South Dalmatia Route: Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik

Day 1 – Dubrovnik – Šipan

Your embarkation is at 5:00 PM in Split.

After a short greeting and introduction with the crew and a boat, you will set sail for Šipan – your first destination. Šipan is part of an archipelago called Elafiti islands, which consists of about ten islands and isles that spread across the open sea just in front of Dubrovnik towards the northwest. This archipelago, named after deer, who unfortunately no longer live on these islands, attracts tourists with its untouched nature and beautiful beaches.

You will soon realize that Šipan is a perfect place to relax on your first evening on board. Šipan was, for centuries, a favorite holiday spot for Dubrovnik nobility. On the island, 42 ruins of villas and holiday homes were built by prominent citizens of Dubrovnik in the 16th and 17th centuries. The most famous and best preserved among them is the one of the Stijepović-Skočibuha family located in the village of Suđurađ. Next to this villa Tomo Skočibuha, a prosperous shipbuilder and trader from Dubrovnik, built a defensive tower next to this villa to protect his family and property from pirate attacks. This house is an excellent example of renaissance architecture and can be visited every day during the summer. A road connects Suđutađ with the second largest village on the island –Šipanska Luka (Šipan Port). This road, which goes through a beautiful Šipan field, offers a perfect biking or hiking tour. Down the way, you can visit some of the ruins of villas or some of the 34 old churches on the island. One of them, the Church of St. Maria in Pakljena from the 13th century, was known as a gathering place of the Templar order. Enjoy your walk through this pristine nature and discover what has, for centuries, attracted people to these islands in their search for salvation from everyday bustle.

Šipan is also the island of olive trees, and it has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the island with the highest number of olive trees compared to its size and the number of people living there.

Day 2 – Šipan – Korčula

Today you will have a few extra hours of sailing in the morning, but it will be worth it as you will visit the town of Korčula on the island with the same name. Korčula is usually known as the birth town of the famous explorer Marco Polo. You will be able to visit his birth house and from there enjoy a stunning view of the whole town. You will reach Korčula around lunch time and before visiting town, you will have a few hours to enjoy sea activities and relax like some beautiful bay. In the late afternoon, the boat will moor near the town center. Korčula is also known as a small Dubrovnik, and when arriving and looking from the distance of the seaside, you will see why this is so. Located on a small peninsula, surrounded by stone city walls and fortresses, it resembles Dubrovnik. Narrow streets and an old town center with Renaissance-Gothic houses, palaces, and churches complete this impression.

Korčula is a thrilling town: full of life, art, and history. You can feel this everywhere: behind every little corner and on every little square. And if you are lucky enough -in the evening, you may witness the Moreška dance, a traditional sword dance which probably has its origins in Spain and from there came to this part of the Mediterranean. This is something that people from Korčula are proud of, as it has a long tradition and today is performed only on this island. After the evening spent in this beautiful little town, we assure you that you will surely keep some special memories in your heart for the rest of your life.

Day 3 –  Korčula – Lastovo

After visiting a charming and busy Korčula, you will have another day of relaxation surrounded by untouched nature. There is no better place to find pristine nature than to visit the farthest inhabited Croatian island Lastovo. As one of 46 isles that created the Lastovo archipelago, this island was more than four decades closed for foreign visitors (as a military zone), and that way remained protected from the influence of mass tourism. Often referred to as the island of the bright stars, Lastovo offers the most transparent night sky in Europe. So here is an idea of how to spend your evening tonight. Enjoy romantic star gazing, as the sky is filled with many bright stars you will not experience so often.

Lastovo is the greenest island in the Adriatic, with Mljet, as 70% of the island’s surface is covered with forests. Untouched nature, rich Mediterranean flora, fauna, habitats of many endemic species, and beautiful underwater life are why this island was declared a nature park and protected this way. Hiking and cycling are the best ways to explore the island, as there are many marked trails. It is also good to know that there aren’t any venomous snakes on the island.

We suggest you visit Hum, the island’s highest peak, and from there, enjoy magnificent views of the whole archipelago and the open sea. You can see Italy somewhere far away if you are lucky enough and the sky is clear. For those not so much into recreation, a short walk to the village of Lastovo, the center of the island, should be enough. Lastovo is the only settlement on the land far from the sea, surrounded only by hills. Mostly known for its unique chimneys, Lastovo is a beautiful little village.
With its amphitheatric layout, narrow streets, and old houses, it offers the true spirit of the Mediterranean. Spend your day searching for chimneys, each one different in its way and each one more beautiful than the other.

Day 4 –  Lastovo – Hvar

Today you will sail to the sunniest island on the Adriatic Island Hvar. You will spend your day in s one beautiful bay on island Šćedro or island Hvar: sunbath and relax, enjoy water sports, and have lunch aboard surrounded by beautiful nature. In the afternoon, you will visit the island’s center, a town with the same name Hvar. The town of Hvar is already well known to most tourists coming to Croatia as the nightlife paradise, but Hvar has so much more to offer. With a rich history, as the Venetian center of the island, Hvar offers many historical attractions, mostly dated to the 16th and 17th centuries.

The central part of the town is Pjaca, the main square, the largest and the most beautiful one in Dalmatia. The square is surrounded by St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bishop’s palace, and Arsenal. Hvar has also had the oldest public theatre in Europe, formed in 1612.1612., located in the Arsenal. We advise you to take a short walk to the fortress Fortica and enjoy a stunning view of the Pakleni islands, an island chain that protects Hvar harbor from the south. Besides history, nature is something that will fascinate you on Hvar. From the magical lavender fields filled with enchanting scents to fascinating vineyards on the island’s south side to the studding hidden bays and coves on the island chain of Pakleni islands that offer perfect anchoring spots. So, after spending the evening in the busy town of Hvar, you will be ready to fully enjoy the peacefulness of the night spent in some hidden bay on the Pakleni islands. If you seek a unique souvenir from this island, lavender flowers or lace from agave plants made by nuns from the Benedictine monastery would be perfect.

