Tour Croatia+ trip

Split to Dubrovnik: 9 days private boat trip with island hopping

Gorgeous beaches and valleys, stone houses, vineyards and olive trees, ancient mansions and historical monuments, are just a few of the things which attract people from all over the world to visit the amazing Dalmatian islands. Cruise on a luxurious boat between some of the most beautiful ones. And not only that! UNESCO World Heritage site cities Split and Dubrovnik will be yours to explore!

Trip highlights

  • Take an exceptional tour of the genuinely unique city of Split with wine & food tasting in Kaštela
  • Get that perfect breeze in your hair while enjoying the breathtaking view when cruising
  • Take the most amazing view of Hvar city and island archipelago from the Fortica Castle
  • Visit the spectacular Mljet National Park, the greenest island in Croatia
  • Enjoy the crystal-clear waters, hidden beaches and deserted lagoons of the Pakleni Islands
  • Explore Dubrovnik Old Town - glamorous city proud of its culture and history 

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Discover the pure satisfaction of cruising the Dalmatian islands with a luxurious boat. Get to know Hvar celebrated for its rich history, taste some of the best Croatian wine and olive oils on the island of Korčula, find the perfect place for unwinding on Elaphite Islands and enjoy the miniature green heaven of the Mljet island. Before and after the cruise, spend few days in Split and Dubrovnik, the UNESCO protected cities.  

You are about to explore one of Europe’s spectacularly beautiful coastlines on this nine-day tour. Here are some fact you might want to check out:

Adriatic Prestige 42

Jeanneau Prestige 42 has three cabins; a master cabin, as well as two additional cabins with two single beds for your greater comfort. With two 425 HP CUMMINS engines and a cruising speed of 28 knots, you will enjoy the breathtaking view when cruising.

Deck equipment: Electric windlass, Bow thråuster, Cockpit table, Bimini, a Bathing platform with shower, Hydraulic gangway

Navigation equipment: Radar, Autopilot, Echo-sounder, Speedometer, Depth sounder, Log, 2 X GPS Plotter, VHF Radio

Extra equipment: Generator, Air conditioner, heating, SAT LCD TV, DVD player, fridge, gas cooker, oven, hot water, CD player, cockpit speakers, extra cockpit fridge, microwave oven.

Split

Split is the largest city on the Croatian coast, and yet it has preserved the relaxed lifestyle of the Mediterranean. You are expected to take it easy here since some call it “The craziest city in the world”. The city grew around the palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian which had been built almost two millennia ago.

The historic centre of Split, built entirely from white stone, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but the ancient landmarks are a normal backdrop of everyday life - they are not enclosed or set up as an archaeological site. So Split has many sides: a rich history, exquisite food and wine, endless fun.

Prokurative, known as the Republic Square, is a big square west of Riva (waterfront), it resembles the Venetian St. Marcus Square and it is surrounded on three sides by Neo-Renaissance buildings with arches the square was named after. It has a wonderful view overlooking the harbour and Riva.

Dalmatian cuisine mostly contains slowly cooked and easily digested food with a lot of fish, olive oil, vegetables and herbs. The little culinary secrets with the scent of bay leaves, rosemary or basil also include capers and olives, bura-dried Dalmatian prosciutto and sheep milk cheese.

Some of the most well-known Dalmatian restaurants, as well as numerous indigenous taverns, can be found in Split.

Try poljički soparnik – a meal made from chard and dough baked on coal under the bell. But the specialities of Dalmatian Hinterland are also interesting, such as sinjski arambašići – meat wrapped in small leaves of sour cabbage, fried frog legs and trout from the river Cetina.

Hvar Island

Hvar Island is not only known for its dense pine forests, crystalline waters, and mild climate; it is a multi-generational destination celebrated for its rich history, UNESCO heritage and culinary prowess. Likewise, its remote villages and ancient customs are a precious testament to the Mediterranean ancestry and lifestyle that continues to thrive today.

The Stari Grad Plain is the best-preserved system of ancient Greek field architecture in the Mediterranean. This UNESCO-protected World Heritage site, which is the largest and most fertile field on the Adriatic islands, covers 6 kilometres and has been virtually intact for over 24 centuries.

Hvar town is one of the most fascinating towns in Europe – home to the oldest public theatre in Europe, the birthplace of the ‘father of fingerprinting’ and with its very rich history. Its quaint back streets have many secrets of their own, and the architectural influence of its many invaders can be carefully observed at leisure.

Korčula Island

Korčula is one of the largest islands in southern Dalmatia and is surrounded by approximately some 50 islets. The town of Korčula, an ancient trading hub, is surrounded by walls that offer a view of the myriad islets and the steep slopes of the Pelješac peninsula on the other side of the strait. Two popular sandy beaches are located on the very south of the island, while somewhat more intimate areas by the sea can be reached by bicycle or on foot.

