Discover the Balkans: A Self-Launched Journey from Zagreb to Dubrovnik
12 days · Balkans (Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Sarajevo, Kotor & Dubrovnik)
G Adventures charges £2,800
No-markup version: ~£950 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on the classic 12-day Zagreb-to-Dubrovnik small-group tour, done solo and independently using public buses, local guides and hostels. Hit the karst boardwalks of Plitviče Lakes, wander Diocletian's Palace in Split, cross into Bosnia for Mostar's Stari Most and Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope, soak up two days on the Bay of Kotor, then finish on Dubrovnik's city walls with a Konavle Valley farm lunch. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume dorm or budget private rooms; book Plitviče tickets, the Kotor fortress and any local tours through GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with providers.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia
Land in Zagreb at any time. From ZAG airport, hop the Croatia Airlines Pleso Prijevoz shuttle to the main bus station (around £7-8), then walk or take a tram to your hostel near Ban Jelačić Square. Use the evening to orient yourself with a free walking tour and grab a cheap Ćevapi dinner and a pint in the lively Tkalčićeva street area.
🚌Pleso Prijevoz shuttle ~£8; trams ~£1 per ride
🛏Hostel in central Zagreb (dorm ~£15-20/night)
- →Pleso Prijevoz airport shuttle to Zagreb bus station
- →Free walking tour of the Upper and Lower Town
- →Evening in Tkalčićeva street
Plitviče Lakes excursion
Plitviče Lakes National Park
Book a direct bus from Zagreb to Plitviče Lakes (FlixBus or Croatia Bus, ~2.5-3h, around £10-14). Buy the park ticket in advance online — roughly £20-23 in low season up to £35 in peak July/August. Spend 4-5 hours on the boardwalks past the turquoise karst pools and waterfalls. In the evening, treat yourself to a traditional peka dinner at a local konoba (a lamb or veal peka needs ordering in advance — ask your guesthouse host). Overnight in one of the villages near the park entrance (Grabovac or Mukinje).
🚌FlixBus Zagreb–Plitviče ~£12
🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Plitviče entrance (~£20-25/night)
- →Self-guided Plitviče boardwalk walk
- →Optional boat crossing on Lake Kozjak (included in ticket)
- →Traditional peka dinner at a local konoba
Plitviče to Split
Split, Croatia
Morning bus from Plitviče to Split (roughly 3.5-4h, around £15-18) with Croatia Bus or FlixBus. Check in and head out for the Golden Gate of Diocletian's Palace. In the early evening, join a GetYourGuide or Klook guided walk of Diocletian's Palace (~£14-18), the best-value way to understand the UNESCO-listed Roman ruins without booking a full private guide. Grab a fish dinner in the old town.
🚌Croatia Bus Plitviče–Split ~£16
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Split old town (~£20-28/night)
- →Bus to Split
- →Diocletian's Palace guided walk (self-booked)
- →Golden Gate and old town stroll
Split free day
Split, Croatia
A full free day in Split. Climb Marjan Hill for the best free view of the town and harbour, wander the green market behind the palace walls, and optionally visit the Cathedral of St Domnius (ticket ~£5-6) or the free Archaeology Museum. If you want more, day-trip to Trogir by public bus (about 45 minutes, ~£4 round trip) with its tiny UNESCO old town. Evening: splurge on a seafood risotto and a local wine at a konoba.
🚌Local transport and optional Trogir bus ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Split (~£20-28/night)
- →Marjan Hill hike
- →St Domnius Cathedral visit (optional)
- →Optional Trogir day trip by public bus
- →Green market and old town wander
Split to Mostar and Sarajevo
Mostar → Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cross into Bosnia on the scenic route. Take the Split–Mostar bus (roughly 2.5-3h, ~£12-15) and stop for 2-3 hours in Mostar to see Stari Most and the old bazaar. From Mostar, catch an afternoon bus on to Sarajevo (about 2.5h, ~£10-12). Check into your hostel in Baščaršija and get an early night.
🚌Split–Mostar ~£14; Mostar–Sarajevo ~£11
🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (~£15-20/night)
- →Bus Split–Mostar
- →Stari Most and Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque area stroll
- →Bus Mostar–Sarajevo
Sarajevo: Siege and Tunnel of Hope
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Book a Siege of Sarajevo tour through GetYourGuide or a local provider (around £25-35 for a half-day) that covers the Tunnel of Hope and War Tunnel Museum and the Trebević cable car area. Alternatively, do it DIY: public bus or taxi to the Tunnel of Hope (~£4 entry, ~£3 return by bus), then the Trebević cable car (~£5 return). Afterwards, browse the Baščaršija market and eat a hearty lunch at a local ćevabdžinica (about £5-7).
