Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very good in terms of the diversity of cities and sites visited. Our guide was well-versed, friendly and high-energy throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the (former) Yugoslavian war in the early 1990's was both informative and shocking, i.e. Wow.. Like most Americans, I believe, I recall occasionally hearing about the war on the nightly news but not really understanding who was fighting who and the reasons for the war. Both our daily guide, and the city specific guides, did an excellent job of breaking down the history of this tragic time period."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 10th Rick Steves tour, and they just seem to get better and better! Our guide Sanel, our bus driver Edis, and our group were all fantastic. Sanel is very knowledgeable about the places we visited, very patient, friendly, helpful, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick just one since each day seemed to provide a WOW moment. The friendly city of Ljubljana, the beauty of Istria, Bled, and Plitvice, the Roman ruins in Pula and Split. If I had to choose just one it was visiting our guide’s hometown of Stalac and the time we spent in Mostar. Sanel sharing his personal history added so much to our visit there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the first Rick Steves or any other TOUR I have ever taken! I was amazed every day - it went beyond any thing I ever expected! It was more than worth every cent!! Our tour guide Sanel, went above and beyond everyday to ensure everything went extremely smooth! I explain it to friends this way - "It was like taking a Masters level college course in history, from a professor who lived through it, in the location the history happened"

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW moments were every day! Walking the old city wall in Dubrovnik was breathtaking! As was visiting a mosque and a monastery in the same morning! The views driving through the hills and villages was "WOW" constantly! Not to forget the fun of swimming in the Adriatic! And a fun filled last minute happy hour boat ride! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful introduction to this part of Europe with knowledgeable guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Most spectacular: Julian alps. Most convivial: lunch at winery. Most educational: WWI museum at Kobarid. Most romantic dinners: outdoor terraces at Motovun and Korcula. Most surprising: Mostar. Most scenic vistas: Ljubljana castle and Dubrovnik cable car. Prettiest streets: Roving and Ljubljana. Best adaptive rehab: Diocletians palace in Split. Best waterfall hike: Plitvice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Ben was amazing. Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were beautiful and the people were welcoming. We learned a lot of about the history surrounding those areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had many "wow" moments......Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes National Park, swimming in the Adriatic Sea, Motovun, great wine and our Istrian Feast in Brtonigla, strolling in Split, to name a few."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful experience. Visiting countries we'd not experienced before (Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia) was interesting and beautiful. Our guide, Ben, was excellent and provided insight that was very helpful in learning about the history of this region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice NP was extraordinary. Very unique and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved this tour - our guide Ben was so knowledgeable and fun, the group all got along well and the sights and information are still sinking in. We felt like we really got the feel of the towns we visited. Would do it all again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard, there were so many. Probably walking the walls of Dubrovnik, but there were so many moments when we needed to be pinched to know it was real."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an incredible tour. This was my 8th RS tour and as always, it surpassed my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many favorite moments but if I had to pick one, I would say the waterfalls at Plitvice. The number, the volume, the beauty, the surroundings - it was awe-inspiring and truly an amazing experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mariam was incredible guide!-loved hearing about local customs & culture as well as historic context & loved the daily language coaching. Good balance of time touring with group and individual time to explore or relax. The group came together comfortably in spite of the size. Fabulous progression of terrains from mountains to the Adriatic sea.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vineyard tours-did not expect to learn so much about the wines of the regions which were incredible. We visited in both Slovenia and Croatia-both unique experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Can’t say enough good things about tour leader Mariam. She obviously loves her job, is personable and resolved issues well. Local guides were interesting, especially those with personal experiences of the war. Every major stop was a gem. Hotels were well-located and comfortable. I love the RS ethic of being travelers not just tourists. It is important to learn of history and experiences of the people sharing their towns with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many Wows such as the walls of Dubrovnik-but among my experiences as a traveler - meeting a local woman in Mostar whose American accent led me to learn she had once lived in my Ohio hometown; Mestrovic chapel carvings in Split; swimming in the Adriatic in Korcula; hubby and I enjoying a bottle of wine on the walls of Motovun (or anywhere); something fun going on nightly in Ljubljana (try to arrive for Friday night Open kitchen); beautiful lunch locations, delicious food, great tour mates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really appreciated the thoughtful planning, the quality of the stops, information, guides, and transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Muslim influence in Mostar was a new experience for me. I've never seen a real minaret before, and the Turkish flavor of the tourist shops made me feel like I was in Istanbul!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour hotels and food provided by the tour were really good. The places we visited were unique and interesting from a cultural and historical stand point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was up in one of the minarets in Mostar getting pictures of the Old Bridge when the call to worship occurred. Within a few seconds all the other minarets starting their own broadcasting the call to worship. It was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of the Adriatic tour was an excellent choice for the itinerary, my favorite RS guide Mariam, the history, the beauty, the wonderful group meals, and we had a fun tour group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing day enjoying the Plitvice Lake National Park was my favorite “wow” moment. But, this entire itinerary was full of wonderful moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group leader, Sanel Maric was excellent. Honestly, he made what would have been a good trip into a great tip. His personal experience in the Bosnian war brought home the history of the region over the past 2000 years. My wife Julie and I really enjoyed our time with Sanel, Katerina, Addie, and Edis. Thanks so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is more than one favorite "wow" moment. That said, here's the top three: 1) Plitvice National Park - Amazing waterfalls and so hard to believe we were walking on boards above a rushing river. Exceptional. 2) Stolac (Sanel's Home Town). Eye opening to see the destruction but heartwarming to discover rebirth starting with Sanel's own family. 3) Korcula - Walking North discovering stairs to the ocean & at the bottom being invited to join a family in their backyard for an Adriatic swim!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour guides were very good!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded expectations in every way. We are experienced independent travelers, so we weren't sure how it would go. Everything was value for money (especially expensive for us Canadians). The tour provided so many magical moments that we couldn't have replicated on our own, and sharing with our new friends made it even more special. We also appreciated how much we learned about the break up of Yugoslavia, and its direct impact on the people. The balance of experiences was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments. I particularly loved the time at Boris's winery. It is the beautiful European winery of your imagination, and we were so warmly welcomed. The summer toboggan at Lake Bled was so much fun, and even with fear of heights I loved it. The zero km meal at the donkey farm too. Everything (sights and food) in Bosnia was a "wow". Hearing guide Sanel's personal story of the war was a different kind of "wow", but a "wow" all the same. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic Trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar and Bosnia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have been on multiple RS tours and this ranks at the top. The countries,landscapes, activities, accommodations, meals were all more than expected and I have high expectations of RS tours. While one of the more active tours, the pace was good (even at the heat increased as we went south). In the end, trips are made by the people you are traveling with. We had a great group of no-grump travelers and our guide Sanel so enriched our trip with his knowledge, candor and humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The easy answer for my ‘wow’ moment is Plitvice Lakes National Park – which is stunning in so many ways. With that, I think the time in Bosnia-Herzegovina was my favorite ‘wow’ experience and the one that has stayed in my thoughts."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We learned a lot about Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. Our guide Sanel was a great story teller and provided his personal experience of living through the war.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Lake Bled from the castle was a definite wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Informational, breathtaking, exciting, hungry for more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park, breathtaking! Conversely, seeing the war's destruction was eye-opening."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being that this tour was our 16th RS tour, we knew the tour would be outstanding and the Best of the Adriatic did not disappoint us. The tour guide, local guides and the bus driver were very professional and personable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Like other RS tours that we have taken, every location, sites, etc. were WOW moments. If we had to select one, it would be the town of Split with it's rich history especially the Diocletian Palace and the St. Domnius Cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was well crafted. Our guide was outstanding. The group gradually became cohesive until at the end we had a hearty party.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park. So many waterfalls, sparklingly clean water, easy-to-navigate boardwalks, occasional wildflowers...it is a stunningly beautiful place. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed travelling with a great group and an excellent guide in Sanel. We were so lucky to have such a great guide and such a friendly group of people. Normally my wife and I travel independently, but being in this group enhanced the travel experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boris's winery was a highlight as was the happy hour cruise in Korcula followed by the after party by the pool. The amphitheatre in Pula was spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations from start to finish! Our guide was outstanding, the tour stops, information, accommodations and meals were all top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I consider my biggest wow moment to be our time spent in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hearing our guide's personal story and seeing the beautiful country and people and how they are still rebuilding was very impactful to me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is one of the best Rick Steves tours I've been on. Everything was perfect, including the guides, bus driver, accommodations, food, and best of all the countries themselves. The scenery was stunning and the people very friendly and accommodating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Bosnia. The scenery was breathtaking and learning the history of the recent war in the 1990s from our guide and local guide, was very moving and illuminating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sights/cities were well chosen, tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and GREAT with travelers, the included meals were evenly spaced out and delicious, hotels were good and overall……a glorious tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia Herzegovina experience. Loved starting in Ljubljana."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned about a part of the world that I had never even thought about before.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much about this area of the world. The remnants of the Bosnia war are reminders that what happened there can happen anywhere. Such a tragic waste of lives. And yet there is hope and beauty throughout Slovenia and Croatia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park. This hike was one amazing waterfall after another! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing. I loved learning about this part of the world and exploring all the different places. Our guide, Marijan, did an amazing job bringing it all to life for us. Great group, great food, great opportunities to learn and have fun. I did not want this trip to end!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from! Bosnia was my surprise wow. Swimming in the Adriatic was fantastic. Walking the walls in Dubrovnik was another unexpected wow. Ljubljana was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Mariam, brought the history, culture, and even the geological environment to life. The local guides were informative and charismatic. I found the Bosnian guides especially eye-opening and poignant with their personal stories about the war. I thought the mix of natural beauty, historical events and architecture to be just about perfect. All of the hotels were great and the staff very helpful. The dinners were outstanding! We will definitely use Rick Steves again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed at how well preserved Dubrovnik was. It still blows me away. The city seemed literally frozen in time."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The main guide was excellent. The local guides were a little less intelligible with their somewhat strong accents.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking around Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

