Dalmatian Island Explorer

Day 1 - UK - Dubrovnik - Sipan

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Dubrovnik. On arrival, we transfer to the port and board our ship. Lord Byron, a poet who knew a few things about romantic scenes, famously described Dubrovnik as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Knowing we’ll be back to explore in a few days, we watch from the decks as the famous terracotta rooftops and medieval ramparts of Croatia’s most enchanting city retreat behind us. Cruising north beneath the pine-shrouded hillsides and small villages along the Dubrovnik Riviera, we arrive at Sipan - the largest of the Elafiti Islands. Popular with locals escaping Dubrovnik, this virtually-car-free island is a peaceful retreat covered by olive groves and vineyards. We moor for the night opposite Sipanska Luka - a horseshoe-shaped lagoon with stone houses and colourful fishing boats.

Day 2 - Korčula

Today we cruise past the Peljesac Peninsula - a slender stretch of vineyard-covered land that juts out from the mainland to almost touch the shores of our next destination, the island of Korčula. The island is said to be the birthplace of explorer Marco Polo. Whether true or not, the Venetian-style buildings, Renaissance colonnades and palm-dotted waterfront of Korčula Town make it another jewel on the Dalmatian coast. Arriving late afternoon, we moor up for the night - going ashore on a guided tour to explore the cobbled alleyways, churches and clock towers that jostle for space inside the city’s storybook medieval walls. Known as the ‘wine island’ there’s free time to sample the local goods before heading back to the ship for the night.

Day 3 - Makarska - Pučišća

Continuing to hug the Dalmatian coast, we stop at Makarska - a popular beach town sandwiched between a palm-lined promenade and the slopes of the Biokovo mountains - Croatia's second highest mountain range. Heading north, we arrive at the island of Brač by late afternoon. Despite being the third largest island on the Adriatic coast, Brač is much sleepier than its neighbour, Hvar. We discover a more traditional pace of life here, especially in Pučišća where we moor for the night. With red-roofed houses stacked into a hillside of pine forests and fruit trees, Pučišća is often listed as one of the prettiest villages in Europe. It’s also the centre for the island’s century-old craft - stone carving. The white stone quarried on the island is responsible for keeping Europe’s palaces looking so shiny for the last two millennia. Split’s Diocletian’s Palace and Budapest’s Parliament Buildings are both carved from Brač stone, and as rumour would have it, so is the White House. There’ll be time to explore the scenic streets and squares and visit the stonemasonry school for a demonstration.

Day 4 - Split

We continue our voyage to Split. Croatia’s second biggest city is dazzling - spreading out in layers from the waterfront through an old town tangle of ancient alleys and Roman ruins, communist-era Brutalist blocks that look straight out of an architectural digest, and circling mountains beyond. Starting out life in AD 295 as the Roman emperor Diocletian’s retirement home, the city grew out of the now UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace - home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world. In the Middle Ages, the city spilled out into a warren of medieval streets and gothic churches - a 1,700-year-old treasure trove of Roman, Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine influences. On our guided tour we uncover some of its architectural gems, including the Cathedral of St Domnius and Roman ruin of Ro Porta Argentea (Silver Gate).

Day 5 - Hvar

Heading south, we cross the Hvar Channel and sail through the narrow passage that separates the islands of Brač and Solta to Hvar. An island that needs little introduction, the yacht-filled azure waters and polished marble streets of Hvar Town make it one Croatia’s most glamorous destinations. It’s also Croatia’s sunniest island, which also helps to cement its appeal. Arriving mid-afternoon, we take a short walking tour of the 13th-century walled city, passing by Gothic churches and stopping to soak in the glamour of Hvar’s café lined piazzas. There’s free time to explore, perhaps climb up to the Spanish Fortress for views that sweep across the rooftops to the jewelled islets off Hvar’s coast. Or maybe walk along the seafront to the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, home to an impressive mural of the Last Supper.

Day 6 - Mljet

Today we sail to Mljet. Carpeted in thick forest and dotted with lakes and vineyards, this is one of the Adriatic's most alluring islands. With scenery that sparked Greek epics, it’s said that Mljet is the paradise island of Ogyia in Homer’s Odyssey - with the deep blue sapphire waters of Odysseus’ Cave on the south of the island continuing the legend. We moor here tonight, wrapped in the peace and tranquillity of Mljet’s pine-shrouded slopes.

Day 7 - Dubrovnik

Passing by hidden coves and wooded inlets, we cruise between the Elafati islands of Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan on our way to our final port of call - UNESCO-listed Dubrovnik. Circled by grand city walls, bastions, towers and fortifications, the old town maze of white-stone houses, sun-burnished orange roofs and baroque churches are straight out of a fairy tale. One that we get to explore on today’s guided tour. We'll pass by Sponza Palace, one of the few buildings that survived the 1667 earthquake that destroyed much of the city. Like walking through a medieval filmset, we also visit Dubrovnik Cathedral, Rector’s Palace and Onofrio’s Fountain. Moored in the new port on the outskirts of Dubrovnik, we enjoy our final night on board with a farewell dinner.

Day 8 - Dubrovnik - UK

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.