Highlights
- Trek an old military road up to Croatia's highest peak, Mount Sniježnica
- Pedal the scenic route around Montenegro's picturesque Bay of Kotor
- Spend a morning paddling and swimming down the Trebižat River
- Walk across the 16th-century Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Explore the marble streets and baroque buildings of Dubrovnik's Old Town
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Dubrovnik, Transfer to Cavtat | Cavtat |
| Day 2 | Hike Sniježnica in the Konavle | Cavtat |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Zvekovica, Cycle to Kotor (Montenegro) | Kotor |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Dubac, Cycle to Ravno (Bosnia & Herzegovina) | Ravno |
| Day 5 | Cycle from Ravno to Čapljina | Capljina |
| Day 6 | Čapljina to Mostar, Canoe Excursion on the Trebižat River | Mostar |
| Day 7 | Mostar to Dubrovnik, Walking Tour of Old Town | Dubrovnik |
| Day 8 | Depart Dubrovnik |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dubrovnik, Transfer to Cavtat
Upon your arrival at Dubrovnik airport, you'll board the shuttle to your accommodation in the small town of Cavtat, just 30 minutes southeast of Dubrovnik. This gorgeous harbor village enjoys a postcard-perfect location nestled in a peninsular cove on the Adriatic. You'll have free time to explore the area where you might like to stroll the waterfront promenade, laze on a pebbly beach, or while away the hours in a café or restaurant after navigating the network of charming streets and cobbled alleys of Old Town.
Come the evening, you'll enjoy dinner with your guide, the perfect setting to get to know other members of your group as well as familiarize yourself with the itinerary of your active adventure.
Day 2: Hike Sniježnica in the Konavle
Enjoy a hearty breakfast this morning to prepare yourself for your first active day. You'll meet your driver and make the quick trip to Kuna Konavoska, a small village in the hills above the Konavle valley, a famous wine region that stretches from Cavtat to the south-easterly tip of Croatia at the Montenegrin border. Its small population lives in some 32 villages scattered across the fertile land where you'll lace up your hiking boots to follow the old Austro-Hungarian military trail up to Sniježnica, the highest mountain in southern Croatia at over 4,000 feet (1,234 m).
Take in the rewarding views—360-degrees overlooking the Konavle, southern and central Adriatic islands, Dubrovnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Here you'll have time to enjoy a picnic lunch until it's time to return to Kuna Konavoska and then back to your hotel in Cavtat.
Day 3: Transfer to Zvekovica, Cycle to Kotor (Montenegro)
After checking out of your hotel in Cavtat, you'll transfer the short distance inland to the small town of Zvekovica, where you'll have time to gear up and fit your bikes before setting out. You'll ride through the picturesque Konavle Valley, an easy route until your first significant climb that gradually takes you out of Croatia and into neighboring Montenegro. Following the scenic route around the start of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, you'll stop in Herceg Novi for a rest, roughly the half-way point.
From there, continue around the bay, taking in the postcard-perfect views over historic towns that edge the glassy water, with sights that stretch further afield to the dramatic hinterland beyond. You'll arrive in the medieval coastal village of Kotor in the afternoon and have the rest of the day to explore the UNESCO-protected town at your own pace.
Built on a sloping mountain, Kotor abounds with Venetian palaces and Romanesque churches. It's also an ancient fortress town, as evidenced by the medieval stone ramparts that run up the mountain to the Fortress of St. John, which dates to the 6th century. You can reach this fortress by hiking up some 1,350 steps from town to a height of roughly 820 feet (250 m) though you might like to rest weary muscles drinking in the scene as you sip a beverage from a restaurant that overlooks the bay.
