• Rovinj, Croatia
  • Lake Bled, Slovenia
  • Slovenia's Julian Alps
  • Motovun, Croatia
    Motovun, Croatia
  • Roman Amphitheater in Pula, Croatia
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
    Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
  • Split, Croatia
    Split, Croatia
  • Korčula, Croatia
    Korčula, Croatia
  • Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days Tour

from $3,945 per person + air

Single Supplement $675

See Dates & Prices

Our two-week Adriatic adventure explores a corner of Europe with some of its grandest natural wonders — and some of its most captivating recent history. On this tour, you'll meander from pristine hill towns to sun-soaked islands, lacing together the best destinations in this diverse region: Slovenia's charming Ljubljana, fairy-tale Lake Bled, and cut-glass Julian Alps; Croatia's seaside Rovinj, waterfall-laced Plitvice, historic Split, Dalmatian isle of Korčula, and picture-perfect Dubrovnik; and an enlightening visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina's once-war-torn town of Mostar. Along the way, your Rick Steves guide will bring you intimate encounters with European cultures that mainstream travelers often miss. Join us for the Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days!

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Dates & Prices

2024

What's Included

You'll get at least 20 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Best of the Adriatic tour:

  • Ljubljana walking tour
  • Bled Castle
  • Kobarid Museum
  • Slovenian wine tasting
  • Pula walking tour
  • Pula amphitheater
  • Rovinj
  • Opatija
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Split walking tour
  • Diocletian's Palace
  • Stolac walking tour
  • Mostar walking tour
  • Mostar mosque and Old Bridge
  • Serbian Orthodox Monastery
  • Korčula orientation
  • Korčula boat cruise
  • Croatian family farm visit
  • Dubrovnik walking tour
  • Dubrovnik walls entrance

Plus you'll get all this, too.

  • A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
  • Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of the Adriatic come alive for you
  • All group transportation from Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Dubrovnik, Croatia
  • 13 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
  • All breakfasts and 7 other meals
  • All tips for guides and driver
  • A tour kit including a guidebook (when available) and a moneybelt
  • Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
  • Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
  • Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Ljubljana

We'll meet at our hotel in the pretty Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana at 4 p.m. After an orientation walk through our neighborhood, we'll enjoy getting acquainted over dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Ljubljana.

Day 2: Architectural Riches of Ljubljana

Today we'll take a walking tour through the heart of Ljubljana, including the colorful riverside market, the playfully Art Nouveau Dragon Bridge, and the town's lively main square dedicated to Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren. We'll also enjoy seeing and hearing about the architectural adventures of native-born architect Jože Plečnik along the way. The afternoon and evening are yours to wander around this lovely city or to try one of the outdoor cafés along the river.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Ljubljana.

Day 3: Slovenia's Lakes and Alps

A short drive into Slovenia's Julian Alps brings us to the azure jewel of Lake Bled. We'll take in the panoramic view from Bled's hilltop castle, then leave you with free time to stroll around the lakeside town or maybe hop aboard a boat to the chapel-topped island. After lunch we'll have a scenically winding, mountain-pass drive to the breathtaking Soča River Valley, where we'll enjoy dinner of local delicacies together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 6 hours. Sleep in Bovec.

Day 4: Crossing Paths with Hemingway

This morning we'll tour the local museum, learning about the WWI years when soldiers (including an ambulance driver named Hemingway) faced incredible hardship in the mountains around Kobarid, described in A Farewell to Arms. We'll enjoy a local-style lunch together, sampling the tasty pršut (prosciutto) and award-winning wines. We'll then follow Slovenia's small slice of Adriatic Coast on our way to the rolling hills of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in an Istrian hill town.

Day 5: Istrian Peninsula

We'll spend our day exploring the Istrian Peninsula, studded with Roman ruins, Venetian architecture, and a landscape evocative of pre-tourist Tuscany. We'll time-travel through Pula's first-century Roman amphitheater and Old Town with a local expert, then set you free to enjoy the seaside town of Rovinj. Hang out by the harbor, or walk the art-lined streets to the Church of St. Euphemia and learn the surprising legend of how the saint's sarcophagus got there. Later tonight, after dining on a feast of local Istrian specialties at a tucked-away taverna, we'll return to our hill-town hotel, stuffed and happy.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in an Istrian hill town.

Day 6: Opatija and Plitvice

Today we'll stop in seaside Opatija, where you'll have time to wander amidst its beautifully manicured parks and belle époque villas along the Kvarner Gulf, before heading inland to the deep greens and blues of Croatia's water wonderland and one of Europe's premier nature preserves, Plitvice Lakes National Park, where we'll have dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in or near the national park.

Day 7: Lakes to the Coast

You'll have all morning to hike along rustic boardwalk trails connecting the idyllic forests, travertine stone cliffs, clear blue lakes, and gushing waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park. We'll learn how the park is creatively protecting its delicate environment, including the use of electric trams and boats. After a lunch break, we'll drive along the Dinaric Alps to the Dalmatian Coast and the not-so-sleepy seaside town of Split. This evening we'll take an orientation walk through town.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Boat: ½ hour. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Split.

Day 8: The Roman Heart of Split

We'll get introduced to Split with a walking tour through its Old Town — including the remains of the Roman Peristyle, the unusual Cathedral of St. Domnius, and Jupiter's Temple — all of which lies within the walls of the despotic Roman Emperor Diocletian's immense palace. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy Split's museums, including the sculptures of the world-class Meštrović Gallery, or to relax with an espresso along the waterfront promenade.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Split.

