Croatia Self Guided Walking Tour / Split – Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Islands

Tour Dates: April through October

Discover the best parts of Central Dalmatia – town Split and Islands Brac and Hvar, Korčula and Pelješac before finishing your Dalmatian coast tour in Dubrovnik – the pearl of the Adriatic. Spend couple of days in Split, with historical sites dating back to 300 A.C. and then leave for Dalmatian islands.

Besides walking, cultural and gastronomical discovery and exploration, you might want to enjoy swimming in beautiful Adriatic, as our tracks take
you along great and secluded beaches. This tour is designed with optional daily distances; shorter or longer. If you prefer to have a quiet day on the beach, it is possible! Or, if you prefer to walk for 4-5 hours per day you are able to do it! Enjoy walking along Roman, Venetian and Greek trails while
discovering local culture and gastronomy of Dalmatia – one of the most beautiful areas in Croatia!

2024 Price: From €1820

euros per person, double occupancy, depending on the level of accommodations and the season. Single Supplement: From €570 Euros Prices vary with dates, so contact us with your exact dates and we will provide prices.
Price Includes:
  • Welcome meeting and orientation briefing
  • 6 nights hotel lodging with breakfast (choose from classic 3 7 4 star lodging or premier 4 star lodging
  • Road book – information package with detailed route notes and maps, historical description, dinning suggestion and other important and useful information
  • luggage transfers
  • All the transfers mentioned in itinerary
  • 24/7 assistance and emergency contact
Price Does Not Include:

International flights, lunches, dinners

Tour Difficulty

  • Easy or moderate
  • Most of the days during this tour have option for longer or shorter walks. You walk at your own pace and there is no rush.

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the islands of Brac, Hvar and the town of Split
  • Visit old fisherman villages
  • Hiking, and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean
  • Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, olive oil and seafood of the Mediterranean

Itinerary

Day 1: Split

Welcome to Split, a 1,700-year-old Roman town!

Meet our representative in the morning for briefing regarding your walking tour along the Dalmatian coast and islands.
Start your walk along the coast, passing by a couple of beautiful bays and beaches, following the trail which will lead you to Marjan Park-Forest, a popular recreation place for citizens of Split. Discover many charming churches and paths with amazing views on Split, sea and nearby islands.
Later in the evening we suggest you to continue your walk and discover the old walls and basements of the Diocletian’s Palace, numerous cafés and restaurants serving fresh Mediterranean food!
Overnight: Split
Hiking distance: 7 (short loop) or 14 km (long loop) + exploring old town
Elevation gain: 180 m Duration: 3/5h + 2 h city walk
Highlights: Split, Marjan Park-forest, local beaches, green and fish market, Diocletian’s Palace

Day 2: Brač Island

You start the day with the boat ride from Split to Brac Island. Once you arrive to the island, you will have an option for west side loop which will take you along olive groves, laid back village of Sutivan and then back along the coast to the city of Supetar  or you can enjoy the easy coastal trail from Lovrečina bay. Whatever path you choose today, you will enjoy great views on the mainland and quiet coastal paths, discovering the ancient Greek and Roman ruins and sleepy fisherman villages. One of the trademarks of the island of Brač is limestone and stone quarries – the White House in Washington D.C. and Diocletian’s Palace in Split are just some of the sites that were built with that stone! All the ancient villages and towns on Brač Island are like an exhibition of the fine stone work!

What to do in the late afternoon is up to you – you can either spend your time at one of many beaches surrounding Supetar or discover historical sites and local culture before returning to Split.

Overnight: Split
Distance: 16 km or 14 km  Elevation gain: 190 or 140 m Duration: 5 or 3 h
Highlights: Brac Island, olive groves, fisherman villages, coastal paths
Meals: breakfast

Day 3: Hvar Island – the lavender road

Today you depart for your visit to your second island in Croatia – Island Hvar. It is rated as one of the “top ten most beautiful islands in the world” according to Traveller Magazine! Cultural and historical sites, lavender fields, crystal clear turquoise waters, charming villages and towns are just some of the highlights this island offers to its visitors. Go for a sightseeing walk along the narrow streets of the town of Stari Grad, literally translated as The Old Town. Founded in the 4th century B.C., it was one of the first Greek colonies in the Adriatic. You can enjoy numerous charming squares, restaurants and cafés of Stari Grad before setting off to the south coastline of Hvar Island, to the abandoned villages once famous for lavender and rosemary oil production. Along the way you will walk through lavender fields, olive groves and discover charming and hidden beaches with turquoise sea colour, before arriving to Hvar Town.

