16 – 23 Jun, 2024 – CONFIRMED

Nika, our local Host

Day 1 – Arrival and welcome dinner

Day 2 – Dubrovnik

Day 3 – Peljesak Peninsula wineries

Day 4 – Beach club and boat tour

Day 5 – Ston, salt pans and oysters

Day 6 – Perast & Kotor

Day 7 – Budva & Sveti Stefan

Day 8 – Departure

Day 1 : Arrive in Dubrovnik

Make your way from the airport to the hotel for check in.

We will meet before sunset for a welcome drink at the hotel where you can get to know the rest of the guests.

We will then drive to the bottom of the cable car and ride it to the top, high above Dubrovnik, for a stunning sunset dinner with city views.

Inclusions: Welcome drinks, dinner with wine and overnight at More Hotel.

Overnight at More Hotel 5*

We like More Hotel because it is a very convenient 5 star hotel located on the shore with fabulous sea views and within walking distance to the city.

Its private pier means we can jump directly onto our private boat for our excursions, and its pools are a fabulous way to welcome you to Croatia.

Did we mention we have booked sea-facing balcony rooms for our stay? So you can take all the sea breeze in and start the days in style.

Tip: If you land early in the morning, laze by the pool or lounge and get into the holiday mood.

Day 2: Dubrovnik

We will start the day with breakfast by the sea from the hotel’s restaurant before heading off to explore Croatia’s most famous city, Dubrovnik.

Our morning will be spent on a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed walled city, a gem on the Adriatic Sea.

We will wander the narrow pedestrian streets of the 9th century fortified old city led by our local host, Nika.

She will tell us of its thriving past and its history, first as part of the Venetian Republic, later on as a free-trade enclave, as part of Napoleonic Italy and eventually, as the Yugoslavian Federation until the Croatia War of Independence in 1991.

Dubrovnik’s interest lies in its rich heritage, its picturesque walls, stone houses, cobblestone streets and the many view points from which to enjoy the red roofs against the deep blue sea.

Reconstructed several times because of war damage and earthquakes, today’s Dubrovnik is a combination of old preserved structures and renovated buildings.

With less than 50,000 inhabitants and countless Hollywood productions, the walled town can be really packed with visitors especially in the peak summer months.

During our walking tour, we will also visit a few workshops and studios of female artists and business owners to learn more about Croatian traditions and support local female entrepreneurs.

After a walking tour, we will enjoy a local lunch in the Old Town with wonderful sea views. You will then have the afternoon free to explore on your own or join Nika on a walk of the city walls.

This is a great opportunity for shopping if that’s on your wish list, or to scout some of the famous Game of Thrones locations.

Pro tip: If you prefer to watch the world go by and sit by the shore, try one of the cliff bars such as famous and casual Buza II which has great views, or next door Azur for a fusion Mediterranean-Asian lunch.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, walking tour of Dubrovnik, lunch.

Overnight at More Hotel.

Day 3 : Peljesak Peninsula Wineries

The day will start early with a wonderful breakfast by the sea to get into the right mood for a day in the countryside exploring an area of Croatia that is not as well known and touristed.

After breakfast, we will set off to Peljesak Peninsula, a strategic area in the Dalmatian coast with a fascinating past in wine trade, salt production, and shellfish farming, all of which we will learn more about today.

In contrast with the well trodded streets of Dubrovnik, Peljesak Peninsula will feel bucolic and almost forgotten, were it not for the abundant vineyards that bear fruit to the age old tradition of making wines, including a local sparkling wine inherited from Napoleonic times.

On our way, we will stop at various scenic spot to admire the view and the rustic coast in this part of the country and go on to visit 2 wineries for wine tasting and traditional lunch.

NOTE: Lunch will be at a traditional farm to table family run restaurant which cures meats. This means that ham legs and sausages hang from the ceiling.

Croatian wines are rarely found outside the country (though this is changing) but the soil and climate coupled with the long tradition in wine product (albeit interrupted during Yugoslavian times), means you are bound to be positively surprised with the native grape varieties.

Our winery visits will take us to two locations: the only female owned winery in the area and a modern winery in a privileged location and owned by an American couple who decided to settle in the area after the war.

In between the two wineries, we will head inland for lunch at a mother-daughter run rustic restaurant for a traditional lunch of cured meats and cheeses followed by Croatia peka, meats slow cooked under the bell.

We will also make a few stops along the way at a seaside town for gelato and a walk.

We will drive back to Dubrovnik and arrive before dinner which will be enjoyed on your own.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation to and from Peljesac Peninsula, 2 winery visits with tasting and lunch.

