THE PEARLS OF DALMATIA

Description

Sunday:

Boarding in Dubrovnik (Gruz port) from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Soon afterwards we will set sail towards Zaton Veliki or Slano, picturesque fishing towns that lie north of Dubrovnik in an isolated cove. Before we drop anchor in one of these two places, we shall dock at one of the coves of the Elaphite islands and go swimming. In the evening guests arriving later by plane will be transferred to Slano or Zaton Veliki and board the boat.

Monday:

Today’s destination is Pomena cove on the island of Mljet. One part of the island has been declared a national park – two saltwater lakes (on the larger lake is a small island with a structure that was formerly a convent) that are only connected to the sea by a single narrow canal. It is possible to visit the national park. (The price of admission, including a boat ride to the monastery, is approximately 13€ and is paid on the spot). We recommend swimming in the saltwater lakes where the temperature is always 2°C warmer than the temperature of the sea

Tuesday:

From the island of Mljet we shall head towards Hvar – an island known for its sunny and moderate climate (more than 2,700 hours of sunshine per year) and endless fields of lavender which is why Hvar is often called the island of sunshine or the island of lavender. Hvar is also the name of the island’s main city. It lies at the foot of a fortress, which has a fantastic view of the Pakleni otoci islands. On Hvar we shall be greeted by a tour guide that will take us sightseeing. Often times there is not enough room to tie up to the dock due to the large number of yachts and boats so it will be up to the captain to decide whether or not we shall spend the night in Hvar or in one of the nearby ports.

Wednesday:

We will depart form the island of Hvar and head towards the mainland. After sailing for three hours we will dock in Split. Split is the capital city of Dalmatia and is also the second largest city in Croatia. This 1700 year-old city was established through the palace of the Roman King Diocletian. Our guide will take us through the palace and the historical nucleus of the city. There will still be enough time afterwards to stroll through the city before heading back to Milna, situated in a sheltered cove on the western side of the island of Brac.

Thursday:

We will then set sail towards the south side of the island of Brac to Bol. Bol has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean known as “Zlatni Rat”, a beach that constantly changes shape as a result of the sea currents. Of course there will be plenty of time to go swimming at this well known beach before we continue our journey towards the island of Korcula. After our swimming break we will dock at the port in Korcula, the capital town of the island bearing the same name. Korcula’s historical nucleus is one of the most beautiful in Dalmatia, and is often referred to as “Little Dubrovnik” due to its fortresses. Because of its dense pine forests in ancient times Korcula was referred to as the “Black island” (Greek: Korkyra Melaina). Marco Polo, the famous seafarer was born in the town of Korcula in 1254. Today the birth house of Marco Polo is a museum. If you are lucky you may even catch a performance of Moreska. Moreska is an ancient night’s game that takes place on the island of Korcula and can rarely been seen anywhere else on the Mediterranean. Moreska is a reminder of the town defending itself against the notorious Algerian pirates. Overnight stay in Korcula.

Friday:

From here we will go further south. We will sail along the mountainous peninsula of Peljesac (the highest peak is St. Ilija and has an altitude of 961m) famous for its excellent red wine and continue towards the Elaphite islands. After taking a swimming break we will head towards one of the towns on the island of Lopud, Sipan or Kolocep and spend the night.

Saturday:

Before returning to our starting port in Dubrovnik, we will drop anchor one last time in one of the nearby coves to go for a final swim in the Adriatic Sea. Around noon we will arrive in the port in Dubrovnik (30 minutes walking distance from the historical nucleus of the city or a bus ride from a bus stop not far from where our boat will be. The bus departs every 15 min, the price of a bus ticket is 10 kn, the last bus leaves at around 2.00 am) After lunch our tour guide will take us on a sightseeing tour of the city (a bus ride to the city, payment on the spot). Afterwards, you will have enough free time to go for a stroll on the famous promenade known as Stradun and take in the city walls and numerous points of cultural interest. Dinner and overnight stay on the boat.

Sunday:

After breakfast we shall disembark around 9 am.