Overall Trip Highlights

• Two countries, one seamless journey — Croatia’s classics plus a day in Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor for maximum wow in one itinerary.

• Explore Zagreb with a local guide — lively squares, café culture, and story-filled streets.

• Discover the Hills of Zagorje — rolling countryside dotted with castles, vineyards, and villages.

• Walk the boardwalks of Plitvice Lakes National Park — emerald lakes linked by cascading waterfalls.

• Step inside Split’s Diocletian’s Palace — a living Roman city within ancient walls.

• Stroll UNESCO-listed Trogir — stone lanes, seaside loggia, and island charm.

• Island day on Hvar — coastal panoramas and the lavender fields story with your guide.

• Coastal flavors en route to Dubrovnik — Think Pelješac wines, Ston salt & oysters, with a detour to Mostar for Old Bridge views.

• Uncover Dubrovnik Old Town — guided walk along marble streets, fountains, and cloisters with sea views.
• Montenegro day trip — Fjord-like Kotor Bay, medieval Kotor lanes, and sweeping lookout points for the ultimate “pinch-me” vistas.
• Enjoy scenic coastal drives throughout — islands, coves, and Adriatic lookouts.
• Handpicked, central stays — Boutique locations that put cafés, promenades, and landmarks right outside your door.

Two Countries, One Coastline! Croatia & Montenegro Adventure

Every Beatrice Bradley trip is crafted to maximize the experiences had during the trip.
The itineraries are specially made to allow time for engaging in conversation and having belly laughs with a new friend. We hope that the activities and experiences may allow you to come out of your comfort zone and to try new or unique things.
These trips are made to replicate a ‘friends get-away trip’. 

Day One: Welcome to Zagreb!

Arrive at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport and meet your hostess for a smooth private transfer to your centrally located hotel near the main square. Depending on arrival time, head out for an easy orientation walk that reveals both sides of the capital—sleek, modern boulevards and a storybook historic core. In the evening, gather with your hosts and fellow travelers for a cheerful welcome reception featuring Croatian wines and light bites – your first taste of the adventure ahead.

Overnight in Zagreb

Highlights

• Airport meet & greet at ZAG with private transfer to the historic center

• Boutique hotel steps from Ban Jelačić Square and café culture

• Short orientation walk of Zagreb

• Welcome Reception: Enjoy wine, laughter, and bonding with your fellow Beatrice Bradley travelers.

Day Two: Hills of Zagorje – Trakošćan Castle & Samobor

Leave the city behind and follow your guide into the storybook Hills of Zagorje. As the countryside rises and folds into green, you’ll hear the tales that shaped this royal borderland before arriving at Trakošćan Castle, one of Croatia’s most iconic fortresses. Explore the castle’s museum rooms—portraits, tapestries, and period furnishings—and then step outside for a walk around the lake beneath the ramparts (photo stops encouraged).

Continue on to the quaint town of Samobor, famous for its cozy taverns, hearty folk dishes, and excellent local wines. Settle in for a leisurely lunch, then enjoy free time to wander the main square and duck down charming side streets. This is also the perfect place to pick up a traditional Croatian souvenir heart, known as licitar, a hand-decorated symbol of love and friendship that has been part of local heritage for centuries.

We’ll return to Zagreb in the late afternoon with time to stroll, shop, or relax at a café – then gather for a delicious group dinner to cap the day.

Overnight in Zagreb

Highlights

• Guided day trip through the Hills of Zagorje

• Inside visit at Trakošćan Castle + lakeside walk

• Samobor for countryside lunch, local wines, and town time

• Group Dinner in Zagreb

Day Three: Watermills to Waterfalls 

Leave Zagreb for a scenic step back in time at Rastoke, a fairytale watermill village perched where the Slunjčica river tumbles into the Korana. Stroll wooden footbridges, watch cascades slip between cottages, and snap a few postcard views before continuing south.

