Croatia and Medjugorje

As with all The Catholic Traveler pilgrimages, this one includes daily Mass with our own priest, an excellent local guide, beautiful hotels, amazing meals in some great restaurants, unlimited wine with our meals, and all your tips to our local guides, our drivers, and our servers.

There will also be a wine tasting, a little sailing, and some other special surprises.

Is this pilgrimage trip for you?

You need to be flexible.
This pilgrimage is not for grumpy people or those unable to be joyfully flexible. This is Europe after all, and things can come up when traveling.

If you are easy-going and excited to travel, even with some uncertainties mixed in, this could be the trip for you!

If this pilgrimage doesn’t work for you, no worries, I’ve been leading pilgrimages for nearly 20 years I’m sure I’ll offer this one again.

You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We can walk up to 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.

Itinerary

April 16th: Arrive in Zagreb (airport code ZAG). Most flights from the US will connect in Europe and arrive in Zagreb in the early afternoon. So our only activity this evening is Mass and dinner. Overnight in Zagreb. Dinner included.

April 17th: Today we will visit the small village of Marija Bistrica and the Shrine of the Black Madonna. After Mass we will return to Zagreb for a walking tour of the city. Overnight in Zagreb. Dinner on your own tonight.

April 18th: Today we head to the coast. We are stopping to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat which was the temporary location of the Holy House of Nazareth in the 13th century. After Mass we will continue to the port city of Rijeka, and finally to our boutique seaside hotel in Opatija. Dinner included.

April 19th: Today we will explore the Istrian Peninsula. With stops in the Roman city of Pula and the historic picturesque town of Rovinj. Overnight in Opatija. Dinner included.

April 20th: Today we head south along the coast to Split. But first we are stopping at the majestic Plitvice Lakes National Park, with terraced lakes, waterfalls, and caves. Overnight in Split. Dinner included.

April 21st: Today we visit Shrine of the Miraculous Madonna in Sinj. After Mass we will have a walking tour of Split. After time for lunch, we will head to the nearby island of Trogir, one of the most beautiful places in Croatia. Overnight in Split. Dinner included.

April 22nd: Today we cross the border and head to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our destination is the town of Medjugorje where we will have time to pray and explore the village that’s been attracting pilgrims for nearly forty years. After an introduction to the history of the apparitions, you’ll have time to climb Apparition Hill. This evening we will participate in the community rosary and healing service, followed by the community Mass. Overnight in Medjugorje. Dinner included.

April 23rd: We will cross back into Croatia to the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik. After a break for lunch, we will get oriented with our home for the next three nights with a walking tour. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Dinner included.

April 24th: Today we explore the Elaphiti Islands. We will sail to three different islands onboard a historical Galleon. You’ll have time for a little guided hiking (or free time) on Koločep Island. We will have a wine tasting on Šipan Island. And we will have lunch together on Lopud Island. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Lunch included. Dinner on your own.

April 25th: Today we visit the country of Montenegro. We will be spending some time along the Bay of Kotor before boarding a boat to visit the island, Our Lady of the Rock. We will have lunch together in Montenegro before returning to Croatia and Dubrovnik. You’ll have some time on your own late this afternoon before we meet up for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Lunch and dinner included.

April 26th: Your flights home from Dubrovnik (airport code DBV).

Price

$5,600 per person – ground only.

The cost is per person, in double occupancy, meaning two people to a room.

Your $1,000 deposit secures your space.

Final payment is due March 1st, 2024. Final payment is nonrefundable.

Traveling alone?
I match singles with other traveling singles (of the same sex, of course) and that always works out great. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with a stranger, you can request a single room for an additional $1,000. Single rooms at this price are extremely limited. So, first come, first served.

Included in the price

Accommodations for 10 nights
We are staying two nights in Zagreb.

We are staying two nights in Opatija.

We are staying two nights in Split.

We are staying one night in Medjugorje.

We are staying three nights in Dubrovnik.

Breakfast daily plus 10 additional meals.

Drinks, including wine, are included in all our lunches and dinners.

Wine tasting

All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.

Full time service of a tour escort
In addition to me, we will also have a Catholic tour escort with us throughout the pilgrimage.

No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for things you do on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and Mass donations directly to the churches.

Guaranteed price
Unlike most pilgrimage companies, once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!

All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you. No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included.

Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.

You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection.

Not Included

Your flights
You should fly into Zagreb no later than April 16th. Most flights from the US will depart late on the 15th, you’ll probably have a connection, and then arrive the afternoon of the 16th. Some people like to arrive a day or two early to get over jet-lag. If you need extra nights at the hotel, you can book that directly with them. Our only planned activities on the 16th are Mass and dinner that evening.

Our last group activity is dinner together on April 25th. We have the hotel rooms for the night of the 25th, so you can schedule your return from Dubrovnik on April 26th.

Most airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Some airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, it’s your responsibility to work with your airline to cancel, reschedule, or request refunds.

If you have any questions or concerns about booking your flight, email me.

Airport transfers
Taxis and Ubers are available. Our Zagreb hotel is about 30 minutes from the airport. Since many will be arriving on the same flights, you’ll be able to coordinate with others in our group if you want to share a taxi.

No Hassle Cancellations

No other tour or pilgrimage company offers this level of free cancellation coverage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all, up to 60 days before the start of the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all up to 30 days days of departure, you’ll get everything back minus the deposit.

If you need to cancel after that time, you’ll need to use trip insurance for refunds, because I will have paid in full for everything by that point. 🙂

If for any reason I need to cancel or postpone the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

In all cases, you are responsible for working with the airline to get credit or refunds for changed or cancelled flights.

Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are traveling. If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A “Cancel for Any Reason” plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.