Day 1 – Sep 21 – Split
Welcome to Split! The story of Split is already 17 centuries old, dating to the time the Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to build his Palace right on the peninsula near the great Roman city Salona, where he wanted to spend the last years of his life. During these 1700 years the Palace slowly turned into a city, which to this day lures with its rich tradition, glorious history and beauty of its natural and cultural heritage. If today is your arrival day – upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by our representative – private Eng.-speaking driver and they will get you settled, and you’ll be on your way to Split port. Meet the rest of the group while enjoying a welcome drink! At 2 pm we’ll be boarding the luxury mini cruise that will be our home for the next 8 days. After settling in, welcome meet & greet cocktail reception on board and your cruise manager will introduce you to the entire crew. Meet with our private licensed local guide and enjoy the Split historical tour followed by Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers and hosts in one of the best restaurants in town! Overnight on board in Split.
Day 2 – Sep 22 – Split – Brač Island (Pučiśća – Škrip – Bol)
Breakfast on board! This morning we sail towards the island of Brač! On our way to Brač we’ll enjoy a swim stop and lunch on board. Brač may be one of many when it comes to islands off the Croatian coast, but this Dalmatian island is unmatched when it comes to natural beauty and must-visit attractions. Beaches of fine white pebbles ribbon its coastline, and cycling paths and hiking trails crisscross the island, passing through age-old villages, lush olive groves, and neat rows of vineyards. Dotting the coast are charming fishing villages offering a taste of the local way of life that carries on once the last tourists have gone.
It is the largest island in Dalmatia famous for its beautiful beaches and limestone. Once we reach the port of Pučišća, we’ll visit the Stonemasonry school, followed by a short drive to the oldest village on island. The island is also famous for its olive oil that you’ll have a chance to taste together with some other local specialties.
We’ll finish the tour in picturesque town of Bol, enjoying wine tasting in most famous winery on the island located at the seafront. Full of uniqueness and beauty, the island of Brač is above all an island of contrasts – at the same time scarce and rich, separate and connected, humble and defiant. And whoever met him at some point will always testify to the same thing: his country is stingy, but the spirit of the people is extremely rich! Overnight in Bol – Brač Island.
Day 3 – Sep 23 – Brač Island – Stari Grad (Hvar Island)
Dobro jutro! Breakfast on board before sailing towards Stari Grad, we’ll enjoy a swim stop along the way. Stari Grad (Pharos) is the oldest town in Croatia. The same year – 384 b.c. when the Greek philosopher Aristotle was born in Trakia, the Greeks from the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea settled the town on the island of Hvar and named it Pharos.
Morning is for relaxing like locals, swimming, sunbathing, coffee or cocktail, port talks on cruise, while afternoon is reserved for visit to Vrbovska and Jelsa making stop at two wine makers – two small coastal towns which has a very proud and long wine-making tradition. You will have a chance to taste what it’s like to try ”2718 hours in the bottle”. Young and ambitious ”wine newcomers” without vineyards or with very small land plots. Their feeling belief is that basing wine production on grapes purchased from other farmers can’t possibly be as good as coming from your own vineyard. Evening is wrapped up for Captain’s dinner – combination of good food, interesting company, fascinating stories and good music. Overnight Stari Grad.
Day 4 – Sep 24 – Stari Grad – Hvar Town
Breakfast on board while we set sail to town of Hvar on island Hvar. After lunch, disembarking and meeting with our local guide for a private walking tour! Hvar is one of the most sought-after destinations, attracting the rich and famous, something that’s obvious when you see its harbor in the summer, filled with mega yachts. Everyone comes for its beautiful beaches as well as its world-class dining and nightlife scene, but this sunny island has, even more, to offer for travelers of all types. After the Hvar town walking tour, we’ll explore the inland of island of Hvar. We’ll drive through the green and rural island of Hvar, passing through Brusje. The old road is paved with amazing views. We will stop at Napoleon Road and have the perfect views of the island’s deepest bays. Then we approach the fascinating village of Velo Grablje founded in the 14th century. Stone houses and courtyards still capture your attention with their fascinating architecture, while walking within its narrow streets you will feel the breath of past times. Today the village is nearly abandoned having but a few permanent villagers, although it was a rich and prosperous place, famous for its good wine and olive oil production. Honey production was well known as well, together with lavender oil being the leading one in Europe of the time. As we had back and leaving Velo Grablje along the dry brook line, we will get to the charming, abandoned village of Malo Grablje. Our authentic Dalmatian dinner (wine incl) will be in one of the villages. Late evening for leisure. Overnight in Hvar Island.
Day 5 – Sep 25 – Hvar Island – Korčula Island
Breakfast on board and sailing towards the island of Korčula – it is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic Sea, with abundant vineyards and olive groves. The dense woods led the original Greek settlers to call the island Korkyra Melaina (Black Korčula). Quiet coves and small sandy beaches dot the steep southern coast while the northern shore is flatter and more pebbly.