Day 9: Eye-Opening Bosnia-Herzegovina

Today we'll cross the border into formerly war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our destination is Mostar, a beautifully situated town that serves up a fascinating blend of Slavic, Ottoman, and Mediterranean cultural traditions. En route, we'll stop in nearby Stolac to see the medieval stećci tombstones that dot the fields, and learn about the town's tumultuous past, before sitting down for lunch together. This evening, your guide will introduce you to Mostar with an orientation walk and a traditional Bosnian dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in Mostar.

Day 10: Mostar and the Dalmatian Coast

This morning our local guide will take us on a thought-provoking walk through Mostar, teaching us about the siege of the city in the 1990s. We'll also visit Mostar's rebuilt Old Bridge, the lively Kujundžiluk bazaar, and a traditional mosque. Leaving Mostar behind us, we'll make our way to a Serbian Orthodox monastery, where we'll learn about the role Christianity plays in the region. This afternoon, we'll head to the Dalmatian Coast and ferry over to our island getaway of Korčula. After arrival, your guide will orient you, then set you free to enjoy dinner on your own.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Boat: ½ hour. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in Korčula.

Day 11: Island Relaxation

Today you are free to wander the cobbled lanes of Korčula's medieval quarter, poke around its Cathedral of St. Mark, and imagine the tales its Venetian villas could tell. This could also be a fun day to rent a kayak or go for a swim. We'll dry off and regroup for a little happy-hour boat cruise in the evening.

Light to strenuous walking (your choice). Boat: 1 hour. No bus. Sleep in Korčula.

Day 12: Rural Dalmatia and the Pearl of the Adriatic

We'll begin our day with a short ferry ride back to the mainland and then continue our journey along the Pelješac Peninsula, famous for its Plavac Mali wine. On our way to Dubrovnik we'll stop to sample the coastline's tastiest production at a local family farm. After lunch we'll continue to Dubrovnik, arriving at our hotel in the Lapad district in time for your guide to orient you to the "Pearl of the Adriatic." Tonight is all yours to savor the local cuisine and do a little exploring on your own.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly even terrain. Boat: ½ hour. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Dubrovnik.

Day 13: Dazzling Dubrovnik

We'll begin our day with a walking tour of the architectural treasures within the 800-year-old city walls of Dubrovnik, long ago its own republic and a rival of the powerful Venetians. We'll learn about the city's rich history as we tour its traffic-free promenade and old harbor. Then you'll be free to roam this stone city and its walkable walls that seem to have sprouted up out of the sea. Tonight we'll have a feast of local specialties together as we share travel memories and toast new friends. Živjeli!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs, No bus. Sleep in Dubrovnik.

Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Dubrovnik's airport is just 40 minutes away. From there, you can fly to Zagreb and other European cities. Whatever your plans, your guide will help you get on the right track. Do viđenija!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Physical Demands

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

  1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
  2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
  4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.
  5. Travel on a bus without a toilet (rest stops every two hours).

Reviews

Samuel

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was a great tour. I thought we spend one too many days in Istria, although it wasn't bad by any means, but the ebb of the tour. Barbara, our tour guide, was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dubrovnik city walls were incredible, and also the scale of the Julian alps."

Stephanie

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic. Barbara and Ana did an outstanding job as guides. Every single local guide was also great. We learned so much about a relatively little known part of the world. Never in my life did I imagine that I would visit Bosnia, but I am sure glad that I did! Our group was also wonderful. Most of us were in the same age group, and the few who weren’t blended in well with us older people. Not only did everyone get along, we really bonded with each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing a building in Bosnia that had been bombed during the war and not repaired. That huge hole really made its point- there was a war here."

Robert

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Had a difficult time with the information shared with guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The national park"

Anne

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I knew very little about the history or cultures of this area and wanted to learn and gain perspective from the people who lived through all the turmoil since WWI. I came away with a very different viewpoint from the little I knew and have a much greater understanding of this history. I enjoyed learning about the culture of this region and the influences the countries in this area had on each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One wow moment was walking the city walls of Dubrovnik. Few cities still have their complete wall/ramparts and the constant view of the sea was spectacular. It was easy to put your mind back to when the city and wall were built and the need for protection from invasions by sea. The old city is truly a marvel - especially on days when the cruise ships have not arrived. "

Philip

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had never been to Eastern Europe before. The store was a wonderful introduction to that part of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes Park."

Wayne

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides! Very friendly, helpful and had a tremendous grasp of information on each area we visited and the people we visited. Great destinations, I wouldn't change any of them. There was a good balance of structured and free time. Excellent group of people on trip, this certainly enhanced the success of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot. Everywhere we went provided a new experience, seeing sites I have never seen before. But the place that my mind keeps going back to was Mostar. The Minarets, the Call to Prays, the walk through the Bazar, the Bridge, the surrounding mountains, the three women we met dressed in traditional garb who we assumed we local, but in fact were from Scotland!"

Stacey

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything was excellent except the hotels!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The world war 1 museum is a gem and the hike through the national park was breathtaking "

Dale

Tour: 10/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had not ever traveled to this area before and this was also are first guided group trip. We have used Rick Steve’s guidebooks four or five times to do our own independent trips. My wife, Barbie, and I both agree that this tour was excellent and we would likely do another RS trip in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"PLITVICE National Park was incredible. I’ve seen many photos from here, and it delivered on my expectations. "

Suzanne

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed this tour!! I felt like it flowed very well and we rarely felt rushed or bored. Sašo is an outstanding guide who is genuine, very knowledgeable and fun! I really enjoyed all of the places we visited so much so that I'm struggling to find a single "wow" moment as there were so many!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Adriatic on a warmish October day with the gorgeous town of Korcula in the background! It was a very special activity I will look back on with the fondest memories! It was pure freedom with no urgency to get out to do something else which Sašo describes as pure Pomalo! Also, seeing figs and pomegranates growing everywhere was a personal "wow" to me!!!"

