16 GUESTS OR FEWER
Small enough to feel the difference.
Smaller groups create access to more personal hotels, local tables, flexible moments and conversations that larger tours simply miss.
Why Small Groups →
FeaturedThe Beauty of Small-Group Travel
Now Journey Limited Series
Treasures of the Adriatic
Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, paced for atmosphere.
Dhërmi → Berat → Kotor → Dubrovnik
- Maximum 10 guests
- 2027 hosted by Mark Story
- Privately guided
- Premium coastal hotels
- No large buses
11 Days / 10 NightsRelaxed pace
Albania to CroatiaThree-country route
Maximum 10Limited small group
Premium HotelsOr similar
Tour CaptainHosted throughout
The Adriatic beyond the familiar
The coast, without the big-bus blur.
This Journey moves from Albania’s Riviera to Berat’s Ottoman quarters, then follows mountain-backed water through Kotor before reaching Dubrovnik.
With a maximum of ten guests, privately guided historic walks, premium vehicles and a deliberate amount of open time, the route is designed to feel hosted rather than processed.
Your Journey Ahead
Four Adriatic Chapters. One elegant arc.
The entire route, before the day-by-day detail.
Scroll through chaptersSwipe through chapters
- 01DhërmiIonian views, Old Dhërmi, coastal viewpoints, a welcome dinner and a slower first rhythm.
- 02BeratCastle walls, Ottoman quarters, the Onufri Icon Museum and unhurried time in a lived-in historic city.
- 03KotorMedieval lanes, Venetian maritime history and mountain-backed water with a full day left open.
- 04DubrovnikLimestone streets, Old Town stories, Mount Srđ, leisure and a final Adriatic aperitif.
The Journey Story
The coast changes character as you go.
The Journey begins with open water, turns inward to history, narrows into a mountain bay and finally arrives at Dubrovnik’s limestone edge.
01 The Opening
Dhërmi · Albanian Riviera
Begin with horizon.
The first chapter is deliberately spacious: Ionian light, Old Dhërmi, a welcome dinner and time to settle into a coast that still feels discovered rather than staged.
02 The Turn Inward
Berat · Albania
Stone, windows and lived-in history.
The route leaves the sea for castle walls, Mangalem and Gorica. The mood becomes quieter and more intimate, shaped by streets that are still part of daily life.
03 The Narrowing Bay
Kotor · Montenegro
The mountains meet the water.
Medieval gates, Venetian maritime history and the Bay of Kotor bring the Journey into a more dramatic frame—then a leisure day returns the pace to you.
04 The Limestone Finale
Dubrovnik · Croatia
Finish above the Adriatic.
Old Town stories, Mount Srđ, a full day with room to choose and one final aperitif let the Journey settle rather than simply stop.
The Complete Itinerary
The Adriatic story, day by day.
The Journey unfolds in four cinematic movements—open water, inward stone, a mountain-walled bay and a limestone finale. Practical detail stays clear while every place is given room to become a scene.
Keep the verified route, hotel examples and pricing notes close.
Download Journey GuideChapter One
Days 1–2
Albanian Riviera
Old Dhërmi, Ionian views, Orthodox churches, coastal viewpoints and a first afternoon left open.
Begin at the water’s edge.
Arrival through Tirana gives way to the Albanian coast, where the Journey starts with a Discovery Walk, a welcome dinner and the permission to arrive slowly.
Day 1
Arrival and the Ionian welcome
The Journey begins as Tirana recedes and the road turns toward Albania’s Riviera. By the time Dhërmi comes into view, the horizon has opened and the Adriatic pace has already begun to take hold.
Settle in, then join a Discovery Walk that introduces the village and its coastal setting. As evening arrives, gather for a welcome dinner overlooking the Ionian Sea—the first table, the first conversation and the first glimpse of the route ahead.
Included Today
- Arrival transfer from Tirana Airport
- Dhërmi Discovery Walk
- Welcome dinner overlooking the Ionian Sea
Day 2
Old Dhërmi and an open afternoon
Morning belongs to Old Dhërmi, where sea-view overlooks and Orthodox churches reveal a village shaped by faith, stone and the water below. Pause for coffee and a local pastry, letting the day unfold at the pace of the place.
Continue to the Monastery of St. Mary before the schedule opens completely. The afternoon is deliberately unscripted—time to remain with the coast rather than hurry toward the next sight.