Two popular theories are circulating on the island of Korčula: that this is the birthplace of Marco Polo and that Odysseus stumbled upon Circe here on this very island some 2000 years ago.

Mljet National Park

The greenest island in Croatia, whose pine trees and flowers grow down till the edge of the sea and the lakes, truly fascinates with its nature. It is not even a surprise that Mljet was the first National Park in the Adriatic, as well as the reserve of natural rarities.

You will enjoy this island of mystique, untouched nature, vineyards, olive trees and rich history that goes back to the 4th century B.C. It is even said that exactly Mljet is the island that amazed the famous Odysseus, known as ‘’Ogygia’’ since the island’s nature matches many natural features that were mentioned in the famous epic of the Greek poet Homer!

Elaphite Islands

The group of islands commonly known as the Elaphites with Lopud, Koločep and Šipan was the favourite summer resort of the erstwhile residents of Dubrovnik, which is evident from the posh villas and old churches that dot the island. Šipan is the largest island in the archipelago with a single road connecting the only two villages there, while you won't find any cars at all on Koločep and Lopud.

Besides the three large islands, the Elaphites comprise a dozen mostly uninhabited islets. The name, which is of Greek origin, means “deer islands“ and it was first mentioned by several ancient geographers. It is uncertain whether deer lived on the islands or if they got the name due to their resemblance to deer when viewed from the top of Mount Srđ overlooking Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is known as one of the world’s finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. The neatly contained Dubrovnik centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the result of meticulous reconstruction after the earthquake of 1667. But its allure lies also in the fact that it is a lived-in city, vibrant and bustling with locals whose homes line the narrow streets and sunlit squares.

Even if you have never been to the amazing medieval city of Dubrovnik, you probably heard about the eternal and stunning beauty of the Croatian Mediterranean city you have to put on your bucket list.

Once you take a tour of the Walls of Dubrovnik, stroll through the main street Stradun and explore the alleys that lead to the walls, you will see for yourself why this sophisticated city has been used as a filming location for “Game of Thrones“ and “Star Wars: Episode VIII“.

Dubrovnik has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List ever since its inception four decades ago because the beauty of the city, with its Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque façades, leaves everyone in awe.

This historic city-state used to be a maritime powerhouse that gained clout through diplomatic prowess. Dubrovnik was the first country in Europe to abolish slavery and it also introduced sewage and fire safety systems, a retirement home, double-entry bookkeeping, maritime and insurance laws as early as the Middle Ages. Also, the city government was not allowed to make any important decisions during the period of the “jugo“, a wind that blows from the south that is usually blamed for ill moods by the inhabitants of the Adriatic Region.

Stradun is the main street in the Old Town of Dubrovnik and it connects the Gate of Pile and Gate of Ploče. Its name comes from the old Venetian word for “big street”, but not many know that locals also like to call the street Placa. Stradun is 300 metres long and there are many monuments you can see while walking along the street, such as Large and Small Onofrio Fountain, St. Saviour Church, Sponza Palace and St. Blaise’s Church (the patron saint of Dubrovnik).

Day-by-day itinerary

DAY 1

Welcome to Split, "The capital of Dalmatia"

Private transfer from Split airport to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. Time at leisure.

Croatia’s second-largest city is a synthesis of an ancient city with a rich tradition, glorious history and modern architecture merged in the splendid heritage.

If you have time get a real taste of the old city - there’s no better way to do this than on foot. Head for Pjaca square where Split’s old town hall overlooks a sophisticated plaza of shiny marble tiles and cafes with outdoor seating. Fruit Square is also essential, taking its name from the market that was held here for centuries. Here there’s lots of beautiful Renaissance architecture, remnants from Split’s Venetian era. To see how Split’s inhabitants go about their day try Marmont Street, which extends down to the water and is flanked at the upper end by shops, cafes and restaurants.

In the evening we recommend that you visit one of the famous restaurants in Split such as Zoi or Zrno soli (reservation required).

Overnight in Split.

DAY 2

Private Split tour with wine & food tasting at a family estate

Breakfast at the hotel. Indulge in the exceptional half-day experience (app. 5,30 hours) of Split and surroundings. Meet your guide in the hotel and let yourself enjoy in vivacious streets of Split, soaking up its vibrant energy. 

Take a walk through 1700 years of lively history visiting Diocletian’s palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the heart of the old town. You will also visit old Roman cellars and Peristyle, the central square of the palace, located at the intersection of two main ancient roads. Peristyle is dominated by the great Cathedral of St. Domnius, positioned on the area once belonging to Diocletian’s mausoleum.

