Best of the Balkans: Croatia & Montenegro

Agenda

Trip Length: 10 days/9 nights/ Days 1 & 10 are transit days/ tour starts at 4 PM on Day 1 and ends early on Day 10

Arrival/Departure Point: Dubrovnik

Accommodations: Lopud Island & Dubrovnik: guesthouse rooms with attached bathroom and A/C; Montenegro: a mix of hotels, private apartments and wooden bungalows.

2025 Tour Price*:   € 2.230,00

Includes: 9 nights accommodation, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, & 8 dinners, kayak gear, professional guide, car & ferry transfers, entrance fees

Single Supplement: additional  € 295,00 

2025 Departure Dates:  May: 3 / Jun: 3 / Jul: 11 / Sep: 1, 16 / Oct: 1, 15

*Tours are priced in Euros. 

 

 

Best of the Balkans: Croatia & Montenegro

Our two-country Best of Balkans Tour offers an unparalleled adventure that showcases both the serene Adriatic Sea and Montenegro’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes. Experience the perfect combination of Croatia’s island-hopping adventures and Montenegro’s stunning lakes and tranquil coastal scenery.

In Croatia, paddle through crystal-clear waters, navigating between islands like Lopud and Koločep. Spend nights on peaceful islands, staying in charming local guesthouses, and enjoy fresh seafood and Mediterranean fare at seaside restaurants. Snorkel into hidden sea caves, bask in the warm waters, and explore historical sites like the ancient Trsteno Arboretum.

Transitioning to Montenegro, embark on scenic hikes with panoramic views of the stunning Bay of Kotor. Experience the untamed beauty of Lake Skadar, Southern Europe’s largest lake, by kayak. Paddle past ancient monasteries and the iconic Prison Island, while taking in the serene lake surrounded by mountains. End your days enjoying local cuisine and stargazing in picturesque villages. This adventure perfectly combines sea kayaking, hiking, and cultural immersion, offering you the best of the Balkans.

 

Itinerary

Day 1: Transit day
Arrive in Dubrovnik/airport transfer/explore Old City on your own. 4 PM: ferry to Lopud Island/ swim/ explore Lopud town/ orientation dinner at an island restaurant
Day 2: 7 km,     15 km with St. Andrew's extension
Equipment issue & basic paddling and rescue instruction in Lopud Bay/ paddle the outer side of Lopud along limestone cliffs to Šunj beach/ lunch at a beach bar. Optional paddle to St. Andrew's Island or hike to the Byzantine hilltop fort/ leave kayaks overnight at Šunj/ walk back to town
Day 3: 15 km
Morning hike to kayaks/ paddle from Šunj beach to Koločep Island. Circumnavigate Koločep/ paddle along towering cliffs and into caves/ snorkel into Blue cave/ lunch at a wonderful seaside restaurant on Koločep/ return to Šunj on Lopud
Day 4: 12 km
Kayak from Šunj to Trsteno on the mainland coast/ explore Trstenoʼs well preserved 15th-century arboretum and Versailles-like gardens (also a film site for Game of Thrones) / picnic lunch in Trsteno's small harbor/ return paddle to Lopud
Day 5:  Hike to Vrmac Hill/Natural Park
Early ferry to Dubrovnik/ car transfer to Montenegro. Hike to Vrmac Hill, a natural park that splits Kotor from Tivat/ climb to the highest point of Vrmac - Sv. Ilija Peak at 765 m asl/ spend the night in Splendido hotel**** in Prcanj
Day 6: 9.5 km
Panoramic ride by the coast from Kotor with amazing views, including Sveti Stefan Island/ start paddling from Petrovac with Katic and Sveta Nedelja Islands as the main attractions/
explore the wildest part of Montenegrin Seaside that stretches between Buljarica Beach and Maljevik Beach in Bar Municipality: high cliffs, caves, small and bigger sand beaches, fantastic bays/ hit the road to Lake Skadar NP, just a few kilometers from Albanian border/ camping in Murici Village with a nice beach and an archipelago of small islands. 
Day 7: 17 km
visit an ancient monastery on Beska Island (14th century),  just in front of the campsite/
paddle through the most peaceful and the widest part of the Lake (14 km)/ stop at a fishing village in Radus Oko Bay (the deepest part of the Lake) for lunch at a local family/ 
reach Grmozur – so-called Prison Island  built by Ottomans in early 19th century/ finish at the secluded beach of Pjesacac/ 15 minutes transfer to Virpazar, the main village, leave our things at the accommodation and get 20 minutes transfer to village of Dupilo for dinner at a local family
Day 8: 11.5 km
Start with a panoramic ride from Virpazar to the small bay of Karuc on a local road that connects remote villages in Lake Skadar NP, visiting Rijeka Crnojevica and beautiful view points – Macalov brijeg and Pavlova strana/ optional short walk (2 hours) to Poseljani village, exploring picturesque forest/ lunch on a terrace of a local house/ start paddling at Karuc and enter the Karatuna River mouth, heading upstream between two walls of dense willow trees, passing Dodosi/ a short walk to Zabljak Crnojevica Castle – former capital of medieval Montenegrin country on top of a small hill/ arrive to Ponari, another village to spend the night at with a nice resort by the river - wooden bungalows, restaurant and swimming pool, run by a local family. 
Day 9: Return to Croatia...
...and enjoy breathtaking Konavle valley, visit medieval defensive Fort Sokol and Rector's palace before checking in Dubrovnik's accommodation for the night/ closing dinner in the Old Town, in restaurant Kopun - one of the most authentic places in Dubrovnik.
Day 10: Transit day
AKT car will pick you up and drop you off to the airport given flight schedule next day.
**you may make a departure flight at any time