Bob

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Excellent guide and tour members. Rich cultural and scenic experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around the city of Dubrovnik on its scenic wall. "

Philip

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RSE tour. We had a great mix of fellow travelers, and the group size was just right for getting to know each other. The locations visited were both beautiful and interesting. Our guide was excellent and really enhanced our understanding of what we were seeing and doing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wonderful moments but I would have to say that experiencing Mostar was the "wow" moment and exceeded my expectations, not only in terms of the charm and beauty of the town as it is today, but also seeing and hearing about the tragedy of war from the local guide. It really felt like an exotic location and certainly not something you'd see on most itineraries."

Judy

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS Europe tour, although we’re seasoned international travelers and long-time users of RS guidebooks. This Best of the Adriatic tour was chosen a) to experience a RS tour and b) it was a part of Europe we weren’t entirely comfortable exploring on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The charm of Mostar."

Lori

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a beautiful tour with a bit of a more laid-back vibe, which was appreciated. The locations we visited were picturesque and a joy to explore. I appreciated the mix of nature versus urban/city and alpine versus coastal. Our guide Sašo was a joy to travel with. I felt safe in each location, comfortable, and was very rarely hungry! There was no shortage of tasty food on this adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was such a lovely tour, so it is hard to pick just one moment, so I will pick two. First, our beautiful buffet meal in Stolac. It was an incredibly beautiful spread of foo and everything was so tasty. It was a nice day, so we could sit outside and gaze up at the castle on the hill with a gentle stream running alongside us. It was perfect. My second favorite wow would be walking the wall in Dubrovnik. I was (almost literally) blown away as the views were incredible, and like a movie set!"

Emily

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was an amazing way to see this very special corner of the world. I always felt very immersed in the full context of the places we visited and enjoyed being guided through the local culture, history, language, and food in such a completely interactive way. Our guide Sašo was always friendly, funny, and helpful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our lunch in Stolac in Bosnia-Herzegovina was amazing! We had outdoor terrace seating by the river with a gorgeous view while enjoying a feast of fresh fruits, local dishes, and sumptuous honey-dripping baklava. Asking about drink options, we were able to order a glass of house made pomegranate juice. Heaven!"

Joan

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The places we visited on this tour were varied and provided both beauty and historical significance. Our guide Sosa along with a great group of travelers made for pleasant travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from the top of the old city wall in Dubrovnik were spectacular overlooking the red roofs of the city as well as the crashing waves below. "

Julie

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous cultural experience, great food, expert guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The meal and wine event at Boris’ family vineyard was very special."

Debra

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic! Educational, foodie heaven, fun, and busy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fall colors and amazing natural sights at Pletvice National Park"

Douglas

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

The tour to the Adriatic far exceeded our expectations. We learned so much about all three countries. The itinerary was perfect and well thought out. This was our second tour which was fantastic which we loved and this was even better!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Of course the region of the Adriatic was so interesting but I personally feel the "wow" moment was our tour guide Marijan! He taught us so much about the culture, history of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. We were mesmerized with his discriptions of the daily sites. Lastily his expertise to find the best coffee and cake locations of every city was the crowning touch!"

Ann

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about conflict in the 1990s from tour guide."

Pam

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent Tour, with an outstanding guide, Marijn.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Park"

Janet

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded my expectations in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each place we visited had a “wow” moment in a different way. My favorite would be walking the path on Lake Bled on a beautiful day and ending it with a delicious gelato. "

Georgene

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of the Adriatic tour was outstanding. This included: an exceptional guide and local guides, a good balance of places and activities, and congenial fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The walk through Plitvice National Park."

Will

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Transportation was very well handled and our guide did an incredible job of telling the histories of the areas as we drove, connecting place, people, events, and impacts today. The group meals were outstanding. Going at the end of the "the shoulder season" some of the resort towns were very quiet.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Stolac led by a citizen working on rebuilding his town. Seeing the work in progress and work not yet begun showed some of the complexities of life a generation after the conflicts. The different groups still live in close proximity, but only some seem to live "together." It is a good example of the value of the EU at the local level. Seeing a row of buildings from our Mostar hotel with modern shops on the ground floor and still bombed out top floors echoed the experience."

Claudia

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a trip I enjoyed with my 2 sisters! We will never forget the FUN & memorable experience of our Rick Steves tour!!!!! Marijan definitely had a huge impact on our fabulous experience! His KNOWLEDGE amazed us, his organization kept our group flowing seamlessly and his humor kept us smiling. The selection of sights & cities were fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Bosnia-Herzegovina. But every place we visited was a WOW moment!"

