Accommodation

We typically stay in three-star properties, all well-located in towns and villages with a good variety of restaurants, allowing you to indulge in the fantastic local cuisine. Below are the hotels we typically use. Dubrovnik: Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (annex) (nights 1-2) Our first two nights are spent at either Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (above), both three-star beachside properties. The 151-room Vis hotel, sandwiched between pine trees and the Adriatic, has a rooftop terrace, bar, and a seaside restaurant serving local and international cuisines. The 113-room Komodor is split between a main stone building built in 1934 and a 50-room annex, which we stay in. It is close to restaurants and bars, and the bus stop for the Old Town is just in front of the hotel. A pebble beach is nearby or you can enjoy the outdoor pool. Bol, Brac: Villa Daniela (nights 3-4) This family-run hotel is a 15-minute stroll to the beloved Golden Horn beach. Katarina is one of the friendliest receptionists you’ll meet and her father has a lovely traditional restaurant you can visit – it will be a dinner to remember. Traditional dishes made from local produce and vegetables grown in their garden will possibly be the culinary highlight of your trip. Starigrad Paklenica: Hotel Vicko (nights 5-7) Hotel Vicko is a short stroll from a public beach, ideal for a quick dip after walking through beautiful Paklenica National Park, and there is a good restaurant serving local dishes. This hotel truly understands the meaning of a hiker tourist; they never complain about muddy shoes or a wet overcoat and will help you dry out. Their breakfast has various choices, and their restaurant menu comprises secret family recipes spiced with medical herbs from the great mountain of Velebit. Worth knowing In recent years, Croatia has regained its place as a popular tourist destination with visitor levels nearly as high as before the Balkan conflict. Unfortunately, many hotels were damaged beyond repair during those years and demand now heavily outstrips supply. As a result, hotel prices are high and Croatia is not the cheap destination some might expect. Hotels tend to be more functional than luxurious with Communist-era architecture and facilities. We work with several hotels to ensure availability and a comfortable place to rest. Some hotels we use don’t have lifts.

Transport

Travel will be by private bus, scheduled ferry services and local public bus in Dubrovnik.

Others

All transport and listed activities

Guide

Normally four to 16, plus leader and driver.

Meals

All breakfasts are included. For breakfast you can expect a large continental buffet with meats and cheeses, bread, jams and pastries, plus tea and coffee. Croatian cuisine is a mixture of fine seafood, grilled meat, pizza, pasta and salads, with influences from central Europe, Italy and the Balkans. Some specialities that we highly recommend include squid-ink risotto and octopus salad.

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available from) — Visas or vaccinations — Local bus tickets in Dubrovnik

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Dubrovnik

The tour starts in the fascinating old city of Dubrovnik. Situated right on the Adriatic Sea, the fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and the jumble of red-tiled roofs make this a truly enchanting place. In the evening, we may have the opportunity to take a walk around the city (subject to flight arrival time) and go out for an optional group meal where we will have a briefing about the tour. Accommodation: Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Walk From Gornji Obod To Strazisce Peak; Transfer To Dubrovnik, Explore The Old Town (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Walk From Gornji Obod To Strazisce Peak; Transfer To Dubrovnik, Explore The Old Town (Breakfast)

After breakfast we take a short transfer (about 25 minutes) to the village of Gornji Obod. From here we follow a path that zig-zags up to the village of Velji Do. After a break, the walk continues up to Strazisce Peak; at the top we are rewarded with spectacular views back over Dubrovnik and can see the commemorative cross in memory of the US aircraft that crashed delivering aid in 1996. We return to Velji Do and then catch a bus back to Dubrovnik where we have the afternoon to enjoy the city. The shelling of Dubrovnik by Serb troops in 1991 and 1992 outraged the world. Fortunately, great care has been taken over the last decade to rebuild and the city has now returned to its former glory. The cobblestoned streets of the old town, or Stari Grad, feature 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 people take an early evening stroll along the Stradun – this is the main street and is covered in smooth shiny marble. Accommodation: Hotel Vis or Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Transfer Up The Coast To The Biokovo Massif; Walk Above The Town Of Makarska; Transfer To Bol On The Island Of Brac (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Transfer Up The Coast To The Biokovo Massif; Walk Above The Town Of Makarska; Transfer To Bol On The Island Of Brac (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we will transfer by bus to Tucepi. This transfer takes about 3hr 30min, including a coffee break en route. Once in Tucepi we begin our walk to Makarska, through the Biokovo mountains. The Biokovo massif rises steeply above the Makarska Riviera in three spectacular shelves, providing hiking for 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 1.2mi (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 Brac. Accommodation: Villa Daniela (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Climb Vidova Gora For Views Over Bol And Zlatni Rat, The Golden Beach; Afternoon To Relax On The Beach (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Climb Vidova Gora For Views Over Bol And Zlatni Rat, The Golden Beach; Afternoon To Relax On The Beach (Breakfast)