Included Today
- Old Dhërmi and coastal viewpoints
- Orthodox churches and Monastery of St. Mary
- Coffee and local pastry tasting
- Open afternoon
Where You Stay
Your Home in Dhërmi
Beyond - A Luxury Boutique Hotel, Dhërmi or similar, selected for Adriatic elegance and sea-view coastal atmosphere.
Stay: 2 nights. Property assignments may vary by departure.
Chapter Two
Days 3–4
Berat
Ottoman quarters, a lived-in castle, the Onufri Icon Museum and time to absorb Albania’s quieter interior.
History becomes intimate.
Berat is approached as a living place rather than a checklist: first through a Discovery Walk and regional dinner, then through the castle, bridge and two historic quarters.
Day 3
From the Riviera to Berat
Leave the brilliant edge of the Ionian and turn toward Albania’s interior. The scenery changes as you travel, and Berat’s layered hillside begins a quieter, more intimate chapter of the Journey.
A Discovery Walk places the city around you before the group gathers again for dinner. Tonight’s table is shaped by regional Albanian flavors—a welcome to Berat told through the food of the country.
Included Today
- Scenic journey to Berat
- Berat Discovery Walk
- Welcome dinner with regional Albanian flavors
Day 4
Castle, quarters and icons
Begin within Berat Castle, where the city’s long story is still held inside inhabited walls. From this elevated perspective, the historic quarters below begin to make sense as one connected place.
Continue through Mangalem and Gorica, cross the historic bridge and enter the Onufri Icon Museum. Free time remains in the day, allowing the images, stone lanes and many-windowed hillsides to linger after the guiding ends.
Included Today
- Berat Castle
- Mangalem and Gorica quarters
- Historic bridge
- Onufri Icon Museum
- Free time
Where You Stay
Your Home in Berat
Hotel Colombo Berat or similar, with boutique properties selected for atmosphere and relaxed elegance.
Stay: 2 nights. Property assignments may vary by departure.
Chapter Three
Days 5–7
Kotor & Montenegro
A fortified old town, maritime history, bay views and a full day to follow your own rhythm.
Mountains, water and medieval stone.
The Journey follows the coast into Montenegro, where a hosted lunch and Discovery Walk open a three-night chapter with both private touring and intentional leisure.
Day 5
The coastal road to Kotor
Water returns in a different mood today. The route follows the coast toward Montenegro, where the sea narrows, mountains rise more sharply and the Bay of Kotor draws the landscape inward.
A hosted lunch breaks the journey before arrival. Then a Discovery Walk opens the gates to Kotor, and dinner beside the bay lets the day finish with the water and mountains still in view.
Included Today
- Coastal journey to Kotor
- Hosted lunch stop
- Kotor Discovery Walk
- Dinner beside the Bay of Kotor
Day 6
Inside medieval Kotor
Step through Kotor’s gates with a private guide and let the scale of the city draw close. Fortress walls, medieval passages and stone facades tell the story of a place built between a harbor and an imposing mountain wall.
The perspective widens as Venetian maritime history, bay views and harbor culture connect Kotor’s lanes to the larger Adriatic world. What first appeared compact becomes layered with centuries of movement across the water.
Included Today
- Private exploration of medieval Kotor
- Fortress walls and gates
- Bay views and harbor culture
- Venetian maritime context
Day 7
Kotor, your way
After two days of arrival and discovery, the Journey releases the schedule. Kotor is yours—a full day to revisit the old town, remain beside the bay or simply do less.
If you prefer to keep exploring, an optional mountains-and-villages experience travels through Njeguši and Lovćen National Park. It is a choice, not an obligation; the leisure day remains entirely your own.
Included Today
- Leisure day in Kotor
Where You Stay
Your Home on the Bay of Kotor
Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, Hotel Forza Mare or similar, selected for dramatic bay and mountain views.
Stay: 3 nights. Property assignments may vary by departure.
Final Chapter
Days 8–11
Dubrovnik
Old Town, Mount Srđ, a full leisure day and a final aperitif above the Adriatic.
The coast becomes the finale.
Dubrovnik is given three nights so the city can be approached twice: first through its stories and views, then through a day shaped by your own interests.
Day 8
Into Croatia
Leave the mountain-held bay and cross into Croatia, where the coast begins to open again. Dubrovnik announces itself in limestone, its walls holding the final chapter of the Journey above the Adriatic.
Enter through Pile Gate for a Discovery Walk that begins to orient the old city. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner and let Dubrovnik move from distant icon to the place you will call home for three nights.
