Compare Croatia Island Hopper by Adventure Smith vs Croatia: Islands & Mountains by Exodus Travels
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 1,425 | $ 2,235 |
| Price Per Day | $ 178 | $ 279 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small ship cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 4 Dinners |
All breakfasts are included. For breakfast you can expect a large continental buffet with meats and cheeses, bread, jams and pastries, plus tea and coffee. Croatian cuisine is a mixture of fine seafood, grilled meat, pizza, pasta and salads, with influences from central Europe, Italy and the Balkans. Some specialities that we highly recommend include squid-ink risotto and octopus salad. |
| Description |
Cruise Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast up close aboard the 38 guest Futura. Indulge in gastronomical delights, dive into the turquoise Adriatic Sea and roam the picturesque towns of Split, Korcula, Mljet, Dubrovnik, Trstenik, Hvar and Bol. An on board expedition leader combined with expert local guides reveal thousands of years of history as you immerse yourself in the culture and landscapes of Croatia. The Futura is big enough to offer deluxe comfort and exceptional service but small enough to explore remote beaches and avoid big ship tourist crowds. |
Enjoy the very best of Croatia: the coast and islands, the beautiful towns, near-perfect national parks and spectacular mountains. Starting in the fascinating Unesco-badged city of Dubrovnik, we begin our journey along the coast where the crystal-clear sea forms the backdrop for many of our early walks, followed by the peaceful sound of waterfalls as we head into the national parks of Paklenica and Krka. Here we have a chance to visit Skradinski buk waterfalls and enjoy walks through spectacular gorges, forests and mountain scenery.Walk idyllic coastal and mountain paths in Croatia |
Day 1: Split
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Futura
Transfer from the airport to the Split harbor where the M/V Futura awaits you. Check in starts at 2pm and after settling in to your home for the next week, you may enjoy the guided tour of Split at 5pm. Split is a historic town under UNESCO protection and part of the world heritage where you will find an abundance of Roman architecture. The magnificent Diocletian palace, once inhabited by the Roman emperor, is a highlight of the tour. After the tour of Split, return to the ship for a welcome reception and cocktail to enjoy the meet and greet party on board. The ship will overnight in Split so you can return to town to enjoy the nightlight if you wish.
Day 2: Korcula Island
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Futura
Early morning departure from Split cruising towards Korcula Island. Korcula Island is best known as the birthplace of Marco Polo. Stop for lunch in one of the secluded bays en route. Early afternoon arrival in Korcula followed by a guided walking tour of this enchanting town with fortified walls. You will find endless legends, tales and monuments while you wander along the herringbone pattern streets. The tour ends with a tasting of local wines and appetizers. Continue your gourmet experience in the city's abundant choices of restaurants followed by evening entertainment at the local clubs if you desire. Overnight in Korcula.
Day 3: Mljet & Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Futura
Cruise further south along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast to the Island of Mljet. Join the cruise manager for a stroll to the famous salt lakes in the Mljet National Park and enjoy a small craft boat ride to the St Mary Isle. Here you will visit an ancient Benedictine monastery, an old abbey and a Church dating from the 12th Century. Alternatively, you can rent kayaks, bicycles, scooters or convertible cars to roam around the National Park or island on your own. Return to the ship for lunch followed by departure towards Dubrovnik. Enjoy an evening cruise along the magnificent old city walls of Dubrovnik while a buffet dinner is served on deck. Late afternoon arrival at Gruz Harbor and overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 4: Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Futura
After breakfast a guided walking tour explores the magical old town of Dubrovnik. Take the cable car from the Old Town to Srđ mountain to enjoy scenic views of the Walls and Elaphiti Islands. Spend the afternoon at leisure to find idyllic spots for lunch and dinner. Alternatively you may walk the famous walls (1.2 miles long) and take a stroll along the Stradun, which is a promenade inside the city walls. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 5: Peljesac Peninsula & Kucisce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Futura
Depart Dubrovnik cruising towards the little seaside village of Kucisce (or similar) on the Peljesac peninsula, a region known for its excellent wine. Before lunch take a short stop at one of the Elaphiti Islands and afternoon arrival in Kucisće. Afternoon transfer to the rural village of Kuna for a tour of the local church and monastery. Visit a farm where you will indulge in a typical village party and an all-inclusive dinner with Croatian delicacies and local dishes made from local produce. Late transfer back to the ship and overnight in Kucisce.
Day 6: Peljesac Peninsula & Hvar
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Futura
Morning cruise towards the jet-set island Hvar. Stop for lunch on the small Island of Scedro followed by a swim stop at the Pakleni Islands. Afternoon arrival to Hvar, the longest and sunniest Island in the Adriatic known for lavish lavender fields and breathtaking beauty. Upon arrival there will be a short presentation of lavender products followed by a tour of the town. Hvar is full of historical landmarks including the Renaissance cathedral with its original tower and the oldest community theatre in Europe which was founded in 1612. Hike up to the town fort overlooking the harbor to get some lovely scenic views of your ship and the Pakleni islands. In the evening Hvar offers an abundance of entertainment, restaurants, bars and cafes that are open long into the night. Overnight in Hvar.
Day 7: Bol
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Futura
The Croatia Island Hopper’s final stop is the Island of Brac and picturesque town of Bol. Walk along the promenade or swim at one of the most famous beaches in Dalmatia - Zlatni Rat (the Golden Cape) known for its gravel promontory shifts from side to side as the wind and waves constantly change its shape. Bol is a typical fishing town turned into a popular tourist destination. After lunch on board, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Return in the evening for the Captain’s farewell dinner with live entertainment. Overnight in Bol or nearby Milna.