Next up is Croatia’s natural showstopper: Plitvice Lakes National Park. With your guide, trace a dreamlike route across wooden boardwalks that skim turquoise pools and travertine terraces built by mineral-rich waters over millennia. We’ll weave between the Upper and Lower Lakes for a balanced look at cascades, quiet coves, and mirror-calm sections perfect for photos. A scenic boat ride on Lake Kozjak and a panoramic shuttle segment add new angles without extra steps, keeping the pace comfortable. 

Afterward, sit down to a traditional lunch at a local restaurant – think grilled trout, rustic breads, and regional cheeses – before we drive the Dalmatian countryside to Split. Arrive early evening, check in, and perhaps take a first stroll along the palm-lined Riva before a lovely group dinner.

Overnight in Split

Highlights

• Storybook stop in Rastoke watermill village
• Guided exploration of Plitvice Lakes (Upper & Lower Lakes, waterfalls, forest paths)
• Boat ride across Lake Kozjak & park shuttle train segment
• Traditional lunch at a local restaurant
• Scenic drive to Split

Day Four: Roman Roots – Split & Trogir

Begin on Split’s palm-lined Riva, then slip through the south gate into Diocletian’s Palace – not a ruin, but a living Old Town. Walk the substructures (cellars) that once supported the emperor’s apartments, step into the grand Peristyle, crane up in the echoing Vestibule, and compare pagan and Christian layers at the Temple of Jupiter/Cathedral of St. Domnius (bell tower climb optional for big views). Soak up market life around the Pazar before a short ride inland.

Just outside the city lies Salona (Solin), the former Roman capital of Dalmatia. Explore amphitheater remains, basilicas, baths, and quiet necropolis lanes—an open-air textbook of the empire at its edge. Then follow the coast to Trogir, a UNESCO-listed jewel on a tiny island. Wander stone lanes to the Cathedral of St. Lawrence (Radovan portal), pass loggias and courtyards, and circle the waterfront by Kamerlengo Fortress.

Enjoy a seaside coffee or gelato before returning to Split as the harbor lights come on just in time for a group dinner. 

Overnight stay in Split

Highlights

• Inside Diocletian’s Palace: substructures, Peristyle, Vestibule, Jupiter/Cathedral
• Street life on the Riva and Pazar market

• Roman ruins of Salona (Solin): amphitheater, basilicas, baths

• Trogir Old Town (UNESCO): Cathedral of St. Lawrence, Radovan portal, waterfront

Day Five: Lavender Ridges, Stari Grad & Seaside Hvar Town

Sail from Split to Hvar and follow the ridge road toward Brusje, where the island’s lavender heritage comes into view—stone terraces, sea breezes, and a short walk among the fields (full bloom is typically June–July). Continue via the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO) to see the ancient Greek field grid that still shapes island life, then make your way into Hvar Town for a quick look at St. Stephen’s Square, the Cathedral, and the historic Arsenal & Theatre.

Our program then steps inside the world of one of Croatia’s leading winemakers, Duboković. You’re welcomed into the family house and cellar to meet the owner, hear first-hand stories of the craft, and taste distinctive wines alongside the estate’s varietal and aromatized olive oils. The day culminates with an authentic island picnic in the picturesque village of Vrisnik, prepared “the traditional island way” and hosted by a renowned olive-oil producer for a warm, convivial feast you’ll remember.

Return to the mainland by ferry in the early evening for a cozy group dinner to toast the day. 

Overnight in Split

Highlights

• • Ferry/catamaran from Split to Hvar

  • Lavender fields near Brusje (seasonal bloom; heritage walk)

  • Stari Grad & the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO)

  • Hvar Town walk: St. Stephen’s Square, Cathedral, Arsenal & 1612 Theatre

  • Private tasting with winemaker Duboković (wines & olive oils)

  • Vrisnik village culinary picnic, traditional island style

Day Six: Walls, Wine & Oysters 

Depart Split after breakfast and trace the Dalmatian coast south toward Ston, famed for its sweeping medieval walls, historic salt pans, and the prized oysters of Mali Ston Bay. Stroll the compact old town and, if you’d like, sample freshly shucked oysters right by the water (lemon, olive oil, and a glass of crisp local white make the perfect trio).