Laura

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was just right in activity and rest got me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views of the sea"

Bettina

Tour: 10/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful itinerary, group of travelers and the best guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar was a favorite for its beautiful bridge seeing how it was rebuilt and meeting the resilient people and their stories of living during relatively recent war. "

Brian

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. Ben was always available and had very good information. The hotels and hosted meals were fun and good. Edvis steering around those tight mountain climbing roads was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sleeping in the Castle"

Cynthia

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized. Each guide was knowledgeable and personable. The only sour note for the entire experience was our main guide’s sudden illness. He powered through, but I was worried about him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two: the Plitvice Lakes National Park hiking and Edo’s emotional presentation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "

Fred

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the right mixture of travel (ie bus time), learning, and getting out and walking the sites and cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. The city of Ljubljana and its castle, Montavan and its wall, Stalac and its history and along with Mostar with its bazaar and mixture of culture in your face. Swimming in the Adriatic at Rivinij, Split, Krocula, and the great fort at Dubvronik. I can't forget the small winery that ONLY Rick Steve's would have brought us. "

Janice

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great experience and with the right balance of daily activities and private time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. Ljubljana and the castle, the WWI history museum, Julian Alps, small winery off the beaten path, Edo and Stolac/Mostar, and so much more. "

Pam

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This really tried to cover LOTS. I enjoyed seeing everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park"

Denise

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we're hooked! We knew SO little about the history and culture of the former Yugoslavia region, so were constantly eating it up, both figuratively and literally. The tour moved fast, but that's how to get so many experiences. Our tour guide Ben and the rest of the group were all well-traveled, fun, and considerate humans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were wow moments every day, but probably our most emotionally impactful was local tour guide Edo sharing his firsthand experiences in Stolac and Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. "

Kyle

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been on RS tours previously so knew what to expect, somewhat. This tour met my general expectations. I really learned a lot on this tour. I hadn't known that much about this part of the world and was impressed with how much I learned about the area(s) that had been the former Yugoslavia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was going into Bosnia-Hertz and coming to realize how devastating that conflict 30 years ago truly was. Not just the physical damage, but the cultural damage that was done and how the people of the country rose to rebuild what had been there. My eyes welled with tears upon hearing about what had gone on there during that time."

Marilyn

Tour: 10/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We give high marks to the “Steves Approach” blending free time to explore on our own with expertly structured educational tours. It provided a balance of natural splendors with the historical and cultural aspects of the cities and their architectural wonders. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and articulate teachers. We had a magnificent tour bus and driver, making the daily travels comfortable and stress-free. Our group connected well and enjoyed socializing and meals together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The natural wonders, the awe-inspiring beauty of the waterfalls in the Plitvice Park and the stunning clarity of the Adriatic. The beauty of the restored Old Bridge in Mostar as it symbolizes the resilience of the people."

Robert

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the Adriatic area of Croatia and Slovenia.... so much history!! some long days of bus rides but the rides were filled with our guides' discussions. Great time of the year to travel there-October

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Old city of Dubrovnik and its history"

Gary

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my (and my spouse’s) 4th Rick Steves tour. It was our 1st excursion into this part of Europe. We were fortunate to be able to re-unite with friends made on the Rick Steves Heart of Portugal tour 16 months earlier. Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina contain a wide range of terrain and points of interestt. Add to that the exuberance of our delightful, entertaining and intelligent guide,Tina Hiti, and you have the opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling yet relaxing 2 week trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The phrase “and the hits just keep on comin’ “ pops into my head while trying to pinpoint my “wow” moment. The experience that seems to rise to the top of the list however is the time spent in Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina. Witnessing the pockmarked walls of the buildings, damaged during the conflict that occurred in the early 1990’s and hearing our local guide give credence to the enormity of war, was chilling to someone who has a fair grasp of the “war is hell” idiom."

Victoria

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour & our guide were outstanding! Tina is warm and kind and has a wonderful sense of humor. We loved all the personal stories she shared. We learned from her the hearts, minds and traditions of the people who live in this part of the world, and we were taught how to be temporary locals. (We all made sure to fill our free day in Korcula with “pomalo” moments!) It was a privilege to experience the stunning natural beauty of Slovenia, Croatia & Bosnia and to learn the poignant history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful hilltop town of Motovun is so small that a stroll around the ramparts takes 7 minutes. I was out there to watch the sunrise. Everything was so still and quiet. The snaking valleys below were filled with a dense mist, a peach-colored glow on the horizon. Then the orange sun rose from behind the distant mountains and its low rays cast a warm glow on the clay rooftops below me. Being an early bird has rewards. Another glorious day was ahead and for now I had all this beauty to myself!"

Ron

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

typical Rick Steves' tour = OUTSTANDING! The quality of the guides, food, bus, hotels, everything was as I've come to expect from a Rick Steves' tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering around Split on the evening we arrived and walked up some stairs into the forecourt of Diocletian's palace ... wasn't expecting it and it completely took my breath away."

Jessie

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very informative about the history, geography, culture

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Adriatic in Korcula, visiting Plitvice National Park"

Patti

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Amazing! Tina was THE BEST guide! Learned so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Way too many to remember. Loved Ljubiana, Pula, Split, Mostar and Korcula! "

Sandra

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Slovenia fantastic. Some of the travel days through Croatia were long, not arriving to hotel til dinner time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to Bosnian local guide Edo talk of his experience from refugee as a child to rebuilding his hometown to navigating through the current political system."

Stephen

Tour: 09/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Best of the Adriatic tour was the first Rick Steves tour for us. We picked it because it appeared to hit the must-see places in Slovenia and Croatia and someone else would do the driving. It lived up to expectations, maybe exceeding expectations w/ the lunch and dinner stops with locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled and the Julian Alps for sure. Will go back."

