Croatia to Bosnia: Bustling Cities & Beautiful Sights — Self-Launched
13 days · Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
G Adventures charges £2,120
No-markup version: ~£842 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 13-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Zagreb-to-Sarajevo 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip. You'll do it independently using Croatia's excellent bus network, the scenic Sarajevo–Mostar railway and local tour operators for the jeep safari, rafting and food tour — staying in hostels and guesthouses along the way. Same route, same highlights (Plitvice, Hvar, Diocletian's Palace, Kravica Waterfall, wild horses, Blagaj, Mostar, Neretva rafting, Sarajevo food), but on your own schedule and at roughly a third of the tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget estimates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zagreb — old town orientation & first night out
Zagreb, Croatia
Arrive into Zagreb Airport and take the Pleso Prijevoz shuttle or ZET bus 290 into the city centre (~£5). Check into a hostel in the Donji Grad area. Do a self-guided loop of the Upper Town: Ban Jelačić Square, the funicular to Gradec, St Mark's Church, the Stone Gate, Tkalčićeva street for dinner and the Dolac market area. In the evening, hit the beer halls and bars along Tkalčićeva or in the Martićeva quarter. Optional: Museum of Broken Relationships (~£4).
🚌Airport shuttle/bus ~£5; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel in central Zagreb (dorm, ~£16)
- →Self-guided Upper Town walk
- →Tkalčićeva street bar crawl
- →Optional Museum of Broken Relationships
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Take an early bus from Zagreb Autobusni Kolodvor to Plitvice (Enter 1), around 2h15 and ~£12 one way — book on FlixBus/Arriva or pay at the station. Buy your Plitvice entrance ticket online in advance (approx £20–25 in summer, includes boat and shuttle within the park) and walk route C or H, which covers the upper and lower lakes and the Great Waterfall in a half-day. Stay overnight in a guesthouse or hostel in Mukinje/Grabovac, right by the park entrance.
🚌Bus Zagreb–Plitvice ~£12
🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Plitvice entrance (~£18)
- →Plitvice Lakes full-day walk (Lower & Upper Lakes, Great Waterfall)
- →Boardwalk trails and electric boat crossing
Plitvice to Split — orientation & night out
Split, Croatia
Catch a morning bus from Plitvice to Split (~3h, ~£15). Check into a hostel in or near the Diocletian's Palace old town. Do your own orientation walk: Riva promenade, Peristyle, the cellars, and Marjan hill for sunset views. Evening: dinner in the old town then a night out in the Bačvice district.
🚌Bus Plitvice–Split ~£15
🛏Hostel in Split old town (dorm, ~£20)
- →Self-guided Diocletian's Palace and Riva walk
- →Sunset from Marjan Hill
- →Bačvice nightlife
Split — Diocletian's Palace tour & free afternoon
Split, Croatia
Book a small-group walking tour of Diocletian's Palace via GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£12–15) for the history a self-guided walk can't give you. In the afternoon, choose between the beach at Bačvice, a local bus to Trogir (~£4 return), the ancient ruins of Solin, or the beaches on the island of Brač (catamaran to Bol for Zlatni Rat, ~£12 return in summer).
🚌Local buses/catamaran ~£8
🛏Hostel in Split old town (dorm, ~£20)
- →Diocletian's Palace guided tour (~£14)
- →Bačvice beach
- →Optional Trogir or Zlatni Rat day trip
Hvar day trip & Pakleni Islands
Hvar, Croatia
Take the morning catamaran from Split to Hvar Town (~1h, ~£10 one way; book on Krilo or Jadrolinija in advance in summer). Climb to the Spanish Fortress (~£8) for views, wander the old town and St Stephen's Square, and join a Pakleni Islands boat trip from Hvar harbour (~£30) for secluded coves and swimming. Return to Split on the evening catamaran.
🚌Split–Hvar catamaran return ~£20
🛏Hostel in Split old town (dorm, ~£20)
- →Hvar Spanish Fortress
- →Pakleni Islands boat trip
- →Swimming at secluded coves
Split to Dubrovnik — city walls & evening
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Take the bus from Split to Dubrovnik (~4–4.5h, ~£18; FlixBus or Arriva). Check into a hostel in the old town or nearby Lapad/Gruž. Walk the city walls (~£32 in high season, book online to avoid queues), then explore the Stradun, the old port and Buža bar on the cliffs outside the walls. Optional: cable car up Mount Srđ (~£25) for sunset. Evening out in the old town.
🚌Bus Split–Dubrovnik ~£18
🛏Hostel in Dubrovnik (dorm, ~£22)
- →Dubrovnik city walls walk
- →Old town and Buža cliffs
- →Optional cable car
Cross into Bosnia — Trebinje, Tvrdoš Monastery & wine
Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Take a bus or shared minibus from Dubrovnik to Trebinje (~1h15, ~£8). Drop your bags and visit Tvrdoš Monastery just outside town, with a wine tasting in its cellar (~£7). Walk up to the Hercegovačka Gračanica church for city views, photograph the Arslanagić Bridge, and do an evening stroll around the old town's plane-tree squares. Dinner of grilled meat and local žilavka wine.