Overnight at More Hotel.

Day 4 : Beach Club & Boat Tour

Wake up to wonderful views over the Adriatic Sea once again and pinch yourself, you’re in Croatia and it’s not a dream!

After a “late-ish” breakfast, we will make full use of the summer temperatures and holiday life to enjoy a full day of sea, sun and sand.

We jump on our transfer and arrive at one of the fashionable beach clubs that dot the coast and islands of the south Dalmatian coast.

Nothing says summertime like music and a cocktail, preferably with an umbrella, surrounded by beautiful people and summer vibes, and we couldn’t show you the best of Croatia without at least one day spent by the beach.

We have reserved sun loungers for you to chill, suntan, read a book or have a swim in the turquoise sea, listen to music or anything else that your heart desires.

You will have free time this morning and until after lunch time to enjoy the club’s facilities and have lunch if you get peckish.

In the afternoon, we will walk along the coast to the nearest marina to get on our private boat for a tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town from the water, a different perspective to what you are used to.

The boat tour will follow the city walls and fortress and go all the way to Lokrum Island to complete a day we have enjoyed at sea.

We will walk the paths of this beautiful and lush island and discover its many legends, then have some free time to explore on our own before taking the ferry back to the city.

Dinner will be at leisure either in Dubrovnik or back at the hotel or nearby area.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, sun loungers on the first beach row, boat tour of Old Town, all transfers, ferry back to the city.

Overnight at More Hotel.

Day 5 : Ston, salt pans and oysters

We will enjoy a beautiful breakfast by the sea and then jump on our minibus for a transfer back to Peljesak Peninsula for a completely different experience to the previous day: Oysters, mussel, salt pans and fortified villages.

We will spend most of our time in Ston. This tiny walled village at the entrance of the Peljesak Peninsula has been spared by the many earthquakes that have hit this part of the coast and which almost destroyed Dubrovnik. This luck will be obvious as you walk the small streets.

Unlike in Dubrovnik, life here goes by at a more gentle and slow pace, a laid back atmosphere we will fully enjoy.

A unique feature of the village is its long defensive walls that are some of the longest structures of its kind in Europe and were built to protect the salt pans. We will have some time to climb them for fantastic views over the salt pans, oyster farms and the area around.

In the morning, we will take a guided tour of Ston’s salt pans. These are the oldest salt pans in Europe and were first exploited by the Romans in the 2nd century BC.

It is the wealth that came from salt trade harvested from Ston that propelled the Dubrovnik Republic in the 14th century and allowed to build such beautiful houses.

The pans are still in use today and produce salt in the traditional way, through the natural process of crystallization that happens across 9 pools that have been named after saints, during the summer months.

We will go on a walking visit of the salt pans and learn how salt is produced in the traditional way.

We will then get on a boat nearby and ride to the middle of the lake that is next to Ston for an oyster and mussel demonstration and tasting in the most incredible surroundings.

Lunch will be enjoyed in a very special location, right on the water, surrounded by the oyster and mussel farm.

There will be free time in the afternoon to explore Ston on your own after a short walking tour by your guide Nika.

Take time to climb the fortified walls and enjoy incredible views and the beautiful landscapes of Peljesak Peninsula and wander the tiny alleys of this quaint town.

In the late afternoon, we will return back to our hotel in Dubrovnik where you will have free time to enjoy dinner at leisure.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation to and from Ston, guided tour of the salt pans, oyster and mussel demonstration and tasting with lunch, walking tour of Ston.

Overnight at More Hotel.

Day 6 : Perast and Kotor

Today we will cross the border into Montenegro for the second part of this trip.

After breakfast, we will jump in our minibus and drive towards the border to clear immigration procedures.

Already on Montenegrin soil, we will make our way to the pretty village of Perast, right on the Bay of Kotor, where our stunning hotel is.

Our drive will take two to three hours depending on border procedures, and will snake along the coast, right by the water’s edge, showing us how stunning Montenegro’s landscapes of mountains meeting the sea are.

We will check into our wonderful hotel and enjoy lunch at their beautiful seaside restaurant with a bit of free time to explore quaint Perast.

Perast is a lovely pedestrian-only fishing village turned tourist hotspot and one of the most picturesque spots on the Adriatic coast.

Filled with palaces, churches and old mansions, the village has an air of nobility and class hard to match anywhere else. And because of its sandwiched location below the main road, it has not fallen prey to unruly development and has kept its medieval feel.