Day 5 –  Hvar – Pelješac

After a day spent in the busiest town on the Adriatic, you will have a few hours of relaxed sailing before you reach your next destination – peninsula Pelješac. Anchored in some hidden cove, isolated from anything that could disturb your inner peace, you will spend your day on Pelješac, sunbathing and enjoying various water toys available on board. Surrounded by crystal clear waters and the sounds of nature, you will soon realize that there is no other place you would rather be. Read your favorite book, listen to your favorite music and enjoy spending time with your family and friends in your private part of heaven. All are surrounded by top service while enjoying the new gastronomic experiences that the chef will prepare just for you. If this sounds too uneventful for your taste, do not worry, as Pelješac offers many possibilities yet to be explored.

Pelješac is the second-largest peninsula in Croatia and is mainly known to be a wine paradise with its mild climate. Its position offers perfect conditions for grape ripening. So, here’s an idea – do a wine tour and visit one of the many wineries on the peninsula. Crew can also organize a day trip to visit Ston – the most significant and famous settlement on the peninsula. You can walk the magnificent defensive stonewall (almost 7 km long), claimed to be the second largest in the world (just after the Great wall of China), or visit a well-known saltern. You can even volunteer in the salt harvest during summer periods. Ston is also a perfect place to enjoy the unique gastronomic experience – raw oysters freshly taken from the sea and served with just a drop of lemon juice. Prepare your taste buds! Restaurants in Pelješac are all well known for serving fantastic seafood.

Day 6 –  Pelješac – Mljet

On this route, you will also visit one national park – Mljet, located on the island with the same name. Mljet is often called Odyssey’s Island as there is Homer’s story about Odyssey’s journey and a shipwreck next to the island called Ogigia. After the shipwreck, Odyssey woke up in a cave where the nymph Calypso used to live. He fell in love with her, and she kept him as a prisoner on the island for almost seven years. Many believe that the island from this story is Mljet, and in support of this theory, they mention that a beautiful cave named after Odysseus is located on this island. Nevertheless, Mljet is genuinely a mystical island. Covered with dense forests rich in plant and animal species, four wells that do not ever dry out, and two salt lakes that represent a natural phenomenon, Mljet is a true wonder of nature.

You will arrive in Mljet sometime in the morning, so there will be enough time to explore the island. You will have lunch aboard, and after that, we advise you to visit the park. You can take a walk or rent a bike, and marked walking paths will direct you to the Big and Small Lakes, the two most visited park attractions. An interesting fact is that in the middle of the Big lake, there is another small island. The Benedictine monastery, located on this island, is now turned into a restaurant, but for a long time, this monastery was the cultural center of Mljet. While living here, Benedictine monks for centuries looked out that the nature on the island stayed untouched, living with prayer and coexistence with the island’s wildlife. Partly this is why Mljet is still so magically beautiful, spared from excessive human influence; it represents a true paradise on earth.

Day 7 –  Mljet – Dubrovnik (or Zaton)

Famous writer George Bernard Shaw wrote long ago: “Those who seek paradise on earth should come to see Dubrovnik.” And today, after almost a hundred years, Dubrovnik continues to amaze and inspire visitors worldwide. Known as the pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of our top destinations. Located on the south of the Croatian coast, near the border to Montenegro, this town was the center of the Republic of Ragusa. This free state, for centuries, resisted the onslaught of powerful neighboring rulers and, with skillful diplomacy, maintained its freedom at a time when all the surrounding areas were under foreign rule. Even today, the inhabitants of Dubrovnik are proud of their historical liberty, which has been and remains an essential part of their culture and identity. So, on your last day, you will visit this proud city that has survived a few earthquakes and wars and continues to shine in its splendor.

When arriving in Dubrovnik by boat, watching how the sea touches the stone cliffs on which city walls have been built, you can imagine what hides behind them. A beautifully preserved old city, with its cobblestone streets, stunning buildings, monasteries, and fortresses, tells the story of a life that passed a long time ago. We suggest you start the visit by walking the city walls, entering the city gates, walking the Stradun street, visiting Retors and Sponza palace and the town cathedral where remains of town protector St Blaise have been kept. Visit also the Franciscan monastery with the oldest Pharmacy in Europe. There is so much to see in Dubrovnik. Many city museums continue this list (Archaeological Museum, Maritime Museum, Franciscan Monastery Museum, Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, Love Stories Museum, Gornji Ugao Tower, etc.). Enjoy the unforgettable views from one of the city fortresses or city walls or, even better – a unique viewpoint from Mount Srđ, where you arrive by cable car. After seeing all this, you will not be surprised why Dubrovnik was chosen as the filming location for some famous movies and TV series (like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, etc.). In Dubrovnik, history is combined with colorful and diverse gastronomy, stunning views, rich culture and nightlife, and a vast choice for sports and adrenalin lovers. There is something for everybody.

So, enter the city gates and start exploring this wonderful town. You will not be disappointed!

Day 8 – Dubrovnik

Your disembarkation is at 9:00 AM. Breakfast will be served on board. Enjoy your last cup of coffee with this never-to-be-forgotten view. If you have an extra day or two, we suggest you stay in Dubrovnik and visit all of the town attractions or go north and visit Split – the second largest town in Croatia and another Adriatic pearl. Hope to see you in Croatia again!