We start today with a 20-minute transfer to the small village of Gazul, where we begin our walk to the peak of Vidova Gora (2,559ft/780m above sea level). The first part of our walk will take us through woodland for around 90 minutes as we gradually ascend 755ft (230m) to the summit of the highest point on Brac. The views from the top of Vidova Gora are spectacular; we can see all the way to the island of Hvar in the distance and the 1,640ft (500m) long spit of Zlatni Rat jutting out to sea in the foreground – this view is one that features on many postcards in Croatia, so make sure to bring your camera. From here, our walk is downhill for around two hours towards the town of Bol. In the afternoon you can make the most of the glorious beach of Zlatni Rat. It is south-facing – ideal for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. Accommodation: Villa Daniela (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: Catch The Ferry To Split And Explore The Old Town Before Transferring To Krka National Park; Visit The Skradinski Buk Waterfalls (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Catch The Ferry To Split And Explore The Old Town Before Transferring To Krka National Park; Visit The Skradinski Buk Waterfalls (Breakfast)

We begin with a morning ferry transfer to Split, the second biggest city in Croatia. The old centre is compact and easily explored on foot; many make a beeline to the best-known attraction, Diocletian’s Palace. The town as a whole is a lively and friendly place with a cafe culture. Stop, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere. We then have a transfer (approximately 52mi/84km) by bus to Krka National Park. Here we begin our walk to Skradinski Buk, a series of waterfalls dropping down in 17 dramatic steps. The area is accessed by wooden walkways and forest paths. It’s also a fantastic spot for wildlife – an important sanctuary with several endemic species, some now extinct elsewhere in Europe. The walk will take around 2hr 30min and all on easy paths. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Starigrad Paklenica. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: Velika Paklenica National Park Gorge Walk Via Ramici Village (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Velika Paklenica National Park Gorge Walk Via Ramici Village (Breakfast)

In the morning we take a transfer to the western part of Paklenica National Park where we start our hiking tour passing old villages and fields, hidden among rocky towers and ridges of this limestone realm. After reaching the highest point of the day (approx. 760m), offering splendid views of Velika Paklenica Canyon from the west, we go down to the main canyon and descend to the entrance of the park, admiring the mighty walls of Velika Paklenica along the way. As one of the most popular climbing destinations in the region, Paklenica attracts climbers from all over the world. While hiking down the canyon, you will be able to admire the courage and determination of climbers whom we will see high above us in the vertical world of Paklenica cliffs. We end the hike at the park entrance and take a short (10min) transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: Another Day In Paklenica National Park; Walk To A Meadow Beneath Bojin Kuk Peak Before Returning To Starigrad Paklenica In The Afternoon (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Another Day In Paklenica National Park; Walk To A Meadow Beneath Bojin Kuk Peak Before Returning To Starigrad Paklenica In The Afternoon (Breakfast)

Today we have another opportunity to explore the wonderful wilderness of Paklenica National Park and complete the most challenging hike of the trip. We walk to the saddle of Pod Jaginim Kukom, which has a great view up to Bojin Kuk. The Bojinac group is made of a vast area of limestone, with the karst scenery forming towers of rock, furrowed limestone cliffs, caves and green meadows creating a contrast against the severe rock. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and a walker’s paradise. Today’s walk takes about five to six hours, the terrain is quite challenging and rocky and requires concentration, steady footing and good balance. En route, we pass the unusual Mirila graves. This afternoon, we return to Starigrad Paklenica in time for a swim and relaxation before leaving Croatia tomorrow. Accommodation: Hotel Vicko (or similar)
Day 8 Day 8: End Zadar Airport (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End Zadar Airport (Breakfast)

Enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel this morning, before starting your return journey home. Of course, if you’d like a little time to explore Zadar, home to Roman ruins and intriguing art installations, speak to your sales representative about extending your hotel stay.

8 days tour

Walking Croatia: Islands & Mountains

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Walking Croatia: Islands & Mountains

Day 1: Start Dubrovnik

Day 2: Walk From Gornji Obod To Strazisce Peak; Transfer To Dubrovnik, Explore The Old Town (Breakfast)

Day 3: Transfer Up The Coast To The Biokovo Massif; Walk Above The Town Of Makarska; Transfer To Bol On The Island Of Brac (Breakfast)

Day 4: Climb Vidova Gora For Views Over Bol And Zlatni Rat, The Golden Beach; Afternoon To Relax On The Beach (Breakfast)

Day 5: Catch The Ferry To Split And Explore The Old Town Before Transferring To Krka National Park; Visit The Skradinski Buk Waterfalls (Breakfast)

Day 6: Velika Paklenica National Park Gorge Walk Via Ramici Village (Breakfast)

Day 7: Another Day In Paklenica National Park; Walk To A Meadow Beneath Bojin Kuk Peak Before Returning To Starigrad Paklenica In The Afternoon (Breakfast)

Day 8: End Zadar Airport (Breakfast)

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