Included Today
- Journey into Croatia
- Dubrovnik Discovery Walk from Pile Gate
- Welcome dinner
Day 9
Old Town and Mount Srđ
With a local guide, follow Dubrovnik’s ancient walls and medieval passageways into the story of the Republic of Ragusa. Stone streets become the stage for a city that protected its independence through diplomacy, commerce and a formidable sense of itself.
Then the perspective changes. From Mount Srđ, the geometry of the walls, the islands and the open Adriatic come together below—the whole city visible in a single sweep.
Included Today
- Guided Dubrovnik Old Town
- Ancient walls and medieval passageways
- Republic of Ragusa stories
- Mount Srđ views
Day 10
A final day, your way
The final full day is intentionally open. Return to a favorite lane, follow your own curiosity through Dubrovnik or simply leave space for the city to reveal itself without a plan.
An optional coastal experience can lead toward hidden coves or the Elafiti Islands; it is not included and remains entirely your choice. Later, everyone comes back together for the included farewell aperitif—a final toast to three countries and one unfolding coastline.
Included Today
- Leisure time in Dubrovnik
- Farewell aperitif
Day 11
Departure or continue to Hvar and Split
Breakfast brings the core Journey to its close in Dubrovnik. The Ionian horizon, Berat’s stone, Kotor’s enclosed bay and Dubrovnik’s walls now belong to one continuous story.
Depart from Dubrovnik, or let the Adriatic continue with the optional six-day, five-night extension to Hvar Island and Split.
Included Today
- Breakfast
- Core Journey conclusion
Where You Stay
Your Home in Dubrovnik
Hotel Excelsior or similar, selected for panoramic coastal views and deep-blue Adriatic water.
Stay: 3 nights. Property assignments may vary by departure.
Optional Extension · Priced Separately
After Dubrovnik
Hvar Island & Split
Continue the Croatia story for six days and five nights—from Hvar’s island roads, winemaking traditions and unhurried leisure time to the living Roman heart of Split.
- 6 days5 hotel nights
- 3 nightsHvar Island
- 2 nightsSplit
A separate optional chapter.This extension begins when the 11-day core Journey concludes in Dubrovnik. Extension availability and pricing are confirmed with your Journey Designer.
The Extension Itinerary
Five nights. Two Croatian moods.
Island scenery and local wine lead naturally to Split’s waterfront energy, Roman layers and one last Now Journey evening together.
Extension Day 1 · Hvar Island
From Dubrovnik to Hvar
After breakfast in Dubrovnik, continue by arranged transfer to Hvar Island. Settle into your hotel, take in the harbor atmosphere and gather this evening for an included welcome dinner.
Included
- Transfer from Dubrovnik to Hvar Island
- Welcome dinner
- First of three nights on Hvar
Extension Day 2 · Hvar Island
Island roads and Hvar wine
Spend the morning sightseeing across the island. Follow scenic roads past old stone villages such as Brusje or Velo Grablje, look toward the cultivated landscape near Stari Grad and pause at Adriatic viewpoints before the experience culminates with a relaxed local wine tasting—personal, unhurried and very Now Journey.
Included
- Morning Hvar Island sightseeing tour
- Historic villages and coastal viewpoints
- Local wine tasting
Extension Day 3 · Hvar Island
A day at leisure in Hvar
Enjoy a full day at leisure on Hvar Island. Follow your own rhythm along the harbor, linger over lunch, browse the old town or simply relax and take in the Adriatic atmosphere.
Included
- Full day at leisure on Hvar Island
- Third night on Hvar
Extension Day 4 · Hvar to Split
Across the Adriatic to Split
After breakfast, board the ferry for the mainland and Split. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, check in and freshen up. Later, join your Tour Captain for a Discovery Walk before tonight’s included welcome dinner.
Included
- Ferry from Hvar to Split
- Transfer to your Split hotel
- Tour Captain Discovery Walk
- Welcome dinner
Extension Day 5 · Split
Inside Split’s living history
Enjoy a guided morning walk through this remarkable city, where Diocletian’s Palace, the Peristyle, timeworn old-town lanes and the Riva waterfront reveal centuries of life layered together. Tonight, gather for our signature included apericena.
Included
- Guided Split walking tour
- Diocletian’s Palace and the old town
- Traditional Now Journey apericena
Extension Day 6 · Departure
Breakfast, then what comes next
Depending on your flight time, enjoy breakfast before departing Split. Ask your Journey Designer about arranging a departure transfer—or add a few more nights and continue exploring amazing Croatia at your own pace.
