Yachting Croatia - Jewels of the Adriatic

Overview

The Adriatic Coast of Croatia is a colorful blend of old Europe. ROW's small group yacht tours explore the steep coastal mountains, golden strands of beach, small island towns, narrow streets of white limestone and elegantly carved balconies that all speak to Croatia's rich history. We yacht through the warm Adriatic Sea that weaves this magnificent tapestry together. With a Croatian guide and crew, this yacht tour fully immerses you in the local culture and history.

These trips are priced based on the number of guests per trip. Roll-over the trip name below for the tier price breakdown.

   

• Trip Duration: 12 Days
• Intensity: Easy
• Season: May - October
• Begins in: Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Closest Airport: Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia

Details

A holiday in Croatia cruising aboard a private yacht is a vacation dream come true. When seen from space, NASA astronauts report that the Adriatic Sea, nestled between Italy and Croatia, is the bluest in the world. From the deck of your yacht you look into waters that sparkle with a clarity that has been attracting seafarers, conquerors and visitors since the beginning of civilization. Croatia’s Adriatic coast, known as Dalmatia, with its mountainous backdrop, pristine beaches, captivating villages and historical pedigree offers a myriad of opportunities for the inquisitive tourist. The numerous islands, strung like jewels along this coastline, offer visitors a truly inspirational glimpse of what Dalmatia has to offer. The idyllic island towns are a melting pot of architectural influences from the classic lines of the Greeks and Romans to the decorative styles of the Byzantines and Venetians. Of the thousand plus islands along Croatia’s coast, only 66 are inhabited, home to a proud and charismatic people who welcome those hungry to share their traditions.

ROW has a history of operating trips in Croatia that spans over 20 years; no other U.S. adventure travel company can boast these credentials. Our unique 12-day adventure immerses you in the rich history and culture of this European gem. With a Croatian guide, captain and crew we start our journey in either Split or Dubrovnik setting sail on a journey that takes us through the best of these treasures, venturing into the fishing hamlets, olive groves and vineyards that the islands are famous for. We discover hidden coves and natural wonders as well as exceptional architecture, walking to some of the most beautiful monasteries in Europe. Most importantly we spend time with the locals, savoring their hospitality, dining on local fare, sampling local wines and absorbing the atmosphere and entertainment of the region. The atmosphere on our Croatian cruise is casual and you're welcome to sleep on the deck under a starlit sky. Food aboard our yachts is excellent, sourced from the freshest of local ingredients and prepared lovingly by a talented Croatian chef.

Our Yachts: Our primary yacht is the Romanca, a 105’ traditional Croatian-made motor/sail vessel constructed in 1998 of solid Slavonian oak with polished teak decks. The Blue Star is our other yacht, slightly smaller at 87’ she is a traditional steel-hulled sailing ketch. These are among the finest yachts in the Adriatic and both offer comfortable accommodations in large double cabins all with private facilities. Most importantly both offer large amounts of deck space allowing our guests to enjoy the blue skies of the day and the wonder of the stars by night. View the yacht descriptions and cabin layouts here.

In addition to scheduled departures, ROW can arrange private charters on a variety of other yachts for as few as four, or as many as 20.

If you need to purchase some gear before your trip, ROW has assembled the more common items at our ROWear online store, hosted by New Headings.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart from Home

Day 2 - Arrive in the beautiful historic city of Split** and check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival time you may want to enjoy a stroll around the city and start to absorb the atmosphere of this amazing country.

**Please Note: Some trips depart from Dubrovnik so the Itinerary will operate in reverse.

Day 3 - After a leisurely breakfast your guide will join you at your hotel for a brief orientation meeting followed by a guided walking tour of Split. We get acquainted with the incredible history of the city including the Palace and Mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and the Temple of Jupiter. We also get a feeling for the vibe of the city, strolling through its colorful street markets, relaxing cafes and bayside promenade. In the early afternoon we head to the yacht for lunch and to settle in to our cabins where we will spend the next 7 nights of our Croatian Cruise.

Itinerary Note: The exact itinerary is subject to weather conditions and may vary. Wind conditions are quite variable, but the seas are usually calm. In order to maximize the time available for explorations we normally travel under motor power. While the sails may go up once or twice, this should not be considered a sailing trip but rather a cruise on a motor-sail yacht.

Day 4 - Today our yacht cruises from Split to Starigrad making a stop along the way to allow for a cooling swim near the island of Brac (this island is where the limestone used to build the Whitehouse was quarried). A highlight of our trip is the active 2 mile hike to a hidden monastery in the hills. Late in the afternoon we arrive at the Island of Hvar and visit Starigrad home of Croatia's much loved poet, Petar Hektorovic. Enjoy a stroll around this lovely town and take in the ancient stone walls dating back to the Illyrian period.