Jerico

Tour: 09/26/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was incredible! Mariam truly brings something special to the tour. She is an incredible guide but even more so she showcases how connected to the people in the communities we visited. She event made the bathroom stops between the destinations fun by picking unique places with views or experiences. I loved every single place and stop we made. a

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vacation from vacation days on the island of Korcula! The beaches were incredible and we got to recharge for the second half of the trip. "

Barbara

Tour: 09/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good balance between free & organized time. Meals together were amazing! Tour guide was great. Comfortable hotels. Travel between sites was efficient - driver was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Barb - riding in the boat at Plitvice National Park between upper and lower lake. Felt very peaceful, spiritual and at one with environment . Roy - The tour guides that we had at the cities, especially Mostar and Stolac. Their knowledge, personal experiences and perspective was excellent. "

Cindy

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first Rick Steeves trip was a wonderful experience made better by the experience of our guide Saso and the wonderful people we met in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the beautiful clear waters of the Adriatic Sea when we were in Korcula."

Van

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was outstanding as all our Rick Steves guides have been. Trip well planned & executed. Food & experiences amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunrise looking out my window in Montovun-the fog was low in the field & it was spectacular!"

Christopher

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience. Excellent guides, wonderful tour mates, and a great itinerary. This was our first group tour of any kind and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the walls of Dubrovnik."

Jeffrey

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great time was had by all. Well almost all. The couple that got booted off the bus due to Covid may not have had a good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not expect to see the amphitheater in Pula. We enjoyed the Sunset Beach after the tour. "

Nancy

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Korcula was my wow moment."

Antonia

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the beginning to the end of the tour I was impressed by the organization and thoughtfulness of our tour. Sašo made sure that we were prepared each day and provided us with an outline of what was to come everyday as well as the following day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So very many - but it’s a tie between Bosnia & Croatia"

Karen

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the Lake Bled area; we spent 3 nights there before the tour. Plitvice National Park was amazing. Enjoyed Rovinj, however, I wish we had been advised to take pictures from bus drop off area when we were dropped off as the sun angle when returned to bus did not allow good pictures. Only 2 hours in Rovinj is NOT enough while too much time was spent in Pula. Having only 2 meal options was not ideal. The pace of the guided city tours was too slow for us; stood around too much

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the lunch we had in Goce at Cejkotova domacija was wonderful"

Stephen

Tour: 09/19/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was fast moving informative and diverse.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvile falls in Slovenia was incredible. "

Patti

Tour: 09/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful travel experience. Our tour guide Sanel made our trip even better. His knowledge of the area and his care of our group made the journey memorable. He always had our groups needs and safety in mind. We saw so much of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was constantly amazed at the history of the region but my best wow moments were the beautiful blue water of the Adriatic Sea. I especially enjoyed the beauty of the island of Korcula. Also the ancient palace in Split. "

Carolyn

Tour: 09/19/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was more of a learning experience than I anticipated, and that's a positive comment

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised at how stunning and moving it was to see the Adriatic Sea for the first time. I hadn't expected the impact I felt"

Michael S

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband answered my survey, so I am giving my answers on his. I enjoyed the itinerary, our guide, Marijan, the historical nature of the trip, and the people in the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the path through Kobarid down to Motovun. The history in that region is interesting. Stopping at the WWI museum in Kobarid was sobering. The wine tasting and lunch in Goce was a highlight."

Elvin

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so interesting. The beauty of the Adriatic coast, the Plitvice national park and the history of the area made this tour special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park boardwalk hike was so beautiful. This hike acceded my expectations. "

Cindy

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed all the locations and the people were very nice. Marijan was a wonderful tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kortcula was fantastic."

Kay

Tour: 09/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tina is an amazing guide! The places visited and the other travelers were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pick one because the wow moments were completely different. Mostar was an eye opening and moving stop, Our local guide was amazing and his experience of the war was moving and beyond words. Plitvice Lakes National Park was a wow despite the huge crowd. Everyone wants to see something so amazing! "

Ed

Tour: 09/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic group to travel with. Our guide Tina was also outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park was really cool! Also enjoyed walking the walls of Dubrovnik. Mostar was very moving, especially the personal stories of our local guide."

Linda

Tour: 09/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved everything about the tour. Tina was a real pro. This was our 13th RS Tour and it did not disappoint. Each place visited was so wonderful, food delicious, very nice hotels, great city tours and a lovely group of folks with whom to travel. It is a beautiful part of the world, despite its complicated history. I learned a lot about the region, it’s culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very moved by the tours of Stolec and Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina. What a privilege to have a Birds Eye view into a very troubled history and to experience first hand stories of true courage and passion. This was an experience we never would have done without a RS Tour."

Doug

Tour: 09/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding, our guide Tina was terrific, great group of fellow travelers, excellent itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Agree with general consensus that top attractions in order are Plitvice Lakes NP, Mostar, Kobarid Museum & Diocletian Palace. My specific wows were: (1) On Korcula, dinner at Filippi (pricey but worth it), followed by Moreska Dance; (2) In Ljubljana, lunch at Gostilna na Grad (at castle), dinner at Julija (then enjoy walk through cluster of restaurants with outdoor seating along the river); (3) In Split, dinners at Articok (rooftop terrace dining) and Ciri Biri Bela, plus stroll the Riva."

