Croatia | Delights of the Dalmatian Coast

Guided walking, hotel to hotel

Croatia's rich cultural heritage is matched only by its amazing natural beauty: sandy beaches, unspoilt islands, tourist-free villages and barely-visited historic sites - all perfect for exploring on foot. Travelling with our local guide, in an airconditioned minibus, we follow easy coastal paths to rocky coves and forest paths leading to tiers of shimmering waterfalls. We'll also visit the many sites that make up Croatia's historical melting pot. There's Dubrovnik - its well-preserved ramparts surround a honeycomb of Renaissance churches, secret courtyards and sumptuous merchants palaces. Then Trogir, where the first Greek settlers landed and listed by UNESCO for its wealth of classical buildings like St Lovro's church and the Venetian loggia. Founded by the Romans, Split's famous Diocletian palace was once the Emperor's retirement home. Today its warren of narrow alleys houses the town's cathedral, and its cavernous cellars are used as art galleries.

Ideal for Solo Travellers

This guided walking holiday is perfect for people who want to walk in a small group with like-minded people, and definately suitable for solo travellers. You'll stay in small family-run hotels, with great regional cuisine, and owners who take a genuine interest in their guests.

Trip Details

GROUP SIZE:  6 to 16

All of our hotels are within five minutes walk of the historical centres. In Dubrovnik, we stay in a 5-star hotel with a private pool and swimming terrace. On Brac, our 3-star hotel in Bol, a pretty honeycoloured stone mansion, lies on the harbour front, with all rooms affording sea views. Our intimate 3-star hotel in Trogir is in the heart of the paved streets of the old town, not far from the mediaeval fortress overlooking the marina. Evening meals are taken in local restaurants where we'll savour the excellent regional cuisine. Air conditioned rooms throughout.

Monday - Arrive in Dubrovnik

We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel (30 mins) in time for dinner in the old town. We spend three nights here.

Tuesday - Kolocep Island 8km/5mi/3.5hr

Tiny Kolocep Island, networked by mule tracks and without cars, is just 30 mins from Dubrovnik by ferry, but it feels like another century. Walking past agaves and prickly pears we reach Gornje Celo harbour. Past painted fishing boats, then through pine forest to discover a ruined Napoleonic fort before descending to the island's southern tip to picnic by the lighthouse enjoying stunning views over Dubrovnik's Riviera. We return past houses bright with bougainvillaea and pomegranates to admire limestone cliffs buffeted by azure seas.

Wednesday - Jasenice & Velji Do 5km/3mi/2.5hr

Into the hills to Jasenice (30 mins), where a cobbled path lined with rosemary winds across an open valley dotted with oak trees with Mt Snjeznica (1234m) to our right and Mt Straziste ahead. Then Dubrovnik's mountainous coastline frames the horizon as we descend through meadows bright with crocuses to Velji Do where we'll lunch on lamb and fish cooked in a traditional peka (charcoal oven). Free time this afternoon to visit Dubrovnik's medieval ramparts, Renaissance churches and Doges' Palace before our final dinner in Dubrovnik.

Thursday - Makarska and Brac Island 6km/3.5mi/2.5hr

Today we head to Brac Island via Ston (2hr - transfer included 10km along the Bosnian coastline) famous for its oysters. After exploring the towns mediaeval ramparts, a short coastal walk leads us to an oyster farm where we learn more about how the fish are prepared. Then to Makarska where we board the 30min ferry to Brac Island. After lunch in Supetar we follow a mule track climbing gently past olive groves and figs to Skrip, the oldest town on the island. We visit the Folk Museum (housed in a 17C tower built to fend off the Turks) arriving at our hotel in Bol in time for a swim in the sea before dinner.

Friday - Blaca Monastery 10km/7mi/5hr

Visit Blaca Bay where we'll learn how the feisty monks once exported 70,000 litres of wine a year to Venice and had a Viennese piano hauled up here, before following a coastal path that winds through pine trees to turquoise blue coves where we'll stop for a picnic. Then a last swim on Bol's horseshoe sandy beach before dinner in the old town.

Saturday - Bol to Trogir via Split

It's a 1 hour drive to catch the ferry (30mins) to Split. Here we'll visit the Diocletian Palace, Romanesque cathedral and old city walls. After lunch we've built in free time in the old town before continuing to Trogir where you'll spend your last two nights.

Sunday - Krka National Park 8km/5mi/3hr

We drive to Krka National Park (1hr) a myriad of lakes and waterfalls. A stony path lined with aleppo pines gently descends to Lake Cikola, then a brief ascent rewards us with views over the park. By ferry to the Franciscan monastery on the island - the monks still live here today. After a lakeside picnic, we'll explore the tiers of ponds bright with yellow water lilies that shimmer below mighty Skradinski waterfall. Then along the river bank to pretty Skradin with its marina, returning to Trogir before our final dinner.

Monday - Return home

WALKING DETAILS

This holiday follows easy coastal trails through pine forests and hidden coves. Inland we walk on even, stony mule tracks. Walking boots are essential.

This walking holiday starts in Dubrovnik and ends in Trogir. During this walking and sightseeing holiday we explore the beautiful, unspoilt Dalmation Coast. We'll visit the many sites that make up Croatia's history, including Trogir and Dubrovnik as well as Split and Brac Island.

This holiday would appeal to anyone who would like gentle walking as well as the opportunity to visit some of Croatia's highlights. Couples and single travellers would both enjoy this holiday.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Argentina, Dubrovnik (5 star)

Hotel Argentina is a 5 star hotel in Dubrovnik, and boasts that it was once the holiday home of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, not to mention Maria Callas. Its 154 rooms are all en-suite with air conditioning, satellite televison, mini bar, telephone and hairdryer. The hotel has its own swimming terrace and outdoor sea water pool.

Hotel Kastil, Bol, Island of Brac (3 star)

The Hotel Kastil enjoys an enviable position in the middle of Brac's harbour front, commanding stunning sea views across to the nearby island of Hvar. Most of its thirty rooms enjoy sea views and are all ensuite with satellite TV, air-conditioning ,minibar and telephone, and are furnished in a contemporary style.

Hotel Palace , Trogir

The Hotel Palace is just 200 m from the old town of the UNESCO town of Trogir on Ciovo island.

All of the rooms have balconies with beautiful sea views and the old town of Trogir.

Inclusions

• 7 nights accommodation
• All meals
• Transfers

Terms & Conditions

Click here for our Terms & Conditions

For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

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