The main city of the island Korčula has the same name. Ringed by imposing defenses, this coastal citadel is dripping in history, with marble streets rich in Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Our private local guide will take you on a unique tour of the old town of Korčula. You will hear many interesting stories and legends about the city and the life of Marco Polo, the most famous son of Korčula. It is still the most famous as the birthplace of Marco Polo who was probably born here in 1254, and reminders of him can be seen all around the town, including the extremely interesting Marco Polo Museum which is something you definitively don`t want to miss when visiting this beautiful Dalmatian town. We continue to explore inland of Korčula island – If you love olive oil, then there is no better place to be than the island of Korčula. Just before the lunch we’ll do a 5 S’s (SEE, SWIRL, SNIFF, SIP, SAVOR) at local winery in Smokvica. You’ll get a chance to taste famous POŠIP – a grape variety unique to Korčula.
We’ll have lunch in amazing Local Taverna where authentic cuisine full of flavour has been served to guests for over two decades. Homemade food, including bread, the highly recommended pasta served with various sauces, goats’ cheese, olive oil, home-grown vegetables, and the traditional and more personalised desserts. Just recently they have received a green Michelin star that serves as a recognition of the inspiring commitment in favor of sustainability and more responsible gastronomy. If you want to know the secret, maybe while in the village you’ll have a chance to meet 84-year-old Mata, who likes to stop by his tavern on a tractor coming directly from the field. He must have picked grass for his goats; from whose milk his wife makes goat cheese for the restaurant’s needs. The kitchen is run by his daughter and daughter-in-law, who make sure that everything is ecological and natural. They make sure that they have as little waste as possible. The remains are composted, which ends up in the field, or recycled. They feed their animals, goats and chickens. Free evening in Korčula town. If you are looking for a great & unique shopping store – Korčula is the right places, plenty of small boutique local shops and jewelry stores. Overnight in Korčula.
Day 6 – Sep 26 – Korčula Island – Pelješac peninsula (Ston – Slano)
Early in the morning, while breakfast is served, we set sail for Pelješac peninsula Trstenik. Upon arrival in Trstenik, we will embark on our gastronomic adventure. Our first stop is one of the most famous wineries – Grgich Winery – Famed for his Grgich Hills in Napa, he resorted back to his Pelješac roots in the late 1990’s, opening his Croatian cellar. Here, taste the wines created by the man who sensed a familial relationship between Plavac Mali and Zinfandel, which led to discovery of their common origin from Crljenak Kaštelanski grapes! After a few glasses of wine and head to meet oysterman, taking a short boat ride to the oyster farm in the middle of the bay enjoying a traditional lunch with a glass of wine in hand – we’ll be tasting this natural aphrodisiac straight from the sea. Talk about a gourmet’s dream! Before we head back to our boat, we’ll visit Ston city – the town with the longest stone wall in Europe (5, 5 km) and the other in the world after the Chinese Wall! The walls were reinforced with 40 towers and 5 fortresses. Originally, they were 7 km long but were partially destroyed in the 1667 earthquake. After the Dubrovnik Republic acquired the Pelješac peninsula in 1334, it required the protection of the town of Ston and started building the defense walls. This large complex was built in Dubrovnik from 1334 to 1506. At that time, it was the largest fortification-urbanist project in Europe. We return to our ship in the late afternoon and spend the night in Slano, dinner on board. Overnight in Slano.
Day 7 – Sep 27 – Pelješac peninsula – Dubrovnik
Breakfast on board and sailing towards Dubrovnik. We’ll enjoy our last swim stop if possible, at the island of Koločep – called by locals ‘Kalamota’ belongs to Elafiti Archipelago, the group of Dubrovnik’s islands. The Elaphiti Islands or the Elaphites is a small archipelago consisting of several islands stretching northwest of Dubrovnik, in the Adriatic Sea. The Elaphites have a total land area of around 30 square kilometers and a population of 850 inhabitants. Lunch will be served on board. The last stop on our trip is Dubrovnik, a city that will welcome you with open arms, as it does for visitors from all parts of the world. Surrounded by its fabled medieval walls, Dubrovnik is widely known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. It is a medieval city on the Croatian side of the Adriatic coastline and treasure trove of cultural, historical monuments that were created throughout its thousand-year existence. In the past, it was a City-Republic, and alongside Venice one of the most famous cultural-economic centers on the Mediterranean. In more recent times, it has become the center of modern cultural and tourist events: a city of summer festivals – an international parade of top musical and theatrical achievements, a city of museums and galleries. These values have turned Dubrovnik into a place that offers a rich selection of various experiences and excitement, but also a complete holiday in a quiet and calming, mild Mediterranean ambience and wonderful seaside landscapes. Upon arrival we will go on a private sightseeing tour of the UNESCO-protected Old town, acquainting you with its most important monuments and hidden spots. After the walking tour you’ll get to enjoy time at leisure to explore this beautiful city further on your own. We’ll wrap up the journey with Farewell Dinner in one of the best restaurants in Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 8 – Sep 28 – Dubrovnik
Breakfast & Hugs & Goodbye! After breakfast, sadly it’s time to say goodbye – it will be time to check out enjoy your complimentary transfer to the airport/hotel. We hope to see you soon again! You must vacate your cabin by 9 a.m. but note that if your departure transfer is later than you can ‘store’ your luggage onboard until it’s time for your transfer.
SRETAN PUT I HVALA! (Bon Voyage and Thank you!)