Then sit in the eco-friendly panoramic car and go beyond the Palace itself, revealing the less known but not to be missed places like Bačvice beach, home of unique Picigin game, Gripe Fortress, Poljud Stadium, home of our football team – Hajduk, find out who is “Torcida” and what it means for citizens of Split, and get some magnificent photos from the best viewpoint in town – Vidilica at Marjan Hill.

Not only will you familiarize yourself with history and culture, but also with some of the lesser-known facts of this genuinely unique city offering you a complete insight into both Split and Dalmatia lifestyles.

After the tour of Split, your guide will take you to Kaštela where you will have the opportunity to experience wonderful tastes of authentic Dalmatian wines and food.

Kaštela are picturesque little towns of the central Dalmatia, between Split and Trogir. Under the name Kaštela, seven interconnected little towns are hidden lined up along the shore of the Kaštela Bay.

You will visit the winery proud of the family tradition of grapevine growing and eco-friendly winemaking. Your friendly host will share interesting tales on picking grapes and wine preparation while you taste three of the most famous Dalmatian wines in the combination with traditional Dalmatian snacks which include prosciutto, cheese & olives.

Return to Split. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Split.

DAY 3

Sailing from Split to Pakleni Islands, anchor on Hvar Island

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. At 11 a.m. boarding a boat in Split on the west coast and sailing towards Pakleni Islands and Hvar.

Enjoy the crystal-clear waters, hidden beaches and deserted lagoons of the Pakleni Islands, a gorgeous chain of wooded isles that stretches out immediately in front of the Hvar town.

They are often mistakenly called Hell’s Islands given that the Croatian word for hell is pakao, but there is nothing diabolic about them. Their name comes from a type of pine resin, which was once harvested on the islands and used for coating ships – paklina.

At 6 p.m. arrival on Hvar, ACI Marina Palmižana, one of the most beautiful marinas in the Adriatic.

At this popular boating destination, you can experience a relaxed and carefree time in a unique atmosphere of harmony with nature.

For dinner (on your own) we recommend Toto's, a waterfront restaurant with its arboretum. The unique location and enormous space immersed in the botanic garden, allow each guest to feel special in this vegetation paradise. This seafood restaurant is already established as the best in simple but original seafood dishes.

For the exciting nightlife you can go to the centre of Hvar on just a short taxi boat ride and enjoy the exciting nightlife and glamour only Hvar can offer.

Overnight on a boat in Palmižana.

DAY 4

Half-day sightseeing tour of Hvar and sailing to Korčula Island

Breakfast on a boat. Transfer from marina Palmižana to Hvar town for a something extra city tour.

Hvar is one of the most fascinating towns in Europe – home to the oldest public theatre in Europe, the birthplace of the ‘father of fingerprinting’ and with its very own UNESCO heritage. Its quaint back streets have many secrets of their own, and the architectural influence of its many invaders can be carefully observed at leisure.

The tour starts with a car transfer to Hvar’s Fortica Castle, which is the best place for the most amazing view of the entire city and island archipelago. After learning more about the castle and its history you’ll begin the gentle stroll down to the city centre through lush pine woods until you reach the old part of the town called Groda. At Groda you will stop at Benedictine Nuns’ museum where you will see their signature works of art: Agava pattern laces, just one of the five UNESCO heritages on Hvar – the most of any island in the world.

Afterwards, you will discover the city square (the largest in Dalmatia), the historic Arsenal with its recently discovered ancient Roman ruins below, the oldest public theatre in Europe dating back to 1612, and Hvar cathedral, before finishing the tour with a well-earned espresso at Cafe Piazza overlooking the waterfront.

Return to the marina Palmižana and sail to Korčula island. On the way stop on a small island of Šćedro for a relaxing swim or walk. Protected as a nature park, in its untouched beauty, with many hidden coves, it provides an intimate experience to every visitor and once you feel the charm of those quiet coves, sweet aromas of nature and glimmering sun on crystal clear water you would want to stay forever.

We suggest that you take lunch (on your own) at Konoba Estravaganca in Duba Bay on the Pelješac peninsula that offers exclusively fresh fish and seafood. Of course, the famous mussels from Ston are also on the menu.

At 6:00 p.m. arrival at Korčula Island.

Korčula island is almost completely merged with Pelješac through the Pelješac canal. The town of Korčula, located in the northeast of its namesake South Dalmatian island, is among the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns on the Croatian coast and in all of the Mediterranean.

It still has the appearance it had at the turn of the 16th century. The same stone towers, walls, the same fishbone structure of the streets. Korčula’s town planners took into consideration both functionality and perfect harmony with nature – the streets are lined in such a way as to let the refreshing maestral from the west pass, but to stop the cold and winter winds from the northeast.

Time at leisure.

For dinner (on your own) we recommend the Filipi restaurant.

Overnight on a boat anchored at the ACI marina Korčula, situated next to the historical centre of the town.

