Walking Montenegro and the Croatian Islands

Our tour starts at Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) at 12pm today. We'll travel to our hotel in Dobrota (around a 90-minute drive) as a group so make sure your flight arrives before 11.30am so as not to miss the transfer. Dobrota is a quaint little seaside town, backed by mountains and within walking distance of the walled city of Kotor. Described as one of Kotor Bays' more stylish enclaves, the seafront at Dobrota is lined with old captain's villas, restored as seaside cafes and small hotels offering picturesque views of Mt Vrmac and the bay itself.

This morning, we'll set out to explore the prettiest city in Montenegro, Kotor. The old city of Kotor is a well-preserved urbanisation typical of the Middle Ages, situated on one of the world's most beautiful bays. The town's walls date back to the 14th century and tower an astounding 20 metres high. To get the best views of the fjord and the maze-like cobbled streets of the city itself, we'll walk to the top of the walls (a steep walk of around 1350 steps and a series of switchbacks). This afternoon, we'll have the option to take a boat trip to the Lady of the Rock and Perast Town in the bay of Kotor. The Lady of the Rock is a man-made island created over centuries. Legend has it that, after they found an icon of Madonna and Child on the rocks, local seamen kept an ancient oath to lay a stone in the bay every time they returned safely. Over the years, the islet was formed and now is home to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Today's 2.5 kilometre/1.5 mile moderate walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with 300 metres/984 feet of ascent and descent.

Today, we'll visit one of the most iconic viewpoints in Kotor. Starting from our hotel, we'll hike up a zig-zagging path on Vrmac Mountain. This long limestone ridge separates Kotor Bay and forms the backbone of the peninsula between Tivat and Kotor. The first part of our hike leads through forested terrain, gradually ascending along an old Austro-Hungarian stone pathway to the highest point of the Vrmac Ridge. From here, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of Kotor's inner bay on one side and the Adriatic Sea and Tivat on the other. The trail, an easy and straightforward route along an old military road, offers panoramic vistas of the Dinaric Alps, Boka Bay, and the picturesque villages scattered along its shores. After a short descent, we will meet our minibus, which will take us back to town. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure. You could opt to visit the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, built in 1452 on the site where fishermen discovered an image of the Virgin Mary. Today's moderate 7 kilometre/4.3 mile hike is expected to take around 3 hours with 460 metres/1509 feet of ascent and 210 metres/ 866 feet of descent. Please note, the accent is steep and rocky in places- comfortable shoes with ankle support are recommended.

After breakfast this morning, we'll drive to Bosanka hill on the edge of the UNESCO-listed walled city of Dubrovnik. We'll walk down into the city, entering through the ancient walls on foot. The short 40-minute walk rewards us with great views of the surrounding area. From Dubrovnik, we'll then take a catamaran to Mijet Island, known for its lush green forests, serene saltwater lakes, and tranquil ambience. When we get off the catamaran in Pomena, we'll head to our hotel, just a short walk away. The rest of the evening is at your leisure. Today's leisurely morning walk covers 1.2 kilometres/0.7 miles and is expected to take around 40 minutes with 200 metres/656 feet of descent. It's worth noting that, in parts, the ground is uneven and cobbled.

Over 70% of the western side of Mljet is covered by forest, earning it the nickname the Green Island. Today, we'll follow a looped hiking trail starting out from our hotel and taking us around Malo and Veliko Jezero, or the Small and the Great Lake in Mljet National Park. The lakes are salt water and interconnected by a very narrow canal and we'll have the opportunity to swim in the lakes along the way today. The larger lake, Veliko Jezero, is home to the small island of Sv Marija, upon which sits a 12th-century Benedictine Monastery - we'll take a short visit across to the island to have a look at the monastery and its church. During its time on the island, the monastery has taken on various guises, including a hotel during Tito's administration. The war in 1991 ended that phase and the monastery and church were left vacant with the possibility that the Benedictines may return to reclaim and reopen it. We'll return to Pomena for our next boat trip to the island of Korcula and our overnight stay in the village of Lumbarda. Today's moderate 10 kilometre/6.2 mile trek is expected to take around four hours with 300 metres/656 feet of ascent and descent.

Lumbarda is a small fisherman's village situated on the eastern coastline of Korcula island, well known for its vineyards and a 'unique' white wine known as GRK. Our walk today will follow the shore from the beautiful sandy beaches at Lumbarda itself to the town of Korcula. On route, we'll enjoy wonderful views of the archipelago and its 22 islets, including Vrnik and Badija. We'll finish our walk in the medieval walled town of Korcula where we'll have free time to explore. The Old Town of Korcula is shaped a little like a fishbone with a succession of narrow streets coming off the main street (or backbone). This design was said to reduce the effects of the wind and sun and keep its occupants sheltered. During your exploration, you might like to visit the 15th-century, Gothic Renaissance-style cathedral of Saint Mark or the alleged birthplace of Marco Polo and its impressive tower that gives amazing panoramic views of Korcula. We'll then take the ferry to Orebic and transfer by road to Dubrovnik, for the last two nights of our holiday. Today's leisurely 7 kilometre/4.3 mile trek is expected to take around three hours with 100 metres/328 feet of ascent and descent.

George Bernard Shaw once wrote, 'those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik'. Today, we'll get to grips with the stunning city with a guided walking tour. The Old Town retains its unique charm and UNESCO has granted it World Cultural Heritage status as one of the world's finest examples of a fortified Medieval town. After our tour, there'll be free time to explore at your own pace. You might like to walk the length of the city walls (1,940 metres/6,364 feet in total) or take a cable car to view the city from above. This evening, we'll meet as a group for a farewell dinner and toast to our week of walking.

Our trip ends this morning at our accommodation in Dubrovnik. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Dubrovnik at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) a 30-minute drive from the hotel.