Croatia: Islands & Mountains

Day 1
Fly to Dubrovnik; transfer to hotel. Once we have settled into the hotel we will take a public bus to the old town of Dubrovnik for dinner and an evening walk.

Day 2
In the morning after breakfast we will take a short transfer (about 35-40 minutes, 27 km) to the village of Mihanici. From here we will begin our walking tour of the Snjeznica mountain range. We will summit the highest peak, Sv. Ilija, which sits at 1234 m. From here we will be rewarded with stunning views over the Adriatic. We will then return to Dubrovnik and in the late afternoon we will have the opportunity to explore the old town. 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.
Walk approx. 13-15 km. Start 272m, max altitude 1234m.

Day 3
After breakfast we will transfer by bus to Tucepi (146km away, taking around 2h35min). Depending on time, we may have time to stop in Ston for a coffee en route. From here we will begin our walk to Makarska, through the Biokovo mountains. The Biokovo massif rises up steeply above the Makarska Riviera in three spectacular shelves, providing hiking at all levels and fabulous views. Our destination of Makarska is a small but lively town, tastefully restored in stone after a devastating earthquake in 1962. It has a fantastic 2km stretch of beach, so if we have a bit of time we can take a refreshing dip before we head for the island of Brac. We will catch the ferry from Makarska and transfer to Bol, by far the biggest draw on the island of Brac. Walk approx. 12-14km. Average altitude 350m, max altitude 460m.

Day 4
We will start today with a climb up Vidova Gora (780m). It is not only the highest point on the island of Brac, but on any Adriatic island so the views are simply fantastic. The mountain provides shelter to the famous Zlatni Rat - the 500m south-facing, triangular spit which forms the most popular beach on the island. Its beauty and its draw is such that you will see it featured on many postcards and tourist information across Croatia. Zlatni Rat will fill the views in the foreground but you will also be able to see over to the island of Hvar and the karst scenery on the mainland. The walk up to the summit will take us about 2-3 hours, but it is well worth the effort. In the afternoon, you can make the most of the glorious beach of Zlatni Rat. It is south facing, so ideal for an afternoon of rest and relaxation.
Walk approx. 12km. Start 0m, max altitude 780m.

Day 5
This morning we will catch the ferry to Split. We will make an early start as there are a lot of highlights today and we want to make the most of them. Firstly, we will take a bit of time to stop in Split. Split is Croatia's second biggest city, but the old centre is compact and easily explored on foot. The main draw is Diocletian's Roman Palace. The town as a whole is a lively and friendly place, with a bustling café culture, so it is simply a nice place to stop, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere. We will then have a transfer (approx. 84km) by bus to Krka National Park. Here we will begin our walk to the Skradinski Buk waterfalls. The Krka National Park is formed by the Krka River and waterfalls, the Skradinski Buk are the largest. Made up of a series of waterfalls dropping down in 17 dramatic steps, the area is accessed by wooden walkways and forest paths. It is worth packing your swimming costume as at the base of the waterfall you can take a dip in this beautiful natural environment. The area is also fantastic for wildlife, birdlife and flora and fauna, it is now an important wildlife sanctuary with several species endemic to the region or now extinct elsewhere in Europe. The walk will take around 2.5 hours and is all on easy paths. In the late afternoon we will transfer to Starigrad Paklenica.
Walk approx. 7km.

Day 6
Today we will have a walking tour of the National Park Paklenica. Paklenica is home to the two impressive canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica, vertically cut into the mountain where climbers from all across Europe ply their trade. In a relatively small area of the national park, there are several unusual karst forms, caves, and extremely rich and varied flora and fauna. Our 6-hour walk takes us through the quietest areas of the park, passing the unusual Mirila graves, the village of Tomici and finishing in the main canyon itself. In the afternoon we will return to Starigrad Paklenica for the evening.
Walk approx. 13km. Start 0m, max altitude 730m.

Day 7
Today we will have another opportunity to explore the National Park Paklenica, but this time we will climb Bojin Kuk (920m). The Bojinac group is made up of a vast area of limestone, with the karst scenery forming towers of rock, furrowed limestone cliff, caves and soft green meadows creating a contrast against the severe rock. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and a walkers paradise. We will walk for about 5-6 hours, returning to Starigrad Paklenica for the evening.
Walk approx. 12km. Start 261m, max altitude 920m.

Day 8
Transfer to Zadar; fly to London.