DAY 5

Half-day tour of Korčula and cruise to the spectacular Mljet National Park

After breakfast on a boat enjoy the tour of the island.

What makes Korcula this incredible, is the Old City that is truly beautiful and looks exactly like a mini version of Dubrovnik’s Old City. With its mesmerizing City Walls that were built for the defence of the city from Venetians, and many amazing towers that complete this fascinating image of the Old Town of Korcula.

Explore the rich history of the old town of Korčula through a guided sightseeing tour, visit some of the best Croatian wine and olive oil producers, taste Croatian fine wines and olive oils. Drive through some of the nicest landscapes, vineyards and beaches of the South Adriatic. Discover beautiful Korčula island and the local ways of life.

Korčula is one of the largest islands in southern Dalmatia and is surrounded by approximately some 50 islets. The town of Korčula, an ancient trading hub, is surrounded by walls that offer a view of the myriad islets and the steep slopes of the Pelješac peninsula on the other side of the strait.

Two popular theories are circulating on the island of Korčula: that this is the birthplace of Marco Polo and that Odysseus stumbled upon Circe here on this very island some 2000 years ago.

Cruise to Mljet National Park. Upon arrival anchoring at the harbour in Pomena surrounded by green pine forests where the air smells of wild herbs.

Time at leisure.

We recommend dinner (on your own) at the Konoba Barba Ive.

Overnight on a boat.

DAY 6

Visit Mljet National Park and cruise to Elaphite Islands

Breakfast on a boat. In the morning half-day tour of the National Park of Mljet. Mljet is a unique green oasis, one of just a few Adriatic islands that are completely covered in Mediterranean forests. The National Park is located in the northern part of this elongated and narrow island where lush Mediterranean flora is preserved, as well as the two lakes, Veliko (Large) and Malo (Small), which are connected to the sea by a narrow channel. There is an islet in Large Lake with an old monastery with the remains of an ancient Roman villa in the nearby cove.

After the tour sail towards Elaphite Islands.

The group of islands commonly known as the Elaphites – with Lopud, Koločep and Šipan being the largest ones, was the favourite summer resort of the erstwhile residents of Dubrovnik, which is evident from the posh villas and old churches that dot the island.

Besides the three large islands, the Elaphites comprise a dozen mostly uninhabited islets. The name, which is of Greek origin, means “deer islands“. It is uncertain whether deer lived on the islands or if they got the name due to their resemblance to deer when viewed from the top of Mount Srđ overlooking Dubrovnik.

Lunch (on your own) on the islands Šipan or Lopud. Time at leisure for swimming.

Continue sailing towards Dubrovnik. Disembark in Dubrovnik at 6.00 pm.

Transfer from the port to the hotel.

Check-in at the hotel.

Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 7

Dubrovnik - glamorous city proud of its culture and history

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning guided private 2 hours walking tour of Dubrovnik visiting the old city of Dubrovnik. The city tour of Dubrovnik Old Town weaves the story of its history and its present into the splendid fabric of fine architecture and magnificent city walls. 

From Pile square on the eastern side of Dubrovnik Old Town, walk through the maze of narrow streets, lively piazzas, and stunning palaces like Sponza and churches like St. Blaise.

Enjoy the moderate tempo of your walk as you stroll down the main thoroughfare of Stradun, all the way to the Cathedral and the Rector’s Palace, where you will discover a fine synergy between governance and faith which kept Dubrovnik afloat as the independent Republic of Ragusa for 450 years.

Walk to the Game of Thrones filming location Fort Lovrijenac. Fort Lovrijenac doubles as the Red Keep in King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Lots of the scenes are filmed at this Fort including the tournament thrown in honour of King Joffrey’s name day in season two.

Time at leisure.

We recommend dinner (on your own) at one of the famous restaurants in Dubrovnik such as Arsenal, Dalmatino or Kopun (reservation required).

Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 8

Dubrovnik – explore the city on your own

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure.

We recommend that you take a walk (on your own) along the 2 km long Dubrovnik's city walls and enjoy the views of the fortresses, lively squares, and the hidden narrow streets below.

In the early evening, you can get stunning panoramic views over the city and the Adriatic by taking the cable car up to Srđ Mountain, a fantastic selfie spot.

Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 9

Dubrovnik – departure

Breakfast at the hotel.

Check-out from the hotel and time at leisure until private transfer to Dubrovnik airport.

If you have spare time, buy some unique souvenirs or gifts- arancini (candied orange peel), sugared almonds or Konavle-style embroidered tablecloth. 

Ask about availability & get an offer

What happens when you request an offer?

1

We will double-check availability and make reservations for your rooms, restaurants, guides etc.

2

With reservations confirmed, we will prepare the best offer possible in regard to your arrival date & party size

3

You will get the offer via e-mail, along with the payment options. Feel free to request further customisations!

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