Cycling distance: 46 miles (73.7km)
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Transfer to Dubac, Cycle to Ravno (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Setting out from Kotor by car in a northwesterly direction, you'll transfer about an hour through Montenegro's mountains to Dubac at the Bosnia and Herzegovina border. Here, you'll trade in the four wheels for your two, and cruise the exciting descent into the Popovo Polje valley, sailing past a rural landscape of small towns and farms. Popovo Polje is one of the most extensive karstic plains or polje and offers panoramic views of fertile lands in the country's south.
You'll pick up the Ciro route—a former railroad—in Hum and continue along the path to small-town Ravno.
Cycling distance: 40 miles (65 km)
Day 5: Cycle from Ravno to Čapljina
Leaving Ravno behind this morning, you'll continue biking the Ciro trail, the Popovo Polje valley spread out before you, passing small towns and rural landscapes as you pedal your way toward Čapljina.
Along the way, stop in Hutovo, a small medieval fortified town that rests at the end of the Popovo plains. Carry on through bucolic scenery, stopping to enjoy the all-encompassing vistas, including Hutovo Blato—a park that houses one of Europe's richest bird reservations. You will even bike over an old railroad bridge thought to be constructed by Gustave Eiffel, before crossing the Neretva river to today's final destination, Čapljina.
Čapljina sits just over 12 miles (20 km) north of the Adriatic and is centrally located between Mostar and the sea. It has been a vital link connecting the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the port of Ploče in Croatia (a seaport near the mouth of the Neretva river).
Cycling distance: 36 miles (58 km)
Day 6: Čapljina to Mostar, Canoe Excursion on the Trebižat River
Today is reserved for a different kind of active adventure: paddling the Trebižat River, an offshoot of the larger Neretva, on a fun canoe trip. You'll transfer to the starting point along the Trebižat, where you'll paddle and swim your way down the river, all the while enjoying the natural setting until it's time for lunch.
Next, you'll make the 45-minute drive north to picturesque and friendly Mostar, a tourist's paradise. Enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Neretva from the minaret of the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque, traipse along ancient alleyways and paths and cross the reconstructed medieval Stari Most (Old Bridge), and take in Bosnian hospitality at a local guesthouse. The number of notable architectural landmarks combined with the relaxed and inviting atmosphere of the old city will leave you charmed.
Day 7: Mostar to Dubrovnik, Walking Tour of Old Town
Get an early start this morning to make the transfer south to Croatia's "Pearl of the Adriatic. A piece of history, Dubrovnik is one of the most ancient fortress cities in Europe. And while there's evidence of settlements as far back as the Byzantine era, this area only came into its own as an important power since the 13th century due in part to its strategic coastal position. Dubrovnik's long and storied history is told in its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains all found within its imposing fortress walls.
Upon arrival at the airport, you'll transfer to your hotel for check-in before setting out and embarking on a guided walking tour of Dubrovnik's historic Old Town. Begin at the 16th-century Pile Gate and enter the medieval city where you'll uncover centuries of Dubrovnik's rich history as you listen to stories of local life and legends and the importance Dubrovnik once held in the Republic era. Highlights include Onofrio's Fountain, the 15th century Rector's Palace, the Church of St. Blaise (St. Vlaho), and the café-lined streets of Brsalje Street.
After spending some time getting to know the city, you'll want to duck into one of Dubrovnik's many wine bars to relax. Alternatively, come early evening, you can get stunning panoramic views over the city and Adriatic by taking the cable car up to Srđ Mountain before descending back down in time for dinner at one of Dubrovnik's great restaurants.
Day 8: Depart Dubrovnik
Depending on your departure details, you may have time to visit one of Dubrovnik's museums, like the Franciscan Monastery and Museum. This large complex houses many treasures, including the world's third oldest pharmacy dating from 1317.
Alternatively, for a collection of 15,000 pieces of interesting works, visit the Rector's Palace and Cultural Historical Museum. Wander this well-preserved palace-turned-museum and explore its exhibits, some detailing life in the Republic of Ragusa during medieval times. And when it's time, you'll meet your shuttle transfer and return to the airport.
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