Riches Route of Dalmatia — Self-Launched (Zagreb to Dubrovnik, 7 Days)
7 days · Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro
Ajdinis charges £1,975
No-markup version: ~£570 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Ajdinis' 7-day "Riches Route of Dalmatia" small-group tour, covering Zagreb, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Dubrovnik, Mostar/Kravica Waterfalls and Kotor/Perast. Instead of a guided minivan, you'll use Croatia's excellent intercity buses (FlixBus/Arriva), local tours booked through GetYourGuide/Klook, and day-trip shuttles. You'll sleep in hostels and budget guesthouses rather than 4-star hotels, and eat at local konobas and bakeries. The itinerary is tight — the original crams in a lot of driving — so consider adding a night in Split and Dubrovnik if your schedule allows. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zagreb — Old Town at Your Own Pace
Zagreb, Croatia
Land at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport and take the Croatia Airlines/Plesoprijevoz airport shuttle bus or ZET bus line 290 into the city centre (~€8 / £7, 30–40 mins) instead of a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Ban Jelačić Square or in the Lower Town. Spend the afternoon wandering the Upper Town: St Mark's Church, the Stone Gate, Tkalčićeva Street and Dolac Market. Grab dinner at a local konoba — štrukli and ćevapi are cheap and filling. Book tomorrow's Lake Bled day trip tonight (GetYourGuide typically £45–65 including transport and guide).
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£7; walking in the city
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Zagreb (dorm £15–20, private double £30–40)
- →Airport shuttle bus into centre
- →Self-guided Upper Town walk: St Mark's Church, Stone Gate, Tkalčićeva Street
- →Dolac Market
- →Book Lake Bled + Ljubljana day trip online
Lake Bled & Ljubljana Day Trip
Bled & Ljubljana, Slovenia
Take a full-day organised day trip from Zagreb covering Lake Bled and Ljubljana — this is the cheapest and simplest self-bookable equivalent of the tour's private minivan leg (~£45–65 via GetYourGuide, includes transport and a guide). Walk the lakeshore path, hike up to Bled Castle viewpoint for the postcard view, and optionally take a pletna boat to the island church (~€20, extra). Then continue to Ljubljana for a 2–3 hour old town wander: Prešeren Square, the Triple Bridge, the Dragon Bridge and the castle hill. Alternatively, do it independently by FlixBus Zagreb–Ljubljana (~£12, 2h15) plus Ljubljana–Bled bus (~£4 each way), but timings make the day trip simpler. Return to Zagreb in the evening.
🚌GetYourGuide day-trip minibus/coach (included in activity cost)
🛏Same Zagreb hostel/guesthouse
- →Lake Bled lakeshore walk
- →Bled Castle viewpoint
- →Ljubljana old town self-guided walk
- →Optional pletna boat to Bled Island (~€20)
Plitvice Lakes National Park → Split
Plitvice Lakes & Split, Croatia
Take an early FlixBus or Arriva bus from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes (Entrance 1), ~2 hours, £8–10. Pre-book your park ticket online (€23–40 depending on season — book well ahead, slots sell out). Walk the classic Lower Lakes loop (Program B/C, 3–4 hours) including the boat crossing and panoramic train. In the afternoon catch a bus from Plitvice to Split (~3.5–4 hours, £18–22 via Arriva/FlixBus). You'll arrive in Split in the evening — check into a hostel near the Old Town and grab a late dinner of fresh seafood or a cheap burek.
🚌FlixBus Zagreb–Plitvice ~£9; Arriva/FlixBus Plitvice–Split ~£20
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Split Old Town (dorm £18–22, private £35–45)
- →Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance and self-guided Lower Lakes walk
- →Panoramic boat and train within the park
Split Old Town → Bus to Dubrovnik
Split & Dubrovnik, Croatia
Spend the morning exploring Diocletian's Palace on a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5–10) or a small-group GetYourGuide tour (~£15). Wander the Riva, climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of St Domnius (£5), and have lunch in the Old Town. In the afternoon take the FlixBus/Arriva bus from Split to Dubrovnik (~4–4.5 hrs, £16–22). On arrival, check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Town or Gruž. Evening: walk the Stradun after the day-trippers leave and grab a cheap pizza or peka dinner.
🚌FlixBus/Arriva Split–Dubrovnik ~£19
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Dubrovnik Old Town/Gruž (dorm £22–28, private £45–60)
- →Diocletian's Palace walking tour
- →Cathedral of St Domnius bell tower climb
- →Evening Stradun stroll
Mostar, Kravica Waterfalls & Počitelj Day Trip
Bosnia & Herzegovina (from Dubrovnik)
Join a GetYourGuide/Klook small-group day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravica Waterfalls, Mostar and Počitelj (~£40–55, includes guide and transport — often the visa/park fees are extra). You'll swim or paddle at Kravica if it's summer, wander Mostar's Old Bazaar and Stari Most, hopefully catch a diver jumping from the bridge, and stop in the Ottoman village of Počitelj on the way back. Bring your passport — you cross into Bosnia & Herzegovina, and pay small entrance fees for Kravica (~€10) and Počitelj in cash (Convertible Mark). Return to Dubrovnik in the evening.
🚌GetYourGuide day-trip minibus (included); border crossing into BiH
🛏Same Dubrovnik hostel/guesthouse
- →Kravica Waterfalls
- →Mostar Old Town and Stari Most
- →Local bridge divers at Mostar
- →Počitelj medieval town
- →Optional swim at Kravica
Perast, Lady of the Rocks & Kotor
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Book a day trip from Dubrovnik to Perast, Lady of the Rocks and Kotor (~£40–55 via GetYourGuide/Klook), taking in the scenic drive through Župa Dubrovačka and the Konavle valley. Stop in Perast and take the little boat out to Our Lady of the Rocks island church (~€10, sometimes included). Then spend 2–3 hours wandering Kotor's walled Old Town, and if you have energy, hike partway up the city walls for the bay views (~€15 entry, or free via the back route). Again, carry your passport — this crosses into Montenegro.
🚌GetYourGuide day-trip minibus (included); border crossing into Montenegro
🛏Same Dubrovnik hostel/guesthouse
- →Perast
- →Boat to Our Lady of the Rocks
- →Kotor Old Town
- →Optional Kotor city walls hike
Dubrovnik Old Town & Departure
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Spend the morning independently exploring Dubrovnik: walk the city walls early before the cruise crowds (~€35, worth it), or do a free walking tour of the Old Town. Visit Fort Lovrijenac, browse the Old Port, and take the cable car up Srđ for the bay panorama (~€27 return). Alternatively swim at Banje Beach. In the afternoon take the Atlas/airport shuttle bus from Pile or the main bus station to Dubrovnik Airport (~€10 / £9), or a shared shuttle/transfer. If your flight is early, consider adding a night in Dubrovnik.
🚌Airport shuttle bus to Dubrovnik Airport ~£9
🛏Departure day
- →Dubrovnik city walls walk
- →Fort Lovrijenac
- →Srđ cable car (optional)
- →Old Port and Banje Beach
Self-launched vs. Ajdinis
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Ajdinis | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£570 | £1,975 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,405 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Ajdinis-style trips? Check them out here.~£570
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 Riches Route of Dalmatia — Self-Launched (Zagreb to Dubrovnik, 7 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £570 per person for 7 days in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro. 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 Ajdinis?+
Yes — Ajdinis charges around £1,975 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £570 — a saving of roughly £1,405 (71%) per person.
How long is the Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro.
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, adventure, hiking trip through Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, 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?
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