I was kicked off the tour after contracting Covid and therefore was stranded alone in a foreign country having to make my own travel arrangements in order to get home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Guide had an impressive knowledge of history "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 12th RS tour. I love them all! Adriatic Tour offers beautiful nature, interesting history, wonderful food, and great guides and travel mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Top 3-Lake Bled's majesty, the power and beauty of Plitvics Lakes National Park, and the solitude of Korcula island."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Interesting destinations and history, plus veteran Rick Steves tour companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming poor at Marco Polo Hotel in Korchula, plus Plitvice waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The balance of group time and personal freedom to explore was perfect!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"World War I museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour, well planned and implemented without a problem. Our guide Daria was knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and caring. This was our 4th Rick Steves' tour and each one has exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park were breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having heard that the Adriatic countries were beautiful, I expected the typical European charm. However, I was thoroughly surprised by the captivating scenery, the tumultuous history, and the fairytale settings of these countries! The pace of the tour was lively because there was always another unique surprise to see and experience. Daria was a SUPERB, friendly, extremely knowledgeable, attentive, and FUN tour guide! This trip greatly exceeded my expectations!!!! Cherished memories & priceless!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ‎⁨Plitvice Lakes National Park⁩ is a WOW, WOW & WOW!! What could have been a disappointing day due to rain, this experience was breathtaking- in several ways. The dampness added to a luster to the walkways and contributed to feeling as if we were in rainforest. The hike was long and steep at times, but we had the option of departing halfway, which a few people chose to do. So glad I persevered because my photos are magnificent and my mind is saturated with nature's small masterpiece!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very different trip than I usually take. There were no big things to see. I love history, we learned SO much history about these 3 countries it was / is complicated /confusing but also very interesting. Many of us had no idea about their history. The meal we had after the "donkey farm" was amazing all grown on their farm, loved it! I really enjoyed our group everyone was so nice and friendly..Daria was a great source of information , very helpful, loved our bus driver too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The walk through the Plitvice Lakes National Park , even though it was "rainy" it is a very beautiful park with all the lakes, and waterfalls....certainly worth the time it took to walk/ride through it. The last night a special treat when a tour member(Babette) sang "Ava Maria" for all of us, it was awesome!!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Love learning about the history and culture of every region as visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) WWI museum in Kobarid, the guide was amazing and brought the time period to life and the museum moved me to tears. 2) Experiencing Stolac and Mostar in Bosnia through the eyes of a local guide who actually lived through the war was an absolute favorite. 3)The most obvious "wow" was Plitvice national park but the experience was dulled somewhat by the thousands of tourists lining the walkways. It was hard to appreciate the natural beauty surrounded by so many tourists. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Rick Steves Tour produced an experienced itinerary of interesting sites to see while expertly managing the logistics, comfort, informative guides, and both educational and recreational opportunities. It was an active tour that allowed me to join as much or as little as I wanted. I did it all though, loved every step (loads of walking) and thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of everywhere we traveled. It was fascinating!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment would have to be the Plitvice National Park viewing the waterfalls, lakes and dense forests. The park was well maintained with a boardwalk throughout the area keeping you close to the waterfalls. It was a spectacular site to see the multitude and massiveness of a complex waterfall system filtering through the sandstone. Don’t miss it!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As always, we loved the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unexpectedly, Bosnia was an interesting and informative stop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour opened up so much of Europe that is gorgeous and friendly, places that we never thought to visit given our childhoods of Soviet and Tito control. The Adriatic is spirited, determined to grow and show itself off, and is full of fantastic history. And the locals are fantastic--helpful, smiling, happy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was Ljubljana, Slovenia, until we walked Plitvice Lakes National Park. THAT is a wonder of the world."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Adriatic tour is FANTASTIC. There is so much variety on the tour from mountains to lakes to the coast. The discussions and tours of the recent history in the region was eye-opening. Our tour guide Miriam is a wonderful ambassador for the region and for Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day, there were multiple wow moments. But if we had to choose, it would be Lake Plitvice. Words cannot describe how beautiful and unique this park is. And our guide did a great job of making sure we were able to enjoy our hike with the least amount of people. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gorgeous region, wide variety of locations and experiences, excellent tour guide, marvelous group of fellow traveler.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick, Plitvice Lakes National Park has to be number one, never seen anything like it. But Ljubljana will always be in my heart."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful country and very informative from the people who lived there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lubljana was a very nice city and a pleasant surprise. A great city to start the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great tour! Great hotels, good choices of experiences, beautiful countries, great tour guide and local tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfall hike at Plitvice Lakes National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience was terrific! A perfect mix of history and cultural immersion, with personal stories from or guide, and plenty of time for individual exploration of the towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving along the Soca River in the Julian Alps of Slovenia. Amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide for entire tour was amazing! He was very well organized and had a great sense of humor. The 13 couples on our tour were a pleasure to be around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Split, Dubrovnik fortress/castle city, and Adriatic Sea were wonderful. Went kayaking twice on that beautiful clear water."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful places, wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Excellent logistical arrangements!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous guide, great group of travelers and a tremendous itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hands down Plitvice Lakes National Park, breathtakingly beautiful. Staying on the park grounds the night prior was key to early entry and beating the crowds on upper lakes. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the sites we visited, our guide Marijan, the local guides, the group members, the lodging, the meals, the tours. It was very well organized, and of course the perfect weather added to our enjoyment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The WW II museum with its amazing mixed media and the guide explaining the battle there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience, our main guide, Marijan, did a great job of discussing the complicated histories of the places we visited and how that impacts the present (future) of these places. The local guides were also great. It makes me want to learn more of the history of these places. All of the countries visited were beautiful / interesting. Enjoyed plenty of free time to savor the cafe culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Korcula was outstanding, the drive / ferry ride to get there and then the beautiful island, views and town. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour was the perfect balance of group activities and organized tours mixed with free time to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the Bosnia and Herzegovina section of the trip and hearing the personal stories from people with first hand experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Marjan was such an amazing, knowledgeable and gracious tour host. He is a walking encyclopedia. I really enjoyed the depth of knowledge and understanding achieved in the history of a place through his narrations, all while riding comfortably on a bus to our next destination. This is my first Rick Steve’s tour. If this is touring, I love it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably too many to mention. Slovenia and the WWI museum was fascinating. Certainly the stops to visit Boris Lesjac’s vineyard, the donkey farm and prosciutto cellar. Of course I absolutely loved Korčula!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide very knowledgeable and didn’t over load us dates. Was positive and a joy. Loved the free time to do whatever you wanted. Especially appreciated the Bosnia-Mostar trip very informative. Motovum was fabulous and the meals were generous. Really appreciated the opportunity to have local experiences such as winery stop, donkey milk sampling and local dishes. Loved the size of the group and everyone was friendly and willing to extend themselves to others in the group. No grumps.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled and Pletvice Park. Seeing Mostar."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Ben did a great job of teaching us about the culture, history and food of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia! I absolutely loved this tour and the stops along the way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia! Our local guides shared their incredible experiences growing up in a war torn country while also highlighting the amazing progress that’s been made since the war ended. I fell in love with the culture and cuisine of Bosnia. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour experienced an unusual amount of rain for the first week which caused flooding at the national park. That was a definite bummer but we still saw the largest falls. Ben's style suited me perfectly because I enjoy the educational aspect of the tours. He also played music from the region that I thought added a lot to the experience. He was a superb guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably driving through the Julian Alps. I've lived in the Rocky Mountains but the Julian Alps are so much more dramatic! A close second would be the WWI museum. I could have spent a lot more time in there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all Ben was a wonderful Guide. His knowledge of local culture, language, traditions and language was outstanding. enjoyed the little treats along the way-honey brandy, chocolates, donkey milk etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roman ruins in Pula, waterfalls in Plitvice Park,Dinner over looking water in Split, walking the wall in Dubrovnik."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The areas we traveled were all amazing.The food was very good, a lot of influence from other countries. Ljubljana and Mostar were my favorite cites, they were both smaller cities and pedestrian friendly. The local people were friendly and kind. Our tour guide and group were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "Wow" moment were the water falls at Plitvice National Park. They had so much rain fall in the previous weeks that the amount of water was cascading over the mountain at a powerful and fierce rate. It was amazing to experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Ben was excellent. He taught us so much information about the complicated history of Croatia through the centuries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beginning in Bovec, Slovenia ,I stood in awe as I looked out on the majestic Julian Alps and wished that I could stay there longer and explore the surrounding area. Breathtaking! I just did not want to get back on the bus."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a positive experience. I learned a lot and enjoyed discovering a new part of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm not much of a "wow" person, but I was pleased with all aspects of the trip--new worlds, interesting people, and great guides."