Stunning islands and the historic cities of Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik
With stunning architecture and arguably some of the best scenery in Europe, the Dalmatian Coast is truly unique. This is a relaxed week taking in the best of this striking coastal region. We start by exploring the UNESCO cities of Split and nearby Trogir, before sampling island life on beautiful Korcula. We complete our trip with three nights in Dubrovnik, possibly the most perfectly preserved Renaissance town in the world, with a jumble of narrow streets and red-tiled roofs tucked tightly within the city walls.
Highlights
Visit the UNESCO cities of Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik
Enjoy a catamaran ride to Mljet National Park
Sample wines produced on the Peninsula Peljesac
Key information
7 nights hotels
8 days land only/ flight inclusive
Travel by private bus, boat and local ferry
What’s included
7 breakfasts and 1 picnic lunch
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Wine tasting on Peninsula Peljesac
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
DAY 1: Start Trogir.
Start Split. On arrival we take a short transfer to the UNESCO town of Trogir in time for dinner. We stay in the old walled part of this charming town.
Comfortable Hotel
DAY 2: Explore Trogir; transfer to Split, free time in Split before a ferry ride to Korcula.
We look around Trogir in the early morning before taking a short transfer to Split, another UNESCO city. There will be free time in the beautiful old city centre before we catch a ferry in the late afternoon to the island of Korcula. The mediaeval walled town of Korcula, reputedly the birthplace of Marco Polo, is often described as a mini Dubrovnik. This picturesque town is located at the tip of the island where the distinctive red roofs jostle for space between ancient towers. Like Dubrovnik the old town is a warren of small lanes and alleys: a great place to explore and a photographer’s paradise.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
DAY 3: Drive to the village of Pupnat and walk back to Korcula.
Time to stretch the legs a little and visit the interior of the island. We transfer after breakfast to the village of Pupnat and start our walk back to Korcula Town. Korcula Island is one of the most varied and wooded of the Adriatic Islands, providing welcome shade during the summer months and a pleasant walking environment. The route follows a series of paths and tracks through olive groves, vineyards and peaceful hamlets.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast lunch
DAY 4: Travel by boat to Mljet Island; gentle walk to the peak of Montokuc for panoramic views.
After breakfast we transfer by boat to Mljet Island, whose national park status has ensured limited development. The island is a lovely tranquil place to walk, cloaked in forest and dotted with tiny hamlets. Our goal today is to reach the peak of Montokuc, which offers panoramic views of the beautiful Dalmatian Coast, before returning to our hotel on Korcula.
On occasion, if the weather is bad the ferry cannot run. If this happens there are alternative excursions, or we will stay on the island of Korcula and visit Vela spilja, one of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites in Europe.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
DAY 5: Ferry to mainland; visit Ston en route to Dubrovnik.
After breakfast we transfer to the ferry port and catch the ferry to the Peninsular Peljesac (15 – 20min ferry ride). Once on the peninsular we drive along a very scenic mountain road with great views of the coast and vineyards. We will stop at one of the local wineries to sample the produce before continuing to the old town of Ston. We stop in Ston for lunch, here you can explore the town, we recommend walking up the magnificent old walls which overlook the town, the view from the top is fantastic! Ston is also very well known for its sea food, the muscles and oysters here are so fresh and probably the best on the trip. After lunch we will transfer about 60km to Dubrovnik, here we have the rest of the day to relax. In the evening we can go into the old town for dinner and a wander around.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
DAY 6: Dubrovnik city tour.
A full day in the remarkable old city of Dubrovnik which includes the Rector’s Palace, the Franciscan and the Dominican Monasteries. Dubrovnik exudes old-world charm with its location right on the Adriatic, the fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and the jumble of red-tiled roofs. The shelling of Dubrovnik by Serb troops in 1991 and 1992 outraged the world. Fortunately over the last 10 years great care has been taken to re-build the damaged parts of Dubrovnik and the city has now returned to its former glory. The cobblestoned streets of the Old town, or Stari Grad, features fountains, churches, palaces and museums – all built from the same light coloured stone. There are no motor vehicles in the city but at night the streets come alive as locals and visitors take an early evening stroll along the Stradun. This is the main street and is covered in smooth shiny marble. Following the walking tour, there will be time for a walk along the famous city walls: this is optional and costs €12 for entrance into the site.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
DAY 7: Free day to relax in Dubrovnik, or take optional trip to Mostar in neighboring Bosnia.
Today is free for further exploration of the city. Relax either on a boat trip, on the beach or perhaps enjoy an optional visit to the famous bridge at Mostar in neighboring Bosnia Herzegovina (subject to availability). The old bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was destroyed in 1993 but the bridge has been reconstructed with a combination of new stone and sections of the old bridge recovered from the River Neretva below. Opened by the Prince of Wales in 2004, the bridge symbolises both the destruction of the Balkan conflict and the hopes of the local and international communities for closer relations between the past warring factions.
Comfortable Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
DAY 8: End Dubrovnik.
After breakfast, the trip ends Dubrovnik.
Meals included: breakfast