Three Nations Tour of Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia
August 30-Sept 9,2025
Experience the cultural variety and rugged natural beauty of Bosnia & Herzegovina and in Montenegro, along with the beautiful old town along the walled city of Dubrovnik Croatia
Enjoy this small group experience limited to maximum 16 people with group transport each day via an air conditioned minibus
The Latin Bridge in Sarajevo, which was the site of the 1914 assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand which led to the start of World War One.
Day1 August 30, 2025
Start Dubrovnik Airport; We will be picked up at the Dubrovnik Croatia airport at a time designated by the tour operator and we will then be driven approximately 3 hours to Kotor, a beautiful town in Montenegro
Neatly tucked in one of the largest fjords in southeast Europe, Kotor is a cultural treasure dating from the 12th century and still retains the Mediterranean ambience of the region.
Accommodation: Hotel Porto In (or similar)
Meals included: Dinner
Day2 August 31st, 2025
Kotor city tour; boat ride to Gospa od Skrpjela Island and Perast town in the Bay of Kotor
Today we walk through the old town of Kotor, with its many palaces and churches. These are the main reasons why Kotor was named a Unesco World Heritage site in 1979. Our approximately two-hour walk takes us through spacious squares lined with grand townhouses, known locally as palaces, and various impressive religious buildings. After our tour, we take a short transfer to Perast, a town once owned by the Venetians, which explains the distinctly Italian feel. It is dominated by the 17th-century church of St Nikola, protected by a Venetian fortress and surrounded by beautiful palaces and gardens built by once-famous sea captains of the Adriatic.
Here we have lunch overlooking the bay. After, we take a boat ride to the Lady of the Rocks Island and visit the chapel. The views of towering cliffs of the Dinaric Alps from the boat are truly impressive, giving us a different perspective of the Montenegrin coastline.
Lady of the Rock Island and her chapel which we will visit today
We transfer back to our hotel by boat, the best way to enjoy this fabulous setting.
Accommodation: Hotel Porto In (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day3 Sept. 1st, 2025
Transfer to Cetinje for a city tour. Drive to Unesco-listed Durmitor National Park visiting Ostrog Monastery en route
We will be transferred (approximately two hours) to Cetinje for a tour. The town lies at the foot of the Lovcen Mountain and was the ancient capital of Montenegro. Since 1485, it has been the sacred center of Montenegro; as a result, the city houses more museums and cultural heritage sites than any other in the country. Our tour takes us to some of the main sites in this cultural oasis in the Cetinjsko fields.
From Cetinje, we set off towards the mountainous interior of Montenegro, visiting the holy shrine of St Vasilije high in the shady Ostrog Mountains en route. Few people expect to witness such a marvelous spectacle when they arrive. Intricately carved into the rising rock face, the Ostrog Monastery is considered by many to be the most inspiring Orthodox sacred place in the former Yugoslavia. It has become the largest religious pilgrimage site in the country, with many Orthodox Christians and even Catholics and Muslims paying homage to St Vasilije, the founder of the 17th-century monastery.
The unique Ostrag Monastery is literally carved into the rock face of the mountains
The day culminates with a drive (approximately three hours) through isolated villages and high mountain passes to the small ski resort of Zabljak, which sits neatly on a plateau at 4,920ft (1,500m), surrounded by beautiful pinewood forests, high alpine mountains and the deep Tara Canyon.
Accommodation: Hotel Zabljak (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day4 Sept. 2nd 2025
Walk around Zabljak Plateau with its lakes and traditional highland villages
Today we explore the Zabljak Plateau with its numerous lakes and traditional villages. We start with a walk around the largest lake in the area, where the waters reflect the surrounding peaks. Around lunchtime, we transfer to the village of Podgora, which has recently become part of a regional eco-village network helping to promote tourism in rural communities. A local family provides us with a tasty lunch of traditional Montenegrin mountain food. We also visit and enjoy views from one of the numerous viewpoints above the Unesco-listed Tara Canyon, said to be the deepest canyon in Europe.
The Tara Canyon-The Deepest Canyon in Europe
We then transfer back to Zabljak and have the afternoon free to explore, enjoy a scenic walk, go for an invigorating dip in the lake, or perhaps drink a glass of local wine or beer in a cafe.
