Croatian Island Explorer

Day 1 - UK - Zagreb - Opatija

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Zagreb. On arrival we transfer to the Opatija Riviera where we board our ship.

Day 2 - Opatija - Cres

We sail this morning to Cres. One of the largest of Croatia’s 718 islands, Cres is also one of the least developed with its thick forests, olive groves and rocky hilltop villages. Adding to its undiscovered and remote charm, the island is also home to 80 breeding pairs of rare griffon vultures - which we keep watch for as we skirt the island’s rugged shoreline. We moor up in Cres Town, jumping ashore for a guided walking tour. Cres may only have 3,000 permanent residents, but it has a heavyweight history - with buildings, churches and ruins cataloguing its Roman, Byzantine and Venetian occupation. We stay moored here for the night.

Day 3 - Cres - Susak - Mali Lošinj

We sail this morning to Susak, one of the smallest of Croatia’s inhabited islands - just 4 sq km in size. Weather permitting, we’ll take a short walk on this car free island, carpeted in herbs and trees, and circled by golden sandy beaches - it’s a true taste of unspoiled Croatian island life. Then we sail east to the island of Mali Lošinj, whose crystal-clear waters were felt to give the island unique healing powers. A health resort for the Habsburg Royal Family in the 19th century, 200 years later the island is having a wellness revival, with travellers visiting for the clean water, medicinal herbs and warm climate. We dock in the main town of Mali Lošinj. Remnants of its grand Venetian past, the pastel-painted facades and sun-faded clocktowers make it one of the prettiest harbours in the Adriatic. We go ashore to explore the town and take a guided tour of the Garden of Fine Scents - a walled garden of over 250 species of herbs and medicinal plants that naturally grow on the island.

Day 4 - Mali Lošinj - Ilovik - Rab

Sailing onwards this morning, we head towards the small island of Ilovik. We’ll make a short visit after lunch (weather permitting). We’ll then spend the rest of the day making our way to Rab, the greenest and best known of the Kvarner Islands. Rab fits the archetypal Adriatic paradise perfectly - jade green waters, verdant hillsides and a red-roofed old town that looks straight out of a story book. We moor here overnight.

Day 5 - Rab

Dominated by four bell towers, Rab’s ancient walled town bears the beauty of its changing hands over the years - with Byzantine churches, elegant Italianate mansions and Romanesque towers to explore. After a walking tour, the afternoon is free to wander independently or soak up the city’s crumbling Venetian charms from the ship. Perhaps visit the House of Rab Cake, home of the delicious spiral-shaped cake made mainly from almonds and Maraschino liqueur, first served in 1177 to Pope Alexander III.

Day 6 - Rab - Krk

We head towards the former prisoner island of Goli Otok this morning where we’ll make a short visit (weather permitting) and explore a little before continuing to Krk. Here, we enjoy a guided walking tour of the old town - now a familiar but still magical mix of Venetian buildings, Franciscan and Benedictine monasteries and fortified castles. We then travel by coach to Vrbnik, a medieval hilltop village whose silhouette is defined by its soaring Renaissance bell tower. As well as being one of the most picturesque villages in Croatia, Vrbnik is also known for Žlahtina - a white wine grape grown exclusively on the island. We tour a family-run winery and sample some of the goods before heading back to Krk Town where we stay moored for the night.

Day 7 - Krk - Opatija

This morning, there's the chance to join an optional coach tour to the Istrian Peninsula and a boat out to Brijuni National Park - an archipelago of 14 jewelled islands and islets. Topped by forests and fringed with white beaches, this protected paradise is also scattered with Neolithic, Illyrian and Byzantine ruins. Fully reclaimed by nature, the archipelago is home to over 600 species of plant and 150 species of bird. Meanwhile, our ship sails towards Opatija, a summer resort town built in the 19th century for Habsburg royalty. We enjoy a walking tour and learn about the town’s interesting past and our ship remains in port overnight.

Day 8 - Opatija - Zagreb - UK

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.