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A delight and surprise! Finally got here to see amazing beauty, and assimilation of Slovenia and Croatia into the EU. The contrast of Bosnia Herzegovina was shocking, the internal difficulties to recover from the 1990's war, was extremely glad for the 3 BH local guides being so frank about the situations. Well organized tour with wealth of information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Falls, It had been raining for several days, with trails around the upper lakes being closed. Anya, our guide got us to the falls right below the lakes, and WOW! Triple the normal size, and the power of the falls, surrounding us, makes one realize how minuscule humans are in comparison. Then at Veliki (Big) Slap falls, the magnificence, the grandeur, how fortunate we were to experience this extra volume of water and power. So glad Anya encouraged me, when I was unsure of the footing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments. We really enjoyed learning about the wars in Bosnia"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the waterfalls"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing landscapes, good food and the normal awesome tour guide. We had Anya and she was so fun. Great group also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Pletvice Lakes were at high water and so very spectacular. But Lake Bled and Ljubljana were the best. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A very efficient tour. In 14 days, we saw a lot, learned a lot, and experienced a lot. This included ancient sites, various cuisines, coastal features, architectural landmarks, history lessons, and natural wonders.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In a nutshell, the natural beauty and magnificent of the Plitvice National Park. It is a rare gem of several cascading lakes through a multitude of amazing and picturesque waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent leader, a wonderful group, and had a great time. Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia are beautiful, the food was wonderful, and the first hand experience of our local guides in Bosnia was moving.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park was amazing. I am a waterfall person. I love waterfalls and have seen many. These were the most beautiful series of falls I have ever seen. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Like other Rick Steves adventures that we’ve been a part, this one also had excellent planning and coordination. Unfortunately, one of us tested positive for Covid midway through resulting in having to leave early. Despite this disappointment, we still had a wonderful experience. This event resulted in less than an outstanding experience (absolutely no reflection on Rick Steves).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Natural beauty is always so impressive. The Julian Alps was such an experience. Leaning more about the battles of WWI in such hostile terrain made me want to do more study on that period. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The first week of the trip was outstanding. Due to Covid, we had to drop out of the tour on the 7th day. No fault of Rick Steves tour, but reality is that there still is Covid out there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes Croatia. Hiking around the lakes and seeing the beautiful blue-green color of water was a memory that I will not forget"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip with an excellent guide, Mariam. It did rain for about a week but with Mariam’s energy, the skies usually cleared for our local tour. Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia were all beautful countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice NP was amazing with the lakes and waterfalls. Luckily, the skies cleared enough so we could hike both upper and lower areas. Dubrovnik was my second WOW. The city was beautiful with the high walls and wall walk. Looked like a movie set!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great! Everything was taken care of for us! Lots of special touches just to make us have fun and for our enjoyment. Saw places we may have missed if we were on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plot ice lakes national park was my wow moment. Enjoyed hiking and seeing the beautiful waterfalls. Have not seen anything like it. Loved seeing this national park in Croatia. Guide helped us get going early in the morning to get the first ride to the hike and our group had the trail to ourselves until mid day. She would go early to get our tickets while we got ready for the day. Beautiful national park!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Unfortunately, I tested positive halfway through the tour so we were unable to continue with the group. The week we did have was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very surprised with Slovenia. I had no idea it was so beautiful with such a friendly outgoing population. Loved the "old city" locations in both Slovenia and Croatia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beauty, cultures, and history of Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Croatia made this a wonderful and thought-provoking trip. Our leader, Mariam, was outstanding! Knowledgable, interesting, organized, helpful, informative, and calm. She shared her experiences, insights, literature, traditions, humor, music & sweets which all enhanced the trip. Excellent local guides & driver. Delicious food, esp. seafood, & wine were representative of the different regions. Good balance of free/group time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing and understanding more about the breakup of Yugoslavia and recent wars, the beautiful Julian Alps, the unusual green color of the lakes and rivers, the close proximity of the mountains to the sea, the diverse architectural styles, and the relaxing, riverfront cafe scene in Ljubljana. And finally seeing the sun on the Adriatic coast after so many days without it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves tour! Learned so much about the history of Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially their vulnerability to outside invasions over the centuries. Delicious varieties in foods and wine. Main downside was the 9 people who had to leave the tour due to COVID.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park with its awesome waterfalls was a definite highlight! Never saw so much water in one place. Around each bend was another photo opportunity!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything we hoped for and more. It was a very interesting in terms of the history we learned about, the places (architecture, art, natural beauty) we saw and the people we met. We had excellent guides throughout our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park. Best rainy hike ever."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great itinerary, with a mix of outstanding outdoor sights (Bled, Plitvice, Julian Alps), Roman sights in Split and Pula, and both contemporary (beak up of Yugoslavia, ‘90’s war) and older (Venetian/Dubrovnik) history. Weather was less than ideal, but our guide (Barbara) was excellent at both educating us, sharing cultural and personal insights, and demonstrating her caring and thoughtful nature.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice was wild with all the extra water flow - very close to flooding, but the waterfalls were especially powerful. Some of the personal stories of our local guide in Mostar and the proprietor of the bookstore adjacent to the Old Bridge were raw and impactful. The local guide in Stolac gave me a sense of how powerless and desperate most ordinary Bosnians were when the war came to their village. The personal stories from Bosnia were especially impactful for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As travelers, group tours are not the norm for us and this was a stretch--and a perfect choice for these countries with a super group of people, a very fine tour leader, and exceptionally informed local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sorry, I can't say just say one moment was the best as there were certainly many. We were introduced to wine makers, historians, farmers raising donkeys, war survivors, beautiful nature, architectural delights, some great people moments, and as a vegetarian I was touched by the accommodations made on my behalf. The Rick Steves' philosophy of community building and just the right amount of on your own time made the trip--plus this is a very interesting part of the world and worth every minute."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour Guide was outstanding in every way. Very knowledgeable, kept everyone educated as well as entertained. Hotels were great, meals were fantastic. Local guides were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled and Plitvice were high on our list and they did not disappoint despite rain. But the knowledge gained by visit to Mostar was very good and we gained new insights."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was informative and Barbara our guide was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara, our tour guide, was terrific. We had a great group of fellow travelers. Our hotels and restaurants were fine. We also had a couple 'special' stops along the way: a vineyard/winery and a farm where we had a super nice lunch. I have saved the best for last - that being the beautiful natural landscape and the magnificent man-made structures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have at least two. The first was the magnificent beauty of Plitvice National Park; water falls everywhere you looked. The second was the walled city of Dubrovnik; I was amazed at the immense magnitude of the walls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience with our tour from beginning to end. We've traveled independently for many years and have made liberal use of Rick Steves books and walking tours which always made our travel more interesting, but we feel like we got much more out of this trip because of our exceptional guides and truly enjoyable group of friendly travel companions. The food, hotels, and comfort of our bus were excellent as well. There was a good balance of time on our own as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments, but the natural beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park was right up there at the top. We were also wowed by Ljubljana and Slovenia. The varied natural beauty of the country and the beauty and accessibility of the city were notable. We'd been in Croatia previously, but had never been to Slovenia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour visits some amazing places, and we were awed many times during the tour. There were a couple of places I wish we could have stayed at longer; the ampitheater in Puna, and Plitvice. They were both such interesting places that I felt it could have enjoyable to linger a little longer. We loved our "vacation from a vacation" day in Korcula, a beautiful island, and loved seeing all the old town areas in many of the stops. We were very pleased with this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park! What an amazing place! While it was raining and drizzly most of the time we were there, it didn't take away from the beauty of the place. The volume of water in the falls was plentiful because of the recent rains, and the falls were simply spectacular. At times, we felt that we were literally surrounded by thundering waterfalls! I would go there again in a heartbeat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As per the other Rick Steves tours I've taken, this one did not disappoint. Saso was an excellent guide and everyone on the tour was a joy to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually there were two "wow" moments. The first was Plitvice National Park and the second was walking the walls of Dubrovnik."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth Rick Steves tour (previously did Turkey, Greece, and Sicily). And I have to say this either ties with our favorite tour — Turkey — or is a very close second.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was a three to walk the entire loop around the fortress walls of Old Town Dubrovnik, following a masterful orientation by the local guide — Roberto. I am a retired professional Historian and appreciate the importance of someone providing the historical context before doing the walkabout. I learned things from Roberto that made me think to myself: “Wow, why didn’t I know that already?”"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guides who were able to communicate the history of the countries we visited. Pacing of tour was perfect as well. Bus driver outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dobrovnik and walking the castle walls. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Saso did a fantastic job of keeping us informed. The bus and driver was top notch. The restaurants and hotels were all superior. Great food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole tour. Not enough time in Plitvica Selo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of Adriatic tour exceeded my expectations! Our guide gave us a fantastic experience of life in Slovenia. Croatia was breathtakingly beautiful and Bosnia was sobering but interesting to see the country’s comeback from their recent war.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Korcula was a real treat! We rented bikes for our free day and had such fun exploring the countryside. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

very well done

Favorite "WOW" moment

"plitvice waterfalls and seeing Julian Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 4th RS tour, and like the others, it did not disappoint. Ljubljana, Slovenia is beautiful and friendly. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a natural beauty everyone should see! Mostar was very interesting. I enjoyed exploring Korčula on the full free day. Dubrovnik's beauty is breathtaking! As always, the hotels were well located. Many thanks to our excellent, knowledgeable guide Sašo, and our really skilled driver Tomaž!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park, Korčula, and walking the walls of Dubrovnik."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of our tour was wonderful - we had a great guide (Saso), great traveling companions, excellent local guides who taught us so much about the local culture and history of each location, beautiful scenery, delicious food….