Accommodation: Hotel Zabljak (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Sept. 3rd 2025
Transfer to the Piva River on the border with Bosnia; a walk along the banks of this beautiful river; drive to Sarajevo
We transfer (approximately two to three hours) to the Montenegro-Bosnia border, via Durmitor’s interior with its impressive peaks, isolated mountain lakes and deep canyons. The mountain roads are narrow and we meet the occasional shepherd with his sheep moving up to the higher grassy pastures of Durmitor. This seasonal migration has taken place for centuries and is very much part of Montenegrin culture, even today.
We wind out of the Piva Gorge down to Scepan Polje, the border crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina, stopping where possible to enjoy the views in this wild, uninhabited part of Bosnia. We take a walk along the Piva River to an old suspension bridge, which for a long time was the only connection between the two riverbanks. The water here is wonderfully pure and offers a great setting for a photo. After lunch, we continue through an empty and mountainous part of east Bosnia and Herzegovina to Sarajevo.
Images of Scepan Polje
Accommodation: Hotel Diamond Rain (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 Sept. 4th 2025
Sarajevo City tour including the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum
Two images of the Latin Bridge which was the site of the 1914 assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand which led to the start of World War One.
Today we have a full day exploring Sarajevo on foot and by bus. One of the most culturally diverse cities in Europe, Sarajevo spent more than 400 years under Turkish governorship until the Austro-Hungarians arrived in the late 19th century.
Forty years later, the empire collapsed when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated here, hastening the outbreak of the First World War.
The late-20th century saw Sarajevo host the 1984 Winter Olympics, and the long siege of the city during the recent conflict. Our tour of the major historical, cultural and war sites in the city will help you piece together its complex history.
Our day involves a walking tour of the main sites and a visit to the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. The tunnel provided the Sarajevo citizens a lifeline during Sarajevo’s 1,400 days of isolation and was the only reliable way of supplying goods and electricity to the city as all other supply lines were cut off by the Serbian Army. This is a sobering and fascinating visit.
Accommodation: Hotel Diamond Rain (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 Sept. 5th 2025
Visit to Beautiful Rakitnica Canyon
We will be transferred (approximately two hours) to Lukomir, the highest village in Bosnia at 4,820ft (1,469m), with its ancient stecci (medieval tombstones). Here we get an insight into the traditional way of life. Customary dress and the occasional turban and fez are still worn, going hand in hand with the more contemporary features of everyday life. The village houses here are a powerful image of a simpler time. We then take a walk down towards the Rakitnica Canyon nearby and find excellent viewpoints to admire this majestic scenery. The scale of the mountains coupled with the canyon far below are sights that will live long in the memory. Lunch is taken in the village, prepared by one of the main families still living there and will be traditional and filling. We return to Sarajevo at the end of the day.
Beautiful Rakitnica Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel Diamond Rain (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Sept. 6th 2025
Transfer to Mostar for sightseeing and city tour
View of the Old Town of Mostar, Bosnia
We transfer (approx.. 2hr 30min) to Mostar where we have a whole day to visit this beautiful Herzegovinian city. Mostar was founded in the 15th century and the architecture is a precious combination of Turkish ingenuity and Herzegovinian workmanship. We spend the morning and afternoon exploring Mostar, a city split during the conflict of the early 1990s. We see the scars of war, but these days Mostar is once again a warm and bustling place with an intriguing history. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.
Images from Mostar, in Bosnia
Accommodation: Hotel Kapetanovina (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 Sept. 7th 2025
Explore Ottoman town of Pocitelj, Kravica Waterfalls and visit nearby village of Blagaj
Kravica Waterfalls in Bosnia Herzegovinia
Our first stop today will be Pocitelj, another Unesco World Heritage site and host to the longest-operating art colony in southeast Europe. The most striking object in Pocitelj is the Kula, a silo-shaped fort that dominates the skyline from a hill above the town. It once housed watchmen and military guarding against possible invasion from the Neretva Valley.
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Photo by Adam Jones of Freeservers
Village of Pociteli
Our next stop is Kravica Waterfall, a green oasis in the rocky Herzegovinian landscape. After a short walk, and perhaps a cooling swim, we head to Blagaj for lunch.
The Blagaj highlights are the Buna Spring and the adjacent Ottoman house/monastery. The spring here is amazing. It flows out of a 655ft (200m) cliff wall to form the Buna River. Unsurprisingly, the Ottoman sultan was impressed and ordered a tekija to be built right next to it. This 16th-century house/monastery was built for the Dervish cults and is still one of the most mystical places in all Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also in the vicinity are old flour mills that the strong Buna River used to power. We spend the late afternoon and evening in Mostar.
