| Starts | Split, Croatia |
|---|---|
| Ends | Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Region | Europe |
| Duration | 8 days |
| Tour Operator | Peregrine |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Split & Finishing: Split
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Split, the second largest city in Croatia, located right on the Adriatic coast. There are no activities planned for today, so you can arrive at any time. This evening you will meet your trip leader and fellow travelling companions at a welcome meeting (this is usually at 6 pm, but check the hotel reception for the exact time and place). In this meeting, your leader will give you a briefing on what lies ahead. Notes: Arriving by train is recommended, as this method of transport has minimal carbon emissions and is a great way to travel in Europe.
Day 2 - Starting: Trogir - Split & Finishing: Trogir - Split
This morning you will embark on a sightseeing tour of Split with a local guide. The city dates back 1,800 years, to the time when the Roman emperor Diocletian built a monumental imperial residence for his retirement. Today this fortified camp is an intriguing warren of narrow cobblestone streets where pre-Romanesque churches exist alongside Gothic chapels and a multitude of museums. You will also visit Diocletian's Palace, which was built in 295 AD and constitutes the heart of the city. Very much a living monument, it is framed by four gates, the most famous of which is the Golden Gate. In front of it stands a statue of the 10th-century bishop Grgur Ninski, who once opposed the pope and introduced the Croatian language into his services. In the afternoon you will visit Kastel Luksic's 16th-century castle and take a drive to the town of Trogir. Enjoy some free time to explore this quaint seaside town. Visit the cathedral where you can see the famous monument (a 13th-century portal of Dalmatian masonry) before returning to Split in the evening.
Day 3 - Starting: Hvar Island & Finishing: Hvar Island
After an early breakfast you will transfer to the port of Split for your ferry to Stari Grad on Hvar Island. Hvar is an incredibly green island, resplendent with fields of lavender, heather and rosemary (it sometimes goes by its old Greek names, 'Pharos' or 'Faros'). Enjoy some time for a stroll through Stari Grad, then transfer to the typically Dalmatian village of Jelsa. Jelsa is surrounded by pine forest and wonderful beaches. It was once a key maritime centre of the Adriatic with a large shipbuilding industry. You might take the opportunity to travel inland from Jelsa to Vrboska, through a picturesque landscape of olive groves, vineyards (it's particularly striking in late May or June as the lavender fields blossom). From Vrboska, you will transfer by vehicle to Hvar Town where you will have some free time for lunch. In the afternoon make the most of your time in the island’s main town by walking through this old-world city of Gothic buildings and marble streets.
Day 4 - Starting: Prapratno - Mljet Island & Finishing: Prapratno - Mljet Island
After breakfast, a ferry will take you back to the mainland. Then you will drive along the Peljesac peninsula to Prapratno and take an evening ferry to Mljet Island, the most southerly of the large Dalmatian Islands. A national park occupies half of this gorgeous island. Mljet is a modernised form of the ancient Greek word melita, which means honey. On arrival in Mljet you will be transferred to your feature-stay hotel that's located in an idyllic spot – on the shores of Pomena harbour. This is your base for the next two nights.
Day 5 - Starting: Mljet Island & Finishing: Mljet Island
Enjoy a day of activities in Mljet, such as cycling, walking and canoeing. In the morning you will take a short walk to the spot where you pick up your bikes for a ride around the natural salt water lake of Veliko Jezero, the bigger of the two lakes on Mljet. You will then transfer across to the islet of St Mary (Sveta Marija), located in the lake. Here you will enjoy some lunch, then take some free time to make your own discoveries. The island is home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which you may wish to explore. Returning to the mainland, cycle (approximately 15 km) to the smaller lake of the island, Majo Jezero, where you have the opportunity to canoe and swim in the lake. After a full day you will walk back to your hotel in Pomena for a relaxing evening.
Day 6 - Starting: Dubrovnik & Finishing: Dubrovnik
Take an early-morning ferry to Dubrovnik where you'll be transferred to your hotel. Once settled in, you will embark on a half-day sightseeing tour of the amazing Stari Grad (Dubrovnik's compact Old Town) with your leader. This walled treasure is often referred to as the 'pearl of the Adriatic' and is surprisingly tiny (400 m by 600 m within its protective walls). It's a lovely city to walk around, as it's been restored to its former glory since the damages of the 1991 conflicts. On your tour you will visit the Franciscan monastery, the Rector's Palace and take a walk along the City Walls. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free for you to walk around at leisure.
Day 7 - Starting: Lokrum Island - Dubrovnik & Finishing: Lokrum Island - Dubrovnik
Travel by boat to the island of Lokrum. It's located off the coast of Dubrovnik's old town. In this quasi 'botanical garden' you'll encounter a collection of exotic Mediterranean plants. Lokrum is also strewn with many golden sandy beaches that are popular with the locals. You will visit the ruins of an old Benedictine monastery and enjoy great views back across to Dubrovnik as well as Napoleon's fortress. Return by boat to Dubrovnik at around lunchtime. At this point the afternoon is yours to spend as you please. In the evening you will enjoy dinner with your group to bid them farewell.
Day 8 - Starting: Dubrovnik & Finishing: Dubrovnik
Your trip ends after breakfast this morning. If you're looking to extend your stay, additional accommodation can be arranged when you book this trip (subject to availability). If you'd like to continue travelling, it's easy to take a bus or ferry from Dubrovnik to other Croatian cities and some international destinations. There are also regular domestic flights to Zagreb where you can link up with international flights.
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