Montenegro's Riviera and Dubrovnik for solo travellers

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Montenegro's Riviera and Dubrovnik for solo travellers

8 days - Escorted Tours

Montenegro’s wild beauty and incredible heritage, encompassing the legacy of the Venetians, Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire and former Yugoslavia, make it a unique and enticing area to explore. Only independent once again since 2006, this small yet mighty country boasts fascinating history and truly magnificent scenery. Christened Montenegro by the Venetians for its imposingly rugged mountains – seen from the sea, the towering peaks appear black – this tiny Balkan nation combines an alluring coastline with a glorious, wild hinterland. Neighbouring Dubrovnik, described by Byron as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, is the icon of Croatia’s spectacular Dalmatian Coast. The perfectly picturesque old town offers unforgettable vistas that never fail to impress, whether you are visiting for the first time or the 50th. A prosperous independent republic and sea power for centuries, UNESCO-listed Dubrovnik affords wonderful views from every angle with its Baroque buildings and marble streets harbouring riveting stories. While Montenegro has been conquered many times, it is telling that the Venetians and Austro-Hungarians never took the starkly rustic inland areas and instead settled the rich coastal areas. This left the bucolic village life of the Montenegrin mountain clans barely changed over the centuries and with little in common with the seafaring traders of the coast. From its hearty mountain fare of smoked meats and cheeses, to the many traditional dishes left behind by successive invaders, Montenegrin cuisine is appetising and varied. The UN’s 192nd country also has excellent but relatively unheard-of wine – little surprise with its pleasant Mediterranean climate and proximity to Italy’s wine regions. An integral figure in Montenegro’s eventful past is Nikola Petrović, who ruled Montenegro for 50 years as a duke and eight as a king. Nikola and his wife, Milena, drove their tiny kingdom into the 20th century with innovations including the country’s first constitution and currency. The forward-thinking monarchs also increased Montenegro’s presence on the international stage by marrying five of their daughters to European princes and kings, earning Nikola the epithet of ‘the father-in-law of Europe’. We will learn about Nikola, his queen and the rest of the intriguing Petrović dynasty’s impact on Montenegro during an enthralling tour of their former royal seat. You will return home with memories of the wonderful contrasts of this compact country, from the drama of the immense landscapes and mesmerising coastlines to how the people of the historic towns of Cetinje, Kotor, Budva and Bar shaped this surprising corner of the Balkans. Along with the eternal magic of Adriatic gem of Dubrovnik in neighbouring Croatia, Montenegro offers us a glimpse of the Mediterranean of yesteryear. By the end of this insightful tour you will have explored the rustic charm and coastal appeal that characterise Montenegro: a country still off the beaten track.

Holiday Highlights

Explore historic Dubrovnik, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' with an experienced local expert.
Uncover the story of Montenegro's former capital, Cetinje, visit an authentic restaurant for a tasting of some Montenegrin favourites, and enjoy a tasting of Montenegro’s excellent wines near Podgorica as we visit the Šipčanik wine cellar.
Tour the stunningly sited town of Kotor, visiting the 850-year-old Catholic cathedral and the Orthodox Church of St Nikola with fine artworks.
Take a boat journey to the Church on Our Lady of the Rocks island in Perast, and discover its museum and treasures.
Visit the fascinating town ruins of Old Bar and take a serene boat journey on Lake Skadar.

What's Included

The price of this holiday is per person based on sole occupancy of a twin/double room and includes:
Return flights
Seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast and dinner
Welcome dinner and drinks on the first night
All tours as mentioned
Entrance to King Nikola's Palace in Cetinje
Entry to Our Lady of the Rocks church
All local taxes and transfers
Porterage of one piece of luggage at the hotel
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
We guarantee there are never any hidden costs or surcharges, inflated prices or artificial discounts.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Budva - You will be met at the airport to check in for your flight to Dubrovnik, Tivat or Podgorica. On arrival transfer to the hotel and settle in before a welcome dinner.

Day 2

Budva & wine tasting - Our tour this morning, led by an expert local guide, uncovers the secrets of Budva’s atmospheric old town. Blessed with a beautiful climate and stunning coastline, lively Budva attracts visitors of all ages with its captivating mix of sand and pebble beaches, sheltered coves, lush gardens and a dazzling marina lined with shiny yachts. Along the seafront promenade are bustling restaurants and cafés, loved by both visitors and locals, with menus offering fresh seafood, barbecued meats, pizza and pasta. In the afternoon we drive past Podgorica, the understated capital situated at the confluence of two rivers, overlooked by rugged mountains. For nearly half a century, it was known as Titograd after Yugoslavia’s leader during communist rule. The first wine was produced in the region more than 2,000 years ago and Montenegro is no exception. To discover this ancient tradition and enjoy a tasting of some delicious local wines, we visit the mammoth Šipčanik wine cellar. It occupies a former underground military hangar, and now houses around 2 million litres of wine. Set directly below the vineyards where the grapes are grown, the cellar is the perfect setting for our tasting. Tonight, we enjoy dinner together in one of Budva’s charming restaurants.

