Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro

Seven nights half-board from £829 per person

Selected departures from June to October 2012

Fully Escorted

The Dalmatian coastline is legendary: one of the most dramatic in Europe, extending for hundreds of miles, where steep limestone cliffs plunge into sapphire-blue waters.  Just offshore the mirror-like Adriatic is studded with countless islands, some tiny, some large, some inhabited, some not, but giving scenery almost reminiscent of a series of huge intertwining lakes. The hillsides are clad in a green carpet of lush pine-forests giving that instantly recognisable Mediterranean aroma to the air.  Clinging to the coast or nestling in picturesque coves are medieval fishing villages, with tiny shops, refreshingly free from tasteless development, where the alleyways are simply pebbles set into the earth and overhead shutters precariously sway and squeak in the warm, gentle breezes. Life continues much as it has for centuries with the elderly still clad in the black so typical of southern Europe.

Croatia is simply one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, with a recent past unique in European history. Within just five years it experienced the fall of communism, a war and then full independence. Today however, with the scars very much healed, this matchless blend of history, Mediterranean ambience and truly stunning natural beauty is, and rightly so, on the discerning traveller’s map once again.

Ruled for 2,000 years by some of the greatest powers of their time: the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and the Hapsburgs amongst others, and all have left their mark both architecturally and culturally. There are Roman palaces, amphitheatres, baroque churches, imposing civic buildings and even mosques. Dubrovnik in particular is a delight, almost a living museum, medieval in character with a heavy influence of the baroque period in the numerous churches and where life spills spontaneously onto its pedestrianised marble streets. Once the centre of a thriving commercial empire, Lord Byron christened it ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, whilst George Bernard Shaw thought it simply ‘Paradise on Earth’. In our view - it is simply idyllic!

Fully escorted price includes:

• Return flights to Dubrovnik or Split

• Seven nights three and four-star accommodation with half-board

• Tour of Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic

• Visit to Krka National Park and its stunning waterfalls

• Visit to Mostar, setting of the famous bridge

• Tour to Montenegro, one of the most beautiful countries of the Mediterranean

• Visit to Split and tour of the Emperor Diocletian’s monumental palace, the greatest Roman structure in eastern Europe

• Visit to medieval Trogir

• Escorted by our experienced tour manager

• The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room

• Single rooms are subject to availability at a supplement of £170 per person

Visas and Health Matters

Terms and conditions:

The code must be quoted at time of booking to receive offer prices

Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to availability. Operated by Riviera Travel Atol 3430 protected, Abta V4744, a company independent of Independent Print Ltd. Single rooms are subject to availability and at a supplement. Optional insurance available at a supplement. When you respond to offers we may use your information to contact you with offers/services that we believe will be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive offers by sms or email. We will not give your data to other companies without your permission; please let us know if you are happy for us to to so. Prices are correct at the time of publishing. Please call or email for details. 0844 calls charged at 5ppm from BT landlines

Supplier info: Riviera Travel

Since their inception 25 years ago, Riviera Travel have endeavoured to exceed the expectations of the discerning traveller, on their fascinating and innovative European and Worldwide escorted tours.

They have passion for quality and looking after all their guests in the most personal manner possible and really ‘go the extra mile'. Over the years they have received many commendations from many household names in the publishing industry. They have recently been voted by the members of one of the country's most respected consumer organisations in their biannual survey of travel companies, as one of the UK's top two Tour Operators and the most outstanding of all in terms of value for money - by some considerable margin.

Riviera Travel offers European and Worldwide Escorted Tours by Eurostar and by Air.

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Call: 0844 571 1980

Offer Code: The Independent website

The code must be quoted at time of booking to receive offer prices

independent@rivieratravel.co.uk