- Grasshopper
- First Reviewer
- 5 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 3
- Reviews
-
8
- Photos
Editor Pick
Excursion to Serbia/Montenegro
- February 22, 2004
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Grasshopper from Keystone, Colorado
My second Atlas tour was a very long, but very interesting day traveling to and through Montenegro. Leaving at 7am, the bus ventured south, along gorgeous coastline, through passport control, heading inland at the Bay of Kotor. We stopped several times to take photos and then had some time to wander around and visit the old walled city of Kotor.
Getting back on the bus, we headed up, up, up, dozens of hair-raising switchbacks into the mountains of Montenegro (Black Mountain). From above, the views were superb, and we had to stop several times for goats, cows, and sheep! This is where the skill of the Atlas driver was most evident and several times he earned the applause of the guests.
Inland, we stopped for lunch - fresh Dalmatian ham and homemade cheese sandwiches along with a local wine ($3.00!) at a small village restaurant. Then we proceeded to the capital, where we enjoyed a tour of the original home of Nicolas I.
A final stop at a coastal resort town with another old walled city and an opportunity to enjoy a much-needed gelato before heading back along the coast north, returning to Dubrovnik at 7pm.
From journal An Aha Experience - Croatia
Editor Pick
Wine Tasting On the Peljesac Peninsula
- February 22, 2004
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Grasshopper from Keystone, Colorado
One of my Atlas tours was a wine-tasting tour of the Peljesac Peninsula. About an hour north of Dubrovnik, along the coast, the Peljesac Peninsula has dozens of small family vineyards, miles and miles of vine-covered, rocky hillsides, steep coastal views, and lovely quiet bays.
We stopped at three family wineries, where we were given tours and generous tasting opportunities. Naturally, we were also given the opportunity to purchase wines (quiet, inexpensive, and not bad... even to this Northern California wine enthusiast!). We enjoyed a delicious lunch of soup, cheeses, bread, and wine at one of the wineries.
Our tour was repeated in English, French and German, and the entire group enthusiastically sang the chorus of "In Vino Veritas" on the bus, over, and over, and over, and over, and over.....
But a fun day was had by all.
From journal An Aha Experience - Croatia
Atlas Excursions
- February 22, 2004
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Grasshopper from Keystone, Colorado
From Dubrovnik, I used Atlas Tours to arrange some great out-of-town trips. I sorely regretted not staying in Dubrovnik longer, as there were more excursions I very much would have liked to take.
I did book two fascinating day trips through the Atlas. The agency has representatives all over Croatia, and had a desk with a full-time sales rep in the lobby of my hotel. The rep was more than helpful in assisting me to choose the tours that would be most interesting to me. A van picked me up in the lobby of my hotel and took me to meet the bus with the rest of the guests. At the end of the day, they deposited me back at my hotel.
The drivers, guides, and bus drivers were fantastic: friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The buses were clean, modern, and air conditioned (important when the temps were in the high 90s). Some of the routes covered white-knuckle roads, and the drivers were experts. My tours were about $50 USD each and were all-day events.
From journal An Aha Experience - Croatia