Included
- Breakfast, flight timing permitting
- Extension conclusion in Split
Your Five Extension Nights
Island elegance. Old-town character.
Your Hvar stay
Palace Elisabeth, Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel or Hvar Heritage Hotel, or similar.
Your Split stay
Heritage Hotel Antique Split or Cornaro Hotel, or similar.
Why travel this way
Hosted, not herded.
A small format changes the Journey: easier movement, more personal hosting, boutique-scale stays and enough flexibility to let each place keep its own rhythm.
Maximum ten
The group remains deliberately intimate throughout this limited-series route.
Tour Captain hosted
Personal hosting connects the guided moments, open time, dining and movement between countries.
Private local guiding
Historical touring uses local English-speaking guides, complemented by Now Journey Discovery Walks.
No large buses
Premium vehicles and scenic transfers suit the coast, the old towns and the size of the group.
What’s included
The details are handled. The discoveries still feel yours.
The Journey combines hosted care, private guiding, premium coastal movement and selected dining without turning every hour into a scheduled event.
Tour Captain
Hosted throughout the core Journey, with the 2027 departure presented as hosted by Mark Story.
10 hotel nights
Hand-picked premium hotel examples are shown with “or similar” language.
Private guiding
Local English-speaking guides for historic settings, plus Discovery Walks in each destination.
Coastal travel
Premium vehicles, scenic transfers, arrival transfer and luggage handling.
Selected dining
Named welcome meals, a hosted lunch stop, regional flavors and the Dubrovnik farewell aperitif.
Clear essentials
City taxes and gratuities are included, excluding the Tour Captain gratuity.
Not included: international airfare, the Tour Captain gratuity and the optional six-day, five-night Hvar Island and Split extension.
Make the Journey your own
Open time is part of the Journey.
Leisure is intentionally built into Kotor and Dubrovnik. Keep that time entirely your own, or ask about the verified optional experiences already associated with this route.
Stay where the Journey lives
Boutique coastal character.
Choose the Deluxe collection or elevate the same complete Journey with preferred upper room categories. The hotel examples below represent the Deluxe collection; every property and room category remains subject to availability and confirmation.
Signature Collection
DELUXE
Thoughtfully selected coastal stays.
Premium hotels chosen for location, atmosphere and a strong sense of place, using the published property examples below or similar.
From $11,779 per guest, double occupancy
Upgraded Accommodations
DELUXE | ELEVATED
The same Journey, with more room to stay well.
Preferred upper room categories—such as more spacious rooms, suites or desirable view, balcony or terrace categories—depending on the property and availability.
$15,579 per guest, double occupancy
Both collections share the same itinerary, Tour Captain, local guiding, transportation, admissions and included dining.
About the imagery: These original editorial interpretations demonstrate the character of each collection; they are not photographs of a guaranteed room, suite, terrace or view. Final hotels and room categories are confirmed in your Journey proposal.
Dhërmi
Beyond - A Luxury Boutique Hotel
Or similar, selected for Adriatic elegance and sea-view coastal atmosphere.
Berat
Hotel Colombo Berat
Or similar, with boutique properties selected for atmosphere and relaxed elegance.
Kotor
Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort or Hotel Forza Mare
Or similar, selected for dramatic bay and mountain views.
Dubrovnik
Hotel Excelsior
Or similar, with panoramic coastal views and deep-blue Adriatic water.
Optional extension examples: Palace Elisabeth, Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel or Hvar Heritage Hotel on Hvar; Heritage Hotel Antique Split or Cornaro Hotel in Split.
Dates & Prices
Choose your Adriatic departure.
Prices are per guest in US dollars based on double occupancy. Both hotel collections include the complete itinerary; international airfare is not included.
DELUXEPremium coastal hotels selected for place, character and comfort.
DELUXE | ELEVATEDPreferred upper room categories, subject to property and availability.
2027 departure Maximum 10 guests
September
Sep 12–22
DELUXE$11,779per guestDELUXE | ELEVATED$15,579per guest
With Mark StoryRequest this departure2028 departure Maximum 10 guests
May
May 25–Jun 4
DELUXE$11,979per guestDELUXE | ELEVATED$15,579per guest
AvailableRequest this departureDeposit and solo occupancy
A $1,000 per person deposit applies. The solo supplement for a private double room for solo use is $4,979.
Plan & Prepare
Practical information for your Journey.
