Explore Croatia
Follow the Dalmatian coast on an adventure from Dubrovnik to Split
Discover the true heart and soul of Croatia with an eight-day seaside exploration of some of the Dalmatian Coast’s finest locations. Walk the walls of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, island hop between Vis and Hvar and wander the harbour of Split. Sampling regional specialties and local wine along the way, your Croatian discovery is full of nature and relaxation. See the white stone villages that dot the coast, sample local produce and learn about local history – all on the turquoise waters of the Adriatic. Get ready to explore Croatia’s sparkling highlights and live like the locals.
4.7
68 reviewsStart: Dubrovnik, Croatia
End: Split, Croatia
- Duration
- 7 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
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- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Discover the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast in Dubrovnik and maybe cruise to Lokrum Island where a botanical garden, Benedictine monastery and excellent swimming spots await.
- Indulge in specialty foods, local wine at Komiza – a local family property. Learn about the region’s farming history and taste some of the region’s best cuisines.
- Spend a full day exploring the beautiful waters of Vis – a former military base in Yugoslavia off the Dalmatian Coast. Visit Blue and Green Caves and swim in the secluded cove of Stiniva Beach.
- Wander through the renaissance architecture, turquoise-water beaches and natural landscapes of Hvar Island and sample traditional Dalmatian cuisine.
- Unwind in Split with a walk along the waterfront promenade and take time to explore the grand ruins of Diocletian's Palace.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Dubrovnik – the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, this gorgeous city is full of character and can easily be covered on foot. If you arrive early, maybe head out to one of the Elafiti Islands, like Lopud – a quiet island popular for hiking, clean beaches and a ruined castle – or Kolocep – great for scenic walks for every fitness level. Tonight, maybe get to know your fellow travellers over dinner.
- Hostel (twin share with private facilities) (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Dubrovnik - Welcome Meeting
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Beat the crowds with an early morning walk along Dubrovnik's city walls that surround the Old Town. Soak up the views of the sea from the fully intact medieval structure, then enjoy all that Dubrovnik has to offer with the remainder of the day free for you to explore. Visit Big Onofrio's Fountain – a masterpiece built by famous European architect Onofrio della Cava. Check out the Franciscan monastery with one of the world's oldest, continuously functioning pharmacies, founded in the 13th century. This afternoon, board a catamaran to Hvar. When you arrive, the rest of the evening is free for you to explore at your own pace.
- Private apartment (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dubrovnik - City Walls Walk
- Dubrovnik - City card
- Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites) - HRK180
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR30
- Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
- Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4
- Dubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
- Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
This morning, join your local leader on an orientation walk through the island. Known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, maybe explore Franciscan Monastery, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stari Grad or discover Vrboska – a small town known for its fishing boats and bustling harbour. After, maybe hike to the top of Spanjola Fortress for panoramic views over the region, relax on the beach or find a local restaurant and try some local dishes like pasticada (traditional stewed beef) and some fresh grilled vegetables with olive oil, usually served with fresh goat and sheep cheeses (and maybe some smoked ham to tie it all together).
- Private apartment (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Hvar - Atmospheric dinner at secluded bay
- Hvar - Orientation walk
- Korcula - Traditional Moreska Dance Performance - EUR18
- Korcula – City Museum - EUR6
- Korcula - Wine tasting at local winery - EUR20
- Korcula – Hop on hop off boat - EUR20
A morning boat trip takes you to the neighbouring island of Vis. In the heart of the Adriatic Sea and off the Dalmatian Coast, Vis is known for its ancient city walls and thermae (public bath). As you cruise around the island, stop at Green Cave for a swim. Then, maybe snorkel at Blue Cave before continuing to Stiniva Beach – a secluded cove with dramatic cliffs and a narrow entrance. This afternoon, return to Vis. Tonight, maybe relax on the gorgeous beaches or wander through the island’s bars and restaurants – aperitif at sunset, anyone?