In the afternoon treat yourself with well-deserved coffee or aperitif in one of numerous bars at a Venetian-style piazza of Hvar Town before dinner.

Overnight: Hvar town
Distance: 12 km Elevation Gain: 310 m Duration: 3-4 h
Highlights: Inland villages of Velo and Malo Grablje, lavender fields, south coast of the island, secluded beaches with turquoise sea, Hvar Town
Meals: breakfast

Day 4: Hvar Town and Korcula Island

This morning, after the breakfast we suggest you to take a stroll to Fortica Španjola – the fortress located on the hill above Hvar town, where the latest renovations were done in the 16th century. A hike to the fortress will give you unforgettable panoramic views of the city, its surroundings and the Pakleni Islands. Located it the fortress, there is also a museum with collection of amphorae and other antique exhibits from the Middle Ages.

If you are interested in some real beach time, you can take a taxi boat to the Pakleni Islands, small, but beautiful archipelago located right in front of Hvar town where you can enjoy swimming in secluded bays and have a nice lunch overlooking the Adriatic!

Later in the afternoon, you will depart by boat to Korčula town, where you spend next two days.

Overnight: Korčula Town
Distance: 3 km Elevation gain: 100 m Duration: 2 h
Highlights: Hvar Town, Fortica fortress, optional visit to the Pakleni Islands, Korčula Town
Meals: breakfast

Day 5: Korčula – Marco Polo’s home & Kočje

Today you are exploring Island Korčula!
The island is considered to be the hometown of Marco Polo, the famous world traveller and the place where his silk road began. Korčula used to be a Greek colony, dating back to the 4th century and known as Korkyra Melaina (Black Korčula). Nowadays, the island is famous for the production of the best Croatian white wines – Pošip and Grk.

The hike today will take you through the nature park with some amazing rock formations and wild life. The walk itself is very relaxing, in an unusual, but very pleasant landscape for Dalmatian karst region. The area contains dolomite rock formations and is very densely forested. The hike through the nature park will lead you to the ancient Napoleon path. You will be walking  along olive groves, small vineyards and paths surronded with sage, oregano and other healthy herbs. The hike ends in the village of Pupnat, where you will have the option to enjoy a unique lunch prepared by Farac family. Most of the ingredients they use in meals grow or are grown in the fields you walked through.

You can spend the afternoon in the town of Korcula and explore its cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings and other architectural masterpieces made in Gothic and Renaissance style

Overnight: Korčula Town
Distance: 11.5 / 23 km Elevation gain: 110/ 310 m Duration: 2,5 . 4 h
Highlights: Nature Park of Korčula, Korčula Town, Pupnat village
Meals: breakfast

Day 6: Seaman story of Pelješac and the city of Dubrovnik

The morning begins with the short boat ride to Peljesac Peninsula and the town of Orebić. The town itself was founded in the 15th century as a part of the Republic of Dubrovnik (Ragusa). As it was famous for seaman and its maritime tradition, there are many charming stone houses (villas) of the once famous sea captains you can see even today in Orebić. Your hike starts from Orebić, going along the southern slopes of Mt. Ilija, where you will be passing by secluded vineyards, old Franciscan monastery and enjoying great views on Korčula and Pelješac archipelago. Once you reach the coast, walk along the waterfront through Kučište village on your way to Viganj, famous windsurfing destination.

Later this afternoon, you will make your way to the mainland. En route pass through Ston, where you will have to chance to discover the second longest city walls in Europe, ancient salt works and the important role this area had in the 14th century for the Republic of Dubrovnik. After a short break, you will set off to the “Pearl of the Adriatic” – the town of Dubrovnik where you will spend the last evening on your tour!

Overnight: Dubrovnik
Distance: 9 / (+4 km Ston walls) Elevation gain: 226 m
Duration: 2 h + optional Ston walls walk: 1 km
Highlights: Pelješac peninsula and Dubrovnik
Meals: breakfast

Day 7: Tour ends in Dubrovnik

Today after breakfast you can go for a walk in the old city town of Dubrovnik, the marble streets and Baroque buildings, and discover the rich history of once very important Republic of Dubrovnik. This walk will conclude your Dalmatian coast adventure and you will be ready to return to your homes enriched by the discovery of one small, but beautiful Mediterranean country! Pomalo!

Meals: breakfast