I had heard great things about Croatia from friends and family that had travelled there previously. I picked this tour because it also included Bosnia-Herzgovina and Montenegro.
Who did you travel with?
My husband and our two teenage children.
What was your favourite place/s on your Albatross tour?
It is hard to pick one. I loved exploring the winding alleyways of the old town of Trogir, relaxing seaside on the island of Hvar, and exploring the cobblestone streets of Mostar. We also loved our 4 night stay in Dubrovnik. Our beautiful hotel was located just a short walk from the old town, and we had plenty of time to explore at our own pace.
What was the most amazing thing you saw or did on your Albatross tour?
We saw so many amazing things on this tour. The history, ancient architecture and landscapes in this region are just incredible.
I was truly captivated by the cellars of Diocletian's Palace in Split. To imagine what the walls of this 4th century AD structure have seen was just mind boggling, and they were incredibly well preserved.
The city of Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina was fascinating. This city was devastated during the Balkans conflict, and has since been rebuilt. It was fascinating to see damage on some of the buildings even now. We really enjoyed walking around this beautiful city, which offers a mix of East and West culture and architecture. I highly recommend you try the Cevapi when you are there. Cevapi consists of a minced meat sausage served inside flatbread with yoghurt and onion. It didn't look very appealing at first, however was delicious!
Our walk through the Krka National Park was just so special. It was a lovely, relaxed walk along a board walk under the shade of the trees. We were surrounded by waterways and waterfalls - it was just so serene. At the end of the walk we came to the largest waterfall of all - it was magnificent.
I also loved our visit to Mali Ston where we travelled by boat to an Oyster barge to taste freshly shucked oysters and to drink wine. I am not an oyster lover, however, the atmosphere was just so wonderful and everyone had a lovely time. Afterwards we travelled back by boat to the town itself and enjoyed a very relaxed lunch at the famous Bota Sari restaurant - with more wine and more food!
Tell us about your most memorable moment on tour?
My most memorable moment was jumping into the Adriatic sea, poolside at our beautiful hotel in Dubrovnik. The water was amazing, a lovely shade of aqua blue, and the view was incredible with the old town of Dubrovnik just a short distance away. It was a truly exhilarating experience!
I also loved walking along the walls of the old town of Dubrovnik. My family and I chose to walk the walls later in the day to avoid the crowds. Just as we started the walk, a series of dark, menacing clouds flooded the sky and was shortly followed by a very big thunderstorm with heavy rain. We huddled under one of the archways until the storm cleared. Afterward we continued our walk along the walls and were rewarded with a double rainbow in the distance - just magical!
What was your favourite meal on tour?
We had lots of excellent meals on tour. My favourite was our farewell meal in Cavtat. We were seated in an open air restaurant and had a lovely meal, with the sunset in the background.
What advice do you have for anyone interested in travelling on this tour?
Pack your swimmers and make sure you take the plunge in the Adriatic Sea - the water is just beautiful. Also, in Hvar to enter the Adriatic you need to walk over lots of rocks, so I highly recommend you pack rubber swimming shoes to ease the discomfort.
Would you recommend this tour to family and friends? If so, why?
This tour offers so many highlights and travels at a great pace. We felt like we experienced much of what this beautiful region offered without coming home exhausted. We also really enjoyed the company of our fellow travellers and the incredible guidance from our Tour Manager Sibilia.
