Croatia Uncovered

Your holiday begins with a short flight to Split before we transfer to Trogir a delightful old town on the Adriatic Coast. We have left this afternoon free to ease you into your holiday. Why not take advantage of the hotel facilities, head to the beach or take a short troll into the town to enjoy a light bite in a café along the promenade?

This evening, we’ll come together for a welcome drink and dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll meet up with our Local Guide for a walking tour around the historic highlights of Trogir. Wander through the cobblestone streets lined with medieval buildings and visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence that dominates the Old Towns skyline. Here you’ll see Radovan’s Portal, the intricately designed doorway of the cathedral which garners as much interest and attention as the building itself.
Afterwards time in Trogir, we'll head off to visit Krka National Park. This is a highlight for many travellers to Croatia where crystal-clear lakes are fed by stunning waterfalls and surrounded by lush greenery. We’ll walk along trails to see some of the natural wonders here - one of the most recognisable is the Skradinski Buk falls, a collection of 17 waterfalls.

Finally, we’ll drive to the medieval walled city of Zadar for a two-night stay. There is time to settle into your hotel and explore at leisure before we meet for dinner this evening.

This morning we'll join our Local Guide and embark on a walking tour of the beautiful city of Zadar, which has a history spanning three millennia and is a treasure trove of Roman ruins, medieval churches and charming squares dotted with cafes. You'll love the old frescoes of the Romanesque Zadar Cathedral, while the Church of St Donatus, with its distinctive circular shape, contains columns recycled from the old Roman Forum.

But that’s not all – Zadar is home to the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun installations. The first is an experimental instrument built into marble steps - as waves pass through pipes under marble steps, a relaxing sound is created. The later, is a solar-powered installation by the same architect which collects energy during the day and comes to life at night.

Following the city tour, we’ll get a taste of the local culture when we are welcomed by the Konoba family for lunch. Here we'll enjoy the popular Croatian speciality 'peka' - a traditional dish of meat and vegetables that is cooked 'under the bell'. This is a very famous way of preparing food that is typically cooked to order in restaurants or at home for special occasions. Food is placed in a metal pan then covered by a second pan, forming a closed metal oven and placed inside a fireplace – you’ll find that the food that has been cooked this way, retains all the delicious flavours.

This afternoon is free to explore Zadar at your own pace, why not head back to the Greeting to the Sun installation later this evening and see the memorising light display

After breakfast we'll head towards Sibenik, a scenic fortress town located in a picturesque bay where the Krka River meets the Adriatic Sea. We’ll have time here to meander through the town’s winding streets and past historic stone buildings. At the heart of Sibenik we’ll find the medieval central town square overlooked by the Cathedral of St James, where the sculptures of 71 heads adorn an exterior frieze and opposite, see the porticoed Town Hall – destroyed in 1943 and now restored.

This afternoon we'll travel to Split, where we'll board our home for the rest of the trip, the MV Adriatic Pearl. Chartered exclusively for Travelsphere guests, this beautiful vessel carries a maximum of 36 passengers and features a spacious sunbathing area, hot tub and swimming platform. There’s plenty of space to relax as you cruise from port to port and the ship will make swim stops along the way so that you can cool off in the glittering Adriatic.

This evening you will enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board. The ship will remain docked in Split overnight.

Croatia is known for its production of high-quality olive oils and the country’s landscape is dotted with family-owned groves and small-scale olive oil producers. This morning, as we sail to our first port of call, we'll learn how it’s made and enjoy a tasting to appreciate the varied aromas and flavours of this traditional culinary ingredient.

After lunch we’ll arrive in Korcula, a laid-back Croatian island blanketed by dense pine forests. The reputed birthplace of famous adventurer Marco Polo, it boasts a well-preserved medieval walled city. Step ashore and you’ll discover atmospheric streets watched over by the majestic St Mark’s Cathedral. Built in the 15th century from pale-coloured limestone, this impressive building features a façade decorated with intricate figures and statues, and a lovely bell tower topped by an ornately carved dome.

This afternoon, you can join your Holiday Director and discover the sights of Korcula on an optional guided walking tour or, if you’d prefer time to yourself, head off and explore independently. The choice is yours!

