Premium Split to Dubrovnik

Welcome to Croatia! Your adventure begins today with your arrival in Split. Located right on the Adriatic coast, Croatia’s second-largest city combines stunning architecture with a timeless soul. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel where you’ll meet your local leader and small group for a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, you might like to visit the Mestrovic gallery, which displays the remarkable work of one of Croatia’s greatest sculptors. After the meeting tonight, get to know your fellow travellers and group leader over dinner at one of Split’s excellent restaurants. Prepare for a culinary adventure as this is a country that takes good food and drink seriously. Perhaps try some brudet, a rustic seafood stew, or some rozata, a creamy custard pudding.

This morning meet with a local guide who is an expert on the area and embark on a sightseeing tour of Split. Your guide will provide profound insight as you discover a living textbook on history and architecture. Dating back 1800 years, the city began as a monumental imperial residence for the retirement of the Roman emperor Diocletian. This ancient fortress still makes up half of Split’s old town, and today is an intriguing warren of narrow cobblestone streets where pre-Romanesque churches exist alongside Gothic chapels and a multitude of museums. Stop by the statue of Grgur Ninski and learn how this tenth-century bishop once opposed the pope and introduced the Croatian language into his services. The evening is free for further explorations. Perhaps dive deeper into Split’s booming gastronomy scene - your leader will know some great spots to grab a bite to eat.

Enjoy a relaxing morning in Split before boarding an afternoon catamaran to Croatia’s most remote island - Lastovo. This little piece of paradise is home to your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. The protected island nature park remains free from the effects of mainstream tourism and has retained its local flair. Without the infrastructure that caters to mass tourism, and with a dwindling population for the same reason, your leader will introduce you to scenes of traditional Adriatic island life as it once was. As a bonus, our sustainable tourism here supports the locals who have decided to remain. Arrive at your guesthouse and let the peaceful nature of Lastovo Island wash over you as the Adriatic Sea gently laps at your doorstep. Views from your spacious room look like they’re straight off a postcard, with charming houses fringing the glittering turquoise bay. This evening, take in the view over a wonderful included dinner with your group.

Today you will immerse yourself in island life and learn an important local trade as you rise early and take to the seas with a local fisherman, his wife and his crew. Help them to bring in the day’s catch, usually a selection of scorpion fish, mackerel, sardine and bream, then enjoy the fruits of your labour with a delicious seafood lunch prepared on board - it doesn’t get more fresh than that! The captain will discuss their self-sustaining lifestyle and provide unrivalled insight into daily rituals, leaving you with an unforgettable impression of life on this remote island. Return to land and enjoy the rest of the day as you see fit. Perhaps unroll your beach towel and enjoy a few horizontal hours, or explore the peace and quiet of the stone waterfront and tiny port of this slice of heaven lost in time.

It’s time to bid farewell to Lastovo, but keep your watch set to island time. Transfer back to the port of Ubli, where you will board the mid-morning ferry bound for the delightful island of Korcula. Disembark and transfer to Korcula Town. Arrive in Korcula Town for an orientation walk and wind through endearing red-roofed houses huddled closely on marble streets. Your leader will give you a glimpse into the past as you stroll streets lined with Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Enjoy a free evening in this stunning seaside town. Perhaps continue your explorations of the Old Town, taking in the stocky Revelin Tower and impressive defensive walls before stopping for dinner in one of the island’s many restaurants.

Today begin the journey to Dubrovnik, making some interesting stops along the way. Take a short ferry ride from Korcula to the Peljesac Peninsula. The star of this region is its wine, which you’ll experience first-hand during a visit to a lovely family winery. Sample some of the local drops, along with light cheese and smoked ham. Next, visit the town of Ston, known for some of the world’s most delectable oysters, and enjoy time to explore or partake in an optional lunch. Continue on to Dubrovnik where your leader will explain the city’s history as you explore Stari Grad, the tightly packed Old Town. Restored to its former glory since the damages of the 1991 conflicts, Dubrovnik surprises at every turn, and the best way to experience the city’s soul it is to walk its streets. Stop in time to enjoy the sunset views from the famous city walls.

The day is free for you to explore at leisure. Dubrovnik offers a wealth of experiences to cater to every taste, so be sure to ask your leader for some suggestions. Perhaps visit the historical Rector's Palace to marvel at the ornate Venetian-Gothic architecture, or sip a beer on the terrace of one of Dubrovnik’s teetering cliff bars. In the evening meet join your leader and group for a final dinner. Head to a splendid restaurant just outside the city, set in the grounds of an ancient mill on the banks of the Ljuta river. Indulge in a range of classic Croatian dishes made with generations-old recipes before raising your glass to the end of an adventure.

Your trip ends after breakfast this morning. If you're looking to extend your stay, additional accommodation can be arranged when you book this trip (subject to availability). If you'd like to continue travelling, it's easy to take a bus or ferry from Dubrovnik to other Croatian cities and islands, and some international destinations. There are also regular domestic flights to Zagreb where you can link up with international flights.