Journey the Balkans Escorted Tour; Croatia, Bosnia & Serbia Dubrovnik-Zagreb 7nts (Saturdays)

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Dubrovnik
Location: Dubrovnik, Montenegro, Mostar, Serbia, Zagreb
Duration: 8 days (Sat-Sat)
Availability: SATURDAYS only, monthly departures
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Dubrovnik
Location: Dubrovnik, Montenegro, Mostar, Serbia, Zagreb
Duration: 8 days (Sat-Sat)
Availability: SATURDAYS only, monthly departures
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

Escorted Coach Tour, perfect post-cruise option from Dubrovnik
Stand-alone tour, or cruise first
Finishes in Zagreb, for easy flight or train connections
Visit UNESCO Heritage sites: Old City of Dubrovnik & the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor
Sightseeing tours of Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Osijek, and a day excursion to Montenegro
Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik
Wine tasting in Croatia’s Iločki Podrumi

Book now (obligation free) pay later

8 days from Dubrovnik to Mostar and Sarajevo in Bosnia & Herzegovina then on to Belgrade, Novi Sad in Serbia, Osijek and finishing in Zagreb

Journey through The Balkans.
Start in famous Dubrovnik, head into Bosnia & Herzegovina, through Serbia and finish in Zagreb.
Half-board meals, sightseeing and transfers included.
Perfect tour post-cruise from Dubrovnik to get you back to Zagreb with some great sightseeing along the way

Itinerary

Open age Escorted Coach Tour conducted in English (possibly up to 40pax). Double bed or twin bed rooms available. Most triple rooms are a double bed with a single bed. Solo travellers must book a double/twin for solo use.

Perfect tour post-cruise from Dubrovnik to get you back to Zagreb with some great sightseeing along the way.

Combine with a cruise before the tour:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/cruises/

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
8 days from Dubrovnik to Mostar and Sarajevo in Bosnia & Herzegovina then on to Belgrade, Novi Sad in Serbia, Osijek and finishing in Zagreb

INCLUDED:
• Travel in air-conditioned vehicle with driver at group's disposal as per itinerary
• Experienced Tour Manager throughout the trip
• Breakfast daily
• 5 Dinners/2 lunches as per itinerary
• Wine tasting in Croatia’s Iločki Podrumi
• 7 nights accommodation in 4star Hotels
• Includes day excursion to Montenegro
• Entrance to Etno Village Stara Kapela

SIGHTSEEING TOURS INCLUDED:
• Dubrovnik
• Sarajevo
• Belgrade
• Novi Sad
• Osijek
• day excursion Ancient Montenegro

HOTELS:
Dubrovnik - Valamar 4star or similar
Sarajevo - Colors In 4star or similar
Beograd - Zira 4star or similar
Osijek - Osijek 4star or similar
Zagreb - Astoria 4star or similar

NOT INCLUDED:
• Tips/gratuities
• Meals not listed in itinerary
• Telephone Charges
• Incidentals/personal items

ITINERARY:
Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. Dinner and first overnight in hotel, so late arrivals are possible.

