Best Of Croatia - 8 Days

Arrival to our base in Komolac (Dubrovnik) by 4 pm and boarding. The catamaran will be your home for the first two nights of the trip. If you are worried about staying on the boat, rest assured – we have land options available for you as well, just let us know. We cruise towards Sipanska Luka, a charming and romantic fishing village in a bay surrounded with palm trees. With hardly any traffic, it is a perfect destination to explore on foot or by bike. After settling into your accommodation, we will meet for dinner and brief orientation where we will learn more about the upcoming holiday and get to know our fellow travelers. Sipan will be our base for the first two nights of the holiday.

Note: We recommend flights that arrive by 3 pm in order to make the 4 pm meeting in Dubrovnik. It is possible to catch up with the group if you have a later arrival, too. If you arrive after 6 pm, you may miss the last boat to the island and need to spend the first night on land. If you want to spend more time in Dubrovnik, we recommend that you plan your arrival one day earlier.

Accommodation: catamaran. Meals: D.

• 3 hours

We paddle out of Luka Sipanska this morning and head west towards Jakljan, Tajan and Olipa islands. All three are uninhabited and their beaches can only be accessed from a small boat or kayak. You will have plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling before returning to Luka Sipanska. The Elaphiti Islands are one of the best Croatian archipelagos for sea kayaking and paddling. Some of the nicest spots can be reached only from the sea and the islands have an interesting and indented coastline, with many coves and beaches waiting to be explored. Accommodation: catamaran; Meals: B, L; Sea Kayaking: 3-4 h, easy/moderate.

• 1 h

We have an early start today as we take the early boat to mainland and head out to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The highlight of Mostar is the Old Bridge (Stari most), which was originally built in 1566 while this area was a part of the Ottoman Empire. Destroyed during the war in 1993 but rebuilt in 2004 in its original form, the Old Bridge is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we will drive to the town of Ljubuski and enjoy a trip on narrow Trebizat River surrounded by lush forests teeming with birds and the stunningly beautiful karst landscape formed by the river over thousands of years. Our accommodation for tonight is a nice and friendly family-run hotel, situated by the river and serving traditional meals and local specialties. Accommodation: Ljubuski hotel (Typically Motel Most); Meals: B, D; Canoeing: 1 h, class I-II, easy; Drive: 1 h ferry, 2 h to Mostar, 45 min to the Trebizat.

• 3 h

Today we drive north, to the banks of the Cetina River where we will spend the morning rafting. Clear green waters, jungle-like forests, caves and waterfalls will thrill you and make this rafting trip an unforgettable experience. This trip is also very safe, this section of the river is calm enough for families and absolute beginners. After the rafting trip we continue towards Split. We stop at Split where you can to take a walk on its popular palm tree promenade and visit the Roman emperor Diocletian’s palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 4th century. Later in the afternoon we continue towards Krka River NP, and we stay in the small town of Skradin for the night. Accommodation: Krka River NP area hotel 3*** (normally Hotel Skradinski Buk); Meals: B, D; Rafting: 3 h, class II-III, easy/moderate; Drive: 1h30 to the Cetina, 45 min to Split, 1h to Skradin.

• 3.4 h

We will spend our day cycling in Krka River National Park famous for its fantastic karst formations and travertine waterfalls. We will start our trip from the hotel and continue by local roads to the viewpoint over Lake Visovac. In the middle of the lake is Visovac Island with its Franciscan Monastery dating from 15th century. Today we will enjoy an excellent traditional Dalmatian prosciutto lunch. We return to the hotel in the afternoon and you can enjoy dinner in Skradin on your own. Accommodation:Krka River NP area hotel 3***; Meals: B, L; Cycling and walking: 3-4 h, easy/moderate.

• 4 h

This kayaking trip is an expedition down the magnificent Wild West-like canyons of the Zrmanja River. Perfectly clear and green waters, rapids and waterfalls, hidden swimming pools and steep sided canyons will steal your heart and make this excursion an unforgettable experience. You don’t need any previous kayaking experience, the only requirement is that you can swim. We use open canoes or sit-on-top kayaks for 2 persons with optional child seat. Rafting boats are used during high water season (usually before May and after September, but the water level can vary a lot in spring and in autumn). After an amazing day on the river, we will return to our vans and drive to rustic Korana village where we will spend last two nights. Accommodation: Korana village home stay (two rooms may share one bathroom); Meals: B, D; Kayaking: 4 h, class II-III, easy/moderate; Drive: 1h10 to the Zrmanja River, 2h to Korana village.

• 4-5 h

We start our day walking along the wooden paths and bridges in and around Plitvice Lakes. Plitvice Lakes are Croatia’s oldest and most famous national park, and for a reason. Its exquisite series of 16 emerald green and opal blue travertine lakes, more than 90 waterfalls and numerous caves made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests, home to extensive wildlife. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the pure, untouched nature. A panoramic boat and train ride will take us back to our starting point. Later in the afternoon we return to Korana village just in time to enjoy sunbathing by the clear river right in front of the accommodation. Accommodation: Korana village home stay (two rooms may share one bathroom); Meals: B, D; Hiking: 4-5 h, easy, well marked paths; Drive: 10 minutes each way.

Included transfer to Zagreb airport for your flight home. Please note it takes 2 hours to reach Zagreb, so your flight should depart no earlier than 10 am. Earlier departures can be accommodated. There might be several group transfers between the destination and airport depending on flight departure time. If you wish to spend some time in Zagreb, our guide(s) will be happy to transfer you to your accommodation in the city. Meals: B. Drive: 2 h.