Dubrovnik & The Dalmatian Coast

Day 1
Start Split. On arrival we take a short transfer to the UNESCO town of Trogir in time for dinner. We stay in the old walled part of this charming town.

Day 2
We look around Trogir in the early morning before we take a short transfer to Split, another UNESCO city. There will be free time in the beautiful old city centre before we catch a fast ferry in the late afternoon to the island of Korcula. The mediaeval walled town of Korcula, reputedly the birthplace of Marco Polo, is often described as a mini Dubrovnik. This picturesque town is located at the tip of the island where the distinctive red roofs jostle for space between ancient towers. Like Dubrovnik the old town is a warren of small lanes and alleys: a great place to explore and a photographer's paradise.

Day 3
Time to stretch the legs a little and visit the interior of the island. We transfer after breakfast to the village of Pupnat and start our walk back to Korcula Town. Korcula Island is one of the most varied and wooded of the Adriatic Islands, providing welcome shade during the summer months and a pleasant walking environment. The route follows a series of paths and tracks through olive groves, vineyards and peaceful hamlets.

Day 4
After breakfast we transfer by boat to Mljet Island whose National Park status has ensured limited development. The island is a lovely tranquil place to walk, cloaked in forest and dotted with tiny hamlets. Our goal today is to reach the peak of Montokuc, which offers panoramic views of the beautiful Dalmatian Coast, before returning to our hotel on Korcula.

Day 5
We return to the mainland today and the wonderful city of Dubrovnik. The drive follows the Peljesac Peninsula, home to numerous vineyards, where we will have the chance to try the local wines as well as oysters in one of the restaurants in Ston en route.

Day 6
A full day in the remarkable old city of Dubrovnik which includes the Rector's Palace, the Franciscan and the Dominican Monasteries. Dubrovnik exudes old-world charm with its location right on the Adriatic, the fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and the jumble of red-tiled roofs. The shelling of Dubrovnik by Serb troops in 1991 and 1992 outraged the world. Fortunately over the last 10 years great care has been taken to re-build the damaged parts of Dubrovnik and the city has now returned to its former glory. The cobblestoned streets of the Old town, or Stari Grad, features fountains, churches, palaces and museums - all built from the same light coloured stone. There are no motor vehicles in the city but at night the streets come alive as locals and visitors take an early evening stroll along the Stradun. This is the main street and is covered in smooth shiny marble. Following the walking tour, there will be time for a walk along the famous city walls: this is optional and costs 10 Euros for entrance into the site.

Day 7
Today is free for further exploration of the city. Relax either on a boat trip or the beach or perhaps enjoy an optional visit to the famous bridge at Mostar in neighbouring Bosnia Herzegovina (subject to availability). The old bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was destroyed in 1993 but the bridge has been reconstructed with a combination of new stone and sections of the old bridge recovered from the River Neretva below. Opened by the Prince of Wales in 2004, the bridge symbolises both the destruction of the Balkan conflict and the hopes of the local and international communities for closer relations between the past warring factions.

Day 8
End Dubrovnik.