Wine & gastro trip
Hvar island is so much more than just a luxurious beach & yacht destination. Take a week to explore this magnificent piece of preserved Mediterranean culture, sights and way of life. Learn more about its UNESCO World Heritage protected sites and cultural goods on UNESCO Heritage List, taste local food, herbs, olive oil and wine while hiking and biking in the company of experienced local guides.
Experienced tour guide and a passionate explorer of hidden treasures of Croatia
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Whatever you are looking for on your vacation, you may find it on Hvar. Just take a peek outside of the yacht-lined port of Hvar Town, best known as a destination for celebs and party people. You’ll be introduced to an entirely different Hvar, discover its hidden corners, learn about the local food and wine production and day-to-day life of a typical island family. Easy hikes will allow you to experience the island with a local who will take you through history and share stories about the habits of the local population. The interior of the island is largely unexplored by those who visit but our bike-activity program provides an authentic island experience and takes you through many vineyards and olive groves, dense pine forests and the fragrant trails of Hvar.
Your apartment in Adriatiq Resort Fontana situated on a wooded hillside by the sea is a perfect place to start exploring
Reduce anxiety and stress with the most aromatic Hvar attraction – lavender. This magical plant has a massive range of applications, it is used as ornamental plant, as culinary herb, and also for the extraction of essential oils which can have powerful effects on the human body.
Lavender can help maintain healthy skin, it has antiseptic ability, and its antioxidant components can impact the endocrine system to lower the levels of stress hormones in the body and protect heart health. It's no wonder that lavender oil is highly praised and rather expensive, especially since it takes a lot of effort to produce.
Once upon a time Hvar was the 8th biggest lavender producer in the world, but mostly due to emigration and repeated forest fires, lavender fields are now reduced to just a fraction of what they used to be. However, they are still magnificent. To see the fields in full bloom, you would have to visit Hvar in June, but you can enjoy locally produced lavender products all year round.
Another way to reduce your stress levels is wine tasting. Hvar has had a long tradition of vine-growing and wine production, ever since the Ancient Greeks sailed into the bay which is now home to modern-day Stari Grad and planted the original vines, back in 384 BC. Even before that, the Illyrians had been growing grapevines here. The island's wines were exported around the Mediterranean for ages.
There used to be some 5700 hectares of vineyards in the 19th century, before a punitive tax law from the Austro-Hungarian empire and the arrival of the deadly phylloxera that destroyed the Dalmatian wine industry and led to mass emigration. In the countries of the New World, many people from Hvar were pioneers of viticulture.
Today, the quantity of the wine produced may be less, but the quality certainly isn't. These wines have a strong character and are special just like the people who make them, so it's best to enjoy them where they are made and in the company of people who nurture this long tradition on the island.
As soon as you arrive in the small harbour town of Jelsa, a welcoming place situated in the central part of Hvar island, you will feel like entering a sunny garden filled with the invigorating smell of Mediterranean plants combined with the scent of the unpolluted sea. Your apartment in Adriatiq Resort Fontana, located in a pine wood hillside near the sea, awaits you. Overnight stay in Jelsa.
Your hiking guide will tell you all about different herbs that grow on Hvar, and you'll even get to taste some of them
Jelsa is a charming Mediterranean fishermen town with a delightful town square called Pjaca, located just below the parish church. Your guide will take you there and share stories about the past and current events.
After getting to know the town, it's time to explore the island. The driver will pick you up and take you to Vidikovac, one of the highest points of the island, to start your hike to the ethno-eco villages of Velo Grablje and Malo Grablje. These nearly abandoned villages were once prosperous, known for good wine and olive oil production. Your guide will introduce you to various local plants and offer tastings. From Malo Grablje, you will descend to Milna on the south coast. Here, your driver will pick you up and take you for lunch in a small inland village where a local restaurant owner will prepare a typical meal for you. In the afternoon, your driver will take you back to Jelsa. Overnight stay in Jelsa.
After breakfast, your bikes will be ready, and you will set out to explore the north side of the island. Through the stunning atmosphere of the dense pine forest, you will head towards Vrboska, one of the most beautiful inlets of the Adriatic. This small fishing village, located in a deep-set inlet and interconnected by numerous bridges, will be a memorable highlight of your Hvar vacation.
Continue through vineyards and vegetable gardens to the ancient Greek Hora, also known as the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain. Here, a local family continuing a century-old tradition produces olive oil. You will enjoy an excellent olive oil tasting experience and learn about different types of oil and tasting techniques.
Next, visit the old Hvar capital – Stari Grad, the oldest town in Croatia. After exploring its narrow streets and small squares, enjoy lunch featuring Hvar specialties. Then, cycle back to Jelsa through vineyards and olive groves. Overnight stay in Jelsa.
Winemaking on Hvar dates back to 384 BC, and you'll learn a lot about it from renowned local winemakers
Today, you can opt to sleep in and rest, spending the morning at the Beauty & Spa resort facilities or playing table tennis. Have a light lunch before visiting a special chocolate boutique in Jelsa. A local family, known for their fusion of chocolate with Mediterranean fruits and herbs, will share their secrets with you. Learn to taste chocolate like an expert and make your own praline with local herbs, spices, or fruits.
Return to your accommodation for an overnight stay.
Have a light early lunch because the afternoon is dedicated to the rich vine-growing history of Hvar. Your guide will pick you up to start your wine adventure on the island's south coast. Visit one of the renowned Croatian winemakers, learn about modern wine production, and taste Plavac Mali, one of the top varieties.
Next, head back to the north coast and stop at your guide’s 350-year-old family house, where you’ll discover traditional winemaking in small family cellars. Taste three more wine varieties along with homemade liqueurs and snacks. Finally, visit a winery near your accommodation to taste six wines and learn about local grape varieties. Overnight stay in Jelsa.
Owner of a small family-run chocolate boutique will share some of her secrets of fusing chocolate with Mediterranean fruits and herbs
It would be a shame to leave the island without visiting the fairy tale town of Hvar. Though it can be crowded, it is worth the visit. You can go on your own, either by car, local bus, or rental car. Treat yourself to lunch in one of the nice taverns. Don’t miss the agave lace made by Benedictine nuns in Hvar, a unique souvenir. Return to Jelsa for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, it’s time to pack and leave the island. Depending on your arrival method, you might want to depart from another port – Hvar has two ferry ports, one in Stari Grad and the other in Sućuraj.
Depart the island of Hvar.
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