🚌Bus Dubrovnik–Trebinje ~£8; local taxi ~£5
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Trebinje (~£16)
- →Tvrdoš Monastery and wine tasting
- →Hercegovačka Gračanica viewpoint
- →Arslanagić Bridge
- →Trebinje old town evening walk
Počitelj, Kravica Waterfall & wild horse jeep safari — Livno
Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Book a full-day private/local driver or small group tour from Trebinje (expect ~£55–70 per person if shared; local agencies in Mostar/Trebinje run these) hitting Počitelj's Ottoman fortress and art colony, the Kravica Waterfalls for a swim, and a late-afternoon jeep safari across the Livno plateau to spot wild horses at sunset. Overnight in Livno in a guesthouse or rural farm stay, with an optional BBQ dinner arranged locally.
🚌Shared tour vehicle/private driver ~£60
🛏Guesthouse or rural stay in Livno (~£18)
- →Počitelj fortress and art colony
- →Kravica Waterfalls swim
- →Sunset jeep safari for wild horses
- →Optional BBQ dinner
Blagaj Dervish Monastery & Mostar old bridge
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Take a bus from Livno to Mostar (~2h, ~£8), then a local bus or taxi to Blagaj (~£3) to see the Dervish Monastery at the mouth of the Buna River spring, with a swim in the icy water if you're brave. Back to Mostar for a guided old-town walking tour (~£12 via GetYourGuide/local guides), the Stari Most bridge, and a stroll through the bazaar. Evening by the river at one of the ćevapi restaurants.
🚌Bus Livno–Mostar ~£8; local bus/taxi to Blagaj ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mostar (~£16)
- →Blagaj Dervish Monastery and Buna spring
- →Mostar old town guided walk
- →Stari Most bridge
Scenic train to Konjic & Neretva rafting
Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Take the early morning train from Mostar to Konjic (~1h, ~£3) — one of the most scenic rail rides in the Balkans. Check into a riverside lodge or hostel, then join a half-day Neretva whitewater rafting trip with a local operator (book direct with Konjic rafting companies, ~£35–45 including equipment and BBQ lunch). Spend the afternoon by the river; option to visit Tito's Bunker (ARK D-0) on a guided tour (~£12).
🚌Train Mostar–Konjic ~£3
🛏Riverside lodge or hostel in Konjic (~£15)
- →Scenic Mostar–Konjic train ride
- →Neretva whitewater rafting with BBQ lunch (~£40)
- →Optional Tito's Bunker tour
Train to Sarajevo & local food tour
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Take the morning train from Konjic to Sarajevo (~1h30, ~£4). Check into a hostel in Baščaršija. Join a small-group local food tour (~£25–30, bookable via GetYourGuide or Sarajevo food tour operators) to taste ćevapi, burek, baklava and Bosnian coffee away from the tourist strip. Afternoon free for the Old Town, the Sebilj fountain and the Yellow Bastion sunset viewpoint.
🚌Train Konjic–Sarajevo ~£4; tram ~£1
🛏Hostel in Sarajevo old town (dorm, ~£15)
- →Sarajevo local food tour (~£28)
- →Baščaršija and Sebilj fountain
- →Yellow Bastion sunset
Sarajevo free day — history, bobsled & big night out
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
A full day to explore at your own pace: Gallery 11/07/95 (~£6), the Tunnel of Hope and Times of Misfortune tour (~£24), the National Museum, or the historic Latin Bridge. Ride the cable car up Trebević (~£5) to walk the abandoned 1984 Olympic bobsled track and hike in the hills. Regroup in the evening for a night out along the Ferhadija and in the old town's bars.
🚌Trams and cable car ~£6
🛏Hostel in Sarajevo old town (dorm, ~£15)
- →Gallery 11/07/95
- →Optional Tunnel of Hope tour
- →Trebević cable car and Olympic bobsled track
- →Old town night out
Depart Sarajevo
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Last morning for a Bosnian coffee on the Ferhadija and a final wander through Baščaršija. Take the trolleybus 103 or local bus to the airport (~£1) or onward bus to Mostar/Dubrovnik if you're continuing. Trip ends.
🚌Public transport to airport ~£1
🛏None (checkout)
- →Final old town wander
- →Bosnian coffee
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£842 | £2,120 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,278 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£842
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Croatia to Bosnia: Bustling Cities & Beautiful Sights — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £842 per person for 13 days in Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,120 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £842 — a saving of roughly £1,278 (60%) per person.
How long is the Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, backpacker trip through Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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