The useful details come after the story: pace, terrain, arrival, departure and what remains optional.
Walking & terrain
Sightseeing is described as leisurely, often about 45 to 90 minutes of walking per day. Old-town stone streets and historic areas remain part of the route.
Movement between places
The Journey uses premium vehicles and scenic transfers rather than large buses. Border crossings connect Albania, Montenegro and Croatia.
Arrival
Fly into Tirana Airport (TIA). The included arrival transfer continues toward Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera.
Departure
The core Journey concludes in Dubrovnik on Day 11 after breakfast.
Hotel collections
Deluxe and Deluxe | Elevated share the same complete itinerary. Elevated adds preferred upper room categories, subject to property and availability; exact assignments may vary.
Solo travelers
The published solo supplement for private double-room occupancy is $4,979.
Open time
Dhërmi, Berat, Kotor and Dubrovnik each retain breathing room, with optional experiences offered only where already sourced.
Optional extension
The six-day, five-night Hvar Island and Split extension is not part of the 11-day core Journey.
Airfare & gratuities
International airfare is not included. City taxes and gratuities are included except for the Tour Captain gratuity.
Is this Journey right for you?
Best for curious Adriatic travelers.
This limited series suits travelers who want emerging coastal places, premium hotels and thoughtful hosting without a rushed schedule.
Right for you if...
- You want Albania, Montenegro and Croatia in one coherent route.
- You value small groups, boutique-scale hotels and private guiding.
- You appreciate open afternoons alongside included touring.
- You may want to continue to Hvar Island and Split.
Less ideal if...
- You want a large group built primarily around the lowest price.
- You prefer to avoid scenic drives and border crossings.
- You need a very low-walking itinerary without old-town stone streets.
- You want every hour scheduled in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few things travelers ask first.
Verified details that reduce uncertainty without turning the Journey into a policy manual.
Where does the Journey begin?
Fly into Tirana Airport (TIA). The Journey begins with transfer toward Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera.
Where does the core Journey end?
The 11-day core Journey concludes in Dubrovnik. The optional extension continues to Hvar Island and Split.
How many guests travel together?
This Limited Series Journey features a maximum of ten guests.
Is the Hvar and Split extension included?
No. It is a separate optional six-day, five-night extension after Dubrovnik.
How active is the Journey?
Now Journey sightseeing is described as leisurely, often about 45 to 90 minutes of walking per day, with flexibility where possible. Historic streets and uneven stone surfaces are part of the experience.
Is this a bus tour?
No. The Journey emphasizes premium vehicles, scenic transfers, comfortable coastal travel and no large buses.
How do the hotel collections differ?
Both collections share the same itinerary, Tour Captain, local guiding, transportation, admissions and included dining. Deluxe features the published premium hotel collection; Deluxe | Elevated adds preferred upper room categories depending on the property and availability.
What is not included in the published price?
International airfare, the Tour Captain gratuity and the optional Hvar and Split extension are not included.
Can you picture yourself here?
Ready for the Adriatic few travelers really know?
Request a personalized proposal for the 2027 Mark Story departure, the 2028 date, your preferred hotel collection, solo occupancy or the six-day, five-night Hvar Island and Split extension.
No obligation. No pressure.
Why the Journey Opens Here
Dhërmi introduces the route through landscape and pace before the historic chapters become more detailed. The Discovery Walk and welcome dinner establish the shared Journey; the open afternoon leaves room for the coast to register on its own terms.
Notice the rhythmGuided moments, a tasting and a monastery visit sit beside unscheduled time rather than replacing it.
Berat in Layers
Berat is experienced through connected places: the castle above, the Mangalem and Gorica quarters, the bridge between them and the Onufri Icon Museum. Together they make the city easier to read than any single stop could.
Look forThe way white houses, stone lanes and the castle ridge remain part of a lived-in city rather than a detached monument.
Where Mountain and Maritime History Meet
Kotor’s setting explains much of the chapter’s character: a fortified town at the edge of a narrow bay, with mountain slopes rising quickly behind it. The private exploration connects gates, walls, harbor culture and Venetian maritime context.
Look forThe changing scale between intimate lanes and the much larger landscape beyond the gates.
The Republic Behind the Walls
The Dubrovnik chapter connects the Old Town’s passageways and walls with stories of the Republic of Ragusa. Mount Srđ then changes the perspective, placing the city and coast into a single view.
Look forThe relationship between defensive stone, public streets and the open Adriatic beyond them.