Day 3

Kotor & Perast - This morning we drive west to breathtaking Kotor, with a stop on the twisting road to marvel at the awe-inspiring view of the city, set against the commanding backdrop of towering peaks surrounding the bay. We will have a guided tour of Kotor with a local expert, with free time afterwards to enjoy the area and try some of the many local cafés and restaurants for lunch at your leisure. You have a wide range of cafes and restaurants in Kotor to choose from at lunch time, before we continue to the captivating town of Perast. We take a short boat ride to the man-made Our Lady of the Rocks Island, shaped like a boat, where you have some free time to wander. The island’s small Catholic church is resplendent with art, including many Baroque works by famous 17th-century local artist, Tripo Kokolja, and countless silver votive tablets from sailors grateful for salvation on the seas. Upstairs the tiny museum is crammed with treasures, including a masterpiece painted by Kokolja at only 14 years of age and a tapestry worked on for 25 years by a local woman waiting for her husband to return from sea. Amongst the gold and silver threads, she added her own hair and eventually went blind from the years of dedicated work. We return to the hotel for dinner in the evening.

Day 4

Cetinje & food tasting - We head to Cetinje, the former capital of Montenegro and royal seat of the ruling Petrović family. This attractive Cetinje town is home to fewer than 15,000 people now but is replete with signs of its prestigious past status as capital, with ornate former embassies and traditional-style public buildings. We visit King Nikola’s Museum, located off the charming main square with its al fresco café culture. This huge burgundy building gives little away from the outside of the fascinating artefacts within. Learn the incredible story of this tiny kingdom over the 58-year reign of its innovative rulers, Nikola and Milena, through a guided museum visit. From examples of the first Montenegrin currency, vibrantly hued national dress and captured Ottoman flags illustrating the long struggles with its erstwhile neighbour. The museum provides a glimpse into the compelling story of the proud Montenegrin people through the 19th and 20th century. Following our museum visit, we head to an authentic restaurant in the countryside for a tasting session of traditional Montenegrin favourites: smoked meats and cheeses with delicious priganice – incredibly moreish doughnuts served with honey, which locals traditionally offer to house guests. We then return to Budva and have dinner together in the hotel.

Day 5

Free day in Budva - Today you have a free day to explore Budva as you wish. Why not meander along the marina or explore the narrow, cobbled lanes in the old town? Later we enjoy our final dinner at Hotel Moskva.

Day 6

Bar & Lake Skadar - Stari Bar, or Old Bar, is a time capsule dating from 1878 when the town’s old quarter was abandoned following liberation from the Ottomans. The steep but pretty street leading up to Stari Bar is filled with small shops and quaint cafés with colourful shutters and flowers. We drive along the coastal roads to Stari Bar, with a photo stop at Sveti Stefan along the way. Once we arrive at the pretty town, you will have the option to explore freely, or to join your Tour Manager for a walking tour along the cobbled streets. There’s a wide variety of lunch options to try before we depart Stari Bar, most of which are looking down over the new town to the Adriatic. The largest lake in southern Europe is our destination for the afternoon: Lake Skadar is home to half of Europe’s population of endangered Dalmatian pelicans, amongst over 280 bird species which call this vast, unspoilt wetland area home. To fully enjoy the lake’s serene and dreamy ambience, we take a boat trip with birds flying alongside us and occasional fishermen dotting the banks. In the summer months, there is the possibility to take a dip in the pristine waters of the lake, or just sit back and unwind with some complimentary local cheese, priganice doughnuts and traditional brandy. In the evening, we enjoy a dinner together at a local restaurant overlooking Budva Bay. We’ll experience a traditional Balkan ‘under the bell’ feast, where a hearty meal is cooked in a bell-shaped metal pot.

Day 7

Dubrovnik - We drive into Croatia to spend the morning with a local guide on a walking tour discovering the unique city that Byron dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik also has a history with the Venetians though thrived later as an independent city-state for 700 years and is markedly different to the rest of Croatia. Nestled behind the preserved city walls are countless narrow lanes with steep stairs just waiting to be explored. Paved with marble, the main street gleams enticingly in the sunlight and takes you all the way through the old town, from the fortified Pile gate to the Ploče gate by the harbour. After lunch at leisure, the afternoon is free to explore. Later we check in for our overnight stay in the Dubrovnik region. Later that evening we visit a family run restaurant for dinner; complete with a traditional folklore show involving Balkan music and singing.

Day 8

Return home

Hotel Moskva

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Day 3

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Hotel Moskva

4* City Hotel

Remisens Hotel Albatros

City Hotel - Dubrovnik

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