Day 1, Saturday ARRIVE DUBROVNIK (B,D)
Transfer from Dubrovnik airport, Dubrovnik harbor or another hotel in Dubrovnik to the designated tour hotel. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 2, Sunday DUBROVNIK (B,D)
Let our guided city tour of Dubrovnik Old Town weave the story of its history and its present into the splendid fabric of fine architecture and magnificent city walls. Starting from Pile square on the eastern side of Dubrovnik Old Town, embark on a walking tour through the maze of narrow streets, lively piazzas, and stunning palaces like Sponza and churches like St. Blaise. Enjoy the moderate tempo of your walk as you stroll down the main thoroughfare of Stradun, all the way to the Cathedral and the Rector’s Palace, where you will discover a fine synergy between governance and faith which kept Dubrovnik afloat as the independent Republic of Ragusa for 450 years. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 3, Monday DUBROVNIK (B,D) – Day Excursion to Montenegro
From Dubrovnik, visit off-the-beaten-path Montenegro, a diminutive southeast European country that boasts big things: the UNESCO-World Heritage-listed Bay of Kotor, the walled seaside town of Budva, and the eye-pleasing city of Kotor, situated within Europe’s southernmost fjord. Have some free time to explore Kotor and Budva on your own and then enjoy a ferry ride across the Bay of Kotor on your way back to Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 4, Tuesday DUBROVNIK – MOSTAR – SARAJEVO (B,D)
Morning departure to Mostar, city of bridges, where the traveler from the south gets the first glimpse of the continent beyond. Orientational walk with your tour leader in Mostar and free time for lunch. Departure to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo is one of the historically most interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & the Eastern Roman Empire split and where the people of the Orthodox East, the Ottoman South and the Roman Catholic West met, both an example of the clash of civilizations and of historical turbulences and a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance, reached through multi-cultural integration. City tour of Sarajevo upon arrival. Dinner and overnight in Sarajevo.

Day 5, Wednesday SARAJEVO – BELGRADE (B,D)
Morning departure to Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Short break will be made in Zvornik, charming little town in the northeastern Bosnia on Drina river. Belgrade is situated at the place where Sava joins the Danube River. There are spots in Belgrade you must definitely see and feel. Streets, squares, monuments, parks, fountains, archeological sites. Many of them have been given the status of cultural assets. Upon arrival a guided tour of this beautiful city between two rivers famous by its sunsets. Dinner and overnight in Belgrade.

Day 6, Thursday BELGRADE – NOVI SAD – OSIJEK/VUKOVAR (B,L)
Morning departure to Novi Sad (Serbia's second largest city), located on Danube river. Novi Sad's position at one of the continent's true crossroads and history as a multinational commercial and transit center has left it endowed with historical and cultural sights that even much larger cities have difficulty matching. Novi Sad has much to boast about, from the imposing fortress on the opposite bank to the churches representing numerous denominations throughout the old town's exceedingly pleasant pedestrian zone to several unheralded but noteworthy museums and art galleries. Our local guide will show us all “must see“ locations. After the guided tour of Novi Sad we will continue towards Ilok. You will have opportunity to taste wines in one of the famous Croatia wine cellars “Iločki Podrumi” followed by traditional lunch. On our way to Osijek we will stop in Vukovar which is the biggest Croatian river port located at the confluence of Vuka River in Danube, a town also known as a symbol of the Croatian war for independence, as it arose from the ashes of the '90s into the proud city that it is today. In the late afternoon hours, we will end this day. Overnight in Osijek or Vukovar.

Day 7, Friday OSIJEK/VUKOVAR – ZAGREB (B,L)
You will start you morning with the city tour of Osijek. Osijek Pancake - flat, rich in rivers, Slavonia has unique natural wonders and delicious regional cuisine that will take your breath away: endless plains, the intense yellow of its corn and sunflower fields, the flavors of its cuisine that will make all your senses travel.... Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, beautifully settled on the banks of Drava River. Osijek remains a popular tourist destination for its Baroque style, open spaces and lots of recreational opportunities. Located in one of the most fertile and most certainly the biggest agricultural area of Croatia, the town is its semi-official gastronomic capital. City tour passes by the Cathedral and the Tvrdja (Old Fort). We are continuing our drive and the first thing you see when approaching Djakovo from either side is the brightness of the bricks of the two towers and cupolas of its Cathedral, beauty of which welcomes the visitors. After the visit, departure towards Zagreb followed by a visit to the Ethno Village of Stara Kapela for a lunch/no drinks included/ of the products of the Pannonia soil. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 8, Saturday DEPART ZAGREB (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure transfer from the tour hotel to Zagreb airport or hotels in Zagreb. If you are departing after check-out you can leave your bags with hotel reception.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
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Accommodations

Great accommodations are provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]