Janice

Tour: 09/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour had an outstanding guide who shared great insights about her country, its history, customs, and politics, that deepened my understanding of this area. There were two incidents of Covid that caused two couples to leave the tour, but they were cared for and helped by our guide who Kept contact with them and supported them. Hotel choices were nicely selected-3 with pools which was a nice benefit. Great meals rounded out an excellent trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I found visiting Mostar, still recovering from the war in the 90’s particularly moving. Korcula was lovely, remote, and quiet. "

Dale

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An amazing trip with a wonderful group of people led by our terrific guide Mariam. A great mix of activities and sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through Plitvice Lakes National Park with just our small Rick Steves group before the crowds arrived. "

Beth

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The combination of the great fellow tour members, guide and scenery made this a wonderful trip. One of our tour members even made a 30 minute video of the highlights of the trip and forwarded it to the group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We came upon a local singing group in Split one evening after dinner and it was a very fun experience. "

Jane

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mariam was great and the sights were amazing. However, not so crazy about some of the Hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Diocletian's palace"

Martin

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A definite A+ Our guide was very well prepared and engaged. Very professional and likeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pinpoint just one. But the hilltop are Motovun was was definitely engaging. "

John

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had high expectations and I was not disappointed . The tour was wonderful in every way. Mariam our tour guide was fantastic . Her passion for our wellbeing and tour comfort was obvious aw well as her passion for her home in Croatia. The local guides were also fantastic . It was fast paced but I am glad it was as we saw so much in the time we had .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar, it felt like I had stepped into the Middle East "

Bonnie

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful experience! Great guide, great group of travelers and such fabulous adventures!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but seeing Lake Bled was a real WOW moment for me! Just stunningly beautiful!"

Bonnie

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide, nice people on the tour and beautiful towns, excursions etc. Just too much time on the bus, too many early mornings and few 2 night or more stays. Too many moving parts for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice lakes National Park. Our guide, Mariam, was able to get us to the upper lakes and work against the traffic of others visiting the park. Breathtaking "

Tong

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Better than expected. Great tour guide, learned a lot of history, spent 2 weeks with a group of fantastic travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Don't think there was 1 specific "wow" moment. Split & Dubrovnik were "wow" cities."

Kathleen

Tour: 09/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our second Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. Our tour guide Barbara was outstanding and we were amazed at her wealth of knowledge about the history of everywhere we went. Our bus driver, Edis, was a phenomenal driver and was sure we had access to water and drinks on the bus throughout the tour. Every stop along the way was wonderful. The weather cooperated which was an added plus. Great idea the “buddy system” to make sure we were all present and accounted for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Motovun was stunning old castle turned hotel on top of a small mountain, Lake Bled, Mostar, Split, Dubrovnik and the island stay in Korcula was a favorite…a whole day unplanned vacation from vacation came at a time when we all needed a break from the fast pace and what a great place to have it. Plitvice Lake National Park did the pictures justice…amazing hike around the park. The winery where we had amazing wine and lunch. Hotels were all wonderful with amazing breakfasts. I could go on…..😊"

Martha

Tour: 09/05/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was awesome and Barbara our tour guide was so informative always willing to help out. Loved Barbara 💕💕

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dubrovnik "

Jana

Tour: 09/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another fabulous RS tour. This was our 8th RS tour and it a good mix of activities. Glad to have seen this part of the world and learn about "living history" from those who lived through the wars in the 1990s. Enjoyed the beauty of the Adriatic. Our guide, Barbara, was fantastic. So glad she was from the area (Slovenia) because she could share first-hand knowledge of living in Tito's time and after. She was a good mix of teacher, humorist, proud Slovenian, storyteller and a caring person.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How can I pick one? But...learning from the local guides who lived through the war in Bosnia rates right up there. Going to Mostar and Stolac were so worth it. Thank you for including them in this tour itinerary. The other "WOW" would be the Adriatic itself. Its stunning beauty. "

Lora

Tour: 09/05/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary and organization was marvelous and what I expected after using Rick Steves guidebooks for many years. Everything showed thoughtful decisions and quality, from our guide/manager, local guides, hotels, meals, transportation, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many wow moments to pick just one. However, what I thought before the tour would be the wow moments often weren't by comparison to others. Ljubljana and Korcula were wow cities. "

Daniel

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As our first experience, we weren't sure what to expect. From the onset, we were continually pleased, with our guide, the organization of our group and itinerary, etc. On numerous occasions, we commented on the ease of this travel experience compared to our typical travel experience s, where we handle all facets on our own. What a pleasant experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The National Park was certainly incredible, but Korcula may have been the greatest surprise. "

Joseph

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed experiencing new parts of the world and cities we had never seen before.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the castle at the top of Lake Bled...stunning, serene, peaceful."

Allan

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great group of people, our guide and the sights made this tour an amazing experience and our favorite Rick Steves tour- so far!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening walk in Split Our side trip to the Skocjan Caves "

Joseph

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour director

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in an old hill town "

Faye

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful travelers and excellent, knowledgeable tour guide Ben!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful country! The pride in the people who live there shows everywhere! Will highly recommend to my family as a must see!"

Debra

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing total experience. Our group of 28 was just exceptional people, all adventuresome, positive, seasoned travelers, loved every one of them! Our guide Ben exceeded all my expectations, he was clearly the "Best of the Adriatic", I can't imagine the experience without him. Also props to our flawless bus driver Edo, what a pleasure as our driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday had many "WOW" factor/moments... one after another, non stop the entire tour!!"

