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This is a full day that moves through Slovenia in layers, from the underground world to river-carved landscapes and finally to the open calm of Lake Bled.
In the early afternoon, we will continue north towards Lake Bled, where the afternoon is spent at a relaxed pace by the lake.
To explore the island with the church, souvenir shop, and local cafe bar, we usually leave for about 45min to 1 hour. From the dock where the boats dock to the top of the island, you are separated by 99 steps, so be prepared to climb.
Today is a slower, city-focused day that eases the transition from Slovenia into Croatia and allows time to explore and settle into a new rhythm.
The remainder of the day is free to explore at your own pace, whether settling into local cafés, wandering neighbourhood streets, or simply enjoying the city’s atmosphere.
Today is a defining transition day, moving from continental Croatia toward the Adriatic coast and revealing just how sharply landscapes and histories shift across a single border of space.
By early afternoon, arrive at Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s most defining natural spaces. Wooden walkways trace the edges of lakes and waterfalls, while short boat crossings link different sections of the park.
From Plitvice Lakes we will head towards Željava Air Base, a vast abandoned Cold War military complex hidden beneath the mountains. Concrete, tunnels and silence replace forests and water. The contrast is intentional and unforgettable.
Split is not a museum. It’s a city that lives inside one. The morning is intentionally unhurried, giving you space to feel the city before stepping into it. Salt in the air, light on the stone, the Adriatic just within reach.
Diocletian’s Palace still forms the core of Split, not as a preserved monument, but as a living structure shaped by everyday life. This day is about understanding Split not through museums, but through the way people live inside its history.
After an early breakfast in Split, the road follows the southern coastline, with open views of the Adriatic gradually replacing the inland rhythm of the days before. The landscape begins to stretch, signaling a shift toward the country’s far south.
The afternoon is left open. Take the city slowly, return to places that caught your attention, step away from the crowds, or simply pause and observe Dubrovnik as it moves around you.
Dinner is at leisure, on your own to have fun.
Leaving Dubrovnik, the road turns inland. The sea falls away quickly, replaced by stone, distance and quieter towns. The shift is immediate, both in landscape and in rhythm.
Trebinje is wine country. We stop at a local winery for a wine tasting, sampling regional varieties and spending time with producers who know this land better than anyone
The drive continues north toward Sarajevo, through valleys and passes that have carried armies, civilians and stories for generations.
In the morning, attention turns to the Siege of Sarajevo and the breakup of Yugoslavia.
After lunch, the setting changes, but the context remains.
Best suited for guests who enjoy being outdoors and spending a full day in nature.The hike to Lukomir unveils stunning vistas and fosters cultural connections, creating an unforgettable adventure that intertwines nature and heritage in an unspoiled setting.
Continuing south, the scenery begins to shift. Herzegovina opens up into a striking mix of karst terrain, open valleys and water-carved landscapes.
From Počitelj, continue to the Kravice Waterfalls on the Trebižat River. Framed by lush greenery, the cascades offer a restorative pause in nature. Time here is unstructured, allowing space to walk, rest by the water or, in warmer months, enjoy a swim.
Leaving Mostar, the road turns south and soon crosses into Montenegro. The terrain softens, the air shifts, and the wide curves of the Bay of Kotor begin to replace the inland landscapes of the days before.
From Perast, a short boat ride takes the group across the bay to Our Lady of the Rocks. Built gradually by local sailors, the islet reflects a long-standing relationship between the town and the sea. Time is reserved to explore the church and small museum before returning by boat to the shore.
Inside the fortified walls, narrow stone streets, hidden squares and shaded passages reveal a city shaped by layers rather than eras. Roman foundations, Venetian rule and everyday modern life overlap naturally, framed by steep mountains above and the bay below. The walk is designed for orientation rather than explanation, leaving space to explore further on your own.
As the light begins to change, the pace slows. The rest of the day is left open. Your Funky Tours host is nearby to point you toward places to eat, drink or simply sit and take in Kotor’s atmosphere.
At the top of Lovćen National Park, time is set aside near the Njegoš Mausoleum, where the scale of the landscape becomes fully apparent, stretching from mountains to sea. Lovćen is where Montenegro pulls away from the coast and looks inward, grounding the day before it opens back toward water again.
Leaving Kotor, the route turns south toward the Albanian border. The change is noticeable almost immediately, in landscape, road rhythm and atmosphere. After crossing into Albania, the journey continues toward Kruja, set high on the slopes above the coastal plain.
Passing Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, remnants of the communist period and contemporary architecture, the walk places Tirana’s contrasts into context without trying to resolve them.
After breakfast in Tirana, the route heads south toward Berat, one of Albania’s most historically layered towns. Set above the Osum River, Berat has been continuously inhabited for centuries, with homes, churches and daily life still woven into its historic fabric.
Time is taken to explore key sites within the fortress, including religious monuments and museum spaces that provide context without breaking the flow of the visit.
As evening arrives, the group gathers again around the table, no longer as fellow travellers but as people who have now shared sixteen full days on the road.
