Zagreb to Athens: Monasteries & The Mediterranean (Self-Launched)

Fly into Zagreb (ZAG). The Pleso Prijevoz shuttle bus runs from the arrivals terminal to the main bus station for about €10 (£8.50) — from there most hostels in the Upper Town are a 10-15 min walk or a £5 tram/Bolt. Check into a hostel in the old town, do a self-guided loop of Ban Jelačić Square, Tkalčićeva street, St Mark's Church and the Stone Gate, then find a beer hall for the evening. Pick up a bus ticket for Plitvice tomorrow at the station or on the Arriva/Flixbus app.

🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£9

🛏Hostel in Zagreb old town, dorm bed (~£18)

• →Self-guided old town orientation walk
• →St Mark's Church & Stone Gate
• →Museum of Broken Relationships (optional, ~€4)

Take an early Arriva or Flixbus from Zagreb to Plitvice (roughly 2-2.5 hrs, £9-12). Book your park entry ticket online in advance — in high season slots sell out (around €40 in peak summer, cheaper off-peak) and the ticket includes the panoramic train and electric boat. Spend the day walking the lower and upper lakes on the marked trail system, then overnight in a guesthouse or hostel in the nearby villages of Mukinje or Jezerce.

🚌Zagreb–Plitvice bus ~£10

🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Entrance 2 (~£22)

• →Full day hiking Plitvice Lakes boardwalks
• →Panoramic boat and shuttle inside the park

Morning bus from Plitvice down the coast to Split (about 4 hours, £15-18). Check into a hostel in or near Diocletian's Palace, then do a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5) or your own loop of the palace cellars, Riva waterfront and Marjan hill for sunset. Split hostels are pricey in summer — book well ahead.

🚌Plitvice–Split bus ~£17

🛏Hostel in Split old town, dorm (~£25)

• →Riva waterfront and palace exterior walk
• →Marjan Hill sunset viewpoint

Buy the combined palace ticket (cathedral, baptistery, crypt, temple — around €12) or just wander the palace for free. Afternoon options: local bus #22 to Žrnovnica or a cheap ferry day trip to the island of Šolta, or bus to Trogir (45 mins, ~£4) for the UNESCO old town. Evening: Bačvice beach and the Split nightlife.

🚌Local buses ~£5

🛏Hostel in Split old town, dorm (~£25)

• →Diocletian's Palace & cathedral ticket
• →Optional Trogir half-day by local bus
• →Bačvice beach

Take the morning Jadrolinija or Krilo catamaran from Split to Hvar Town (about 1 hr, £10-14 each way — book online, they fill up). Hike 20 minutes up to the Hvar Fortress (£4), swim off the rocks below, and if you want the Pakleni Islands skip the pricey boat tour and take the public taxi boat from Hvar harbour to Palmižana or Jerolim (£5-8 return). Last catamaran back to Split in the early evening.

🚌Return catamaran ~£24

🛏Hostel in Split old town, dorm (~£25)

• →Catamaran to Hvar
• →Hvar Fortress hike
• →Pakleni Islands taxi boat swim

Long but scenic day: take the bus from Split to Dubrovnik (about 4.5 hrs, £18-22) — sit on the right for the Neretva delta views. Alternatively there's a seasonal coastal ferry. Check into a hostel — book outside the old town walls (Gruž or Lapad) where dorm beds are £22-30 instead of £50+. Evening walk the Stradun and the harbour.

🚌Split–Dubrovnik bus ~£20

🛏Hostel in Gruž/Lapad, dorm (~£28)

• →Stradun and old harbour evening walk

Morning walk of the city walls (€40 — go at 8am to beat the crowds and heat) or the cheaper free alternative of Fort Lovrijenac and the cable car (£24). Mid-afternoon, take a bus from Dubrovnik bus station to Trebinje (about 1 hr, £7-9, several daily). In Trebinje, take a local taxi (~£8 return) to Tvrdoš Monastery for a wine tasting (glass ~£3), then walk the old town, the Arslanagić Bridge and the Hercegovina view points. Cheap guesthouses here, £15-20.

