Dubrovnik, Mostar & Kotor: A Balkans Coastal Discovery

An early departure crosses the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina, roughly two and a half hours by private transfer, arriving in Mostar by mid-morning.

The city’s centerpiece is the Stari Most, or Old Bridge, a 16th-century Ottoman structure destroyed during the 1990s war and painstakingly rebuilt using original techniques and salvaged stone, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Time is spent exploring the old bazaar surrounding it, with its coppersmiths and traditional Bosnian coffee houses, before a stop for a traditional lunch overlooking the Neretva River.

The afternoon includes a visit to one of the city’s remaining war-scarred buildings, left deliberately untouched as a memorial, offering a quieter, more reflective counterpoint to the bridge’s postcard views.

The evening returns to Dubrovnik.

A private transfer heads south along the coast into Montenegro, roughly two hours from Dubrovnik, arriving at the Bay of Kotor by early afternoon.

Often described as Europe’s southernmost fjord, though technically a submerged river canyon, the bay is ringed by dramatic limestone mountains that drop almost directly into the water.

The afternoon is spent exploring Kotor’s own walled Old Town, considerably quieter than Dubrovnik’s, with a climb partway up the city walls toward the Fortress of San Giovanni for a sweeping view over the bay, before returning to Dubrovnik for the evening.

A second day in Montenegro is spent on the water rather than on foot, with a private boat trip around the Bay of Kotor itself.

Stops include Our Lady of the Rocks, a small artificial island built around a church, reached only by boat, and the fishing village of Perast, with its stone houses lining the waterfront.

The afternoon allows time in Kotor itself before the return drive to Dubrovnik.

A final morning at Villa Dubrovnik to enjoy the hotel’s private beach or a last treatment at the Villa Spa, before departure.