Walking tour, Croatia's Dalmatian Coast Walking - Tour Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Mjet, Split, Dubrovnik

Days 1-2: Krka National Park & Island Jewel:
Enjoy Trogir’s marble streets and wide waterfront promenade. Tour Split and Salona, the oldest coastal Roman settlement. Krka National Park offers thundering waterfalls and karstic caves, cliffs and chasms.

Days 3-4: Hvar & Solta Islands:
Forty-eight islands dot Split’s seafront, and we visit wooded Solta then trace lush Lavender laden Hvar to the lively medieval port town of Hvar Town; an air of Venice without crowds. Covered in luxuriant color alongside a cobalt sea, Hvar Island is eye candy. You'll see as we cross the entire island.

Days 5-6 Home of Marco Polo & Zinfandel Wine:
Korcula offers prehistoric and Ancient Greek habitations, and now produces the most wine in Croatia. We will taste. We ride along the Peljesac Peninsula to Dubrovnik, a medieval jewel.

Days 7-8 Mjet & Dubrovnik:
Explore the island of Mljet, known as the "honey island", highlights some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful pine forest, a salt water lake and magnificent solitude. Then returning to Dubrovnik with enough time on your own before a grand farewell feast.

Inclusions:

3 & 4-star accommodation with breakfast
All full course dinners except two
Winery Visits & tasting
Private City Tour of Dubrovnik
All entrance fees mentioned in itinerary
Route note, maps and trail snacks
All tour transfers including meet/depart, van support and luggage transfer
2 multi-lingual guides

Not included: Airfare, beverages, trip insurance (strongly recommended), personal items, guide tips.

Adriatic waters

Peace was settled in 1995 and ever since Croatia has made a determined effort to regain its prominence as a premier international travel destination (we did our first tour here in 1999). The seas are still crystal clear, the islands lush and the fishing villages unspoiled as ever. As you walk within these pristine conditions and through its coastal towns and islands you also discover a land rich cultural heritage. The many palaces, temples, and amphitheaters from the Roman Empire evidence this as well as the remains of its forts, fishing villages and fortified towns from the Venetian realm. This Central Dalmatian island-hoping walking adventure begins at one World Heritage city, Trogir, and ends in another, Dubrovnik.

Day 1-2: Emperor’s Palace & National Park

Krka Nat'l Park You should arrive a day early to acclimate and explore Split, which rose to fame in the year 245 AD due to the Roman Emperor Diocletian building his retirement palace here, which is not far from the town from where he was born. A short transfer takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage town of the completely walled jewel Trogir. The city was founded by Greeks at the end of 3rd c. BC then the Roman and Byzantine Empires ruled. Within the wide waterfront promenade that encloses a maze of marble streets are featured gothic and renaissance palaces and an atmosphere that makes travel so sensory. We embark on a short warm-up walk in Salona, the hometown of the emperor himself. On day two we embark on an undulating ride above the Dalmatian Coast and into the Krka National Park, a landscape of karstic caves, cliffs, chasms and waterfalls and return via some incredible views of the Dalmatian Coast.

Lodgings: A very friendly 3-star in the heart of the historic center.

Dinner: A outdoor Seafood Restaurant with plenty atmosphere & healthy servings

Day 3 & 4: The Islands of Brac & Hvar

There are 48 islands that dot Split’s seafront and our second day of walking traces the islands of Solta and Brac. Solta is a small wooded island that is a favorite retreat for residents of Split and features many small coves and rocky beaches. We walk along one of this island’s many trails and distance will depend on your preferred pace and distance. We then ferrying over to Brac Island that is much larger and more varied in terrain than Solta. The island was first settled by the Romans in 167BC and is now known for its continual sunny weather, stone walled fields, abundant olive groves, fig trees, vineyards, pine forests, and famous white marble (used to build the White House, and Reichstag in Berlin). Other attractions on the island include the town of Bol and the 1500’ long Zlatni Beach, whose tip of smooth white pebbles changes form from horn to tongue or other forms depending on wave, wind and water conditions. The town also offers an array of cultural sights and plenty of opportunities to enjoy a moment of repast.

boat ride Krka Day four’s ferry takes us to the sun-drenched lush island of Hvar. Once called the "Austrian Madeira" before the 1st World War is today considered to be one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world. You’ll quickly see why during our walk that warrants the comparison of nothing short of eye candy. You stroll along a scented trail of brilliant lavender, luxuriant green rosemary & heather that gives way to a distant cobalt blue sea. You are sure to reach for your camera often as you amble through one of the Adriatic’s most beautiful destinations. Cultural highlights range from wineries to monasteries, scuba diving and nudist beaches. We stay in the heart of medieval Hvar Town where the 13thc walls hide the gothic palaces within its narrow back streets. A long seaside promenade winds along the sea and the car free marble streets of Hvar have an air of Venice without the crowds. The afternoon we will walk up to the fascinating Castle that overlooks the town and offers another spectacular vista.

Lodgings: On Islands Brac & Hvar

Dinner: Free night out

Day 5-6: Korcula & Peljesac Peninsula

We set our sights for Korcula, an island with caves of prehistoric origin and a rich cultural history that started with Greek settlements from the 6th cen. BC. Today the island is rich in vineyards, olive groves, small villages and hamlets with medieval walled town centers. Our walk explores this 47km long & 5 to 8km wide island then ferry over to Orebic where our seafront Villa offers some of Croatian’s finest cuisine.

This morning we walk the coastal wine trails of the Peljesac Peninsula. This region is home to some of the best beaches in Southern Dalmatia, with wide sandy coves bordered by groves of tamarisk and pine.
At least one wine tasting is sure to be arranged as we make our way down this lush peninsula to the fascinating fortressed town of Ston. Our last stop will delight oyster lovers, as nearby Mali Ston is world renown. Soon after this late afternoon treat we make our way to the World Heritage UNESCO sight of Dubrovnik. You’ll arrive early enough to enjoy a city tour then be able to freely wander around this medieval jewel at your leisure.

Lodgings: 2-nights at a beautiful 4-star villa along the sea with outstanding views of the islands dotting the waters.

Dinner: First class cuisine at our Villa Croatian port

Day 7-8: Exploring Mljet

Our last day of walking explores the island of Mljet. Nearly 2/3 of the island is forest and is dotted with vineyards and small villages. The western half of the island is a National Park and considered and unspoiled oasis of tranquility. Odysseus spent seven years on Mljet, and the Benedictine monks founded a monastery here in the 12th C. Also called the "honey island" Mljet's highlights are one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful pine forest, a salt water lake and the magnificent solitude and setting. Walking is the ideal way in which to explore the many treasures that make it a national park. Eventually returning to Dubrovnik you’ll have enough time on your own before a grand farewell feast.

Lodgings: Along the waterfront, a 3-star hotel with extremely friendly staff. Dinner: free night out

Itinerary changes: Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, which will be adjusted on a daily basis according to weather and travel conditions, at the discretion of the tour guide(s). We will try to cover all of the major islands, but the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, ferry schedules, special events or weather.

Transportation Logistics

Links to helpful sites for getting to or departing Croatia:

Arriving-in-croatia

Viamare (for meeting/departing your tour by ferry to/from Italy)

There are several low cot carriers flying into and out of Croatia from most European cities. Please call our office at 1.800.549.2363 for other suggestions.