Montenegro and Dubrovnik - Boka Bay to Game of Thrones

Recently I was lucky to join a small group of agents, hosted by our partners at Elegant Resorts on a delightful trip to Montenegro and Dubrovnik. A short flight from Gatwick to Tivat with Easy Jet was the start of my trip to Montenegro and Dubrovnik. With regular flights to Tivat from Gatwick and Manchester, Montenegro is becoming an increasingly popular destination. A very quick immigration process on arrival into Tivat, and on exiting was greeted with bright blue skies and spectacular mountains, which meet the blue seas of the inlets of Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor, or Boka Bay as it‘s also known. The mountains of Montenegro rise up in truly spectacular form, directly from the coastline. The scenery is breathtaking! Montenegro is the southernmost part of the region of Dalmatia and is an area steeped in fascinating history. Taking a boat trip into the Bay of Kotor, was a delight, visiting Our Lady of the Rocks which is one of two islets in the bay and the Catholic church of Our Lady of the Rocks. According to legend, the islet was created over centuries by local seafarers who kept an ancient oath after finding an icon of the Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea on 22 July 1452. So, on returning from every successful voyage, a rock was laid and the islet grew. Even today on 22 July, local residents continue the tradition by taking their boats to the islet and throwing rocks into the sea, so continuing the emergence of the rock from the sea. Visit the church where there is an amazing collection of artwork and silver tablets made by the seafarers who returned safely. This is a very popular stop, so time your visit carefully as at peak times it can be busy and so take some time to access the islet.......and watch out for Instagrammers! The next stop was Kotor, but not before passing by the historical Perast now a popular spot to stay with plentiful dining at the water‘s edge. We had a brilliant guide in Kotor, who took us around this medieval fortified town with its winding streets, squares and churches. Kotor is a double UNESCO World Heritage site so there is much to learn here. I would recommend a half-day guided tour. This small old town can get very busy in the peak summer months, especially on days when there are cruise ships in. Time your visit carefully to get the most out of your visit, supporting the local restaurants and shops as you go, ensuring that the locals benefit from your spending. The coastline of Montenegro creates calm protected inlets with a stunning backdrop of mountains. I was blown away but the stunning scenery and would love to return to take a little longer to explore more of the area including its national parks. From Montenegro, we took the quick hop across the border to Dubrovnik, another UNESCO World Heritage site, where we stayed just outside the Old Town. The drive from the One and Only Portonovi heading north to Croatia was about 50 mins. The border crossing between Montenegro and Croatia was very quick and easy. It wasn't busy when we travelled, but be prepared for a slightly longer wait if travelling at peak times. Dubrovnik Old Town is another stop full of history, so again, I would recommend a guided tour. We had a half-day tour of Dubrovnik Old Town, which was so interesting, learning about all which Dubrovnik has survived and had to cope with over the years. It was almost destroyed in the earthquake of 1667 and has many visible scars from the siege of 1991. Now it is a combination of the modern influence, on the backdrop of the ancient. It is a top tourist destination, and for Game of Thrones fans, it will not disappoint. You can even do a specific Game of Thrones tour! With its winding streets and stunning squares, a half day wasn't enough time. This part of the coastline is really beautiful and such an amazing region to explore. Montenegro and Dubrovnik combine well to make a fabulous twin-centre, and at only a few hours from the UK, both destinations on their own or in combination are also perfect for a great long weekend. During my trip, we stayed at One & Only Portonovi, Montenegro and Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik. We also visited the Regent Porto Montenegro and Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik