Croatia

Off the Beaten Path: Croatia to Mostar & Montenegro

Eleven nights that trade the usual Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik run for Ljubljana's lakes, a Mostar afternoon, and a full day in Montenegro.

11 Nights / 12 DaysDuration
4Cities

Most Croatia itineraries run a straight line , Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, done. This one loops wider: Slovenia's lakes and caves on the way in, a full day across the border in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Mostar's Old Bridge, and a day trip into Montenegro for Kotor Bay, all built around eleven nights instead of the usual week.

This is one of the Croatia itineraries we've planned for a couple before , eleven nights, twelve days across Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, with day trips into Bosnia and Montenegro, built for 2 adults travelling together. It's shared here to show what a longer, wider route through the region could look like. A version built around your own dates and pace would look a little different , and that's the point.

Why This Trip

Why Go Beyond the Usual Croatia Route

Why Go Beyond the Usual Croatia Route

Ljubljana rarely makes it onto a Croatia itinerary at all, but it sits an easy train ride from Zagreb, and its Old Town, Dragon Bridge, and hilltop castle are worth three nights on their own , before Lake Bled and Postojna Cave's underground train even enter the picture.

Four nights in Dubrovnik is longer than most itineraries allow, which leaves room for a full-day trip to Mostar and the Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a separate day into Montenegro for Kotor's walled old town and the Bay's dramatic coastline , two countries most Croatia trips never reach.

If you asked us: the extra four nights in Dubrovnik are what make the two day trips possible without feeling rushed. Cut them and the whole route feels like a checklist instead of a loop.

Holiday Overview

Cities Covered
Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, with day trips to Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina) and Montenegro
Starting Price
₹3,20,575

per person, based on 2 adults travelling together, including international flights

Best Time to Travel
April (mild spring weather, ahead of the summer crowds)
Experiences Covered
Lake Bled, Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle, Ljubljana city tour, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Blue Cave & Blue Lagoon speedboat tour, Dubrovnik Old Town walking tour, Mostar & Kravice Waterfalls day trip, Montenegro day trip

Tap a pin to preview each stop

Trace Your Path

An itinerary designed
for every moment.

Ljubljana Day 1–3

Lake Bled, a guided train ride through Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, then the Old Town, the Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle.

Zagreb Day 4

Arrival by train, with the evening free to explore the city at your own pace.

Split Day 5–7

Plitvice Lakes on the way, a speedboat day to Vis Island, the Blue Cave, the Blue Lagoon and Hvar, and a tuk tuk tour of Diocletian's Palace.

Dubrovnik Day 8–12

A walking tour of the Old Town and city walls, with day trips to Mostar and the Kravice Waterfalls and into Montenegro for Kotor.

Day By Day

Croatia Trip Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Ljubljana Arrival

    Arrival in Ljubljana and a transfer to the hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore the riverside cafes and Old Town.

  2. Day 2

    Lake Bled, Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle

    A full-day excursion to Lake Bled, with time to walk the lakeshore and visit the castle, followed by a guided train ride through Postojna Cave and a stop at the cliffside Predjama Castle.

  3. Day 3

    Ljubljana City Tour

    A guided walk through Prešeren Square, the Old Town, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, and the Dragon Bridge, ending with a funicular ride up to Ljubljana Castle for views over the city.

  4. Day 4

    Ljubljana to Zagreb

    A train to Zagreb, with the evening free to explore the city at your own pace.

  5. Day 5

    Zagreb , Plitvice Lakes , Split

    A scenic transfer to Split with a stop at Plitvice Lakes National Park, exploring the waterfalls, turquoise lakes and wooden walkways before continuing on to the coast.

  6. Day 6

    Blue Cave & Island Hopping

    A full-day speedboat tour to Vis Island, the Blue Cave, the Blue Lagoon, and Hvar, with time to swim and explore along the way.

  7. Day 7

    Split City Tour

    A tuk tuk tour of Split's highlights, including Diocletian's Palace and the historic old town, with the rest of the day free.

  8. Day 8

    Split to Dubrovnik

    A coach journey to Dubrovnik, followed by a private walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town , Pile Gate, Onofrio's Fountain, the Bell Tower, and the city walls.

  9. Day 9

    Mostar & Kravice Waterfalls

    A full-day tour across the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina, with free time at the Kravice Waterfalls and a guided walk through Mostar's historic old town.

  10. Day 10

    Montenegro Day Trip

    A full-day tour into Montenegro , Herceg-Novi's old town, Perast's historic streets, Kotor's walled old town and St. Tryphon Cathedral, and Budva before returning to Dubrovnik.

  11. Day 11

    Dubrovnik at Leisure

    A free day to walk the city walls, explore the Old Town, or spend the afternoon at the beach.

  12. Day 12

    Departure

    Check-out and departure, closing out the trip through four countries in one loop.

What's Included

Experiences Included.

Where You'll Stay

Hotel Stays.

Hotel stays in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

Ljubljana: City Hotel Ljubljana, a triple room with breakfast. Zagreb: Hilton Garden Inn Zagreb - Radnicka. Split: Piano Suites, a deluxe double room. Dubrovnik: Apartments Zoomzoom, a superior studio, for the final four nights.

The Fine Print, Handled

What Travenza Holidays
Will Arrange.

Itinerary planning, hotel reservations, transfers, sightseeing, the train from Ljubljana to Zagreb, visa assistance, and travel support throughout.

Customised by travel dates, pace, and hotel preference , including how much time to spend on each of the two border day trips.

Ready When You Are

Plan Your Off the Beaten Path Holiday to Croatia

Ljubljana's lakes, Plitvice's waterfalls, Mostar's Old Bridge, Kotor Bay in Montenegro , eleven nights gives Croatia room to be the center of a loop through four countries instead of a single stop on someone else's itinerary.

This is one of the itineraries we've built for a couple travelling together before, shared here to show what the trip could look like. A version built for your own dates and pace would look a little different.

Estimated from ₹3,20,575 per adult · All inclusive

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