🚌Dubrovnik–Trebinje bus ~£8, local taxi ~£8

🛏Guesthouse in Trebinje, private room (~£18)

• →Dubrovnik city walls walk
• →Tvrdoš Monastery & wine tasting
• →Trebinje old town walk

This is the trickiest transport day to do independently. Buses from Trebinje towards Livno involve a change at Mostar or Nevesinje and take most of the day — check the Mostar bus station departures the night before, or split it: bus Trebinje–Mostar (£7), stop at Kravica Waterfalls (20 mins by local bus/taxi from Ljubuški, ~£10 return), then Mostar–Livno bus (£8). In Livno, arrange the wild horse jeep safari through your guesthouse or the local tourist office (about €35-45 per person, cheaper if you share). Evening BBQ and campfire if your guesthouse offers it.

🚌Buses via Mostar ~£18, jeep safari share ~£35

🛏Guesthouse or mountain lodge in Livno (~£20)

• →Kravica Waterfalls swim
• →Sunset jeep safari to see wild horses on Mount Cincar

Bus south from Livno to Mostar (about 2.5 hrs, £9). Drop bags at the hostel, then local bus or taxi (£4) out to Blagaj to see the Dervish Monastery at the mouth of the Buna river — entry to the tekke is about €5, and you can swim in the river for free. Back in Mostar, join a free walking tour (tip-based) to learn the bridge's history before sunset photos at Stari Most.

🚌Livno–Mostar bus ~£9, local transport ~£6

🛏Hostel in Mostar old town, dorm (~£14)

• →Blagaj Dervish Monastery
• →Mostar old bridge and old town walk
• →Free walking tour (tip)

Hop the morning train from Mostar to Konjic (about 45 mins, £3 — one of the most scenic rail stretches in the Balkans). Either book a rafting day trip in advance through a Konjic operator (~£35-45 incl. gear and BBQ lunch) or arrive and book via your hostel. Afternoon: visit Tito's Bunker (AR Konal, entry ~€10, needs booking ahead) or swim in the Neretva. Stay at a riverside hostel or guesthouse.

🚌Train Mostar–Konjic ~£3

🛏Riverside hostel/guesthouse in Konjic (~£16)

• →Neretva river whitewater rafting with BBQ lunch
• →Tito's Bunker (optional)

Train from Konjic to Sarajevo (about 1.5 hrs, £4). Check into a hostel in Baščaršija. Book a Sarajevo food tour through GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£30-35) — they take you through ćevapi, burek, coffee culture and the markets away from the tourist strip. Evening in the old bazaar.

🚌Train Konjic–Sarajevo ~£4

🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, dorm (~£14)

• →Sarajevo food tour with local guide
• →Baščaršija old bazaar

Full free day. Options for the morning: the Tunnel of Hope and the War Childhood Museum, Gallery 11/07/95 (£6), or the History Museum. In the afternoon take the funicular up to the abandoned 1984 Olympic bobsled track (funicular ~£2, then a walk) or hike part of the Miljacka/Rakitnica gorge. Grab cheap dinner in the old town and hit the bars on Ferhadija.

🚌Tram/funicular ~£4

🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, dorm (~£14)

• →Tunnel of Hope & war museums
• →Olympic bobsled track via funicular
• →Old town bars

A long travel day: bus from Sarajevo to Kotor via Trebinje/Dubrovnik or via Nikšić takes 7-8 hours (£22-28). Book an evening arrival and stay in a hostel inside the old town walls. Grab dinner and wander the squares — Kotor's old town is tiny and magic at night.

