Montenegro's Riviera and Dubrovnik for solo travellers

Itinerary

• Day 1
  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. During high season Budva is a lively and sociable resort that may have higher noise levels.
• Day 2
  Morning 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.  Afternoon 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
  Morning 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. Afternoon 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
  Morning 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.  Afternoon 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
  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
  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.  Morning 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. Afternoon 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
  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
  Transfer to the airport for your flight home.