Croatia's Coast & Islands

Day 1 - UK - Split

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Split. On arrival we transfer to Split harbour where we board MV Dalmatia (3*). You’ll have time to wander Split’s waterfront or stroll to one of the city’s squares before dinner is served onboard tonight.

Day 2 - Split - Trogir

Diocletian’s Palace sits at the heart of Croatia’s second city. Originally built as a retirement palace for a Roman emperor, it’s been added to over the centuries to create what you’ll see today - a beautiful maze of medieval streets, Gothic archways and Roman ruins. We’ll explore as part of our guided tour of Split, learning more about how the palace has evolved and how locals have squeezed shops and cafes into old cellars, arches and courtyards. Later, we set sail along the coast to the pretty town of Trogir. Musicians will join us on board for an evening of traditional entertainment.

Day 3 - Trogir - Primosten

This morning, we take to the marble-paved streets of Trogir’s UNESCO-protected old town for a guided tour on foot. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, it’s a wonderful jumble of palaces, churches and monasteries, with a grand Venetian cathedral keeping watch over everything. We then continue to sail northwards, hugging this beautiful stretch of coastline, to picturesque Primosten where we overnight.

Day 4 - Krka - Vodice

We venture inland this morning, sailing up the Krka River to the pretty town of Skradin. From here, a small boat ride followed by a guided walk will land us in the emerald-green national park of Krka. Seven cascading waterfalls flow into pools and streams which reflect the greenery above - a truly beautiful landscape. Returning to our small ship, we’ll venture on to the seaside town of Vodice.

Day 5 - Kornati Islands - Zadar

Our small ship cruise moves away from the coast this morning, as we weave through the Kornati Islands - a scenic archipelago of more than 140 uninhabited desert-like islets, peppered with caves and grottos and wrapped in azure waters. We continue back to the mainland to the coastal city of Zadar. On a guided tour, we’ll learn about Zadar’s rich past as we make our way through the streets of the old town. We’ll stop to admire the Morska vrata (Sea Gate), the Romanesque-style St Chrysogonus Church and baroque St Simeon Church, as well as the famous sea organ, which uses the motion of the waves to create music.

Day 6 - Rab

Our captain will plot a course for the lush islands of the Kvarner Gulf today. First stop: Rab. Probably the best known of the Kvarner islands, it boasts sandy beaches (a rarity in Croatia), green hillsides (likely to be carpeted in wildflowers at this time of year) and a medieval town with a quartet of campaniles (bell towers) studding the skyline. A guided walking tour reveals Italianate mansions and Romanesque towers; afterwards, you’ll have time to wander at leisure.

Day 7 - Krk - Opatija

The next port of call on our Croatian cruise is Krk, the largest island in the Adriatic. Go ashore and explore a little or stay on board and enjoy a relaxed morning ahead of our final sailing back to the mainland. Our final stop is Opatija. This magnificent coastal town was once a well-known 19th-century health resort for Austro-Hungarian aristocracy and nobility, so you’ll spy lots of grand, stately architecture.

Day 8 - Opatija - Zagreb - UK

Our Croatia cruise comes to an end today. We disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.