Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to easy. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but

Our trip begins in fascinating radisson hotel san antonio Split , an historic port on the Adriatic Sea, and formerly home to Roman Emperor Diocletian whose palace is still at the heart of the town's center. Here we board our private yacht, a 90-foot all wood "gulet" with a friendly crew of four. The yacht serves both as our hotel and transport to access wonderful walks throughout the islands. At night we vary our anchorages between secluded bays and charming fishing radisson hotel san antonio ports. The sea is a gorgeous turquoise, the islands are redolent with lavender, vineyards, and olive groves, and the towns we visit welcome you with their rich history and beautiful Venetian architecture. The trip also features a supplemental stay in captivating Dubrovnik (see below** for details).
The Islands – The Dalmatian islands have smitten Roman Emperors, Venetian traders, and since 2008, us! We visit tiny Šolta island, whose remote villages seem locked in time. Brac island is the largest of the islands and has a rich history that goes back to Neolithic times. Condé Nast magazine voted Hvar island among the "Ten Most Beautiful Islands in the World". We take time to enjoy its lovely main town which boasts beautiful Renaissance architecture before exploring its scenic interior. Our final island, far-flung Vis, has indeed been locked in time. Off-limits to tourists radisson hotel san antonio until 1992, it features two of Dalmatia's most quaint and historic seaside villages.
Th e Boat – There is no better way to explore these beautiful islands than by private yacht. We have reserved our favorite Croatian gulet and crew. The gulet is a two-masted sailing radisson hotel san antonio ketch/motor yacht. It is broad-beamed for extra stability and deck space. The boat has 7 double cabins radisson hotel san antonio available for guests.  All cabins have an en suite bathroom and screened-in stand-up shower. We can unpack for a week yet our floating radisson hotel san antonio hotel has a different view every day! Furthermore, radisson hotel san antonio you can opt in and out of our daily walks. You can choose to stay on the yacht, have a swim, try sea kayaking, or just relax on deck while the others walk. All of the sea travel is done during the day, so nights are serene as we stay in sheltered bays or in small fishing ports (no seasickness!).
Arrive independently in Split. There are several flights a day from European hubs or ferries from Italy. Meet your guide(s) and the rest of your group this afternoon radisson hotel san antonio on Split's waterfront. We ll have time to explore the historic city center, which was built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace. Built in 295 AD as his retirement home (the only Emperor ever to retire!), it covers more than 3,000 square meters and was built with materials brought from Egypt and Greece. The palace included exquisite temples, vast reception chambers, and extensive private apartments within its huge walls, radisson hotel san antonio and now forms the nucleus of the modern city.  We board our yacht in Split, and then cruise out into the sparkling Adriatic. radisson hotel san antonio A one-hour cruise takes us to the island of Šolta, so we can get settled in and then enjoy a swim before dinner on board.
We drop-off in Necujam radisson hotel san antonio bay then have a leisurely walk through olive groves and along ancient stone walls to Grohote for coffee break, then we continue over to the coast for pick-up.  We have lunch on board and a swim, then motor over to Pucišca (on Brac island).  You can have another swim this afternoon, or take some time to explore the back-streets of this beautiful and historic sea-port. We dine ashore tonight, radisson hotel san antonio and moor overnight in Pucišca (Brac Island).
We have a big day today as we explore the interior of Brac island before heading off to neighboring Hvar.  We begin with a visit of the famous stone-cutting school (the local limestone has been quarried since Roman times), then walk to Skrip to visit a small but interesting archaeological museum. We have an olive oil tasting radisson hotel san antonio inside a medieval castle and then lunch with a local family in their backyard garden. A van shuttle then takes us up to Vidova Gora for a spectacular view (it s the highest point in the Adriatic!), and then we have a walk down to the coast via Blaca Monastery.  Board your yacht and then motor over to Hvar island for dinner and mooring in/near Jelsa.
