Terracotta Roofs Canyon Roads Self Drive - 8 Days

Arrive at Split Airport, where we collect the hire car, review the rental details and confirm return procedures for departure day. We drive to the hotel to check in, then you can begin discovering Split at your own pace – from the imperial palace quarter to the palm–lined Riva. Overnight in Split.

Spend the afternoon exploring Diocletian’s Palace – an ancient Roman fortress that became the lively heart of modern Split. We wander through the Bronze, Silver, Iron and Golden Gates, pause in the Peristyle, and step into the Cathedral of St Domnius, once the emperor’s mausoleum. As evening falls, we join the locals for a relaxed đir along the Riva, then dine in a traditional konoba tucked within the palace walls. Overnight in Split.

We leave Split and drive south towards the Bosnia and Herzegovina border – passports and the rental green card ready for inspection. Our first stop is the magnificent Kravica Waterfalls, where you can swim in the emerald pool or sit with a coffee beside the cascades. By mid–afternoon we arrive in Mostar, check in, and head for the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. We cross the world–famous Stari Most, admire the Kujundžiluk bazaar with coppersmiths at work, and later dine on a terrace overlooking the illuminated bridge. Overnight in Mostar.

Today we follow the Neretva River – a route celebrated for dramatic canyon scenery – pausing first at Jablanica, noted for spit–roasted lamb and the WWII railway bridge lying in the water. We continue to Konjic, split by a graceful six arch Ottoman bridge, then arrive in Sarajevo, nestled among mountain peaks. We dive into Baščaršija to see the wooden Sebilj Fountain, visit the Gazi Husrev–beg Mosque, and step west into the Austro–Hungarian quarter to grasp why the city is called the Jerusalem of Europe. We stand on the Latin Bridge, where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand ignited the First World War, then take a short drive to the Tunnel of Hope – the hand–dug 1992–1995 lifeline of the besieged city. For dinner we try sarajevski ćevapi, followed by thick, unfiltered Bosnian coffee served in traditional copper sets. Overnight in Sarajevo.

We head south through the rugged mountains of eastern Bosnia and the rolling plains of Herzegovina to Počitelj, a stone village built like an amphitheatre above the Neretva. We climb to the Gavrakapetan Tower for sweeping views, then continue via Popovo Polje to Trebinje to rest beneath the shade of the grand plane trees with a cool drink. Crossing back into Croatia, we drive on to Dubrovnik, check in, and stroll the limestone–paved Stradun as the historic façades glow after dusk. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

After an early breakfast, if you wish to walk the city walls, start as they open to avoid heat and crowds. The 2 kilometre loop delivers uninterrupted views over terracotta rooftops and the shimmering Adriatic. We descend to the main street to see Onofrio’s Large Fountain, call at the Franciscan Monastery – home to one of Europe’s oldest working pharmacies – and continue to Luža Square for the Clock Tower and Sponza Palace. We visit the Rector’s Palace, then the nearby Dubrovnik Cathedral, famed for its gold and silver relics, before finding a shaded table in a steep side street to sample black risotto or grilled squid. In the afternoon you can take the 15 minute ferry to Lokrum, a forested nature reserve with peacocks, botanical gardens, a swimmable salt lake and the original Iron Throne filming site. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Today we drive north along the Jadranska Magistrala – about 230 kilometres and roughly three and a half hours of superb coastal scenery. Around an hour from Dubrovnik, we pause at Ston, gateway to the Pelješac Peninsula, famed for its vast medieval walls and ancient salt pans. You can taste exceptionally fresh oysters straight from the bay before continuing past the fruit stands of the Neretva Delta and the tranquil Baćina Lakes to return to Split. For a final evening, we wander up the pine scented paths of Marjan for a sweeping view over the city and the islands of Brač and Šolta, then enjoy a farewell seafood dinner in the fishermen’s quarter of Varoš. Overnight in Split.

After a relaxed breakfast, we return the hire car to Split Airport and check in for your flight home.