🚌Sarajevo–Kotor bus ~£25

🛏Old town hostel, dorm (~£20)

• →Kotor old town evening walk

Start early to hike the Ladder of Kotor up to San Giovanni Fortress (entry €15) before the heat — it's about 1-1.5 hrs up and worth every step for the bay views. Afternoon: take a shared boat trip on the Bay of Kotor to Our Lady of the Rocks (£15-20, book directly at the pier), or the public bus to Perast (£2). Cheap seafood dinner by the water.

🚌Local bus/boat ~£18

🛏Old town hostel, dorm (~£20)

• →Kotor fortress hike
• →Bay of Kotor boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks

Bus to Žabljak (about 3 hrs, £9-12). Check into a mountain hostel. In the afternoon hike to Crno Jezero (Black Lake) — an easy 3 km loop from town, free. Look into Nevidio Canyon trips for tomorrow if the water levels allow (guided canyoning ~£50, or hike the approach path instead for free).

🚌Kotor–Žabljak bus ~£10

🛏Mountain hostel in Žabljak, dorm (~£16)

• →Black Lake loop hike
• →Mountain village evening

Morning at Durmitor: the Sedlo pass viewpoint, the Tara Canyon rim or a section of the Durmitor ring trail. Catch the afternoon bus down towards Nikšić (£8), then a local taxi or bus to Ostrog Monastery (~£10 return from Danilovgrad/Nikšić) — the Lower Monastery and the cliff-face Upper Monastery are stunning in late light. Overnight in Nikšić or Podgorica.

🚌Bus ~£8, taxi to Ostrog ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Nikšić or Podgorica (~£16)

• →Durmitor National Park viewpoint hike
• →Ostrog Monastery visit

Bus to Budva (1-1.5 hrs, £5). Explore the tiny walled old town, walk the coastal path to Mogren beach and Slovenska Plaža. Optional: shared boat to the Blue Cave and Sveti Nikola island (~£25) — book at the harbour the day before.

🚌Local bus ~£5

🛏Hostel in Budva, dorm (~£22)

• →Budva old town
• →Mogren beach coastal walk
• →Optional Blue Cave boat trip

Cross into Albania: bus from Budva to Shkodër via Bar or Podgorica (about 3 hrs, £12-15). Albania is noticeably cheaper — dorms £8-12, a good meal £4. Afternoon: explore Shkodër's Rozaflija pedestrian street, the Marubi photo museum and Ebu Bekr Mosque, and use the day to arrange a Guesthouse/transfer for the Albanian Alps for tomorrow.

🚌Budva–Shkodër bus ~£13

🛏Hostel in Shkodër, dorm (~£10)

• →Shkodër old town walk
• →Rozafa Castle sunset (free entry area)

Two options: (a) a day trip to the Koman Lake ferry and Valbona valley, booked through a Shkodër operator or via Koman Lake Boat (£20-30 for the lake crossing plus shared minibus), with a short valley hike; or (b) a guided day hike from Shkodër in the foothills of the Accursed Mountains with lunch at a shepherd outpost (~£30-35, bookable locally or via GetYourGuide). Either way, big peaks and simple food are the order of the day.

🚌Shared minibus ~£15

🛏Hostel in Shkodër, dorm (~£10)

• →Koman Lake boat ride or Albanian Alps day hike
• →Shepherd outpost lunch

Bus to Tirana (1.5 hrs, £4). Walk Skanderbeg Square, the Pyramid and Bunk'Art 2 (£5). Book a Tirana cooking class through Klook or a local operator (~£28-35) — expect to make byrek and tavë kosi and eat it with the group. Evening at the Blloku bar district.

🚌Bus ~£4

🛏Hostel in Tirana, dorm (~£12)

• →Tirana orientation walk
• →Albanian cooking class
• →Bunk'Art 2

Local bus or furgon from Tirana to Krujë (1 hr, £2). Walk the Ottoman bazaar, Skanderbeg Museum and the castle, then hike the short trail to the mountain viewpoint. Back to Tirana for the night.

