Croatia Uncovered

Itineraries

• Day 1 UK – Trogir
• Welcome to Croatia! Today, youll fly into Split Airport and transfer to your hotel in Trogir. Settle into your lovely room, before we get to know each other over a welcome dinner in the hotel.
• Day 2 Trogir – Krka National Park – Zadar
• After a delicious breakfast, meet up with your Local Guide for a fascinating walking tour around the historic highlights of Trogir including marvelling at the mighty 13th century Trogir Cathedral. Afterwards we’ll head off and explore the stunning waterfalls of Krka National Park, then transfer to the medieval walled city of Zadar in the evening. Relax to the soothing sounds of the Sea Organ, an experimental instrument built into marble steps and ‘played’ by the ocean, and gaze out at the sunset.
• Day 3 Zadar
• This morning we’ll join our Local Guide and embark on a walking tour of the beautiful city of Zadar, which has a history spanning three millennia. You’ll love the old frescoes of the Romanesque Zadar Cathedral, while the Church of StDonatus, with its distinctive circular shape, contains columns recycled from the old Roman Forum. After the tour, we’ll visit a rural family estate, Mianovi Dvori, where we’ll feast on the popular Croatian delicacy ‘peka’ meat and vegetables baked on a fire under a bell-shaped pan. Eating traditional food with a Croatian family is an unbeatable way to get a taste of the local culture. This evening is free to explore Zadar at your own pace.
• Day 4 Zadar – ibenik – Split
• After breakfast we’ll head towards ibenik, a scenic town in apicturesque bay where the Krka River meets the Adriatic Sea. Our Local Guide will lead us to the 16th century St Nicholas’ Fortress, and the mighty Cathedral of St James, where we’ll marvel at the gorgeous rose windows and ornately-sculpted stone heads. This evening we’ll take a bus to Split, where we’ll board our chartered cruise ship, our home for the rest of the trip. The MV Katarina is a brand new, hi-spec vessel with plenty of places to relax and features a jacuzzi and sun-loungers. The boat also provides easy access for swimming in the sea, so you are free to enjoy the clear waters of Croatia’s Adriatic Coast.
• Day 5 Korcula
• For a small country, Croatia produces a huge amount of olives, and the families of your captain and crew grow them in their home village. As we cruise to Korcula we’ll learn about the process of making olive oil, enjoy a tasting, then sit down to lunch onboard. This afternoon is yours to spend as you wish, or you can join an optional walking tour of the island. Korcula’s highlights include the Gothic-Renaissance St Mark’s Cathedral and the striking old city walls. Tonight there’s a chance to further immerse yourself in the local culture with an optional dinner at the village of Zrnovo with a local family. Meet different generations of the family who will welcome you into their home and treat you to a wholesome home-cooked meal served with some local tipple.
• Day 6 Korcula – Dubrovnik
• Today sees us sail to Dubrovnik, the jewel in the crown of the Adriatic. The red roofs, imposing city walls and historic architecture of its medieval Old Town has made Dubrovnik the star of many films and TV series including Game of Thrones, and you can explore it up close as you stroll through its narrow streets, lined with cafs, shops and restaurants. For an inspiring alternative view of this medieval gem try our optional excursion where you can take a kayak trip around the city walls. The evening’s yours to explore Dubrovnik as you wish we recommend trying octopus brudet, a rich seafood stew.
• Day 7 Dubrovnik
• Today we’ll explore Dubrovnik in more depth on a guided tour of the famous Old Town, where you’ll pass the oldest pharmacy in Europe, walk the polished main street, see the bullet mark remnants of the Balkan War, as well as marvel at iconic sites such as Rector’s Palace, a 15th century Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece, and the Franciscan Monastery. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore at your leisure. Maybe stop at one of the many ice cream shopsor take a scenic cable-car ride to the top of Srd Hill for fantastic views over the city.Back on the ship we’ll attend the Captain’s dinner, followed by drinks and dancing with the crew.
• Day 8 Dubrovnik – Mljet
• Today the ship takes us to one of the greenest and most beautiful of the Adriatic Islands, Mljet, where we can explore dense forests and lounge by glittering lakes. Enjoy a tour with a Local Guide at Mljet National Park and have time to explore on your own. Don’t miss Mljet’s cultural attractions, either these include a photogenic Benedictine monastery shrouded in dark forest, and a starkly beautiful 12th century church, one of the oldest in the Adriatic.
• Day 9 Mljet – Hvar – Solta
• You’ll want to be up on deck as the ship approaches the stunning island of Hvar.We’ll disembark in the main town for an optional walking tour, taking in the 17th century Arsenal and the stately square Trg Sv Stjepana.Next, we head to the tranquil island of Solta, stepping ashore in Stomorska. This fishing village is famed for its fleet of ancient wooden ships, originally used to transport the island’s wine and olive oil to the mainland. These traditional ships can still be spotted here, and make a pretty sight bobbing up and down in the harbour beside the modern luxury yachts.
• Days 10 & 11 Solta- Split
• Our final port of call is Croatia’s second largest city, the vibrant and vivacious Split. A guided walking tour will introduce us to the mighty Diocletian’s Palace, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman monuments. Its ancient walls are now home to an array of great restaurants, bars and shops, meaning the complex is as buzzing as it ever was. Later, we’ll visit a fresh produce market, a great place to get a feel for everyday life in the city, and then the afternoon is yours to explore. We suggest the Cathedral of StDomnius and adjacent Temple of Jupiter, for a fascinating glimpse into Split’s many-layered history.
• Days 12 – 11 Split – UK
• Today we’ll disembark and transfer to Split airport for your flight back to the UK.