Dale

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Over all my experience was very good. Ben was a fantastic host and I think we all learned things from him we would not have learned on our own. As this was my introduction to Croatia and we were staying on for an extra week after the tour I found the information gathered the first 14 days made the extra week that much better. The only minus was the size of the group. Twenty Eight people was a little too large. We occasionally would lose communication if the group was strung out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunrise in Motovun was spectcular."

Joan

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was so well done. Slovenia was great and Croatia was just beautiful. We moved around alot, but saw so many beautiful places. Our tour guide, Ben, was outstanding. He knew so much about the history and I really enjoyed his talks and his humor. This was our second RS tour. Our first was Greece in 2018 and since we loved that, we decided to try another and this did not disappoint. We met a nice group of travelers and enjoyed our time there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was great, so it’s hard to say. Maybe the island of Korcula was pretty much like a postcard. "

Nancy

Tour: 08/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Ben was so very knowledgeable about the region. Although I did read many books before the tour his information was well delivered, enlightening and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was more than one; The sunrises and sunsets from Motovun and the many wildflowers blooming at Plitvice National Park."

James

Tour: 08/27/23

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."

Carol

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first "fully escorted" Rick Steves tour, having previously taken My Way Tours. I really appreciated the education and insight we received from our fabulous tour guide, Mariam, and from the local guides. They added so much to my understanding and memories of the places we visited. Our fellow travelers were, as always, fun and interesting people. The scenery and history in this part of the world is spectacular. If you haven't been.....GO!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is SO difficult to choose just one! The views from the hilltop town of Motovun and the entire Istrian peninsula are so memorable. The relaxing days on the beautiful island of Korcula surrounded by the gorgeously blue Adriatic were a definite highlight for me. "

Steven

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First our tour guide was great and the local guides were also very good. We visited more places than I expected and they were all very interesting. We also had a wonderful group to travel with. One of the best tours we have been on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfalls and trail at Plitvice Lakes National Park. "

Craig

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent curated tour with an excellent tour Director and overall great variety in activities, hotels, group dinners, and much-needed free time to explore on our

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The happy hour boat tour in Korcula"

Laurie

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was organized and varied with a good combination of free time and daily tours. Our guide Mariam and the local guides brought history alive with their knowledge, passion, and perspective. The bus driver was very competent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park was the most amazing place we have ever visited. So many spectacular lakes and waterfalls in a small area."

Steven

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful leader and good group of participants

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice national park"

Vince

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Maria

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was interesting, fun and challenging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The last city of Dubrovnik is definitely a WOW. We took the cable car up at sunset as our Guide Saso advised. It was a stunning view and one I won't soon forget."

Kathy

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, great travelling companions, excellent experiences and locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the walls of Motovun after dark."

Kim

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Saso! All the tour guides were knowledgeable and the driver was great! Loved the interesting experiences and the goat milk!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfalls in the national park."

Jeffrey

Tour: 06/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Sanel, was outstanding. There was enough of a difference between Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia to make each of them a unique experience. The scenery was varied and beautiful. The history of the region was fascinating (more so, because of the personal recollections of our guide). Split and Dubrovnik were quite picturesque, but a little too crowded and "touristy" for my taste. We would have probably been better off taking this tour in the late spring or early fall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many - the beauty of Lake Bled and Plitvice Lakes Park, the surprising stories in the World War I museum in Kobarid, the multicultural streetscapes of Mostar, and the "vacation within a vacation" in Korcula."

Cheryl

Tour: 06/27/23

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."

Kathy

Tour: 06/27/23

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! "

Steve

Tour: 06/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tracy

Tour: 06/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Kathleen

Tour: 06/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first RS tour and it did not disappoint. Attentive, knowledgeable guide, great bus driver, beautiful scenery, informative tours, and wonderful tour mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice is on top of the list, but I would like to go back to Mostar. "

Valerie

Tour: 06/25/23

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. "

Marilyn

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I am so satisfied with every moment of our tour. Well-planned and executed, filled with sensory experiences, and engaging in the local culture and history. Everything we hoped for and more! And we have new friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we realized the used book we brought with us "A Traveller's History of Croatia" was written by our tour guide, Ben! Wow!"

Jeff

Tour: 06/25/23

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."

Heidi

Tour: 06/25/23

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."

Fred

Tour: 06/25/23

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."

John

Tour: 06/25/23

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."

Douglas

Tour: 06/18/23

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. "

Lisa

Tour: 06/18/23

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."

Lisa

Tour: 06/18/23

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!"

Margaret

Tour: 06/18/23

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."

Jean

Tour: 06/18/23

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!"

Jeffrey

Tour: 06/11/23

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!"

Karen

Tour: 06/11/23

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. "

Carol

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour guides were very good!

Michael

Tour: 06/11/23

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!"

Andrea

Tour: 06/11/23

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. "

Julie

Tour: 06/11/23

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."

Renee

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic Trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mostar and Bosnia"

Kathleen

Tour: 06/11/23

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."

David

Tour: 06/11/23

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."

Carl

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Candace

Tour: 06/11/23

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. "

Chris

Tour: 06/11/23

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. "

Brenda

Tour: 06/11/23

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."

Peggy

Tour: 06/04/23

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 "

Patricia

Tour: 06/04/23

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"

Gerard

Tour: 06/04/23

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"

Shawn

Tour: 06/04/23

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! "

Jana

Tour: 06/04/23

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."

Jaime

Tour: 06/04/23

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. "

Edward

Tour: 06/04/23

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."

Mark

Tour: 05/30/23

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"

Burdella

Tour: 05/30/23

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!!!!!"

Jim

Tour: 05/30/23

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."