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park…it was surreal."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thought the tour was wonderful. Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina were all beautiful. Our guide Saso was excellent, knowledgeable, and entertaining. The accommodations were comfortable and well situated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Slovenia was surprisingly beautiful. I knew very little about the country, but it was the highlight of the trip. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The overall tour was terrific. There was a great mix of natural beauty, historical sites and information and activities surrounding the region’s food and wine. Our guide Sašo, was fantastic. He was personable, approachable, knowledgeable and entertaining. Just what I want from a guide. The local guides were also great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have several wow moments for different reasons. My favorite natural beauty spot was Plitvice National Park. The waterfalls were stunning and each time you turned a corner another incredibly beautiful spot presented itself. My other wow moments were in Bosnia. Edo’s personal story in Stolac was very impactful. I learned so much from both of the guides in Bosnia. It was an area I knew little about but am glad I was able to learn from them. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' Tour and I didn't know what to expect. Outstanding is an understatement. The itinerary was meticulously planned so that just when I needed down time, we got it! And when I was ready for a nice long walk, the itinerary provided. Our main tour guide had just the right personality to make my husband and I feel like we were in good hands. The people who did tours in their hometowns were amazing. I learned more in two weeks than I thought I could.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first wow moment of the trip and probably my favorite was upon visiting Pula and seeing the almost intact amphitheater. Walking in and underneath it with our guide, I was transported back to Roman times. To learn that it was still in use for events today was heartwarming."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a great tour. Perhaps not as emotionally relaxing as some, as we toured the WWI museum, and the areas affected by the senseless and difficult to understand war of the 90s. The Plitvice Lakea were beautiful. We would have paid a little more for more convenient hotels in Dubrovnik and Spit. The emphasis on local cuisine is not always our favorite food choices. Saso was outstanding. Edo’s tour and life story was quite moving

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes; Mostar bridge"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

tour guide Sanel Maric and bus driver Endus both outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have taken the COVID leap and I am finally back in Europe to experience more countries and their people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the old city in Dubrovnik "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sanel (guide) was excellent, the choice of locations was thoughtful and interesting, hotels were good, local guides superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very tough choice, but perhaps Dubrovnik’s Old Town."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked out tour guide, Sanel. He was knowledgeable, personable, etc…..I also loved the local tour guides in each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar was cool! I’d never heard the Muslim call to prayer before & it was beautiful hearing it for the first time.However, just like Christina churches, it started to lose its beauty when it happened at 5am.🙂"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We found the tour to meet or exceed all of our expectations. The sites and activities were carefully selected to provide a variety of experiences for all the participants. Our primary guide, Sanel Maric, was outstanding, knowledgeable about all the sites, personable and engaging, patient and responsive to all of the tour members and just a lot of fun to be around. All of the local guides were exceptional as well, giving us a detailed understanding of the various sites we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Lake Bled and the surrounding Julian Alps. This was an area I had read about but it turned out to be so much better than I expected. The people of Slovenia are so gracious and welcoming including the docent at the museum at the Lake Bled castle. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 14th R.S. tour and perhaps our favorite. Every day held a surprise. We were continually amazed by the beauty and history of the countries that we visited, as well as the professionalism, knowledge, and good cheer of our guide Sanel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first glimpse of Lake Bled took my breath away. Also so much fun to attend a soccer match in Split with a fellow tour member. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of the Adriatic exceeded my expectations. I came with anticipation that each day would be an adventure of learning the history, culture, and natural beauty of the Adriatic countries. Our guide was a key factor in making this tour very enjoyable from Day 1.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the first "wow" moment was on the second day when we traveled to Lake Bled, visited the castle atop the hill above the lake, and then had an opportunity to walk around the lake and get a magical view of the same castle from lakeside. I kept pinching myself at the beauty of the Julian Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour that I would highly recommend. We saw different cultural, geographical and historical places almost daily and learned about the interesting and compelling history from an open minded perspective. I can’t imagine a better guide than Sanel Maric, with his sense of humour and insight. The hotels were good and the food/wine was always generous and delicious. The tour members were a great group to share memories with. The pace was good as saw a lot and had good stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favourite wow moment was seeing Bosnia Herzegovina, because of the emotional impact of visiting our guides home town of Stolac and incredible Mostar. I would not have gone “off the beaten track” on my own so it was very special to go there. I loved Ljubljana, such a relaxed place, I could imagine living there. The Kremsnita cream cake at Lake Bled was almost as good as the beautiful views. The old towns of Split and Dubrovnik were breathtaking. The Julian Alps and WWI museum were incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall pacing and time on our own versus guided was pretty balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar bridge and photo fro our room at Hotel Almira of a Mosque, RC Church and EA Church all in one picture"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Sanel was excellent~ informative, charismatic & adaptable. I chose this tour because it went to 2/3 of the places I wanted to see in Croatia. I owned a tour company as a group leader & have used RS guidebooks in the past. Have traveled w/Collette, Trafalgar & Globus, etc. & read up on all things RS. The stand out negative for us was the rooms. Basic, small & never got a suite or balcony like others in our group did. Felt like a college dorm or worse, a room we could have afforded in our 20's. :(

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park!!!! Truly an amazing wonder, fabulous scenic hike & spectacular day! Other highlights were Lake Bled, Istria (Hotel la Grisa was our nicest hotel & room though wish we'd had truffles to sample while in this region), Rovinj (more time here please!), Korcula (LOVE), Split, Dubronik and loved our wine tasting in Karst (great get to know you time & wonderful wine!). Also greatly appreciated the included wine w/most meals, nice surprise!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I got to see part of the world I knew very title about and was very impressed with the tour schedule and places to travel and see. All places we visited had something for everyone on the tour, for me it was seen and feeling the amazing places and cultures the old world had to offer. Ben, our tour guide exceptionally knowledgeable about the region and the rest of the world made my journey a learning experience. Peter, the regions tour guide apprentice complemented Ben very nicely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say there was one "wow" moment because there were several like; walking the old towwn's waterfront of Ljubljana, the "old towns of Kurcula and Dubrovnik, the walk on the trails of Plitvice waterfalls, the beautiful panoramic bus ride from begining to the end. But, Stolac and Mostar and the local guide Edo in Bosnia experience was my most solemn moment. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Best of the Adriatic tour was everything I expected and so much more - from Ljubljana to beautiful Lake Bled, through the Julian Alps to Istria, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Mostar and coastal towns along the Adriatic to the old walled town of Dubrovnik. Our tour guides and the local guides were very knowledgeable, I learned so much about the history of the area along the way. And the food was amazing. The only disappointment was losing 18 of 27 of our 'merry band of travelers' to Covid.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Eye-opening Bosnia-Herzegovina. Walking through the little town of Stolac with Edo, our local guide and learning about the war and destruction of the 1990's was very emotional. Edo, an amazing person, also led us on a walking tour of Mostar, where I learned so much about the history of the former Yugoslavia and the mingling of cultures. The cobbled Old Town and the Old Bridge were a sight well worth seeing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour has it all; mountains, lakes, the sea, cities small enough to enjoy the unique wonders of each one and warm and passionate people moving forward from a troubled past. Ben shared his knowledge of the social & political history in easily digestible servings. Great tour for anyone. My very good rating reflects sadness at the lose of so many fellow travelers due to positive covid tests not the quality of the tour itself.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on a bench on Korcula, watching people and boats go by, forgetting what time it was, and not caring! There was no space above to cover this but Ben, our guide, is worthy of a wow. Faced with the loss of 2/3rds of the group and the resulting turmoil he remained calm and professional to the end. Kudos! "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

It was very short. Only 36 hours! I was shocked that after 2 vaxes and 3 boosters and mask wearing even when we were the only ones, one of us tested positive for covid!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not much opportunity for WOW. But I was impressed with the tour guides' credentials and was looking forward to hearing more."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Visited interesting, beautiful and historic places. Tourmates were friendly, guides were knowledgeable and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled, Plitvice National Park, walk the walls of Dubrovnik. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the guides Tina and Anna. They made us feel welcome, informed and safe. Also, they shared a lot about themselves and their experiences growing up in the city and the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park, Croatia. The waterfalls were strong the morning after the evening rains and the upper park was closed because of that. Spectacular torrents underfoot and lavish drops from above at every turn. Also very much enjoyed the Dalmatian seafood cuisine. Black risotto and black tagliatelle from cuttlefish ink are traditional dishes we sampled on our own. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour. Very educational/informative and great fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many choices. The alpine beauty of Lake Bled is high on the list along with the Croatian coast line."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Not only was the scenery beautiful, it was interesting to hear history of the region from the perspective of those places living there. The tour flexibility to weather and illness was seamless to a wonderful Experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the wall in Dubrovnik was amazing but there were so many!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Adriatic tour exceeded any and all expectations we might have had. It is an amazingly beautiful part of the world, with friendly locals, wonderful food, and great beer and wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the pathways of Plitvice National Park after heavy rains. There was water rushing everywhere, and gorgeous scenes with every turn of the walk."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had fabulous guides, Saso and Katrina; wonderful tour mates, superb group meals, fun experiences every day, almost enough free time, and lots of opportunity to learn about the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The quality of life of the Slovinian people. What a gorgeous country! Also all the Roman ruins i got to see. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful Mostar!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, great variety of experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall, this was a good trip with exceptional guides, well planned days and adequate hotels. More attention could have been given to participants' comfort throughout the tour. We had an early in the season tour, so there were weather challenges. Consideration should be given to shortening parts of the tour, doing part indoors or outside out of the wind/rain where the participants can be seated rather than standing for 20-30 minutes in the cold wind. Some guides were better at this than others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia/ Herzegovinian. Our guide was exceptional, and it was fascinating to learn about this area and the conflict. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great guides, great driver and great people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is impossible. If pressed, the forest with all the waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Timing of the trip was fantastic from the crowd perspective, we were able to visit places in a relaxed manner. The risk & downside was the weather did not cooperate visiting Lake Bled or Plitvice. Bled was a washout. Pltivice was still worthwhile, it was occasionally raining, but not a washout, so still enjoyable. The weather was very good before Bled and Plitvice, and fantastic after, so made up for it. Drove through the Julian Alps in a snowstorm. The tour group was the best of all the trips.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice with the tour group close behind, the group socialized very well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was well organized, with wonderful guides and ideal travel partners. We made great friendships and shared many laughs. We saw many aspects of the landscape in this beautiful part of the world I previously knew little about. We experienced rain, snow, and sunshine; traversed mountains, valleys, lakes and the sea.The locals treated us well and we felt welcomed and safe everywhere. (Special thanks to our driver!) The history we learned was interesting, inspiring and thought-provoking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "Wow" moments on previous tours centered around the man-made beauty seen in the cathedrals and museums. However, the exquisite beauty of God's creation witnessed on this tour became my "Wow" moments. The waterfalls at Plitvice, the beautiful Soča river valley, the Adriatic coastline with it's blue/green water and amazing sunsets! Wow! I also have to say "Wow" to our good fortune in being a part of this group, with Saso and Katka taking such good care of us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was SO much more than I expected. The places traveled, the outstanding guide, the local guides, were all remarkably superior to anything I had imagined.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really hard to choose, there were so many. Plitvice National Park certainly, but the countryside in Slovenia was so beautiful to me, I felt it looked like a fairytale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Attention to details at every stop along the tour were wonderful.The hotels, guides, group meals were all outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were 5: Slovenia’s Julian Alps/Soca River Valley, Plitvice Lakes National Park, on the way to the Istrian Peninsula, (just outside Kobarid) where a family invited us into their home to sample wines/food for lunch, the Island of Korčula, and lastly the 800-year-old “stone city” in Dubrovnik."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the donkeys."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Educational and enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing tour, with amazing leadership, amazing itinerary, and a great group. Sanel is so knowledgeable, presents history from past through current, provides lots of information, and delvers it all so clearly!! I cannot say too much about Sanel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many!!! Arrival at Korcula was incredible, the Monestary was beautiful, Moster was amazing - and Sanel's telling of the history every inch of the way was mind attending the best college class ever!!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 6th RS tour and it did not disappoint. Great guide, great group of tour members. Nice hotels, good food. 8 dropped out do to COVID.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"National Park in Croatia "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sanel was very good and enthusiastic, the accommodations were nice and the group meals were excellent. The walking tours of the various destinations were also very informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The walk through Plitvick National Park! The tour through Bosnia was a close second, especially the meals!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was different from my expectation. While we did everything as described in the tour itinerary, there was so much more. Sanel was an excellent guide, and all of our local guides were expert and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik. We had traveled independently for three weeks prior to our 15 day Adriatic tour, so by the end we were tired and ready to go home and sleep in our own beds. When we neared Dubrovnik, after a long day on the bus and found out we were sleeping outside of the city, I was initially disappointed. But walking into the old town that evening for our orientation walk was WOW. And then we found the waterfront promenade near our hotel that was also a wow. Overall surprise that energized us!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect mix of education, beautiful sites and free time to tour as a local.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice national park, Mostar bridge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guides, outstanding itinerary, outstanding meals, outstanding lodgings, and an outstanding group of travel companions on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having a glass of wine overlooking the sea in Rovinj."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mariam was an outstanding guide who led our group with compassion and deep understanding of the history and culture of Slovenia, Bosnia, and Croatia. She was highly organized and always willing to help you with questions and or concerns. All our local guides were also excellent. I also enjoyed all the thoughtful and considerate travelers I travelled with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many wow moments that included the beautiful town of Ljubljana, Lake Bled and the Julian Alps, Roman amphitheater in Pula, hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park, special lunches in small villages, the Mestrovic gallery in Split, relaxing on Korcula island and walking the wall In Dubrovnik. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Abdolutely exceptional in every facet. Could not have been better planned plus it did not rain during the entire trip. Miriam Abdelghani is absolutely one of the best guides in the business.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was another WOW moment. I was so impressed that each new day was as exciting as the previous day. The historic places we visited we all exceptional & tour guides for each were outstanding ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing to see the varieties of cultures and geography so close to each other. The local guides were well-chosen, each bringing different perspectives from their lived history with them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice, but just barely - there were so many beautiful moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Adriatic tour was the best way to see SE Europe. There was a lot of variety and interesting sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "Old Bridge" in Mostar, at night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An enjoyable and educational tour! I am fairly familiar with Austria, but had never traveled to the eastern side of the Adriatic. The similarities and differences were so interesting. Mariam was a terrific guide; knowledgeable, passionate, and entertaining. The local guides were top-notch and their personal stories of the areas issues illuminating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment came after the tour when I realized that I couldn't choose just one because there were so many great days."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a beautiful tour - It covered a lot of territory, but every place was interesting. Slovenia was probably our favorite country, but Croatia is amazing and beautiful too. Mariam was a fabulous tour guide - one of the best. She exudes enthusiasm for her country and shares so much personal experience to make the trip really come alive and meaningful. Also, loved the food and wine of the regions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How do you pick with so many beautiful and unusual places?! Plitvice Lakes, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Diocletan's Palace, and Dubrovnik city wall. I guess my "WOW" moment was dancing under the stars in Diocletian's palace forum to the music at the Luxor. I didn't know that was on my bucket list!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire experience was great. Our guide was excellent, very informative and we enjoyed very much getting to know more about these very interesting places in the Adriatic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Mostar, Bosnia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything i exepected and more. I got to experience so much in such a short period of time. That is what i want out of my vacation to Europe, a full schedule so i can see everything. I met wonderful, fun people who always add to the experiences. The food was great, the unique experiences were forever memories. Our tour guide, Barbara was wonderful. The nine hotels were a little hard, not being able to unpack, but i always try my best to go with the flow, and not complain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really wanted to walk over the Mostar Bridge. It is so iconic, and it has been on my bucket list for years, so i am really glad i got to do this. i like the unusual experiences, the farm with a home cooked meal, the wine and cheese, in Slovenia, at a local home, eating grapes off the vine, walking around Lake Bled, with an umbrella, going to Plitvitc National park for the 2nd time in my life- How lucky am I. Korcula was a fairy tell experience, eating chese and wine on a boat ride - sunset!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide, and the guides at other locations were also excellent. I learned so much about the area. The countryside was beautiful. I also enjoyed having time on my own. Learning about the atrocities in WW I, WW II, and separation from Yugoslavia 1993-1995 was enlightening and sobering.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The incredible beauty of the countryside, and being on the Adriatic seeing all the islands out thee"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very very good,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Your your guide Dorian is supper nice and professional, love to be in her team"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed by the professionalism and commitment to providing high quality services of both our tour guide (Darija) and our driver (Sejad) throughout the trip. The itinerary (Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days) was extraordinary. Each day was packed with interesting excursions and detailed historical and cultural insights. I learned a great deal about the socio-political and cultural history of the region. I enjoyed the special experiences -- off the beat and path -- engaging with locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to highlight just one. Definitely Plitvice Lakes National Park! It was stunning and invigorating to hike through the park. I also was grateful for the extremely informative and engaging "city tours" provided in a few key sites provided by local, knowledgable tour guides. Lastly, I appreciated the "off the beaten path" stops like visiting a donkey farm and enjoying a home cooked meal outside of Korcula; and experiencing an intimate farm to table meal at small winery in Goce. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I found the trip to be so well planned and organized. The local guides and our own Daria were just excellent at sharing information and their love of the places. Somehow, even though I know they’ve done this many times before, their interactions with us were genuine and heartfelt. It never felt that they were just reading from a script. The only reason I didn’t choose “outstanding” was because of the Covid. Half our group got sick. It was handled well, I’m not complaining, it was just sad.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Plitvice Lakes the best for its natural beauty. The day there was my favorite. Our guide got us up early and headed the right way to avoid crowds, so our experience of the place was optimal!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our tour was a good experience overall. It was unfortunate that we lost almost half of the original participants as the tour went on due to Covid positive testing. fortunately most of the people were able to get home with little additional health complications but the tour changed based on losing so many interesting people as we went along. Really enjoyed the pace, the activities in various locations and the free time provided in Korcula. Tour guide, Darija Gotic was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have 3. The Korcula sunset from the top of the Tower, The breathtaking views of the Adriatic and the city of Dubrovnik from the top of the city walls and the very interesting museum visit in the Solvenian Soca valley at Kobarid. Your local guides in Lublijana, Kobarid, Pula, Split, Mostar and Dubrovnik were all interesting and informative providing a local perspective we never could have gotten without digging through one of your guidebooks as reference. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Slovenia and Croatia are beautiful and the tour stops included a lot of variety - cities, mountains, a national park, and coastal towns. Ben is a wonderful guide and shepherded our group through our two weeks together with expert care and enthusiasm for the areas we visited. He handled the COVID issues calmly and capably. Our driver Edis was great. He was always upbeat and friendly and we enjoyed getting to know him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments on the trip, but the view of Lake Bled from the castle and the views while walking the walls of Dubrovnik truly stand out"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary and very educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was unbelievably great. I learned so much of the culture and history as well as experiencing beautiful cities, towns, and countryside. Loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to select just one. I’d say a powerful learning was about the Yugoslav war and it’s still challenging existence. The biggest surprise was Slovenia. I had no idea what to expect and it was lovely. The Adriatic coast and calm waters of Korcula was spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"beauty of countryside"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, excellent guide, delicious food, impactful cultural learnings, and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Adriatic Sea"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, wonderful area to visit with fantastic scenery and historic sights as well as more recent history.. I always wondered why Yugoslavia broke up into so many countries, and was able to learn why from the perspective of people from several of the countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking inside and on top of the Dobrovnik walls (after seeing it in game of thrones)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were exposed to so much new information and so many new experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the National Park. Just like a fairly-land."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tremendous experience(s). Mariam was just amazing with organization, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the cities and people she calls home. What a great guide. She cares so much about what she is doing. I’m now a big fan of Croatia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch and wine tasting in the Vipavski Križ cellars after the little monastery tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide was exceptional, the fellow travelers wonderful, the itinerary well planned and the special experiences delightful. I never could have researched, planned and executed such an event filled itinerary and could not have discovered the out of the ordinary destinations and restaurants that Mariam treated us to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The unexpected birthday cake, with candles, fashioned from watermelon and cantaloupe! Because it was such an unexpected personal presentation, it won out over the delicious Holy Burek in Dubrovnik, the magical evening concert in Diocletian's Palace, and the breezy cocktail cruise around Korçula. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very happy with the tour guide Anja and the driver. I also liked that we had several wonderful local guides, especially the 2 in Bosnia. Great people on the tour - everyone paid attention to the rules and we all seemed to get along well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Korcula was drop dead gorgeous!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the tour -- our third with Rick Steves' -- very much. It was well-organized, unfolded according to the itinerary, and included an interesting assortment of activities and sights in a beautiful part of Europe. We appreciated learning more about the history of the area and, especially, about the destructive and tragic war in the 1990s and its aftermath. The tour guide, Anja Cuznar, was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In terms of scenery, the stunningly dramatic and beautiful waterfalls at the end of our (very rainy) walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park was my favorite "wow" moment. In terms of buildings, the 1950s-era Plitvice Hotel, where we were lucky enough to stay, was a delightful surprise. It's regarded as a national cultural treasure -- the furnishings alone were worth a stop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was well-organized and included both major sights (Lake Bled, Plitvice, Dubrovnik) and less touristy ones. Our guide, Anya, was outstanding. Excellent language skills, easy to listen to. Good balance of scheduled, active time and time to relax on one's own. Food was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the old town in Mostar and the bridge. Powerful sense of East meeting West, and peace after tragic wars of the 1990s."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The scenery was stunning. There was variety and we learned much about the culture and history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is hard to choose because there were several. The waterfalls in the Plitvika national park was outstanding despite the rain. I would have liked to stay here longer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent -- informative, scenic,well-paced, good exposure to local cultures and histories. I've been around Europe a bit, but hadn't been to this part before -- it's unique.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sorry, gotta name two. For scenery, it was the Plitvice National Park in Croatia. Stunning views and a good hike. For people and culture, it was Bosnia and the local folks our guide had chosen to talk about their experience during the war in the 90s."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was very thoughtfully laid out, with a good balance between guided tours, group activities and independent time. Our tour guide Anja & the various local city guides were excellent and beyond all expectations!! This was a part of Europe I had never seen before and I feel I now have a much better understanding and appreciation of the people, culture, history, and natural beauty of this area!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When our guide, Anja, paid the local diver to jump off the Mostar bridge!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The was my first and hopefully the first of many Rick Steves' tour. It definitely exceeded expectations. Everything ran like clockwork, and it was obvious the entire tour had been thoroughly researched and executed before. If all of Rick Steves' guides are as great as Anya, it will be a pleasure to sign up for other tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking down on the city of Dubrovnik from atop the cable car."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent in every respect, very informative, outstanding guides, good companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar, and the first-hand experiences of our local guide during the Yugoslav war. Also, the beautiful city of Ljubljana and the Julian Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was wonderful. Our principal guide was exceptional. She was well organized, professional, extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. All the local guides were also excellent. The tour was very educational in terms of history and culture. It also included many amazing stops in remote villages with delicious meals. The "guided time" was well balanced with our "free time". I would highly recommend this tour for seasoned travelers who enjoying maximizing their travel experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the local diver jump off the Old Bridge in Mostar and walking the city walls in Dubrovnik."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anja our tour guide was exceptional. She was extremely knowledgeable, organized, had a great sense of humour and she took good care of us while pushing us to have new experiences. She was truly amazing. I enjoyed learning so much about the history of the region of which I had no previous knowledge. And I was blown away by the beauty of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our hike through Plitvice was a wow moment. Even though it was raining and we were wet the beauty of that park took my breathe away."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide, great group, wonderful sights and fascinating local tours were the highlights of our 14 day Best of the Adriatic tour. The hotels and meals were great and the pace of the tour was nonstop especially the first week. We loved the stops at local wineries and restaurants and felt the close bond that Tina, our guide, had with the proprietors. Bosnia was fascinating, Slovenia was beautiful but Croatia was the best. Can't say enough about Tina. We were so lucky to be on her tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in the Istrian hilltop town of Motovun and the island of Korcula in Croatia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful and informative tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many "wow" moments, one was the view from Dubrovnik Old Town toward the sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had to go home - medical emergency - and are REALLY dissappointed as we loved the first few days of Slovenia and Croatia (that we were able to participate in). We WILL do this tour when all is well on our end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"see above"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The tour was a great mix of sightseeing, history, and human interaction. The tour guide and each of the local guides enhanced the experience with their intimate knowledge of the region. Every stop was well planned. We felt as though the arrangements were made with thought and care.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were constantly surprised by how the region has been shaped by conquest and conflict. We were impressed by the resilience of each of the people we met along the way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. Trip of a lifetime. I enjoyed it all...even the difficult things.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments. Lake Bled, Split, Mostar, Korcula, Dubrovnik. For me it was the combination of beautiful vistas, learning more about former Yugoslavia (even the hard stuff) and experiencing Roman and Medieval architecture. Our guide Tina and driver Edis made it all come to life."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Had to leave the early in Pila and 4.5 days and fly home; other than that we were enjoying Tina and the group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dealing with the hospital in Pula"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent guide who had great knowledge of the region as well as the various languages spoken there. He taught us an amazing amount, including both history, customs, and regional issues/ challenges. He worked hard to meld us as a group instead of just travelling companions. We also loved some of our surprise stops, like a ski jumping facility in the Julian Alps!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is hard to choose. It's a draw between Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik. One was pure undiluted natural beauty, the other an ancient walled city/ state set on the Adriatic. The weather was amazing til the end of the tour, which made it even more enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour with mix of cities, seaside and mountains. But with the expert leadership of Ben Curtis we were treated to an unforgettable education into the history of the region from ancient times to the current challenges.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia stood out as an incredibly complex region and our time there was both beautiful and stimulating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Split, Croatia first evening."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized with a great guide and fun group of travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several- Amphitheater in Pula, Motovun, Plitivice stand out"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide, amazing sights, fun and interesting tour members. We had been looking forward to this tour for 3 years and it didn’t disappoint!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As always, there were too many to try to pick out just one. I loved the drives through the mountains and along the Adriatic coastline. Swimming off the rocks at Rovinj was very memorable!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were travelers, not tourists. We learned so much, great outdoor school!! Had fabulous tours at each new destination. Our guide (Ben) is so…. knowledgeable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How clean the countries are. No homeless. Beautiful highways. The people in our group were also WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour of a new part of the world for me. All that I expected and much more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes--the reason I went. Also, Ljubljana and Mostar were delightful surprises."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed this tour. A good mix of history, beautiful scenery, cites and villages. Length of stay at each location was adequate. Our guide Ben was very knowledgeable and we had a wonderful group of fellow travellers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Some of my favourite WOW’s were relaxing at a cafe on the banks of the river in Ljubljana. Lake Bled and Plitvice Lakes for their beauty. Motovun for its hilltop uniqueness. Mostar for its culture and history. Walking the Old Town wall in Dubrovnik on a gorgeous day. Our vacation away from our vacation in Korcula was timely and a nice place to spend our free time with a swim in the Adriatic, dining at restaurants in a narrow side street or overlooking the water. So many wonderful memories. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite my hesitations about "group" tours, I had a wonderful time. Our fellow travelers were interesting and diverse, our guide incredibly knowledgable and the accommodations decent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ski jumping on the fly and Mostar in general"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, great information, respectfully delivered for all people and expectations addressed in advance was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one thing was a wow moment. Every day was a new and informative day with great info from our guide, Ben or the guest guide. The order in which this tour was organized made every day a great day! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much history and such incredible scenery....Each country was individual and unique...all breathtakingly beauty in their own way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park, when we got to the top lakes early morning, and it felt like we were the only ones in this majestic park.....then the crowds hit as we did the lower lakes....but it was OK, because Barbara had planned the day perfectly. I'll always remember that natural beauty, and sheer silence, as I took deep breaths and became one with nature!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned out and executed by our tour guide Barbara.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Plitvice Lakes National Park was amazing! Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time on the tour. Our guide was fantastic and was happy to help with anything we needed. Our driver was such a good driver ( those mountain passes and switchbacks were handled flawlessly) and kept the bus in great shape. This was our first Rick Steves tour and we weren’t sure what to expect but we had so much fun it will not be our last!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but the winery we had lunch at and toured the wine cellar was amazing. The lunch was beautiful and tasted so good with the wines. They had the best red wine I have ever tasted. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara was an extremely knowledgeable tour guide! She managed every day and all of the details so smoothly , making it all look so easy! We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the other tour members, sharing laughter together and creating wonderful memories. The Adriatic Sea is absolutely beautiful! I would highly recommend this tour to those looking for another great RS Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day contained incredible experiences! Gaining greater insight into the history of this part of the country was so interesting. One “ wow” moment was walking along the Old City walls in Dubrovnik, dating back to the 11-12th century!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour to the Adriatic was amazing. The guides were so knowledgeable and coordinated everything to a "T". We loved meeting and hanging out with our tour group. We have made forever friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice lakes National Park was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was excellent: a good mix of historical sights, cultural sights, natural wonders, and connection with local wine producers and food growers. Our tour guide, Saso, was a strong and personable leader. The accommodation was comfortable and excellently located. The included food was ample and good and often times exceptional. Local city guides were much more informative and extensive than with other companies I have used.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is a tough question because diminishes quieter and reflective moments in favor of (sometimes) shorter lived adrenaline moments. I was impressed by the uniqueness of the Plivice National Park, how the boardwalk weaves around the lakes and rives to provide an immersive experience. I also loved floating in the water in Korcula, on the stony beach, on our vacation from our vacation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary for this tour is outstanding. Our guide, Saso, was exceptional, as were every one of the local guides. I highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At every turn was a new and wonderful Wow moment. At the top of my list is our magical walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my fifth tour with Rick Steve’s and I quite enjoyed the Adriatic tour! The group this time is was so wonderful; e.g. very friendly! And Saso was so awesome…did a great job keeping us informed and entertained!!! I would have preferred more “free” time during the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole Adriatic tour was WOW; e.g. great food, restaurants, local tours, etc. I especially enjoyed the time spent in Split!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An incredible tour! I love the fact that transportation and accommodations are taken care of. The tour is just the right mix of group touring and individual time. Our guide, Saso was awesome and the various other guides in specific cities were fantastic too. This is the second group tour I've done with Rick Steve's Tours and the attention to detail is second to none. Can't wait to go on the next one!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's impossible for me to pick one. It was the total package that made the entire trip a "Wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have never been on a tour before. This experience was so good that I’m scared to go on my next because it can never measure up. The guide, the people on the tour, the food and the journey it self was an incredible experience. I truly appreciate the variety of the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient ruins wowed me. The history and the fact they are still in such good condition. I also loved the national park. Very beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first Rick Steve’s’ tour far exceeded my expectations. Great guide, great fellow travelers and gorgeous countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably a tie between Plitvice Nat. Park and Kurcula "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. I enjoyed all the varied things we saw and did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved visiting Dubrovnik. It was like stepping back into the Middle Ages."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

With the exception of having to wear masks on the bus, the adventure was fabulous. Just seeing a new part of the world was eye opening.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I signed up for this tour because it was available, not because it was a "bucket list" destination for me. It was very good, mask policy is stupid. I probably saw about a half dozen people with masks on the entire tour, other than our group. I did not feel "unsafe" at any point. This is coming from someone who hadn't wore a mask in the last year. Mariyan was great, he is truly a walking encyclopedia of information, which I loved. Dinners are too long and too late, finished up after 9 twice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"not a single moment, Lake Bled, Plitvice lakes were nice. The old cities, Split and Dubrovnick were great also. Even Pula, Motovun, and Mostar were great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The group was great! Our guide was great, personable, and very knowledgeable about every place we visited. The local guides were the same. The bus driver, Tomas, was excellent. Our breaks from the bus were timed well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was Plitvice National Park. It was worth the two year wait! Beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. The tour guide was patient, knowledgeable, with excellent people skills. The bus driver was excellent and resourceful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "WOW" moment was the falls in Croatia's Plitvice national park. Stunning and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Adriatic tour was the most varied in activities, sights and culture of any vacation I have ever taken. Our guide, Marijan, was the most professional tour guide I have had the pleasure of using. He had so much informtion to share about all the places we visited. My one complaint is that the stretch from Lake Bled to Motovun felt like we were driving around in circles and not taking time to enjoy some of the stops along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one thing but most everyday had its own wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was an excellent mix of city tours, nature and smaller village experiences. Ljubljana was an excellent start city. Beautiful but small and manageable. Also had great day trips available for early arrivers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes were stunningly beautiful. It seemed every step of the trail brought even better views of the waterfalls and crystal clear lake. Truly a natural wonder. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was the perfect introduction to an unfamiliar and beautiful region. The engaging guides, undiscovered locations, and authentic group experiences helped me understand the area's complex history and culture. My world is definitely bigger and more nuanced after such a thoughtful and comprehensive tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Adriatic sunsets were stunning, but the best part of the tour for me was the day in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The local guides sharing their experiences with the war impacted me because it happened in their lifetime and is part of their life story. I gained a bigger perspective on dealing with controversial issues that will inform my mindset and worldview back home."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is very fast paced but absolutely wonderful. Everything was very organized and went off without a hitch. We were most impressed with the people who treated us like family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely loved the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The 5 mile hike was not hard and we loved seeing all of the beautiful waterfalls. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour, so much variety and time was well spent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many very interesting moments. The waterfalls at Plitvice National Park were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw and did incredible things. Wonderful co-travelers, careful and competent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The incredible blues of the waters, and so pristine! The view from Motovan, like a scene from Tuscany. Roman ruins! Old old towns with narrow cobblestone streets."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pleetvice National Park and ruin of roman amphitheater. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall was an excellent tour. Was as advertised, meaning tour was demanding regarding walking, when needed to get up and load the bus, or meet with group and local guide. Was hot but not unbearable. Would go during cooler weather however.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was no one over others. Enjoyed Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes, Korcula, Motovun, Kobarid and the Soca Valley, Split and Dubrovnik, Mostar, etc Learning more about the history, the dynamics of this area of the world and how it changed throughout history was very interesting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved every moment of this tour. It was very exciting to visit a part of the world I'd never been to before. The cities and towns and farms we stopped at were so varied and unique that you definitely got a sense of the whole region - it was not just beaches and not just hill towns - but a bit of everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The splendor of Plitvice National Park was amazing as it showcased the beauty and power of water."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Great sites, local guides and hotels. Because of the heat and frequent stops, the bus was very warm a large percentage of the time. Also, a couple of the hotels were not air conditioned. The food was good most of the time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Lake Bled from the hilltop was beautiful. It was our first view of the crystal clear water that we enjoyed everywhere we went. And the view of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic from the top of the wall was memorable. The patina of the clay roof tiles was as beautiful as it was diverse. No two were exactly the same."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We only did the first half because we got Covid and had to quarantine/drop out of the tour, but what we did was a fantastic experience. Great itinerary. Tour guide was professional, friendly, fun, and caring of us when we got sick. The tour stops and guest tour guides were wonderful. Great combination of time alone and time with the group. Meals at great restaurants. Learned a lot. Great to alternate between staying 1 night and 2 every other hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Castle Wall at Dubrovnik was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very informational, and had a lot of fun sights. I liked the group time and the time to explore alone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding. The sites were beautiful, the food delicious, the hotels were well situated and our guide, Sanel, did a wonderful job explaining things to us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bosnia! It was like being in the Middle East but still being in Europe. I wish we could have spent more time here. Better yet, I wish RS would have a new tour that would focus on Bosnia. There is so much to see!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Tour Guide Barbara was amazing - knowledgeable, helpful and kind. We also loved our bus driver - Edis - He took the best care of us from a transportation standpoint and was also helpful in understanding the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the island of Korcula!