🚌Tram/bus around Sarajevo ~£3
🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (~£15-20/night)
- →Siege of Sarajevo / Tunnel of Hope tour (self-booked or DIY)
- →War Tunnel Museum entry
- →Trebević cable car
- →Baščaršija market and ćevapi lunch
Sarajevo free day
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Free day. Walk the cobblestone of the Old Town, see the Latin Bridge where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and the mix of Ottoman, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish architecture within a couple of blocks. Consider a day trip to the Vrelo Bosne springs or, for hikers, a bus to the 1984 Olympic bobsled track on Trebević. Evening: Bosnian coffee and a slow dinner in Baščaršija.
🚌Local buses/trams ~£3; optional Vrelo Bosne ~£5
🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (~£15-20/night)
- →Latin Bridge
- →Old Town architecture walk
- →Optional Vrelo Bosne day trip
- →Optional Trebević bobsled track hike
Sarajevo to Kotor
Kotor, Montenegro
Long travel day but one of the best views in the Balkans. Take the Sarajevo–Kotor bus (around 8h, ~£22-28, often via Trebinje) — book ahead and grab a window seat for the Bay of Kotor approach. Or split the journey overnight in Trebinje for a more relaxed pace. Check into your hostel inside the walled old town; the atmosphere at night is excellent.
🚌Sarajevo–Kotor bus ~£25
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kotor Old Town (~£18-25/night)
- →Scenic bus to Kotor
- →Evening walk inside the Old Town walls
Kotor: hike, boat or kayak
Kotor, Montenegro
Free day with plenty of options. Hike up the medieval Ladder of Kotor to the Sveti Ivan fortress for sunrise or early morning views (€15 park entry at the gate). Alternatively, sea kayak the bay (~£18-22 for a guided half-day), take a taxi-boat to the tiny islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, or visit Perast (15 min by bus, ~£2). Evening: eat fresh seafood by the harbour.
🚌Local bus/boat ~£8
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kotor Old Town (~£18-25/night)
- →Ladder of Kotor / Sveti Ivan fortress hike
- →Sea kayaking on the bay (self-booked)
- →Bus to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks boat
- →Optional Risan Roman mosaics
Kotor to Konavle Valley and Dubrovnik
Konavle Valley → Dubrovnik, Croatia
Bus from Kotor to the Croatian border at Karasovići and on to Cavtat/Dubrovnik (~2.5-3h, ~£15-18) — or take the shared minivan taxi from Kotor to Dubrovnik (€20-25 each). Book a Konavle Valley agrotourism lunch directly with a family-run estate (typically €30-40 including wine) — GetYourGuide also sells transfers plus farm lunch. Then head into Dubrovnik and walk the medieval city walls (ticket ~£27-30, best late afternoon for the light).
🚌Bus or shared minivan Kotor–Dubrovnik ~£17
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik Old Town/Plodine (~£25-35/night)
- →Bus Kotor–Dubrovnik
- →Konavle Valley family-farm lunch and garden walk
- →Dubrovnik city walls walk
Dubrovnik Old City and DEŠA
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Morning in the UNESCO Old City. Visit the DEŠA women's nonprofit centre (founded in the 1990s during the Croatian War of Independence) selling traditional food and handicrafts — drop in and support them directly. Free afternoon: swim at Buža cliff bar, take the cheap local ferry to Lokrum Island (~£5 return) or Lopud, or do a self-booked sea kayak tour (~£30). Evening sunset from Mount Srđ by cable car (~£8).
🚌Ferries and local bus ~£7
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik (~£25-35/night)
- →DEŠA Women's Centre visit
- →Lokrum or Lopud ferry
- →Optional sea kayaking (self-booked)
- →Mount Srđ cable car at sunset
Depart Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Depart at any time. Dubrovnik Airport is served by the shuttle bus (about £8) or the local Libertas bus from the Old Town/Ploče. Have a last Bosnian coffee on the Stradun before you go.
🚌Shuttle bus to Dubrovnik Airport ~£8
🛏—
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£950 | £2,800 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,850 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£950
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover the Balkans: A Self-Launched Journey from Zagreb to Dubrovnik cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £950 per person for 12 days in Balkans (Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Sarajevo, Kotor & Dubrovnik). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £950 — a saving of roughly £1,850 (66%) per person.
How long is the Balkans (Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Sarajevo, Kotor & Dubrovnik) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Balkans (Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Sarajevo, Kotor & Dubrovnik).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Balkans (Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Sarajevo, Kotor & Dubrovnik), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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