The village was part of the Byzantine Empire, the Venetian Republic, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and finally part of Yugoslavia from the end of WWI with a brief period during WWII under Italian rule.

We will base ourselves here during our time in Montenegro and soak it all in. When day tourists leave, Perast becomes a relaxed village that is the perfect holiday spot.

After lunch we will meet again for a boat ride to the small island where Our Lady of the Rocks church stands.

This picturesque and beautiful baby blue roofed church was built on an artificial island created by the local fishermen who used to drop rocks on the specific spot every time they passed by.

Legend has it that this spot is where an image of the Virgin was found and where two brothers promised they would build a church.

The practice of dropping stones has not yet been abandoned and every year, on the 22nd July in an event called fašinada, local fishermen commemorate the occasion by contributing to the island’s foundations.

Our Lady of the Rocks was originally an Orthodox church converted into Catholicism when the area fell under Venetian control.

We will go on a guided tour of the church by the hand of a local female guide and see a tapestry that is made with gold thread and the artist’s hair.

After the church visit, we will jump back on the boat and continue on a scenic boat tour of Boca Bay, one of the most incredible places in Europe, you’ll be left speechless by how incredible the area is.

Once in Kotor, we will meet our local female guide for a walking tour of Montenegro’s most famous city.

Kotor is another fortified village surrounded by defensive walls and strategically located at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor in truly picture-perfect surroundings.

After Dubrovnik, Kotor will feel like the quieter little brother that escaped Game of Thrones fame but not the cruise ship notoriety. When a cruise docks, you will feel it in the street crowds but as soon as they depart, the city becomes remarkably peaceful.

Kotor is small and maze-like; the entirely pedestrian old town is made of a collection of narrow alleys that snake through churches, old mansions and tourist shops.

After the tour, you will have some free time to explore on your own, head over to one of the rooftops for a drink, do some shopping, walk the walls or wander around this fairytale old town.

For our more adventurous guests, you can also walk up to St. John’s Fortress. Originally called the Fortress of San Giovanni, this is the most well known thing to do in Kotor and a must see attraction for any visitor.

You can’t visit Kotor and not get up to the fortress for a panoramic view of the bay and fjords below.

The path uphill is steep and about 1.2km long, snaking up 1,350 steps (yes, we counted them!) for a total elevation of 260m above sea level, and this is the best way to work up an appetite for lunch and burn off all the yummy cheese and cold cuts that Croatia and Montenegro are known for.

While the ascent is relatively easy and semi paved with large cobblestones, you do need to be relatively fit, or take lots of breaks, which is easy since there are plenty of places for a stop to admire Kotor’s pretty streets below.

At the top, we’ll find the castle point dedicated to St. Ivan and built in the 14th to the 15th century.

Not much of the castle and the various parts of the fortification remains and only the ruins can be visited but the views.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation, lunch, scenic boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks and Kotor, walking tour of Kotor.

Overnight at Heritage Grand Perast 5*

We completely fell in love with this 5* hotel from the moment it embarked on its full renovation of the 18th century palace it is housed in, the largest in Perast.

The Heritage Grand Perast is a stunning hotel and has everything for a stylish luxury vacation.

It is sea facing, it has a small but exclusive private pool, fabulous sun loungers, and a full spa. It also occupies a privileged location right in the middle of the village and mere meters from the water.

The main problem will be convincing you to leave!

Day 7 : Budva & Sveti Stefan

We will enjoy an early breakfast at our fabulous hotel before setting off for our active morning walking the coastal path from Sveti Stefan to Przno and exploring Budva.

We will get on our minibus and drive wouth away from Boca Bay and towards a more developed part of Montenegro.

On the way, we will be fascinated by the stunning coastal views and the zigzagging coast as we understand the level of tourism infrastructure that is being built in the country.

We will drive all the way to Sveti Stefan and stop for photos from a viewpoint above the island.

Sveti Stefan was a medieval fishing village turned celebrity hot-spot during Yugoslavian times and finally under management of luxury hotel brand Aman Resorts.

After remaining closed during COVID and beyond because of disagreements with the Government, the island is due to reopen at the end of 2023.

If possible, we will go on a walking tour of the island, one of the country’s best kept secrets, then continue on the beautiful coastal path that follows from Sveti Stefan to the quaint fishing village of Przno.

The walk will pass by the summer residence of the Yugoslavian royal family, now part of Aman Sveti Stefan, and snake through shaded pine tree forests and hidden coves.

From Przno we will be picked up and drive to Budva just up the coast.

