Sailing the Coast of Croatia

We’ll board our catamarans in the early afternoon in Trogir, only a 10 min drive from the Split airport. (See the trip FAQ for more information about getting to/from Split).

We’ll get acclimated, unpack and go through a short boat briefing. Then we’ll set sail for Milna  on the island of Brač. Brac is the largest island in central Dalmatia, set among steep cliffs and a distinctly Mediterranean landscape. Villagers have farmed wine, olive oil, figs and almonds here for centuries. Brac’s most famous export is the gleaming white stone mined from the island’s quarries, cladding buildings as deep in antiquity as Diocletian’s Palace in Split, and as far afield as the White House in Washington DC.

We’ll have dinner ashore in Milna.

Today, we’ll set sail for the 5,000-year-old town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, perhaps with a stop in a cove for lunch and swimming on the way. Soak up the sunshine and the scenery, or go for a snorkel and spot sea anemones, crabs, sea urchins and small fish in the pristine waters. 

Hvar has an air of Venice about it and is known as the ‘Queen of the Dalmatian Islands’. Once in Stari Grad, we can wander around town with wonderfully preserved Renaissance facades, hike past dramatic jagged limestone cliffs and slow your pace to enjoy the undulating farms, ancient olive groves and fields of rosemary and lavender. Based on what the group desires, we can visit the Fortress of Petar Hektorovic and/or visit the Stari Grad museum, or take a hike to White Cross/Glavica Hill

We’ll dine tonight at Hora Restaurant as we watch the sun set over the Adriatic Sea.

We continue our journey to Paklenski Otoci, an archipelago of 16 islands off the southwest coast of Hvar, designated a protected nature park. Breathe in the nature around you on one of the sandy beaches or explore the island by its extensive footpaths. The city of Hvar: The inevitable jewel of the Croatian Riviera and Dalmatian islands, with most sunny hours of all the islands in the Adriatic. It encompasses all the best of the Croatian coast: gentle climate, autochthon architecture and unforgettable scenery. Many people recognize that, so the island is often swarmed with guests. If this alone is not enough, there are various tourist offers ready to fill your stay: traditional restaurants, sightseeing, and

We’ll enjoy dinner in the ancient part of Hvar at Konoba Menego, a family-owned tavern specializing in traditional Croatian cuisine from the Dalmatian region.

Today we’ll cruise to Vis, which is the furthest island from the mainland. In 1944, the island was declared a military zone and foreigners were unable to access it until 1989. Because of this long isolation, Vis has retained its charm and laid-back lifestyle. 

The south side of the island is home to some eye-catching coves and beaches.

Your skipper will organize an optional island tour so that you can learn about the history of this island which passed between Greek, Roman, Venetian, Napoleonic, Austrian and Italian hands. On this tour you’ll visit nuclear fallout shelters, churches and vantage points with great views across the ocean. We’ll surely want to visit the St. Nicholas Church with its sweeping views of the harbor.

Dinner tonight will be on the boat with everyone chipping in a bit to cook. It's fun to buy fresh fish at the market and cook aboard!

Komiža is a perfect example of a small, charming Mediterranean town. It’s guarded by Mt. Hum, overlooking beautiful pebble beaches and an open port. The island’s springs weave their way to the sea through Komiža, such as Gusarica, Nova Pošta, Velo Žalo. You will enjoy a mostly stone-build architecture bathed in the warm sun. Thanks to the location, Komiža is also known for its wide selection of fish: here you can taste excellent quality fish and large crabs, which will certainly enrich your gastronomic experience.

Budikovac is small island opposite the Island of Vis with a beautiful lagoon and a small bay making for an outstanding anchorage or swimming spot.

We’ll head to the east side of the Island of Biševo just to the west of Vis where we’ll find another jewel of the Croatian coastline: the Modra špilja (Blue Cave). It’s marvelous to see the cave change colors and turn into a deep blue sapphire color. Then we’ll head up to Maslinica on the island of Solta, famous for its olive growing (maslina). It is a calm cove on the western end of the Island intercepted with bays and pebble beaches. The town still keeps its renowned fishing tradition, which we’ll encounter in one of the many local, traditional restaurants.

If there’s time, we can visit a delightful honey farm.

Dinner tonight is at Restaurant Sampjer, overlooking the harbor.

A perfect place to stop by on our way back to the mainland is a lovely beach on the southeast part of the Island of Drvenik Veli. It’s a beautiful, protected bay guarded by the Isles of big and small Krknjaš. It’s great for swimming and enjoying the last moments on the wonderful Croatian coast.

We’ll spend our last night back in the port of Trogir.

If you’re not joining us for the Dubrovnik extension, we’ll say our goodbyes after breakfast. It’s always a little sad when such a magnificent adventure has concluded, but we’ll have memories for a lifetime.

We’ll disembark our catamaran in Trogir in the morning and drive south to Dubrovnik, arriving in the early afternoon. It’s about a 3-hour drive, but we’re along the coast so time will fly!

Upon arrival we’ll check into the St. Joseph's boutique hotel located right in the center of Old Town. St.Joseph’s is a very special house at the heart of the Old Town in Dubrovnik. Built in the 16th century, it had fallen into disrepair in modern times but has now been lovingly restored to become one of the most elegant properties within the city walls. 

After a quick lunch, we’ll take a guided tour of old town where we’ll visit the Rector’s House built in the late 15th Century used by the Rector who governed Dubrovnik. It is now a cultural history museum built in the Gothic-Renaissance style. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to roam around the old town to shop and explore.

Tonight, we’ll ride the Cable Car and watch the sunset. After, we’ll dine at a superb seafood restaurant, Proto, where we will savor some truly fine Croatian gastronomy.

Let’s wake up early to walk the Old Town Wall at sunrise & visit the Lovrijenac Fortress before the city gets too crowded and the sun too high in the sky. The views of the Adriatic Sea and city of Dubrovnik will be spectacular!

Breakfast at our hotel. 

Around 10 am, we’ll pick up our picnic lunch and board a little ferry to Lokrum, a small island and nature reserve just off the coast. We will have seen it from our walk this morning on the Old Town Walls. Lokrum is entirely uninhabited. It was bought by Austrian archduke Maxilimilan I in 1858, and much of the botanical plant life is owed to the grand gardens created during his ownership. It’s also famous as one of the filming locations of the epic Game of Thrones TV series.

We’ll explore the island, including the botanical gardens, the 11th century monastery, Fort Royal, and all the other natural beauty. We’ll stop at a picturesque spot and have our lunch.

Back in Dubrovnik, the afternoon is yours to explore on your own or do some shopping.

Dinner tonight is at Pantarul, a farm-to-table restaurant featuring local produce sourced by farmers from Dubrovnik’s surroundings, especially from Župa and Konavle.

This morning we’ll explore the Dominican Monastery dating from 1225 which is now home to an art museum.

Then we’ll take a trip out to the vineyards of the Peljesac Peninsula for some wine tours and tastings. We will visit two unique wineries and an oyster farm. We’ll lunch along the way. 

Then we’ll discover Potomje village and the unique Dingac vineyards situated on 45-degree inclined slopes.

As we return to Dubrovnik and if time allows, we’ll stop and visit the Trsteno Arboretum. 

Tonight, for our last dinner, we’ll try some Bosnian fare at Taj Mahal (no, it’s not an Indian restaurant). Taj Mahal was created out of the love of two people who share a devotion to food, tradition, and family.

Today we say our final goodbyes and begin the journey home full of wonderful memories and new friends. If you’ve joined us on the extension, it’s best if you fly home from Dubrovnik.