Day 8: Bol & Split
Meals: Breakfast
Your Croatia Island Hopper cruise comes to an end. Early morning departure for Split and upon arrival it is time to say goodbye to the crew and all your new friends! Check out by 9.00 am and take a private transfer to Split airport.
Day 1 Start Dubrovnik
The tour starts in the fascinating old city of Dubrovnik. Situated right on the Adriatic Sea, the fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and the jumble of red-tiled roofs make this a truly enchanting place. In the evening, we may have the opportunity to take a walk around the city (subject to flight arrival time) and go out for an optional group meal where we will have a briefing about the tour. Accommodation: Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Day 2 Walk from Gornji Obod to Strazisce Peak; transfer to Dubrovnik, explore the old town
After breakfast we take a short transfer (about 25 minutes) to the village of Gornji Obod. From here we follow a path that zig-zags up to the village of Velji Do. After a break, the walk continues up to Strazisce Peak; at the top we are rewarded with spectacular views back over Dubrovnik and can see the commemorative cross in memory of the US aircraft that crashed delivering aid in 1996. We return to Velji Do and then catch a bus back to Dubrovnik where we have the afternoon to enjoy the city. The shelling of Dubrovnik by Serb troops in 1991 and 1992 outraged the world. Fortunately, great care has been taken over the last decade to rebuild and the city has now returned to its former glory. The cobblestoned streets of the old town, or Stari Grad, feature 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 people take an early evening stroll along the Stradun – this is the main street and is covered in smooth shiny marble. Accommodation: Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Day 3 Transfer up the coast to the Biokovo Massif; walk above the town of Makarska; transfer to Bol on the island of Brac
After breakfast, we will transfer by bus to Tucepi. This transfer takes about 3hr 30min, including a coffee break en route. Once in Tucepi we begin our walk to Makarska, through the Biokovo mountains. The Biokovo massif rises steeply above the Makarska Riviera in three spectacular shelves, providing hiking for all levels and fabulous views. Our destination of Makarska is a small but lively town, tastefully restored in stone after a devastating earthquake in 1962. It has a fantastic 1.2mi (2km) stretch of beach, so if we have a bit of time we can take a refreshing dip before we head for the island of Brac. We will catch the ferry from Makarska and transfer to Bol, by far the biggest draw on Brac. Accommodation: Villa Daniela (or similar)
Day 4 Climb Vidova Gora for views over Bol and Zlatni Rat, the Golden Beach; afternoon to relax on the beach
We start today with a 20-minute transfer to the small village of Gazul, where we begin our walk to the peak of Vidova Gora (2,559ft/780m above sea level). The first part of our walk will take us through woodland for around 90 minutes as we gradually ascend 755ft (230m) to the summit of the highest point on Brac. The views from the top of Vidova Gora are spectacular; we can see all the way to the island of Hvar in the distance and the 1,640ft (500m) long spit of Zlatni Rat jutting out to sea in the foreground – this view is one that features on many postcards in Croatia, so make sure to bring your camera. From here, our walk is downhill for around two hours towards the town of Bol. In the afternoon you can make the most of the glorious beach of Zlatni Rat. It is south-facing – ideal for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. Accommodation: Villa Daniela (or similar)
Day 5 Catch the ferry to Split and explore the old town before transferring to Krka National Park; visit the Skradinski Buk waterfalls
We begin with a morning ferry transfer to Split, the second biggest city in Croatia. The old centre is compact and easily explored on foot; many make a beeline to the best-known attraction, Diocletian’s Palace. The town as a whole is a lively and friendly place with a cafe culture. Stop, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere. We then have a transfer (approximately 52mi/84km) by bus to Krka National Park. Here we begin our walk to Skradinski Buk, a series of waterfalls dropping down in 17 dramatic steps. The area is accessed by wooden walkways and forest paths. It’s also a fantastic spot for wildlife – an important sanctuary with several endemic species, some now extinct elsewhere in Europe. The walk will take around 2hr 30min and all on easy paths. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Starigrad Paklenica. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 6 Velika Paklenica National Park gorge walk via Ramici Village
In the morning we take a transfer to the western part of Paklenica National Park where we start our hiking tour passing old villages and fields, hidden among rocky towers and ridges of this limestone realm. After reaching the highest point of the day (approx. 760m), offering splendid views of Velika Paklenica Canyon from the west, we go down to the main canyon and descend to the entrance of the park, admiring the mighty walls of Velika Paklenica along the way. As one of the most popular climbing destinations in the region, Paklenica attracts climbers from all over the world. While hiking down the canyon, you will be able to admire the courage and determination of climbers whom we will see high above us in the vertical world of Paklenica cliffs. We end the hike at the park entrance and take a short (10min) transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 7 Another day in Paklenica National Park; walk to a meadow beneath Bojin Kuk peak before returning to Starigrad Paklenica in the afternoon
Today we have another opportunity to explore the wonderful wilderness of Paklenica National Park and complete the most challenging hike of the trip. We walk to the saddle of Pod Jaginim Kukom, which has a great view up to Bojin Kuk. The Bojinac group is made of a vast area of limestone, with the karst scenery forming towers of rock, furrowed limestone cliffs, caves and green meadows creating a contrast against the severe rock. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and a walker’s paradise. Today's walk takes about five to six hours, the terrain is quite challenging and rocky and requires concentration, steady footing and good balance. En route, we pass the unusual Mirila graves. This afternoon, we return to Starigrad Paklenica in time for a swim and relaxation before leaving Croatia tomorrow. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 8 End Zadar Airport
Enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel this morning, before starting your return journey home. Of course, if you’d like a little time to explore Zadar, home to Roman ruins and intriguing art installations, speak to your sales representative about extending your hotel stay.