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the trip very much even though we had visited many of the sites on a previous Eastern Europe tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Soca Valley from the top of the Predel Pass. I am a history buff and to see the Soca front made a lot of other facts more clear. The presentation in the Kobarid WWI Museum was excellent and unexpected at such a small museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience, very informative and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Split and Korchula"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really fun and informative tour. Learned a lot about the Balkans and experienced some truly spectacular places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The palace in Split. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara was a wonderful guide! She made me feel at ease and in the know everywhere we went. I also appreciated her stories of growing up in Yugoslavia. Our driver, Edis, was also a delight - he made me feel safe with his excellent driving, and he had a great personality! The tour schedule was well-planned. I appreciated the balance between active days and restful/bus days. I took this trip because I would have had trouble doing this itinerary as a solo traveler, and this was well worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I feel like everyone and their mother says this, but Plitvice National Park in Croatia was gorgeous. We were lucky enough to catch the first shuttle out and got to enjoy walking the park 'backwards' - we got the more stunning parts of the park almost to ourselves. This trip really had gorgeous scenery and interesting locales, but I really was impressed with Plitvice. My only regret is that I didn't think to look at the stars the night we stayed in the park!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We got to see soooo much! We could not have planned our trip better than RS tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"See Croatia Islands, the sea, and landscapes!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful tour guide - very knowledgeable and high energy without being perky. More one-night stops than on other tours. High heat took away from some of the enjoyment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having dinner on the hilltop in Motovun. Walking up the hill, Mariam took the time to greet the restaurant hosts and introduce us to them. When we went to dinner, all the best tables next to the wall overlooking the mountains were reserved but when the host recognized us as "with Mariam," she plucked off the Reserved sign and we had a great dinner with a priceless view."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour was amazing. Our guide Mariam Abdelghani was the best part. She was informative, interesting, personable, and committed to making sure everyone was taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The park we went to with the waterfalls and blue water."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice lakes national park. Dubrovnik wall and city: "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third Rick Steves' tour. As with the other two, this tour experience was outstanding. The towns we visited were beautiful, our tour Guide Darija Gotic was terrific as were each of the local city guides, and we had a wonderful time with all the people in our tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tie between Plitvice National Park and lights of Dubrovnik at night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. Enjoyed our visits to the winery and the donkey farm. Darija was a terrific guide. Couldn't have asked for more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park is phenomenal! Really enjoyed the day there."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We really enjoyed Darija and Edis, and the excellent local guides. The guides, itinerary, unique experiences, and traditional meals gave us an understanding and appreciation for this beautiful part of Europe. We loved the old towns of each city, and were impressed with the number of UNESCO sites we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from the castle at Lake Bled and the waterfalls and scenery at Plitvice Lakes National Park were amazing, but the ski jumping facility at Planica was a ‘wow’ because it was so unique and unexpected."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well run tour. Nice selection of sites to visit. Nice quality hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plivitce"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great. We loved Ljubjiana and Slovenia in general, beautiful country. Everywhere we went the history was amazing with Roman ruins, Medieval towns and the history of Yugoslavia before independence. Our tour guide Daria was wonderful, very knowledgeable about history, great at keeping us all organized and an all around fun and nice person. Our only suggestion might be a shorter tour and lunch stop in Bosnia-Herzegovina to allow for more individual time to explore Mostar.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park is stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The locations were wonderful! It would have been very difficult to fit all the different experiences in if I were to plan this trip on my own. Slovenia and Croatia are gems!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting a better understanding of the history of these countries"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, unexpected surprises, congenial group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through the Julian Alps and imagining WWI soldiers fighting in vain."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of the Adriatic tour was my 3rd Rick Steves' tour. After the first one, I was convinced that nothing could be as good as that one. I was wrong! Each one has included exceptional tour guides and local guides, and great balance of organized time and individual time, and daily highlights. Tour members add a lot of fun. Anyone and everyone that I talk with about traveling, I urge to join a RS tour. After two weeks at home, I'm starting to envision my next one! p.s. Sašo is FABULOUS!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"History. Learning about these Adriatic countries and the impact of everything from the Roman Empire to Tito in Yugoslavia to war in their lifetimes was humbling. I appreciate the knowledge of the guides and how they make history come to life. Crossing to Bosnia and Herzegovina and leaving the EU was interesting, and the visit to the Dervish tekke and a mosque gave me new perspective. It's next to impossible to choose one out of so many "wow" moments. I'm grateful for them all!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an exceptional experience in 3 Adriatic countries, led by a knowledgable and fun guide, Soca, and supported by local guides with informative and compelling stories from their personal experience. Food was great (too much, sometimes) and the comradary among the tour group was very good and a lot of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our side trip to Mostar in Bosnia. The breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s was most evident and there were 2 superb local guides sharing history and personal stories."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall experience was very positive. This was my first Rick Steve's tour so not sure what to expect. Well organized and offered a variety of experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many: Split, National Park, Korchula, Slovenia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was blown away by the rich history of the regions we visited. I thoroughly enjoyed the educational tours and the stops we made.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ljubljana was a total surprise. There were lots of "wow" moments, but that city was unexpected."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour guide. Over-all a very good to excellent tour, but a bit too much travel on bus. Perhaps eliminate an Istria town. Lake Bled was not as good as expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not sue I can single out one location, though Ljubjana was better than expected."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have been dreaming of visiting the Adriatic region for decades. I was so grateful for the opportunity to visit the 3 countries of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The mix of cultural and historic experiences was so diverse. If I had traveled this area independently, I would have never had the "back door' experiences I had on the RS tour. Our guide Saso Golub was excellent; patient, knowledgeable, funny, and responsive to the needs of the tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wows but I would have to say sunset from the bridge in Mostar. Mostar was a difficult beauty to get acquainted with. I was so grateful to have the opportunity to go there "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

After many years of planning trips and traveling on our own we decided to compliment our own two weeks in Spain trip with a Rick Steves Tour to follow, and it certainly exceeded our expectations. What a joy to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with everything planned out and no stressing about anything!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's difficult to pick just one favorite moment, but the hike through the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park was certainly a highlight for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had such a great time. Our guide was knowledgeable and just a wonderful person. She gave us so much personal information about the area. Our tour group was great! We knew little of the area before we went, but were so impressed with the friendliness of the people, the beautiful countryside and their knowledge of english.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Slovenia! It is green and lush with friendly people. Lake Bled is someplace I could spend a week enjoying."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful combination of great locations and meaningful interactions with local guides, all expertly choreographed by our principal guide, Tina Hit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history lesson presented by Zeljko Cimpric at the Kobarid Museum dedicated to the Isonzo campaign during WW I. In an easy going style he made clear that in this area of Europe, geography is destiny, and that above all, logistics win. So simple yet so deadly. Somehow, my grandfather survived this horrific mountain fighting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, a Rick Steves tour comes with excellent guides, great tour members, memorable experiences and a great itinerary. There is a great mix of group activiites and time on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostly because it was completely unexpected, the visit to the Planica winter sports facility."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Barbara was wonderful, engaged and caring. Hotels were interesting and well located, eateries varied and accommodating. Good sampling of regional cuisine. Bus and driver excellent. Group members great, group size perfect. Local guides excellent except for in Dubrovnik our guide was a fill-in and was poor

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice park was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, offering a lot of variety, covering many sights

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both, Plitvice and Split. Alos, the mountainous terrain was unexpected. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Barbara made things easy, as most good guides do. Her concern for the enjoyment of everyone and love for the people in her country made the tour feel more like we were "temporarily visiting" rather than "vacationing". There is a difference and Barbara made that extra effort to connect us to what, and whom, we were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We did think, "Wow, looks like we can't get a second glass of wine at some point during our opening night dinner...", but seriously, hiking in the Plitvice, walking the walls in Dubrovnik, listening to the WWI stories at the museum in Kobarid, pondering conflict in Bosnia, were all moments to cherish. Perhaps more important, this was one of the best groups we've traveled with on a Rick Steves tour. That might be the WOW if we had to pick just one. :)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great itinerary: good mix of touring, great food/wine stops and free time. Loved our bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour of Slovenia and Croatia. Barbara was an excellent guide, and provided a great deal of interesting background information/context for the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Finally seeing the Old Town in Dubrovnik was a highlight for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. Our tour guide, Barbara was very knowledgeable and the people on our tour were very friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice park with the beautiful waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It met or exceeded all of my expectations, particularly in the area of the food that was provided as part of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing! Ljubljana, Slovenia started the whole tour off with a bang. Incredible architecture, charming river and bridges with people-friendly walking streets. Outgoing people. And they nearly all spoke fluent English. Then Croatia. Wow. Ultra-modern transportation infrastructure (highways, tunnels, bridges) coupled with old towns. I just was not expecting this level of civilization. Plitvice Lakes National Park was magical. Our tour guide, Darija Gotic, was super professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park. I have seen a lot of terrific National Parks in my life, but this park ranks as one of the best. An enchanting wood board trail. Sometimes there were waterfalls and gurgling streams flowing underneath the wood boards. Also, this park has an abundance of water (streams, waterfalls, mist, lakes) so it looked like a lush rain forest. It rained the morning of our hike, but even with a cloudy sky, the water in the streams and lakes was still a dreamy, beautiful blue."