🚌Furgon ~£4

🛏Hostel in Tirana, dorm (~£12)

• →Krujë bazaar and castle
• →Mountain viewpoint hike

Bus to Berat (2-2.5 hrs, £4). Explore the UNESCO 'city of a thousand windows' — Mangalem and Gorica old quarters, the Berat Castle and the Onufri Iconographic Museum (£3). Guided castle walks can be booked locally for ~£10 or you can do it yourself with a free map.

🚌Bus ~£4

🛏Guesthouse in Berat, dorm/private (~£12)

• →Berat castle and old quarters walk
• →Onufri Museum

Bus Berat to Vlorë (£6), then the coastal bus down to Himarë (£5). Spend the afternoon swimming at Livadhi or Potam beaches and walking the old town of Himarë, plus a stop at the Vjosë-Nartë Delta if you break the journey in Vlorë. Fresh seafood for dinner.

🚌Coastal buses ~£11

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Himarë, dorm (~£14)

• →Vjosë-Nartë wetlands stop
• →Himarë old town walk
• →Beach swim

Morning beach time or the short coastal bus to Saranda (£3), then the passenger ferry from Saranda to Corfu (about 1 hr, £20-25 — book with Ionian Seaways/Finikas). Arrive Corfu Town, check into a hostel in the old town, and wander the Venetian lanes and the Liston for dinner.

🚌Bus ~£3, ferry ~£22

🛏Hostel in Corfu Town, dorm (~£22)

• →Saranda waterfront
• →Ferry crossing to Corfu
• →Corfu old town evening walk

Take a local bus (£3) to a trailhead on the Corfu Trail — the well-marked long-distance path crosses the island through olive groves and villages. A good section runs from Stavros or Ano Korakiana down to the coast at Benitses (3-4 hrs), then bus back to Corfu Town. Alternatively, cheaper than the tour's bus-hopping: hire a bike, or visit Achilleion Palace (£8).

🚌Local buses ~£6

🛏Hostel in Corfu Town, dorm (~£22)

• →Corfu Trail section hike to Benitses
• →Optional Achilleion Palace

Long travel day: bus from Corfu to Igoumenitsa (£5), then bus or train from Igoumenitsa/Ioannina to Kalabaka via Trikala (£15-20, 5-6 hrs). Arrive in Kalabaka, the town below Meteora, and check into a hostel. Evening views of the monasteries from the town.

🚌Buses/train ~£20

🛏Hostel in Kalabaka, dorm (~£18)

• →Travel day
• →Evening Meteora viewpoint

Hike up to the monasteries on foot — the trail from Kastraki takes about 1 hour, or take the local bus (£2). Each monastery charges about €3 entry, and dress code requires covered shoulders and legs. Spend the day hiking between monasteries (Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Rousanou, Agios Nikolaos). Dinner back in Kalabaka.

🚌Local bus ~£3

🛏Hostel in Kalabaka, dorm (~£18)

• →Meteora monastery hiking day
• →Monastery entries

Train or bus to Athens (train from Kalabaka to Athens about 4.5 hrs, £15-20; book on TrainOSE/Hellenic Train online). Arrive Athens in the afternoon, check into a hostel in Plaka or Monastiraki. Do a self-guided walk of the Acropolis area at golden hour (or pay €20 for the Acropolis itself), then a final night out in Psyrri or Gazi.

🚌Train ~£18

🛏Hostel in Plaka/Monastiraki, dorm (~£20)

• →Train to Athens
• →Acropolis area sunset walk (optional entry)
• →Psyrri nightlife

Do the same good-cause stop G Adventures builds into this tour: visit Shedia Home, the Athens street-paper social enterprise café and magazine run by and for homeless Athenians — buy a coffee and hear the story (free to visit). Then explore the Ancient Agora, Monastiraki flea market and the Acropolis Museum if time allows. Depart Athens (ATH) by metro (€9) or airport bus (€5.50).

🚌Airport metro ~£8

🛏—

• →Shedia Home visit
• →Monastiraki flea market
• →Acropolis Museum (optional ~£10)