During Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia, an overnight A Day in the Life experience on a farm in rural Croatia feels a world away from the bustle of Dubrovnik.
The world’s most celebrated travel sites are famous for good reason, and of course we include them on our itineraries. But our small group size also allows us to step off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds—revealing the true character of our destinations.
To learn more about balancing must-see highlights with places rarely seen by American travelers, we asked associates from our regional offices about some of our popular adventures in the Adriatic.
Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia with Boris Merkl, Country Manager, Croatia
What are the most iconic sites on this adventure?
The most famous highlights on this itinerary include the Old City of Dubrovnik, Croatia; the Plitvice Lakes; Kotor, Montenegro; the famous bridge of Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina; and Lake Bled in Slovenia.
How does O.A.T. minimize crowds and wait times at popular sites?
In general, most of our tours operate in the off- or mid-season, which significantly reduces crowds. The weather is still pleasant, but many of the popular attractions are quieter.
During the summer months, our city tours start earlier, before most of the people visiting Dubrovnik come to the Old Town. We provide a three-day Dubrovnik Pass, which often allows travelers to skip lines in museums and includes public bus travel for independent exploration. As a group, we use the public bus to get to the Old Town versus using our own coaches, which helps reduce congestion in the Old Town area.
In Ljubljana, Slovenia, we avoid crowds by taking our walking tour in the late afternoon or early evening, especially in the summer.
What are the truly unique, off-the-beaten-path places we visit?
Our overnight Day in the Life experience in Karanac, which is a small village of approximately 700 people in the rural Baranja region. We have been visiting this farm since 2004, ever since an associate who worked in our operations department discovered it!
Some comments from our travelers:
"Visiting the home of Denis and Goca in Karanac was really special, and sleeping there made it even more so. Making cheese with Lili, making fry bread with Goca, watching Denis make the stew, learning about the painting skills involved in the individual rooms and walking through the town with Mario was great."
— Laura Lafler, 7-time traveler from Novato, CA
"This was a very unique experience that other tour agencies don't provide. This stay was made exceptionally interesting by our hosts, Denis and Goca, along with their son, who was very impressive. In addition to their excellent meals, we learned how they make their unique wall prints. The stay was also a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities we were visiting."
— Kenneth Dirnberger, 21-time traveler from The Villages, FL
Hidden Gems of the Dalmatian Coast & Greece with Boris Merkl, Country Manager, Croatia
What are the most iconic sites on this adventure?
In addition to the famous Old Town of Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes, this Small Ship Adventure also visits the Croatian city of Split, which is home to Diocletian’s Palace. Other popular highlights include the Acropolis in Athens and the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece; and Kotor, Montenegro.
How does O.A.T. minimize crowds and wait times at popular sites?
We aim to visit popular spots like Diocletian’s Palace, the Acropolis Museum, and the Dubrovnik Old Town around 8am, before the crowds arrive. We also book tickets in advance to avoid waiting in lines at the Acropolis Museum Plitvice Lakes, and Delphi.
What are the truly unique, off-the-beaten-path places we visit?
We stay overnight onboard the ship in Zadar, which is not off-the-beaten-path—but just a 30-minutes’ drive from here are three places that we visit for our A Day in the Life experience: Sopot, Poljica, and Ravni Kotari. A Trip Experience Leader discovered Sopot and Ravni Kotari in 2022, while the family we visit in Poljica is actually a former Trip Experience Leader who moved here from Zagreb with his family. They have a small business farming figs, olive, and quince and making organic products.
All of the families were chosen because of their personalities and interesting stories, including staying in the rural part of Croatia when everyone is searching for better opportunities outside of the country. Because of their resilience and resourcefulness in hard conditions and positive attitude, all the families strive to be self-sufficient. I should also mention that these people are younger families.
Some comments from our travelers:
"The visit with Alan and Sandra and their two grown children was outstanding. The walk through the orchards explaining their decision to move from the city to the country was very heartfelt. The family was very open. Their English was excellent and they were very warm. It was fascinating to see how the business progressed with the help of the father-in-law, who invented machinery whenever the need arose. I think we could have all enjoyed staying the whole day if we had had time. The lunch was lovely and I enjoyed helping in the preparation of the dessert."
— Joyce Bowlby, 12-time traveler from Sun City West, AZ
"We spent the day with three generations of a family with a young grandchild who has developmental delays. Their kindness and hard work in the face of overwhelming difficulties made a deep impression on us. The fact that Jasmine had been a Muslim and converted to Roman Catholicism in order to be more a part of her community was also amazing and brought home the complexities of this region. Jasmine took us on a walk through the village and we saw how many homes lie abandoned after the war. We helped prepare lunch which was delicious. This was a fabulous experience!"
— Carroll Perry, 7-time traveler from Ipswich, MA
The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul with Panagiotis Fotis, Country Manager, Greece
What are the most iconic sites on this adventure?
The itinerary includes iconic sites such as the Acropolis, Delphi, Meteora, Mykonos, and Santorini in Greece; and Ephesus, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace in Turkey.
How does O.A.T. minimize crowds and wait times at popular sites?
During peak season, we adjust our schedule to avoid both crowds and heat by visiting key sites—such as the Acropolis—either early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
What are the truly unique, off-the-beaten-path places we visit?
Some of the hidden gems on our itinerary include Kalymnos Island and Patmos Island in Greece, offering a more authentic and less crowded experience. These locations were carefully selected because of their rich history, cultural significance, and unique charm. Traveling on The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul provides an opportunity to explore destinations that have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years, ensuring a truly immersive experience.
Some comments from our travelers:
"We really enjoyed this itinerary with land portions in Greece and Turkey and the cruise to six Greek islands on our lovely small ship. We are glad we chose a trip in March before the crowded tourist season and before the heat of summer. We could enjoy Santorini and Mykonos without the crowds, and the other lovely islands that O.A.T. chose. A small ship is the best way to travel to the Greek Islands."
— Mary Brosch, 2-time traveler from Candler, NC
"The Aegean Islands, Athens, Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Ankara trip was excellent. The guides were outstanding, and they found special places to visit that had few if any tourists, but still gave us opportunities to see the most visited places at times when not so busy."
— Kaye Sergeant, 12-time traveler from Northridge, CA
Spend A Day in the Life on a farm in rural Croatia—an experience unique to O.A.T. since 2004—during Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia.
