After rambling around Croatia for 6 weeks, Daniel and I were ready to visit a new country. We heard great things about Kotor, another fortified city and UNESCO World Heritage site, so we boarded a bus heading southbound. It was a short bus ride from Dubrovnik and we soon crossed the border into neighboring Montenegro.
Located in the stunningly beautiful Bay of Kotor, the fortified city of Kotor is framed with a backdrop of mountains that rise dramatically from the Adriatic Sea. Most visitors to Kotor climb the 1355 steps to St. John’s Fortress (also called San Giovanni Fortress) perched above the town, but I was after the bigger challenge. I decided to hike the Ladder of Kotor instead, a trail which climbs the same hill in parallel and continues past the fortifications up to Krstac Pass.
Most visitors to Dubrovnik spend the bulk of their time walking around the city walls, touring museums, and taking selfies in front of fortifications. And it’s easy to see why. The historic city is absolutely stunning, especially when viewed for the very first time. For a different perspective, however, Mount Srđ stands just behind the city and provides amazing panoramic views of Dubrovnik and beyond.
After island-hopping along Croatia’s coast, Daniel and I wrapped up our tour of Croatia with a visit to the city of Dubrovnik. We’d visited several grand fortified cities during our trip to Croatia so far but nothing quite like this. The entire city is encircled by a spectacular stone wall with a maximum height of 82 feet (25 meters), complete with a moat and drawbridges.
Korčula. Built on a promontory jutting out from an island, the town of Korčula has magnificent stone walls that run all around it. Like the other islands we recently visited, it is quiet in the off-season with only a handful of open businesses. Korčula’s Old Town is relatively small and it didn’t take us long to explore.
Flashy, trashy Hvar. This is how Lonely Planet: Croatia describes the town of Hvar. With 2760 hours of sunshine a year, Hvar is the sunniest place in the country and a magnet for the yacht set. During our stay, however, this idyllic little town was quiet and peaceful – except for a massive storm that raged across the island. So instead of soaking up the sun, Daniel and I watched as magnificent waves swamped walkways and flooded buildings.
Located on Brač Island, Vidova Gora stands majestically above the town of Bol and provides sweeping views of the Adriatic and beyond. With a height of 2552 feet (778 meters), it is the tallest mountain on all of the Adriatic islands. I’m always on the hunt for a new mountain to explore, so when I heard about this beauty I really wanted to see it for myself.
Rugged and beautiful, the islands along Croatia’s coastline are a favorite destination for travellers. A comprehensive system of ferries and catamarans link the islands together with the mainland, enabling visitors to hop from one island to the next. Daniel and I were keen to explore the islands, so after exploring Croatia’s mainland for three weeks we headed to the ferry terminal in Split.
After exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park for a few days, Daniel and I next headed to the coastal town of Zadar. We picked the city due to its proximity to several national parks and because it seemed like an interesting place to visit. Zadar is a popoular tourist destination and it’s easy to see why. From the ancient Roman forum and the haunting Sea Organ music installation to the scenic Riva promenade and the Church of Saint Donatus, Zadar has something for everyone.
The Velebit is the largest mountain range in Croatia, stretching for 90 miles (145 km) along the Adriatic and separating the coast from the interior of the country. A member of the Dinaric Alps, the Velebit boasts two National Parks – North Velebit National Park and Paklenica National Park. Ever since I first learned about the magnificent Velebit mountains I’ve been curious to check them out for myself. So, while Daniel and I were staying in the town of Zadar, I took the bus to Paklenica National Park one day to do some hiking.
On our third and final day at Plitvice Lakes National Park, I awoke early and ready for a good workout. During our first two days, we took it easy and explored small sections of the park. Today, however, I was ready for a new challenge. So I chose the K Trail which encircles the entire park in one continuous loop. Lucky for me, the fog wasn’t as heavy today.
On our second day at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Daniel and I awoke in a cloud. Peering out our bedroom window, we found that there was only a few feet of visibility. I could barely see the trees in the hotel’s back yard, let alone the lake in the distance. It was so foggy yesterday that I thought it couldn’t get any worse. I thought wrong.
