7-day sailing adventure in Croatia with SailWeek – CROATIA, A SAILING PARADISE –
The Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea is one of the most attractive sailing destinations in Europe, and even the World. Croatia boats over 1200 islands, islets and reefs and about 2000km of coastline with magnificent jewels that are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.
From pristine waters and hidden coves to charming towns & marinas, vineyards, incredible landscapes and national parks;
Croatia is a sailing paradise.
We choose the Dubrovnik Route with SailWeek and sailed for 7 days on a premium yacht from Dubrovnik to Split (you can also go the other way around). The price for both the standard and premium yachts includes accommodation for 7 nights, skipper, port fees, tourist taxes, fuel, dinghy, towels, linen, WiFi, snorkelling equipment, stand up paddleboard, food and mineral water for breakfast and lunch. BTW you can take your own alcohol and food on board at no extra charge.
With the premium Dubrovnik route yachts you also get cabin fans, taxi boat service to get from Palmizana island to Hvar, plus bike rentals at Mljet National Park. The sailing season runs from end of May to end of September and prices vary slightly depending on the selected week of the summer. You can find out more here.
Here’s our 7-day sailing itinerary with @sailweek:
Day 1: Sipan
After checking-in with SailWeek at the Dubrovnik ACI marina and meeting our skipper and the other crew passengers, we embarked on our sailing adventure at around 5pm and sailed to Sipan island. The sea was rather rough for me and I wasn’t feeling great on the crossing.. Once we docked at Sipan island, the sea was calm and the boat was less rocky thankfully. We all went for dinner at a restaurant recommended by our skipper called Konoba Tauris and tried one of the local dishes called peka – a slow cooked lamb on the fire.
Day 2: Mljet
On our second day of sailing we left Sipan island early in the morning and made our way to Mljet island. Once we docked at Pomena on Mljet island, we picked up our bikes and cycled around the national park (125KN = 17 EUR entrance per person) to explore two saltwater lakes – Veliko and Malo, also known as Large and Small Lakes. We first cycled around the Small Lake and had fun jumping off a bridge into the water. We then went to the Large Lake and took a small boat to St Mary’s Island in the middle of the lake. There is an old Benedictine monastery dating back to the 12th century which is now a restaurant/cafe. The national park is so beautiful and it was really enjoyable to explore by bike. We cycled back to the town by sunset and in the evening had dinner at a local fish restaurant called Konoba Barba Ive.
Day 3: Korcula
On day 3 we sailed out to our next destination: Korcula. Before docking at the marina we stopped by a small island for a swim. Once on Korcula island, we had an option to hire a scooter to explore the island or go to Lumbarda beach through the most amazing vineyards. We decided for a taxi to Lumbarda (100KN each way) and spent the afternoon chilling there. In the evening we explored the lovely old fortress city of Korcula and watched the sunset from the top of the church bell tower of St. Mark’s Cathedral (25KN/person) – you get to admire the panoramic views over the town and the sea so I highly recommend going up here. In the evening we all went for a wine tasting & Dalmatian tapas at Marendin – the owner was very friendly and funny whilst describing the local wines, which made our experience even better!
Day 4: Hvar
After a lovely day in Korula it was time to set sails towards Hvar. The sea was really calm though so it was a nice crossing sunbathing on the bow. We moored at Vinogradisce Bay where we were going to spend the night. The water was beautiful so it was a nice place to swim despite all the other boats. In the evening we got the water taxi to Hvar town and walked around at sunset. It’s such a charming town with its small cobbled streets, beautiful cathedral and squares. We had dinner at a tavern called Konoba Menego and it was amazing – you must try their homemade gnocchi with shrimps. We then went for a drink at a rooftop bar called Teraca Bar just next to the old port. It’s a lovely quiet terrace bar away from the busy bars & nightclubs serving lovely cocktails.
Day 5: Vis
On our fifth day we put the sails up and we made our way to Vis island. We rented scooters and explored this incredible island. We firstly went to Stiniva Cove, voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. It sure is stunning but it’s quite a hike to get down there so do wear comfortable shoes. I also advise going before 3pm as it then gets shady. We then went over to Komiza and wandered around this charming coastal town whilst also having a bite to eat at Fabrika. In the evening we headed back to Vis town and walked all the way around to the other side, its such a stunning place to explore. After such an active day touring around the island, we had dinner on the boat and enjoyed a quiet evening under the stars.
Day 6: Stari Grad
We left Vis in the morning and sailed to Tiha Bay, also known as Silent Bay, on the northern side of the island of Hvar. We spent the day swimming, snorkelling, paddle boarding, sunbathing and having a nice lunch on the boat prepared by our skipper. The water was so pristine and there were hardly any other boats so we really enjoyed our day here. Tiha and Stari Grad are not a part of the standard Dubrovnik rute itinerary but due to the bay on Solta island being over crowded our skipper made the best decision ever.
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Later in the afternoon we docked at Stari Grad and spent the evening walking around the town. I found it so charming with its small cobblestone streets, old stone houses and peaceful squares. Did you know that it’s the oldest town in Croatia?! There aren’t as many tourists here in comparison to the town of Hvar so I highly recommend visiting Start Grad. Plus we got to see one of the most incredible sunsets of our trip in Croatia – see photo below! In the evening, we all had a lovely dinner together at Antica and then went for some cocktails by the port.
Day 7: Split
We sailed into Split by the evening and this was the last destination of our sailing adventure. We explored the historical centre to see some of the city’s main landmarks, such as Diocletian’s Palace, Saint Domnius Cathedral, Golden Gate and Prokurative Square. We had dinner at a steak house called Chops and Grill and the meat was delicious (however I did find the restaurant a bit touristy). After dinner, we strolled along the Riva, ate an ice-cream and made our way back to the marina for our last night sleep on the boat.
SUMMARY OF OUR SAILWEEK DUBROVNIK ROUTE
Overall it was an amazing experience and definitely a great way to explore a new country. It’s quite something to live in a confined space with limited storage and being on top of one another. Thankfully the other members of the crew were really cool and we all got on so well (it’s rare to get on so well with strangers when you’re living together 24/7)! Plus I didn’t get as seasick as I thought I would and I managed to sleep a well very night on the boat.
Our skipper was great and did everything possible to ensure we enjoyed our trip. When you’re on such an amazing trip surrounded by cool people it’s hard for it to go wrong. If you’re looking for a unique holiday experience on the Adriatic Coast in Croatia, and particularly want to go sailing, whether on a party escape, an adventure or to even rent your own yacht with a skipper, then I highly recommend choosing SailWeek – you can book you place for next summer here.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this you can always contact our SailWeek information center.