As night falls, you’re free to stay in Korcula Town and dine in a restaurant of your choosing. Alternatively, if you'd like to try some Dalmatian specialities, our optional guided walking tour of Zrnovo, one of the oldest villages on the island, includes a home-cooked dinner.

Today you can relax and soak up the sun as we cruise south to Dubrovnik. After lunch on board, you will have plenty of free time to explore this amazing walled city and learn about its colourful history.

Why not start with a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Old Town, where local people chat outside their homes and the narrow streets are lined with cafés, shops and restaurants. Then, perhaps you’ll choose to walk around the magnificent city walls. Centuries old, they were built to protect the city from attack and include a series of impressive forts and gates. From up here, the views over the glistening Adriatic Sea and red-roofed buildings of the Old Town are simply stunning, so be sure to bring your camera.
There are lots of wonderful places to eat in Dubrovnik and this evening is yours to explore what's on offer in the city's restaurants and to have dinner wherever you fancy. Perhaps you’ll be tempted by the riblja plata, a delicious mixed platter of fish and shellfish.

This morning, you’re going to discover more of Dubrovnik’s charm and learn about its history on a guided tour of the Old Town. There is so much to see and do in this fascinating city, so you’ve another free afternoon to stay ashore and make the most of every minute! Maybe you’ll enjoy lunch in a tucked-away café before heading back to the Old Town to browse the delightful shops selling traditional Croatian handicrafts.

Perhaps you’ll stroll along the famous Stradun to the former Rector’s Palace, a Gothic-Renaissance building that’s now a cultural history museum. Another popular choice is a visit to the Franciscan Monastery, which houses one of oldest pharmacies in Europe. Alternatively, for amazing panoramic views of the city and beyond, the cable-car ride up Srd Hill is a must!

Back on board the ship, there’s time to relax and get ready for a special Captain’s Dinner, a great excuse to dress up

Relax over a leisurely breakfast and enjoy the facilities on board your ship as we journey north along the beautiful Adriatic coastline. The captain may even be able to drop anchor so you can enjoy a swim in the crystal-clear waters. Later, after lunch on board, we will arrive at one of the most attractive of the Adriatic islands, Mljet. It boasts pretty beaches, traditional villages and a spectacular national park.

In the company of an expert Local Guide, we will uncover the untouched natural beauty of this important and impressive national park. At its centre are two bright blue saltwater lakes surrounded by dense green forest. Said to have formed more than 10,000 years ago, the lakes have their own unique ecosystem and support an array of sea life including fish, jellyfish and coral. An island in the centre of one of the lakes is home to a remarkable Benedictine Monastery and a charming church.

You'll want to be on deck today to admire the sensational views as your ship approaches the fashionable island of Hvar, with its fields of fragrant lavender, vineyards and ancient olive groves. In the main town, also called Hvar, there’s a lovely seafront promenade and an array of elegant old buildings to admire, including the Cathedral of St Stephen which sits in the town’s main square. You can choose to see the sights on an optional walking tour or if you prefer to explore independently, we’ll see you back on board later.

Next, we head to the tranquil island of Solta, stepping ashore in Stomorska. This fishing village is famed for its fleet of ancient wooden ships originally used to transport the island's wine and olive oil to the mainland. Only a handful of tourist ships visit this picture-perfect island, and you’ll have plenty of free time to wander and find a restaurant for dinner. Maybe try some fresh fish and sample the superb red wine made from grapes grown on the island.

As we near the end of our journey, we head back to Split, a city we’ll explore together on a guided walking tour. The Diocletian's Palace is an unforgettable highlight. Commissioned in the 4th century by Emperor Diocletian as his retirement home, it is one of the world's most impressive Roman monuments. Inside its walls, around 200 buildings line a maze of bustling narrow streets and house an array of restaurants, bars and shops.

We'll visit a market selling fresh produce, and then you can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring at your own pace. Perhaps stroll to Bacvice beach and enjoy a refreshing glass of Karlovacko, a popular Croatian beer, overlooking the shimmering water of the Adriatic.

Back on the ship, there's a lovely farewell evening planned.

After your final breakfast on board the ship it’s time to say farewell to your crew and fellow passengers. After disembarking in Split, we’ll drive you to the airport in good time for your flight home.