Explore Croatia

Trip Type: Explorer
Croatia | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 2,940.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Discover the true heart and soul of Croatia with an eight-day seaside exploration of some of the Dalmatian Coast’s finest locations. Walk the walls...

Explore Croatia

Discover the true heart and soul of Croatia with an eight-day seaside exploration of some of the Dalmatian Coast’s finest locations. Walk the walls of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, island hop between Korcula, Mljet and Hvar and wander the harbourside of Split. Sampling regional specialties and local wine along the way, your Croatian discovery is full of nature and relaxation. See the white stone villages that dot the coast, sample local produce and learn about local history – all on the turquoise waters of the Adriatic. Get ready to explore Croatia’s sparkling highlights and live like the locals.

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Dubrovnik – the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, this gorgeous city is full of character and can easily be covered on foot. If you arrive early, why not head out to one of the Elafiti Islands, like Lopud – a quiet island popular for hiking, clean beaches and a ruined castle – or Kolocep – great for scenic walks for every fitness level. Alternatively, you can chill out on one of Dubrovnik's beaches and people-watch.

Beat the crowds with an early morning walk along Dubrovnik's city walls that surround the Old Town. Soak up the views of the sea from the fully intact medieval structure, then enjoy all that Dubrovnik has to offer with the remainder of the day free for you to explore. Visit Big Onofrio's Fountain – a masterpiece built by famous European architect Onofrio della Cava. Check out the Franciscan monastery with one of the world's oldest, continuously functioning pharmacies, founded in the 13th century. If you still feel energetic after a day exploring, you can take the switchbacks leading up Srd Hill behind Dubrovnik for spectacular views of the city and the Dalmatian coastline. Otherwise, the newly restored cable car can whisk you to the top in no time. The hill is topped by a castle of Napoleonic times, which now houses the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence.

Journey to Korcula today, along the narrow and scenic Peljesac Peninsula to its tip. The last stretch to Korcula will be done by car ferry. For the next two nights, you’ll stay with local hosts who rent out their rooms in the summer. The rooms, while simple, are the best way to put money back into the local economy. When you arrive, head out for a sunset hike to Lumbarda Village. Wind through olive groves, vineyards and town promenade overlooking the archipelago, and soak up the view over Peljesac Channel. When you arrive at a family-owned restaurant, sit down for an included dinner of local ingredients, including traditional Dalmatian meat loaf or pasticada (traditional stewed beef) and some fresh grilled vegetables with olive oil, usually served with fresh goat and sheep cheeses (and maybe some smoked ham to tie it all together). Return to Korcula via private vehicle and relax.

Take a daytrip to Mljet Island – Croatia’s greenest island with a huge coastal national park. The island is well known for its two salt lakes – Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero (big lake and small lake) – located at the north end of the island. Start with a short hike to the island's interior, followed by a ferry ride to St Mary's Benedictine Monastery, on an island in one of the lakes. Spend the day discovering its tiny towns, weaving and winding coastline, scenic lookouts and sandy beaches. Mljet is a little further away and less visited than the tourist hotspots of Brac and Hvar, so you’ll be able to stray away from the crowds and have this peaceful paradise to yourself. Head back to Korcula in the afternoon for a relaxing evening full of delicious food and some great local wine.

A morning hydrofoil ferry takes you to the neighbouring island of Hvar – known as the 'Queen of the Dalmatian Islands'. When you arrive, get to know the town with its wonderfully preserved Renaissance facades on an orientation walk. Later, you can enjoy your included hop on hop off taxi boat pass that departs every half hour to the nearby Pakleni islands – largely uninhabited and often described as the most beautiful in the world. All three islands have gorgeous beaches and walking trails to explore, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants – aperitif at sunset, anyone?

Today is a free day to explore Hvar Island at your leisure. Maybe head out on a hike through the abandoned villages of Velo Grablje and Malo Grablje, gently descending all the way down to the sea at Milna Bay. On the way, you can see what remains of the typical Mediterranean life that flourished on the Croatian islands in the 18th and 19th centuries. Hike past jagged limestone cliffs and slow your pace to enjoy the undulating farms, fields of lavender and rosemary, and ancient olive groves. Alternatively, you can spend the day lounging at one of the island's many quiet beaches and go on a sunset stroll along the harbour promenade.

Catch a boat to Split this morning. Situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, Split is the second largest city in Croatia. Join a local guide for a walking tour of the seaside town and get to know its history. See the original and well-preserved basements under the city, the Cathedral in Diocletian's Peristyle and Jupiter's Temple. Explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace – Split's most imposing structure and some of the most interesting ruins on the Adriatic coast. Portions of the Palace are over 1700 years old! After, maybe grab a drink at a cafe on the Riva Promenade and people watch for a while. Tonight, get your group together for a harbourside dinner and toast to a gorgeous trip.

There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the accommodation at any time. As there is so much to see in Split and the surrounding area, such as Salona, Trogir or Sibenik, you may want to consider extending your time in Split. Just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.

Meals
3 Breakfast(s), , 1 Dinner(s)

Transport
Ferry , Public bus , Private vehicle

Accommodation
Hostel (2 nights), Hotel (1 night), Private Apartment (4 nights)

Included Activities
  • Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites)
  • Dubrovnik - City Walls Walk
  • Korcula Island hike
  • Authentic dinner at Zrnovo village family owned restaurant
  • Mljet Island - Day Trip to Mljet Island National Park
  • Mljet Island - St Mary Island Benedictine Monastery
  • Hop on hop off boat taxi ticket
  • Split - City Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Split - Diocletian's Palace
  • Discover the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast in Dubrovnik and maybe cruise to Lokrum Island where a botanical garden, Benedictine monastery and excellent swimming spots await.
  • Indulge in specialty foods, local wine and local swimming spots on the island of Korcula – a quiet escape full of vineyards, olive groves and sleepy villages.
  • Spend a full day exploring the green island of Mljet – with its small seaside villages, lush national park trails, shimmering waters and largely untouched environment, you’ll never want to leave!
  • Wander through the renaissance architecture, beautiful beaches and natural landscapes of Hvar Island and sample some excellent Dalmatian cuisine.
  • Unwind in Split with a walk along the waterfront promenade and take time to explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace.
  • Please be aware that the Croatian coast is very hilly and mountainous, which means lots of steps are an inherent feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find Croatia's topography very demanding. Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Additionally, please be aware that July, August and the first half of September is high season along the Croatian coast, which means that the local infrastructure is under a lot of pressure with a lot of people in the towns we visit. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. On the islands of Korcula and Hvar, we are staying in private apartments that locals rent out during the summer months. These are in various buildings spread across town, but all are within a 15-minute walk of the main square. The apartments are not hotels, which means there's no reception, room service or daily cleaning service, no televisions or washing machines, but plenty of charm. They differ in layout and facilities, can vary in size, and most don't have air-conditioning or wi-fi. The individual rooms are allocated on a same-gender, twin-share basis. However, the apartments are allocated on a mixed-gender basis, so you’ll be sharing a two or three-room apartment with the other group members. We try to use apartments with rooms that include private facilities. On rare occasions, apartments may only have one bathroom to be shared between the group members staying in the same apartment. In this case, if you've booked a single supplement, you'll be allocated a single room, but you'll share the bathroom with the group. On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight to 15 kg (33 lb).

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Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
ZMSF
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Trip Finishes:
Split, Croatia
Countries Visited:
Croatia
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Booking Enquiry

Destination Details
Croatia | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People

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