Search

Euroventure · Group tour

Lakes & Coastlines Group Tour

13-day backpacker group tour Budapest to Split via lakes and coastlines

Illustration of Lakes & Coastlines Group Tour

Euroventure's Lakes & Coastlines Group Tour is a 13-day, 12-night escorted journey for backpackers aged 18 to 30, running from Budapest to Split across Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. A dedicated tour leader travels with the group throughout, managing all transport logistics and coordinating included activities. You stay in top-rated hostels and travel by train and bus, with one to three nights in each destination. The itinerary opens with a ruin bar pub crawl through Budapest's famous Szimpla Kert and similar venues, then moves to Ljubljana and a day trip to Lake Bled with its islet church and medieval castle set against the Julian Alps. From there, the route continues to Zagreb, then to Plitvice Lakes National Park for a guided visit and whitewater kayaking on the Mrežnica River, and concludes in Split with a ferry excursion to the island of Hvar and time to explore Diocletian's Palace. Groups are capped at 20 people, and the pace is fast, with substantial free time between scheduled activities. This tour suits solo travellers and budget-conscious explorers who value group camaraderie and guided coordination.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: July 2027. Confirm availability before committing.
  • Meals and drinks are not included except breakfast at some hostels (depending on availability).
  • The tour is fast-paced with one to three nights per location; not ideal if you prefer deep dives into single places.
  • This tour targets backpackers aged 18 to 30; confirm you fit the intended demographic.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Budapest

    Budapest (2 nights)

    Meet your tour leader and group. Included ruin bar pub crawl around Budapest's famous ruin bars, starting with Szimpla Kert.

  2. Day 3overnight: Ljubljana

    Budapest to Ljubljana (3 nights)

    Bus to Ljubljana (about 6 hours). Included day trip to Lake Bled, with its islet church, medieval castle and Julian Alps backdrop.

  3. Day 6railovernight: Zagreb

    Ljubljana to Zagreb (1 night)

    Train to Zagreb (about 3 hours). A short stopover to get acquainted with the city; no official included activity here.

  4. Day 7overnight: Plitvice

    Zagreb to Plitvice (3 nights)

    Bus to Plitvice (about 2 hours). Included visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park and whitewater kayaking on the Mrežnica River.

  5. Day 10overnight: Split

    Plitvice to Split (3 nights)

    Bus to Split (about 4 hours). Included day trip by ferry to the island of Hvar. Explore Diocletian's Palace and the Riva promenade.

  6. Day 13

    Trip ends

    Tour concludes in Split. Optional post-trip night of accommodation available before flying home, or extend into the Sailing Croatia | Split Discovery add-on trip.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Ruin bar pub crawl in Budapest starting with Szimpla Kert, a historic ruin bar
  • Day 3Day trip from Ljubljana to Lake Bled to see the islet church, medieval castle, and Julian Alps

Included

  • Travel Disruption Protection - alternative travel if there is a strike or similar disruption
  • All train and bus tickets between cities on the tour
  • All possible seat reservations on high-speed trains
  • Accommodation in top-rated hostels, tested by us
  • Guided to and from hostels, included activities and train stations by a Tour Leader
  • Unmissable included activities such as national park visits, day trips and pub crawls
  • Breakfast in some hostels (depending on availability)
  • A Tour Leader to travel with you and coordinate your trip throughout

Not included

  • Meals/drinks
  • Public transport tickets in each location
  • Towel/toiletries (rentable at hostel reception)
  • Airport transfers
  • Transport to starting point or back home (e.g. flights)
  • Visas
  • Any optional activities

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. All train and bus tickets between cities are included, along with seat reservations on high-speed trains.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. A tour leader travels with you throughout and coordinates your trip, including guided arrival and departure.
Which trains are used?
The itinerary mentions a train journey from Ljubljana to Zagreb (about 3 hours). The operator does not name specific train lines in the published details.
What type of accommodation is provided?
Euroventure books top-rated hostels throughout the tour. Breakfast is included at some hostels depending on availability.
What activities are included?
Included activities are a ruin bar pub crawl in Budapest, a day trip to Lake Bled from Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes National Park and whitewater kayaking, and a ferry day trip to Hvar island.
What is not included?
Meals and drinks (except some breakfasts), public transport within each city, airport transfers, flights to and from your home, visas, and optional activities.

Similar journeys