Steven

Tour: 05/30/23

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."

William

Tour: 05/30/23

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."

Beverly

Tour: 05/30/23

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!"

Diane

Tour: 05/28/23

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. "

Candi

Tour: 05/28/23

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!"

Scott

Tour: 05/23/23

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. "

Susan

Tour: 05/23/23

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."

Marc

Tour: 05/23/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As always, we loved the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Janet

Tour: 05/23/23

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"

Sherry

Tour: 05/23/23

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."

Nick

Tour: 05/23/23

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!"

Bud

Tour: 05/23/23

Robert

Tour: 05/23/23

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."

Judith

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Karen

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Kevin

Tour: 05/21/23

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!"

Steven

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Kathleen

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Kathy

Tour: 05/21/23

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. "

Cecilia

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Michael

Tour: 05/21/23

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. "

Kelly

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

John

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Lura

Tour: 05/14/23

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. "

Diana

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Katherine

Tour: 05/14/23

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. "

Laura

Tour: 05/09/23

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."

Richard

Tour: 05/09/23

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."

Graig

Tour: 05/09/23

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. "

Lynnae

Tour: 05/09/23

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."

Bryant

Tour: 05/09/23

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"

Sharon

Tour: 05/09/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the waterfalls"

Deb

Tour: 05/09/23

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. "

Joan

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Susana

Tour: 05/07/23

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"

Cheryl

Tour: 05/07/23

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!"

Shirley

Tour: 05/07/23

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!"

John

Tour: 05/07/23

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. "

Harriett

Tour: 05/07/23

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!"

Karen

Tour: 05/07/23

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!"

Bernie

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Karen Lynne

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Ed

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Gerry

Tour: 05/02/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was informative and Barbara our guide was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park"

Sandra

Tour: 05/02/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Cortney

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Michael

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Denise

Tour: 05/02/23

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. "

Peggy

Tour: 05/02/23

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."

Judith

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Charles

Tour: 04/30/23

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"

Gregory

Tour: 04/30/23

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"

Brenda

Tour: 04/30/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charlotte

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Kathy

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Steven

Tour: 04/30/23

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?”"

Joanne

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Wendy

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Adam

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Susan

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Kimberly

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Harvey

Tour: 04/30/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

very well done

Favorite "WOW" moment

"plitvice waterfalls and seeing Julian Alps"

Dawn

Tour: 04/23/23

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. "

Christine

Tour: 04/23/23

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.🙂"

Laurie

Tour: 04/23/23

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. "

Hilary

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the old city in Dubrovnik "

Pam

Tour: 04/23/23

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!! "

Debra

Tour: 04/23/23

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."

Robert

Tour: 04/23/23

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"

Constance

Tour: 04/23/23

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."

Robert

Tour: 04/23/23

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. "

Garry

Tour: 04/23/23

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."

Lawlee

Tour: 04/18/23

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. "

Lynne

Tour: 04/18/23

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."

Augusto

Tour: 04/18/23

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. "

Larry

Tour: 04/18/23

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! "

Cheryl

Tour: 04/18/23

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."

Valerie

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Joan

Tour: 04/16/23

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"

Martha

Tour: 04/16/23

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."

David

Tour: 04/16/23

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."

Susan

Tour: 04/16/23

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. "

Kathryn

Tour: 04/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, great variety of experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice"

Kevin

Tour: 04/11/23

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."

Teri

Tour: 04/11/23

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."

Becca

Tour: 04/11/23

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."

Dorothy

Tour: 04/11/23

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. "

Ann

Tour: 04/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful Mostar!"

Pell

Tour: 04/11/23

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. "

Gail

Tour: 04/11/23

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."

Suzanne

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Educational and enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice"

Bruce

Tour: 10/09/22

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."

David

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the donkeys."

Michael

Tour: 10/04/22

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!!! "

Cynthia

Tour: 10/04/22

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!"

Patty

Tour: 10/04/22

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."

Steven

Tour: 10/04/22

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 "

Patricia

Tour: 10/04/22

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!"

Arlyn

Tour: 10/02/22

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 ."

Rebecca

Tour: 10/02/22

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."

Elizabeth

Tour: 10/02/22

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."

Doris

Tour: 10/02/22

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!"

Denise

Tour: 10/02/22

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. "

Keith

Tour: 10/02/22

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."

Tyler

Tour: 10/02/22

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."

Anne

Tour: 09/27/22

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"

Taryn

Tour: 09/27/22

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!!"

Greg

Tour: 09/27/22

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"

David

Tour: 09/25/22

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. "

Elizabeth

Tour: 09/25/22

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. "

Julie

Tour: 09/25/22

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!"

Judy

Tour: 09/25/22

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"

Doug

Tour: 09/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary and very educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park"

Richard

Tour: 09/20/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jennifer

Tour: 09/20/22

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"

Carol

Tour: 09/18/22

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. "

Allan

Tour: 09/13/22

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."

When To Go & Weather

Any time between April and October is a good time to take a Best of the Adriatic tour. However, the months of April, May, September, and October offer the best combination of smaller crowds, milder weather, and the full range of tourist fun.

Slovenia / Ljubljana

Ljubljana Weather


Croatia / Split

Split Weather


Croatia / Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Weather


Bosnia-Herzegovina / Mostar

Mostar Weather

Hotels & Flights

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email as well as the itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly into Ljubljana (LJU) and out of Dubrovnik (DBV) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Croatia.

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options to get to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia guidebook.