The red roof fortified old town of Budva is practically taken off a fairytale with its cobblestone streets and thick stone walls protecting it against the lapping waves and invading armies.

Unlike Kotor, Budva is fully embracing the beach life and the old town walls are surrounded by a thriving marina and a sun lounger-filled beach that is packed in the summer months.

Budva was a Greek settlement in the 4th century BC, became part of the Roman Empire two centuries later and of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. It was subsequently occupied, sacked and attacked in the centuries that followed by Avars, Saracens and Slavs.

Finally, in the 13th century, stability arrived when Budva became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Budva and remained as such until the 19th century.

During that period, the city was under the rule of the Republic of Venice which erected the city’s fortified walls to protect it from the constant Ottoman attacks, like in the rest of Montenegro.

With the fall of the Venetian empire, Budva was briefly under Napoleon’s rule until it was ceded to the Austrian Empire in 1813 who controlled it until WWI. After the war, the country became part of Yugoslavia.

When you visit Budva what you can see is the renovated old Medieval Venetian city which was restored to its former glory after the 1979 earthquake.

Entering through the main gate, Porta di Terra Ferma, which has the shield of the Venetian Republic on the top, you are immediately taken into a mesh of streets.

We will go on a walking tour of the old town with our local female guide Eva and then enjoy free time to do some shopping, take photos or simply wander the streets.

Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the ballerina statue that is located by the sea on the path that leads from Ricardova Glava beach towards hidden Mogren Beach.

The city is roughly orthogonal (shaped in right angles) and you can use the sea as the reference point.

Lunch will be on your own in the city and after that, we will return to Perast for a free afternoon to enjoy the beautiful beach and pool of the hotel.

We will meet again for our last farewell dinner in the area with wonderful sunset views.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation to Sveti Stefan, Budva and back, walking tour of Budva and Sveti Stefan (TBD), farewell dinner with wine.

Overnight at Heritage Grand Perast.

Day 8 : Departure

We will wake up for one last breakfast at our fabulous hotel before being dropped off either at Dubrovnik’s airport.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transfer back to Dubrovnik Airport

About Your Host, Nika

Nika was bitten by the travel bug at a young age when her mother, who worked in the travel industry, took her on “girls only” trips. She continued exploring on her own in her late teens and has so far been to around 50 countries on 5 continents.

She has lived and worked in the USA and Italy and has always had jobs which involved traveling or working from different locations, including film location scouting and production for famous series’ like Game of Thrones.

Six years ago Nika decided to become her own boss and focus primarily on the travel industry.

Since then, she’s worked as a freelance guide for a couple of international companies and created many custom made tours and retreats. 

There is nothing more powerful than travel – the knowledge and the skills you get after each trip become part of you so you continually upgrade and discover new layers of yourself.

Sarah – “The Croatia and Montenegro trip was amazing! I can’t recommend Solo Female Travelers enough. The local guide, Nika was very knowledgeable and helpful. I’m planning on traveling with them again in 2024. 10 gold stars and two thumbs up!”

Robin – “I had a fantastic time on the Croatia and Montenegro trip! I’ve never done a group tour before and I have to say that Meg and Mar did an incredible job of putting together a wonderful experience. It was a great group of warm, independent women, and our guide, Nika, was terrific in every way.

I definitely recommend Solo Female Travelers Club to any woman looking to have a truly great, enriching, travel experience.”

Denise – “WOW! What an amazing trip that Solo Female Travelers put together in Croatia & Montenegro. This was my first group tour and I chose them because they were small and because their philosophy and dedication towards empowering women impressed me, and I was not disappointed.

Croatia was great and our tour guide, Nika, had rich stories of her childhood in Old Town Dubrovnik as well as extensive knowledge about the history of the area. Montenegro was just as beautiful (if not more?) and Perast was a great small village to stay.

Mar & meg crafted an itinerary that included lots of sightseeing, balanced with some down time, and lots of great food & wine. I can’t wait to do another with this amazing company! #SFTCroatia”

Daryl – “I want to share how fabulous an experience it was to have been on the first trip to Croatia and Montenegro with this amazing organization! The group of women was fantastic and all the aeaa we visited were incredible! Our tour guide Nika, was such a rich source of information and history about her home country. She has every right to be as proud as she is about where she comes from. I learned a whole new appreciation for this beautiful region and what they have endured. Amazing people, places, food and of course, wine! I would go back to this area in a heartbeat. If you’re entertaining the thought of going to this region of the world, don’t hesitate! You won’t regret it one bit!”