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
Sightseeing tours of Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Osijek
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 room for solo use.

Perfect post-cruise Land Tour 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:
• 7 nights accommodation in 4star Hotels
• Travel in air-conditioned vehicle
• Experienced English-speaking Tour Manager
• Includes day excursion to Korcula

Meals Included:
• Breakfast daily
• 5 hotel dinners
• 2 lunches
• Wine tasting in Iločki Podrumi
• Wine tasting in Peljesac Peninsula

Sightseeing and Tours Included:
• Walking tour of Dubrovnik
• Walking tour of Sarajevo
• Walking tour of Belgrade
• Walking tour of Novi Sad
• Walking tour of Osijek
• Day trip to Korcula with wine tasting

Entrances Included:
• Etno Village Stara Kapela

Hotels:
Dubrovnik - Valamar Lacroma 4star or similar
Sarajevo - Colors Inn 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
• Entrance fees

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: DUBROVNIK - Arrival (D)
Transfer from Dubrovnik airport, Dubrovnik harbor or another hotel in Dubrovnik to the designated tour hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner included at the hotel. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
# Included: Dinner at hotel

DAY 2 Sunday: In DUBROVNIK; (B, D)
Morning at leisure. This afternoon we enjoy a locally guided walking tour of this UNESCO protected 'Pearl of the Adriatic' and its Cathedral. Meet the Tour Leader in Hotel Reception around 2.15pm (14.15hrs). You will have a one-way transfer to the Old Town for the walking tour. 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. You can return to the hotel at your leisure after spending free time in Dubrovnik. Dinner at the hotel is included, but of course you may prefer to experience one of the many famous restaurants in Dubrovnik this evening. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Walking Tour of Dubrovnik (around 2pm)

DAY 3 Monday: In DUBROVNIK - Korcula Excursion (B, T, D)
Join us for our day trip to Korcula, or if you prefer, you can take the day at leisure to enjoy Dubrovnik on your own. Korčula holds an indisputable privileged position among the Croatian islands. Here we find more legends, tales and monuments than anywhere else. Being famous stonemasons, shipbuilders and seafarers the people of Korčula left their marks all over the world, but they saved their best works for their own city. Experience the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces in one of the best preserved Medieval towns in the Mediterranean. After the locally-guided walking tour, you have free time for lunch. On the return journey, a stop will be made in one of the well-known wine cellars of the Pelješac Peninsula to sample some of the excellent local wine. Late afternoon return to Dubrovnik. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Korcula Excursion by coach: Embark on a journey to Korčula island and Pelješac for wine tasting. Depart from the hotel, enjoying scenic views along the Adriatic coast with a short break in Ston. Arrive in Orebić and take a short boat ride to Korčula. Upon arrival, enjoy our guided walking tour of the town (museum visits not included), with some free time afterwards to enjoy this magnificent place and grab some lunch. Return boat ride to rejoin your coach and driver. On your way back, a stop will be made for wine tasting in one of the fabulous wine cellars on Pelješac Peninsula.

DAY 4 Tuesday: to MOSTAR, then to SARAJEVO (B, D)
Morning departure to Mostar, city of bridges, where the traveller from the south gets the first glimpse of the continent beyond. Our Tour Leader will guide you on an orientational walk of Mostar, before leaving you with free time for lunch. Then we depart towards 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.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Time in Mostar
# Included: Walking Tour of Sarajevo

DAY 5 Wednesday: to 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. Free time after the tour, perhaps take a quick visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Belgrade.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Walking Tour of Belgrade

DAY 6 Thursday: to NOVI SAD, then to VUKOVAR / OSIJEK (B, L, T)
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 a 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.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Traditional lunch and wine tasting
# Included: Walking Tour of Novi Sad

DAY 7 Friday: OSIJEK tour, then to 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.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Lunch at Stara Kapela
# Included: Walking Tour of Osijek

DAY 8 Saturday: Zagreb - End of Tour (B)
Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Departure transfer from the tour hotel to Zagreb airport in time for your flight, or to other hotels in Zagreb. You can leave your bags at hotel reception until your transfer pick-up if your departure is after check-out time.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Departure transfer to airport, train station or other hotel

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

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

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

Croatia Island Hopping Tour FAQ - 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]