Buna Spring, a highlight today of our visit to The Blagaj
Accommodation: Hotel Kapetanovina (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 Sept. 8th 2025
Transfer to Trebinje, followed by wine tasting; continue to Dubrovnik
Our journey now takes us back to Dubrovnik via Radimlja with its numerous beautiful medieval Christian tombstones, and Trebinje, the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Trebinje has a rich history dating to the Middle Ages. Here we visit a family-owned winery and get a taste of life in old Herzegovina, venturing into the cellars to sample the rich, earthy, bold tastes of the red wines.
The wines of Herzegovina are among the newest in the second world wine category. This tradition, however, has been in existence since Roman times. The sunny Mediterranean climate and rich hinterland soils here produce some of the finest wines in southern Europe.
Then, we travel south to our final destination: Dubrovnik, a magnificent walled city at the southernmost tip of Croatia. Formerly a prosperous trading center, Dubrovnik is now a Unesco World Heritage site, and the perfectly preserved Old Town and rich cultural life draw many visitors each year. We end the day with free time, so you can swim in the warm Adriatic or explore the Old Town at your leisure and take a walk along the ancient city walls.
Accommodation: Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 Sept. 9th 2025
The trip ends this morning in Dubrovnik after breakfast. You may wish to extend your stay in the Croatian capital to further explore its cobbled streets or enjoy the beautiful coastline. Should you wish to do so, please ask your sales representative about our post-tour nights.
Meals included: Breakfast
ACCOMMODATIONS:
We spend 10 nights in hotels, most of which are well located for our adventures. Below are the standard accommodations used; however, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality.
Kotor: Hotel Porto In (nights 1-2)
Just a two-minute walk from the Unesco-listed old town, this 17-room hotel is ideally located for our time in Kotor. There’s also a small beach 655ft (200m) from the front door. The hotel itself has a 50-seat restaurant and bar, serving a mix of national and international cuisines.
Zabljak: Hotel Zabljak (nights 3-4)
A grand, angular design and modern Scandi-style rooms make Hotel Zabljak stand out. But it’s the mountain views that may be the lasting memory. For an additional cost, there’s access to a wellness center with a gym and hot tub.
Sarajevo: Hotel Cosmopolit (nights 5-7)
In the heart of the city, Hotel Cosmopolit is well located for our adventure, just a short walk from the Miljacka River. It’s a bright, modern property often praised for its cleanliness and welcoming staff.
Mostar: Hotel Kapetanovina (nights 8-9)
Our two-night stay at Kapetanovina means we’re only a three-minute walk from the star attraction in town: the Old Bridge of Mostar. The rooms are modern and have a color scheme inspired by the Neretva River.
Our final night is spent at Hotel Komodor, a three-star beachside property. It has 113 rooms, which are split between the main building and an annex. There’s a terrace with a pool and sun loungers too, plus the seaside promenade is just a five-minute walk away.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU do not currently need a visa for Croatia or Montenegro or Bosnia Herzegovina. Please note though, visa requirements can change and it is your responsibility to check for any changes prior to your trip and to obtain any required visa of a country that unexpectedly begins requiring one.
For US passport holders, a helpful link to check any time whether any of the three countries change any entry requirement is listed below
- www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/BosniaandHerzegovina.html
- www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Croatia.html
- www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Montenegro.html
MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS TRIP ITINERARY
The locals are so friendly and cultural traditions are warmly displayed.
One of many beautiful bridges we will see on this trip, beautiful both by day and illuminated at night
One of the many stunning sunsets over this beautiful region of Europe
Trip cost: $3225 per person with a roommate assigned or a roommate of your own arrangement.
Call or email us for availability.
Optional Single Room Supplement: Only $ 488 (Very limited, so contact us for availability).
A Deposit of $800 is required by the tour operator within seven days of making your reservation. Please phone us or fill out our online reservation form and we will email you a confirmation within 1 business day and you will then have 7 days to call our office with your credit card to be charged by the tour operator for their required deposited of $800.
The balance is due 100 days prior to the trip for single occupancy bookings or anyone traveling with their own roommate arrangement
The balance for any passengers who have requested we assign you a roommate, is due April 15th
Cancelation policy for this trip:
If you cancel before the balance payment is due, you will lose $300 and get a future trip credit for the remaining $500 of the deposit, valid for another trip departing in either 2024 or 2025.
If you cancel after the balance due date, you will lose your full payment.
