Explore Croatia – 8 days land only

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- 2 nights Guesthouse accommodation
- 2 nights Hostel accommodation
- 1 night hotel accommodation
- 2 nights private apartment accommodation
- Selected breakfasts & dinner
- Activities included: Dubrovnik City Walls, wine tasting & dinner in Pupnat Village - Korcula Island, Hvar Orientation Walk, Spanjola Fortress - Hvar Town, Diocletian's Palace - Split & Split Cathedral & Tower
- Touring & transport by bus, ferry & private vehicle

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Dubrovnik  

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Dubrovnik is a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by city walls. Although it experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the restored old town remains as charming as ever. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque, full of character & can easily be covered on foot. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm today – check with reception to confirm the time & place – & you can arrive at anytime before then. If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel by early evening, you may wish to arrive a day early. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details & next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand. If you arrive early, why not head out to one of the Elafiti Islands. There's Lopud, a quiet island with lovely hikes, clean beaches & a ruined castle. Kolocep is a sleepy enclave that boasts walks for every fitness level, & Sipan is the most populated of the isles & reputedly has the most hospitable inhabitants. After the meeting, perhaps enjoy a meal with the group so you can get to know your fellow travellers.

Dubrovnik

Today is a free day for you to enjoy all that Dubrovnik has to offer. Maybe take a walk along the city walls of ‘Game of Thrones’ fame, enjoying views of the sparkling Adriatic Sea in this undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. Visit Big Onofrio's Fountain, built by architect Onofrio della Cava in the 15th century to supply water to the city. Perhaps check out the Franciscan monastery, home to one of the world's oldest continuously-functioning pharmacies, or the Sponza & Rector's Palaces, the only Renaissance buildings in the city to survive a devastating earthquake & fire in 1667. You can get a snapshot of Croatian history at one of many museums, take a quiet moment inside an old cathedral, or cruise out to nearby Lokrum Island. If you still feel energetic after a day exploring the city, you can take the switchbacks leading up Srd Hill behind Dubrovnik for spectacular views of the city & the Dalmatian coastline. Alternatively, the newly restored cable car can whisk you to the top in less than 10 minutes. The hill is topped by a castle from Napoleonic times, which now houses the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence.

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Korcula Island

Journey by bus & boat to Korcula (approximately 4 hours). The time you depart & your travel time may vary depending on the transport schedule. Take in the serene forest landscape, dotted with tranquil inlets & character-filled vineyards, on an island where natives believe Marco Polo was born. Whether or not this can be proved (the Venetians have a similar claim), Korcula is steeped in a long history & the islanders are proud owners of this little gem, smaller than Dubrovnik but no less precious to its inhabitants. Greeks settled in the 6th century BC (they called the island Black Korcula), but the town was also occupied by the Romans, the Slavs, & then the longest period of rule passed to the Venetians between 1420 & 1797. Even Napoleon was ruler for a while. As a result of all these influences, Korcula has a stunning Old Town – romantic & evocative & what's more, there are plenty of warm beaches to relax on if that's more your speed. For the next two nights, stay with generous hosts – locals who rent out their rooms in the summer season. The rooms, while simple, are the best way to put money back into the local economy.

Korcula Island

Today you might like to take a swim, walk around the bays & villages near Korcula town, pay a visit to the Marco Polo Tower, go shopping, or just soak up the ambience. If you're feeling energetic, take a snorkelling, kayaking or mountain-biking day trip. Your leader can help arrange these activities from your base in Korcula. Later in the afternoon, make the short journey by local bus (approximately 30 minutes) to the tiny village of Pupnat (population: 300) in the interior of the island. Here you’ll visit a local farm/restaurant & eat outside on the patio. Sample some of the family vineyard's wines & be treated to a meal made entirely from ingredients found on the farm. Perhaps you can drink your wine like the locals do: mixed with a bit of water. The traditional Dalmatian meat loaf, or pasticada, & fresh grilled vegetables with olive oil constitute a typical dish, all served with fresh goat & sheep cheeses, & maybe some smoked ham to tie it all together. Don't forget to have a bit of travarica (a grappa-like drink made with the herb called verbane) & some Korcula cakes for dessert before heading back to Korcula town.

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Hvar Island  

A speedboat takes you to the neighbouring island of Hvar (approximately 90 minutes). Beautiful Hvar has an air of Venice about it, and is known as the 'Queen of the Dalmatian Islands'. Wander around a town with wonderfully preserved Renaissance facades, hike past dramatic jagged limestone cliffs & slow your pace to enjoy the undulating farms, fields of lavender & rosemary, & ancient olive groves. Upon arrival, get to know the town with an orientation walk & visit the 16th century Spanjola Fortress, from where spectacular views over town & this part of the Adriatic can be had. For the next two nights, you’ll stay in private apartments that locals rent out during the summer months. They are diverse & can vary in size & most may not have air-conditioning. All are located within 15 minutes of the main square. Feel the history when wandering the backstreets of quirky galleries & unique boutiques, watch the fishermen bring the day’s catch into the quay, & chill out over a few cocktails in a waterside bar.

Hvar Island

Today is a free day. There are plenty of options for exciting activities in town, or take a short hike on the nearby Pakleni islands – largely uninhabited & often described as being among the most beautiful in the world. Depending on the weather, there is the option to join a four-hour walk through the lavender fields (they are blooming in June) & olive groves that are abundant on this pearl in the Adriatic. If you don’t feel energetic today, spend the day lounging at one of the island's many quiet beaches & enjoy a sunset stroll along the harbour promenade. Alternatively, why not visit the island of Brac, with its famed white pebble beach, Zlatni Rat. Villagers have farmed wine, olive oil, figs & almonds in the difficult interior of this rock-strewn island for centuries, but it's the small, beach-side towns that draw the crowds. The island is famous for milk-white marble, which was used for the construction of the White House in Washington DC & Diocletian's Palace in Split. Tonight, be sure to sample the some of the best seafood around, caught fresh that day.

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Split  

Catch a boat to Split (approximately 2 hours). If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly its soul. Situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's the second largest city in Croatia. This stunning seaside town is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast. Join a local guide for a walking tour of Split & get to know its history. See the original & fantastically preserved basements under the city, as well as the Cathedral in Diocletian's Peristyle & Jupiter's Temple. Explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace, Split's most imposing structure & some of the most interesting ruins on the Adriatic coast. Portions of the Palace are over 1,700 years old & there’s ample time to experience this time-defying structure. Split grew out from Diocletian's Palace & you can almost see it evolving in a multitude of different ways right before your eyes. Some cultures might have made the palace a museum, but Split is a dynamic & vibrant place, & the palace houses many businesses & homes. If your feet get tired, why not grab a drink at a cafe on the Riva Promenade & people watch for a while. Be sure to celebrate this final night with the group as your Croatian exploration comes to an end.

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Split  

There are no activities planned for the final day & you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. As there is so much to see in Split & the surrounding area, such as Salona, Trogir or Sibenik, you may want to consider extending your time in Split. We are happy to book additional accommodation for you, subject to availability. Please enquire at the time of booking.