Cross the Pelješac wine country next: terraced slopes, stone soils, and Adriatic breezes that shape powerful Plavac Mali reds (Dingač/Postup). Visit a family-run winery to learn the stories behind the vintages and enjoy an easygoing tasting. Refreshed and sun-warmed, we carry on to Dubrovnik, arriving by late afternoon to settle in and savor your first look at the walled city by the sea.

Overnight in Dubrovnik 

Highlights

• Scenic coastal drive from Split to Ston to Dubrovnik

• Ston town walk, medieval walls & salt pans

• Oyster tasting on Mali Ston Bay
• Pelješac winery visit with local varietals
• Evening arrival in Dubrovnik 

Day Seven: The Pearl of the Adriatic

Begin at Pile Gate and stroll the marble Stradun as your guide brings Dubrovnik’s storied past to life. Pause at Onofrio’s Fountain, the Franciscan Monastery (with its historic pharmacy), elegant Sponza and Rector’s Palace, and the Cathedral before weaving through sunlit cloisters and lanes to the Old Port.

Next, follow the coast south through the green Konavle Valley to the seaside town of Cavtat—once Greek Epidaurus and later a Roman colony. Enjoy a guided walk along limestone-paved streets and the palm-lined promenade, with time for a coffee at an outdoor café and a few photos by the harbor.

We return to Dubrovnik via a panoramic route, making a detour up Mount Srđ for a sweeping lookout over the red roofs, the Dalmatian coast, and the nearby islands—a picture-perfect finale to the day.

Overnight in Dubrovnik

Highlights

• Guided Old Town walk: Pile Gate, Stradun, Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s & Sponza, Cathedral, Old Port
• Coastal drive through Konavle Valley
• Cavtat town walk & harbor promenade
• Mount Srđ viewpoint over Dubrovnik & the islands

 Day Eight: Montenegro Day – Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks & Kotor

Set out from Dubrovnik after breakfast, skirting the coves of Župa Dubrovačka and the green Konavle valley until the mountains part to reveal the mirror-calm Bay of Kotor. First stop: baroque Perast. Board a short boat to Our Lady of the Rocks to visit its jewel-box church and museum and hear the legend behind this tiny islet – bay views here are spectacular.

Continue to Kotor, where a local licensed guide leads a storytelling walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town – Sea Gate, Clock Tower, St. Tryphon Cathedral, and lanes steeped in nautical tradition. Afterward, enjoy time to explore at your own pace. Up for a challenge? Climb the city walls (about 1,350 steps) to the hilltop fortress for staggering bay panoramas (the Church of Our Lady of Remedy is a rewarding halfway goal). Back in town, cool off over a traditional konoba lunch – homemade specialties, domestic cheeses, olive oil, and local wines – before we turn back toward Croatia in the afternoon, with a little time for last-minute souvenir shopping.

Back in Dubrovnik, we’ll gather for a festive farewell dinner – harbor views, clinking glasses, and a final toast to a week of walls, islands, and waterfalls.

Overnight in Dubrovnik

Highlights

• Coastal drive via Župa Dubrovačka & Konavle to the Bay of Kotor

• Perast village & boat to Our Lady of the Rocks (church & museum)

• Guided walk in Kotor Old Town (UNESCO)

• Optional walls climb (1,350 steps) via Our Lady of Remedy

• Farewell Dinner in Dubrovnik 

Day Nine: Farewell to Croatia

Transfers to Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport in groups. Say goodbye to new friends and the Dalmatian coast’s marble streets, islands, and sea views as you depart from Dubrovnik for your journey home.

Note: This itinerary serves as a general guide to what we will be doing, seeing, and eating, with the final version provided approximately two weeks prior. The published itinerary is an example and may be adjusted to include accommodations, tours, or restaurants of comparable quality to ensure the best experience.