Day 5 - After a delicious breakfast on the boat we hike for several miles through fields and vineyards to the charming town of Vrboska. Nestled between ancient pine forests and vineyards Vrboska's narrow streets and ancient buildings offer a surprise find for the visitor, a fortified church housing a magnificent collection of paintings, including some by Titian. Later we return to the boat for a well deserved lunch and take a relaxing cruise to the medieval port town of Hvar. Referred to as one of the "Isles of the Blessed" this is a perfect place to spend an evening on shore and have dinner while enjoying the beauty of the town and the ever present fragrance of citrus groves and flower gardens

Day 6 - Today we have another chance to visit the the market in Hvar and venture into the quiet back streets of this captivating town. Those looking for a more active morning may want to hike to the 16th Century Venetian Citadel for spectacular views over the sea and town. If the weather is kind we will sail to Vis in the afternoon or relax, perhaps visiting the beautiful lavender fields.

Day 7 - If we have not already made it to Vis we will try again today stopping to enjoy a refreshing swim en route. Depending on weather we will either stop at the town of Vis or sail directly to the beautiful blue grotto on the island of Bisevo. Tito's HQ during WWII and only open to tourists since 1989, Vis is truely off the beaten path. During our visit we will get to know both its facinating history and sample some of the best wine Croatia has to offer.

Day 8 - After breakfast we have another chance to expore this incredible island and with fair winds our yacht will begin the journey South to the Island of Korcula, birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. One of the most dramatic medieval walled towns in the whole of Europe Korcula boasts a magnificent array of architectural styles ranging from the 14th to the16th century and houses an impressive collection of religious art. We will meet up with our local guide who loves to share his unique knowledge of the towns rich and colorful history. Hopefully we will have the chance to hear local "Clappa" singers during our time here.

Day 9 - Today we begin the final part of our Croatia cruise on the yacht as we head towards the beautiful UNESCO city of Dubrovnik. We arrive there in the late afternoon and have a chance to relax on board and enjoy our last dinner with the captain and crew.

Day 10 - After breakfast we say farewell to the captain and crew and transfer to our hotel in Dubrovnik. This beautiful and historic city has long been admired by all those who have seen it, George Bernard Shaw called it "Paradise on Earth". Housed inside magnificent city walls Dubrovnik is a no car zone making strolling around the polished stone streets a delight. The splendor of marble fountains, numerous gallaries and chuches is complemeted perfectly by the vivacious and animated people who live here. In the afternoon you leave your trip leader behind to meet with a local guide who will share the rich history and culture of this veritable outdoor museum. In the evening climb the city walls and experience the most amazing sunset over Dubrovnik's red tiled rooftops.

Day 11 - Enjoy a free day in Dubrovnik exploring more of the amazing galleries and sights, sit in a cafe and watch the world go by while soaking up the vitality of the city or head to the beach for some well earned relaxation.

Day 12 - Continue your travels, or travel home.

Croatia has so much to offer that we recommend you visit Zagreb, the capital, or venture further into the spectacular Plitvice National Park. Other possible extensions incude Venice, Slovenia, Istria and Montenegro. We are happy to help with this and can make any and all arrangements you might want, including hotels, tours, etc.

ROW Difference

The ROW Difference in Croatia

• ROW has been running yacht trips in Croatia longer than any other US or Canadian adventure travel company with experience spanning over 20 years
• Trips are limited to just 16 guests
• Smaller yachts mean a more intimate and personal trip experience
• We provide a dedicated trip leader who will be with you for the entire journey
• All of our guides are local, including a 5th generation Vintnier. They all love to share their country's beauty, culture and history with guests.
• All of our guides are bilingual
• Our itinerary is designed to provide as much or as little activity as preferred, visit as many points of interest as possible while still maintaining the balance between relaxation and discovery
• We visit the more off the beaten path locations thus avoiding the crowds
• While on the yacht all of your meals are included accompanied by local wines and beers in reasonable quantities

Responsible Travel

We are proud that our Croatia yacht trips strive to conserve the environment and benefit the local economy of the towns and islands we visit along the Adriatic coast.

• We stay, where possible, in smaller locally owned hotels at the beginning and end of our trips. When onshore we eat in local restaurants. On the yacht we eat meals prepared from locally sourced ingredients
• We charter Croatian owned and crewed yachts
• We employ local Croatian guides
• Our trips offer an excellent opportunity for our guests to interact with locals, providing a strong cultural emphasis
• We encourage environmentally friendly practices on the yacht, changing bedlinen only once on the trip, recycling where possible. We are working to educate the crew and encourage guests to consider the impact of everything they do - e.g. providing a central drinking water source for guests to fill personal water bottles rather that hand out individual plastic bottles every day