca to stretch the legs and have a bite to eat. Arrive to Kotor in the afternoon and check into the hotel. In the evening, set off with your CEO on an orientation walk of Kotor's old town. Get your bearings of the area on the way to an optional group dinner.
Day 16: Kotor
Hop on a boat from Kotor's port area and set off on a scenic ride in the Bay of Kotor, seeing a number of small islands and historical sites before arriving to the town of Perast. Spend some time exploring and wandering Perast's old town before returning to Kotor around midday. The rest of the day is free for individual exploration or for optional activities like museum visits or sea kayaking.
Day 17: Kotor/Žabljak
Travel south from Kotor to the coastal seaport town of Budva. Visit the old town on a walk with your CEO then continue inland to visit the striking Ostrog Monasteray, perched high on a mountain cliff face, offering great views from the top. After lunch, drive towards Zabljak, a serene natural haven with diverse terrain and forest shade - our stop for the night.
Day 18: Žabljak/Kolašin
Head out after breakfast and drive to a hidden gem of natural beauty in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora National Park. Spend most of the day in the park, walking with the CEO around the lake and taking in the pristine forest and mountain scenery. After lunch in the park enjoy a bit of free time to rent a boat, a bike or a kayak to further explore the area. In the late afternoon, drive to the nearby town of Kolasin for the night, with an included dinner at our accommodation.
Day 19: Kolašin/Podgorica
Get picked up at the hotel in the morning by 4x4 vehicles for an unforgettable adventure. Head off-road and explore Montenegro's incredibly beautiful back country while traversing rugged terrain through mountains and forest. After lunch, take a bus south to the capital city of Podgorica and set off on a a walking exploration of the old town, once a medieval stronghold. Enjoy an optional final dinner out with the group in the old town or near the hotel.
Day 20: Podgorica/Shkodër
Depart Podgorica and cross into Albania, reaching the beautiful natural scenery of Theth National Park. Explore the area with your CEO, walking through meadows full of wildflowers surrounded by mountain peaks, and marvel at the 25m high Grunasi Waterfall, cascading from a limestone cliff. In the afternoon continue to the city of Shkodër and check into the hotel, with the rest of the evening free to relax.
Day 21: Shkodër
Set off this morning on a guided walking tour of Shkodër to see some of the main sights and to learn a bit about the city's history. Starting from the Ottoman-era Mesi bridge, walk to the old town and take in the panoramic views from Rozafa castle. Shkodër's cultural heritage is on full display through its historic architecture and monuments. The rest of the day is free to explore, visit museums or relax at a cafe or at the hotel.
Day 22: Shkodër/Tirana
Travel south from Shkodër this morning and stop in the small mountain town of Kruje. Explore the city on foot learn a bit about its fascinating history and significance since Roman times. After time for lunch, continue driving south to the city of Tirana, Albania's capital, where the tour ends on arrival at approximately 5pm.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
(616) 214-8995