Natural Beauty of the Dalmatian Islands Cruise

Day 1 - UK - Split - Makarska

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service will collect you from home for your direct flight to Split. Landing in the late afternoon, we’ll head to the pretty harbour town of Makarska, our base for the next three nights.

Aparthotel Miramare, Makarska (4-star)

Day 2 - Mostar

We’ll cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina today, a country steeped in history old and new. We’re heading for Mostar, a beautiful pale-stoned town famous for the Stari Most or ‘Old Bridge’, which arcs gracefully over the Neretva River below. The bridge - destroyed in the 1990s civil war - was painstakingly reconstructed using 16th-century building techniques and stone from the original quarry and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s time for photos and a wander round the cobbled streets of the old town, visiting the fascinating Turkish house and 16th-century mosque, before we return to Makarska.

Aparthotel Miramare, Makarska (4-star)

Day 3 - Makarska

Today is free to relax and enjoy Makarska, perhaps take a stroll along the harbourfront with its enticing restaurants and ice cream parlours or take a dip in the refreshing, crystal clear waters on the shingle beach, just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Alternatively, there’s an optional excursion to nearby Omis, a one-time pirates’ lair set at the mouth of the Cetina River. You’ll board a boat to travel up the river, enjoying wonderful views as we glide through the picturesque canyon.

Aparthotel Miramare, Makarska (4-star)

Day 4 - Makarska - Split - Pučišća

Leaving Makarska this morning, we’ll follow the winding coastal road to the city of Split and its busy waterfront. Here we’ll board our stylish ship and floating home for the next seven nights. Lunch will be served on board as we set sail, heading north towards the village of Pučišća  on the island of Brač. Despite being the third largest island on the Adriatic coast, Brač is much sleepier than its neighbour, Hvar, with a more traditional pace of life. On arrival, we’ll visit the nearby stonemasonry school where we’ll watch and learn about the traditional methods of this craft. Brač limestone can be found all around the world, including Budapest’s Parliament Buildings and Split’s Diocletian’s Palace. The evening is free to enjoy time in the idyllic surroundings.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 5 - Pučišća - Korcula

We’ll sail south early this morning towards the island of Korčula, the birthplace of Marco Polo. It’s a leisurely sail, stopping for lunch in one of the secluded bays with time for a swim in the beautiful waters. On arrival in Korčula Town we’ll step off the ship for a guided walking tour. This enchanting medieval town is one of the best-preserved in the Mediterranean. Surrounded by stout walls with a fishbone street pattern, its design has a natural cooling effect, providing the people of Korčula with sheltered and comfortable places to live and work. There’s also plenty of excellent restaurants and numerous bars for those looking for evening entertainment.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 6 - Korcula - Lastovo

Today we sail to tiny Lastovo, the farthest inhabited island in Dalmatia and well off the beaten track. Just 18sqm in size, Lastovo and its surrounding islands make up the Lastovo Islands Nature Park, which has one of the darkest skies in Europe. Lastovo town is also known for its many small churches and unusually shaped chimneys which are unique to the island. Anchoring tonight in the small port of Ubli, we’ll enjoy dinner on board and see for ourselves why Lastovo is called the ‘island of bright stars’.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 7 - Lastovo - Vis

From Lastovo we sail northwest to Vis, which was used as a Yugoslavian army base and therefore closed to the outside world until Croatia gained independence in 1991. As a result, the culture and architecture are well preserved, with rosemary, capers and sage growing wild everywhere. We’ll take a short walk to Lipanovic winery - the only wine cellar in the world that’s inside a military tunnel - to try some tasty local wines. There’s also time to visit the remains of the Roman thermal place, City, or take a walk enjoying the views of the beautiful Villae Rusticae on the waterfront.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 8 - Vis - Biševo - Stari Grad, Hvar Island

It's an early start today as we cruise to the small island of Biševo where - weather permitting - there’s an optional visit to see the Blue Grotto, a magnificent natural phenomenon which fills the cave with luminous blue light. Then it’s on to jet-set Hvar, with a stop for lunch and a swim at the Pakleni Islands en route. Hvar, the longest and sunniest island in the Adriatic is known for its glorious lavender fields and breathtaking beauty. Arriving in the afternoon, we’ll see the Renaissance cathedral with its original tower, and the oldest community theatre in Europe on a tour of ancient Stari Grad, one of the oldest towns in Europe. Tonight, you can enjoy a night on the town Hvar has plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 9 - Stari Grad - Bol

It's back to Brač this morning, where we plan to stop for a swim at the most famous beach in Dalmatia: Zlatni Rat, which shifts from side to side as the wind and waves constantly cause its shape to change. Nearby Bol is a typical fishermen’s village which - although a popular tourist destination - has retained its old Croatian charm. Tonight we’ll sit down to the captain’s dinner on board, complete with musical entertainment.

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 10 - Bol - Split

Our voyage concludes back at the vibrant city of Split. Croatia’s second biggest city is dazzling - spreading out in layers from the waterfront through a tangle of ancient alleys and Roman ruins, communist-era Brutalist blocks and circling mountains beyond. Starting out life in AD 295 as the Roman emperor Diocletian’s retirement home, Split grew out of the now UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace which has some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world. In the Middle Ages, it spilled into a warren of medieval streets and gothic churches and today it’s a 1,700-year-old treasure trove of Roman, Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine influences. Our guided tour uncovers some of its signature architectural gems including the Cathedral of St Domnius and Roman ruin of Ro Porta Argentea (Silver Gate).

MV Alpha (4.5-star)

Day 11 - Split - UK

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting to drive you home.

Split - UK