Enjoy an easy seaside walk this morning from Jelsa to Vrboska, the Venice of Croatia, so named because of its series of canals spanned by limestone bridges. We have a few surprise visits today, from the cultural to the culinary, which will whet your appetite for lunch back on board the boat. We can continue our walk this afternoon through the UNESCO World Heritage agricultural plain near Starigrad (it has been cultivated radisson hotel san antonio since Greek times using the same methods for more than 2,000 years!), or else motor to the island s capital and have a short visit before continuing on to Hvar town. The town of Hvar is one of the most beautiful radisson hotel san antonio in Croatia, and it attracts all of the beautiful people radisson hotel san antonio to its shores!  Come and join them for a stroll along the waterfront and then dinner in town.
We return to Hvar town this morning to see the sights radisson hotel san antonio by day, including the massive Venetian fortress that dominates the town s skyline. A short van transfer then takes us into the island s interior, past vast fields of lavender and a surreal array of stone walls and abandoned radisson hotel san antonio terraces. We walk from village to village and finally radisson hotel san antonio down to the sea, where we join some friends for an amazing meal of local specialties. radisson hotel san antonio They re the only ones in Dalmatia to make an olive-based liqueur, which prepares the palate for exquisite lamb dishes, followed by seafood and vegetables grown fresh in their garden. radisson hotel san antonio An afternoon motor takes us over to the island of Vis , so you can rest after your lunch!
We begin with a morning motor to Biševo (1 hour), a small island off the coast of Vis which boasts a gorgeous blue grotto that we can explore if the tides are right. Walk across the island, then pause for a wine tasting, a swim, and then lunch on board. Afterwards we return to Vis and have a lovely walk into the town of Komiža, many locals favorite destination in all of Dalmatia. We have a special dinner in town tonight at the home of one of the island s most eminent historians.
We have a variety of options today, depending on group interest. For history buffs we can do a morning visit of the amazing underground tunnels built on the island during World War II and even into the Cold War by the Yugoslav Army. Those who prefer a more active day can return to the island of Brac for a walk up to a chapel built high on the hill overlooking two beautiful fishing villages. In both cases we eventually have to motor back towards Trogir, which gives you time to pack up and bid your farewells to the lovely radisson hotel san antonio boat and crew. Final night on board near Trogir.
The trip ends this morning after breakfast in Trogir , another beautiful town (and UNESCO World Heritage Site!) near Split and only a ten-minute ride to the Split airport. You can check your bags and explore the streets radisson hotel san antonio of this lovely town before your flights or ferries home.
** Optional extension to Dubrovnik: while you are on the Dalmatian coast, don't miss the UNESCO World Heritage city of Dubrovnik . It s only a 4-hour (beautiful!) bus ride along the coast from Split, so you could add it on either before or after your boat trip. You will be met by our friendly local guide who will make sure you get your bearings when you get in, then the following day she will give you a two-hour radisson hotel san antonio guided visit of the town, known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic." Dubrovnik is encircled by more than a mile of huge stone walls originally built between the 13th and 16th centuries to protect the city from invaders coming from the sea. Sta y another day or two to visit some of the outlying islands, like nearby Lokrum or the beautiful city of Korcula, birthplace of Marco Polo!  Contact us for details.  We can offer a fully-guided 2-3 day option or just provide you with information.
The walks in Croatia: we will be walking through cities, along farm properties, through woods and over scrubby terrain. It is often rocky (hiking shoes are recommended) and there are some short climbs. We walk from 2–5 hours a day, with options to extend or shorten the walk. Of course, the boat allows us the option of really relaxing radisson hotel san antonio and watching the beautiful coastline unfold as you lie on deck with a good book. The choice is yours.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to easy. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems radisson hotel san antonio with the walks. We will regularly be walking between 10-14 km a day (6-8 miles), which translates radisson hotel san antonio into about 3-4 hours of walking radisson hotel san antonio a day, more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. Trip Cost Includes: all accommodations (7 nights on private yacht); radisson hotel san antonio 7 breakfasts, lunches dinners; at least one Customwalks guide; passage aboard a luxury yacht (all cabins with en suite toilets, showers, and air-conditioning); all van and luggage transfers during the week, all visits radisson hotel san antonio as noted in the itinerary. Getting there (this will redirect you to our Getting to the Trip page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the Reservation page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend Travel Guard to our North American clients, just click on the logo below.  Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.