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vis - Hvar to Vis Boat Trip
- Vis - Stiniva Beach visit
- Vis - Blue Cave visit
- Vis - Green Cave visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
This morning, set out on a military tour through Vis Island. The island used to be a military base in Yugoslavia which did not allow access to tourists. Here, you’ll visit local properties, indulge in local produce and hear historical stories of the island’s military background. Discover military facilities such as the rocket launcher base, cannon base and submarine tunnel, then sit down for a local wine and food tasting at the family property, Komiza. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe wander through the lavender fields, visit St Stephen’s Cathedral or simply unwind on the beach.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vis - Military & History Tour of the island
- Vis - Local produce degustation
- Vis - Komiza coastal town visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
Catch a boat to Split this morning. Situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, Split is the second largest city in Croatia. When you arrive, join a local guide for a walking tour of the seaside town and get to know its history. See the original and well-preserved basements under the city, the Cathedral in Diocletian's Palace and Jupiter's Temple. Explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace – Split's most imposing structure and some of the most interesting ruins on the Adriatic coast. Portions of the Palace are over 1700 years old! After, maybe grab a drink at a cafe on the Riva Promenade and people watch for a while. Tonight, maybe get your group together for a harbourside dinner and toast to a great trip.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Split - Guided City Tour
- Hvar Island - Spanjola Fortress - EUR7
- Hvar Island - St Stephen’s Cathedral - EUR2
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
There are no activities planned for today and you can leave your accommodation at any time. As there is so much to see in Split and the surrounding area, such as Salona, Trogir or Sibenik, you may want to consider extending your time in Split. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
- Breakfast
- Split - Cellars of the Diocletian's Palace - EUR8
- Split - Fish Market - Free
- Split – Highlights of Split Urban Adventure - EUR64
- Split - Marjan Hill Hike - Free
- Split - St Domnius Cathedral and Tower - EUR10
- Split - Ethnographic Museum - EUR3
- Split - City Museum - EUR4
- Split - Gallery of Fine Arts - EUR5
- Split - Ivan Mestrovic Gallery - EUR12
- Split - Archaeological Museum - EUR8
Inclusions and activities
6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Ferry, Public bus, Private vehicle
Hostel (1 night), Hotel (3 night), Private Apartment (2 nights)
- Dubrovnik - Welcome Meeting
- Dubrovnik - City Walls Walk
- Dubrovnik - City card
- Hvar - Atmospheric dinner at secluded bay
- Hvar - Orientation walk
- Vis - Hvar to Vis Boat Trip
- Vis - Stiniva Beach visit
- Vis - Blue Cave visit
- Vis - Green Cave visit
- Vis - Military & History Tour of the island
- Vis - Local produce degustation
- Vis - Komiza coastal town visit
- Split - Guided City Tour
- Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites) - HRK180
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR30
- Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
- Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4
- Dubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
- Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
- Korcula - Traditional Moreska Dance Performance - EUR18
- Korcula – City Museum - EUR6
- Korcula - Wine tasting at local winery - EUR20
- Korcula – Hop on hop off boat - EUR20
- Hvar Island - Spanjola Fortress - EUR7
- Hvar Island - St Stephen’s Cathedral - EUR2
- Split - Cellars of the Diocletian's Palace - EUR8
- Split - Fish Market - Free
- Split – Highlights of Split Urban Adventure - EUR64
- Split - Marjan Hill Hike - Free
- Split - St Domnius Cathedral and Tower - EUR10
- Split - Ethnographic Museum - EUR3
- Split - City Museum - EUR4
- Split - Gallery of Fine Arts - EUR5
- Split - Ivan Mestrovic Gallery - EUR12
- Split - Archaeological Museum - EUR8
This trip generates 19 kg of CO2-e per person per day
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Before you book you should know
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in this region (over 40°C), which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
- On Hvar Island, you’ll stay in private apartments that locals rent out during the summer months. These are in various buildings spread across town, but all are within a 15-minute walk of the main square. The apartments are not hotels, which means there's no reception, room service or daily cleaning service, no televisions or washing machines, but plenty of charm. They differ in layout and facilities, can vary in size, and most don't have air-conditioning or wi-fi. The individual rooms are allocated on a same-gender, twin-share basis. However, the apartments are allocated on a mixed-gender basis, so you’ll be sharing a two or three-room apartment with the other group members. We try to use apartments with rooms that include private facilities. On rare occasions, apartments may only have one bathroom to be shared between the group members staying in the same apartment. In this case, if you've booked a single supplement, you'll be allocated a single room, but you'll share the bathroom with the group.
- On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight to 15 kg.
- Please be aware that the Croatian coast is very hilly and mountainous, which means lots of steps are an inherent feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find Croatia's topography very demanding.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
PRIVATE APARTMENT ACCOMMODATION
Please note that on the islands of Korcula and Hvar we are staying in private apartments that locals rent out during the summer months. These are located in various buildings spread across town, but all are within 15 minutes walk of the main square. They differ in layout and facilities, can vary in size and most don't have air-conditioning. This is the most effective way of staying in the centre of town.
Hostel Sol
Obala Ivana Pavla II 13
Dubrovnik
CROATIA
Phone: +385 20610300
Description
Hostel Sol is located 450 metres from Gruz Port from which you can access ferries to surrounding islands. Frequent city buses connect the hostel to Pile Gate at the entrance of the old town. Alternatively you can take a taxi, or walk (about 30 minutes). The hostel has free Wi-Fi, comfortable modern rooms, TV and air-conditioning.
Instructions
Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals area at Dubrovnik Airport (airport code DBV). Alternatively an airport bus meets all arriving flights. From the final stop of the airport bus at the main bus station in Gruz, you can walk 5 min or 400 meters to Hostel Sol.
Pre booked arrival transfer from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV): If you have pre booked an arrival transfer, your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall, holding a board with Intrepid's Logo or your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +385 98 285 298.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, subject to availability. Please also note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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