Blue Dalmatia

Central Dalmatia is the most action-packed and diverse part of Croatia, with pretty islands, quiet ports, rugged mountains, numerous castles and an emerging culinary scene, as well as three Unesco World Heritage sites: Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the medieval walled town of Trogir and the ancient strip fields of the Stari Grad plain on the island of Hvar. Throughout it all, the rugged 1500m-high Dinaric Range provides a dramatic background.

What's included

Destination

Dalmatia Discover Dalmatia

Departure Location

Ul. Pera Bakića 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Return Location

Ul. kralja Zvonimira 19-11, 21000, Split, Croatia

Price includes

A guided tour of important places
Beautifully illustrated souvenir map
Observation and participation in allowed activities
Porterage for a maximum of two bags per person
Professionally guided tour
Unlimited bottled water

Price does not include

Current Hotel Taxes and Service Charges
Excess baggage charge
International Air, unless expressly paid for
Medical insurance and emergency insurance
Personal expenses
Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
Tips to guide and driver
Visa arrangements

Additional Prices

1 child: $400 2 children: $650

Dramatic Backgrounds

Throughout it all, the rugged 1500m-high Dinaric Range provides a dramatic background. Hot spots include the buzzing Mediterranean-flavoured city of Split and gorgeous little Hvar Town, where the cashed meet the trashed on the Adriatic’s most glamorous party island. But if it’s relaxation you’re after, there are seductive sandy beaches and pebbly coves scattered about islands near and far. Best of all, Dalmatia is usually warmer than Istria or the Kvarner Gulf. You can plunge into the crystalline Adriatic from the middle of May right up until the end of September.

Plain Sailing

Yachties can sail between unpopulated islands without a shred of development, lost in dreams of the Mediterranean of old, while hikers can wander lonely trails where bears and wolves still dwell, and explore three of Croatia’s most impressive national parks, which shelter in the hinterland.
By contrast, Zadar is a cultured city rich in museums, Roman ruins, restaurants and hip bars. Summertime clubbers gravitate to Zrće Beach and Tisno, which together form the nucleus of Croatia’s premier clubbing scene.

Magnificent Dubrovnik

Yet one location understandably eclipses any discussion of Southern Dalmatia: the remarkable old town of Dubrovnik. Ringed by mighty defensive walls that dip their feet in the cerulean sea, the city encapsulates the very essence of a medieval Mediterranean fantasy. Dubrovnik is simply unique; its beauty is bewitching, its setting sublime. Thousands of visitors walk along its marble streets every day, gazing, gasping and happily snapping away.

When Dubrovnik’s tourist scrum threatens to overwhelm, a reinvigorating balm is but a quick boat or bus ride away. Refresh yourself on the shady paths of Trsteno Arboretum or, if that doesn’t do the trick, the divine wine and oysters of the sparsely populated Pelješac Peninsula surely will.

Day 1
Day 3
Day 7

Day 1

Dubrovnik

Visiting Dubrovnik may well be the highlight of your Croatian holiday. The "pearl of the Adriatic" (according to Lord Byron) is a place of jaw-dropping beauty, making it by far Croatia's top sight.

With massive walls punctuated with turrets, towers and gates enclosing streets, churches and palaces packed with art treasures, you'll never run out of things to see and do in Dubrovnik.

Day 3

Ploče

Beyond the walls, a hilly, indented coast and clear water make Dubrovnik a prime resort destination. Whether staying one, two or more days, you'll find out what to see, where to stay, how to get to Dubrovnik and get around, plus the best beaches, day trips, restaurants and nightlife. With festivals, galleries and stunning offshore islands (Lokrum, Elaphiti and Mljet), Dubrovnik is an ideal holiday at any time of year (see when to go to Dubrovnik).

You'll find a wide assortment of hotels from luxury to budget and plenty of private accommodation. The greater Dubrovnik area can offer a resort experience, a beach experience or an urban experience at all budget levels.

Day 7

Split

Discover the largest coastal town in Croatia on foot on a 75-minute walking tour of Split. Follow a local guide to the most important sights in town, such as the Golden Gate, Diocletian Palace, statue of Gregory of Nin, and many more.

More about Dalmatia

The first recorded inhabitants of Dalmatia were Illyrians (the name Dalmatia probably comes from the name of an Illyrian tribe, the Delmata, an Indo-European people who overran the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula beginning about 1000 BCE). The Greeks began to settle there from the 4th century, founding a number of colonies on the islands, the most famous of which were Issa (Vis), Pharos (Hvar), and Corcyra Melaina (Korčula), and a few towns on the mainland coast, one of which is Salona (Solin), near modern Split. The Greeks, opposed by the Illyrians, appealed to the Romans for help, and a long series of Roman-Illyrian wars began in 229. The fall of the Dalmatian capital, Delminium, in 155 brought Roman civilization to the country. On the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Dalmatia fell under the power of Odoacer in 481 CE and later under that of Theodoric, to become a battlefield during the wars between the Goths and the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. By the time permanent Venetian rule had been established (1420), Dalmatia had passed through about 30 changes of sovereignty. Byzantines, Greeks, Magyars, Tatars, Croatian and Serbian princes, Venetians, Sicilians, and Normans were among its conquerors. The Croatian kings and the Venetian doges were the only rulers who held power long enough to leave a permanent mark on Dalmatian character and consciousness.

More about this tour

From the island of Korčula in the northwest to the dreamy plains of Konavle in the southeast, this is a region to be savoured by beach seekers, wine lovers and history buffs alike.

When Dubrovnik's tourist scrum threatens to overwhelm, a reinvigorating balm is but a quick boat or bus ride away. Refresh yourself on the shady paths of Trsteno Arboretum or, if that doesn't do the trick, the divine wine and oysters of the sparsely populated Pelješac Peninsula surely will.