Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

Picture yourself standing on Split's ancient Riva promenade as the Adriatic glows gold at sunset, a glass of local wine in hand, surrounded by a circle of women you just met but already feel like you've known forever. That is Croatia. From a city built inside a Roman emperor's palace to sun-warmed islands where medieval stone streets wind past lavender shops and family vineyards, every moment on this journey feels like something out of a dream.

Over nine days, you and your fellow travelers will move through some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth. You will chase waterfalls through Krka National Park, sail a wooden boat into an ancient oyster bay, sip Plavac Mali red wine straight from the source on the Pelješac Peninsula, and finally arrive in Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, where marble streets shimmer under the Mediterranean sun.

This is a journey that nourishes the senses and lifts the spirit. You will return home with sea salt in your hair, wonderful new friendships, and stories you will tell for the rest of your life.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 - WELCOME TO SPLIT

Your Croatian adventure begins the moment you land at Split Airport (SPU), where a private transfer whisks you directly to your boutique hotel nestled inside one of the most extraordinary places in the world: a living, breathing ancient Roman palace. Take a little time to unpack, freshen up, and let the magic of this place wash over you. Then lace up your walking shoes and step out for an evening stroll along the Riva, Split's beautiful seafront promenade, where the sea breeze carries the scent of the Adriatic and the city hums with warm evening life. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner of traditional Dalmatian flavors and begin the friendship that will carry you all the way to Dubrovnik.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Vestibul Palace or Equivalent

DAY 2 - INSIDE DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE

This morning, step back nearly two thousand years as your expert local guide leads you through Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved Roman monuments anywhere on earth. Wander through the ancient underground cellars, emerge into the sunlit Peristyle square, and peer up at the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, one of the oldest cathedrals in the world still in use today. After lunch together, the afternoon is yours to follow your curiosity. Browse the colorful stalls of the open-air Green Market. Climb Marjan Hill for sweeping panoramic views of the city and the shimmering sea below. Or simply settle into a waterfront cafe, order something cold, and watch the world stroll by on the promenade.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Vestibul Palace or Equivalent

DAY 3 - WATERFALLS AND WINE AT KRKA NATIONAL PARK

Leave the city behind this morning and journey inland to one of Croatia's most beloved natural treasures: Krka National Park. Wooden walkways wind through lush green forest, leading you past a series of cascading waterfalls and pools of impossible turquoise blue. After your visit to the park, you will stop at a family-run konoba (a traditional Dalmatian tavern) in a local village for a lunch that tells the story of this land beautifully. Share platters of homemade prosciutto, drizzle fresh-pressed olive oil over warm bread, and raise a glass of local wine with your travel companions. The afternoon returns you to Split with a free evening to rest, explore, or find your favorite spot along the waterfront.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Vestibul Palace or Equivalent

DAY 4 - SOUTHWARD TO THE PELJEŠAC PENINSULA

After breakfast, bid farewell to Split as your group travels south along one of the most spectacular coastal roads in all of Europe. The Adriatic stretches endlessly to your left, its colors shifting from deep navy to brilliant turquoise as you wind along the cliffs. Your destination is Orebić, a charming seaside town on the Pelješac Peninsula, Croatia's second-largest peninsula and one of its finest wine regions. Cradled between the shimmering Pelješac Channel and the dramatic peak of Mount St. Ilija, Orebić feels like a well-kept secret. Check into your waterfront accommodation, then spend the afternoon strolling the seaside promenade or simply sitting on the shore, listening to the water. Tonight, dinner features the freshest local seafood, caught just hours before it reaches your plate.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel Adriatic or Equivalent

DAY 5 - YOUR DAY ON THE PENINSULA

Today is a gift. The Pelješac Peninsula is yours to explore entirely on your own terms. Wine lovers can spend the day visiting family-run wineries that produce the legendary Dingač and Plavac Mali reds, some of the most celebrated wines in all of Croatia, poured by the very people who grew the grapes. Beach lovers can settle in at your waterfront resort and let the Adriatic do its restorative work. And adventurers can hop the short ferry across to Korčula Island to wander that medieval car-free old town, browse local artisan shops, and imagine the life of Marco Polo, who legend says was born on these very stones. This evening, gather over dinner to share the stories of the day, toast your adventures, and soak in the magic of authentic Dalmatian life.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel Adriatic or Equivalent

DAY 6 - OYSTERS, ANCIENT WALLS, AND DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, board the ferry back to the mainland and continue your journey toward the city you have been dreaming about. But first, a stop unlike any other: the medieval walled town of Ston, famous for its extraordinary salt pans and the oyster farms that have operated in its bay for centuries. Your group boards a traditional wooden boat and sails out into Mali Ston Bay, where a local farming family will share the secrets of their ancient craft. Pull fresh oysters straight from the sea, taste them with a squeeze of lemon, and wash them down with crisp Pelješac white wine. There is something deeply joyful about eating this way, close to the source, close to the people who tend it. By evening, you arrive in Dubrovnik, settling into your old town accommodation just in time to feel the city's evening light settle over the rooftops.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Porto or Equivalent

DAY 7 - THE PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

This is Dubrovnik in all its splendor. This morning your expert local guide leads you through the great Pile Gate and onto the Stradun, the city's famous gleaming marble main street, worn smooth and bright by centuries of footsteps. You will visit the beautiful Franciscan Monastery, wind through alleyways that whisper of Venetian merchants and Ragusan sailors, and begin to understand why writers, poets, and travelers have been falling in love with this city for centuries. After lunch, the afternoon is yours. Walk atop the magnificent city walls for views that will take your breath away. Browse boutiques tucked into medieval archways. Or find a seaside cafe perched above the Adriatic and watch the sun begin its slow descent toward the horizon. Some moments in travel are simply perfect. Dubrovnik at sunset is one of them.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Porto or Equivalent

DAY 8 - FAREWELL TO THE ADRIATIC

Your final full day offers a beautiful choice. Sleep in, wander back to a favorite corner of Dubrovnik, shop for Croatian handicrafts and bottles of local wine to bring home, and gather for a leisurely farewell lunch overlooking the harbor. Or, rise early and join the optional day trip across the border to Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, where dramatic mountains plunge straight into the sea. You will cruise past breathtaking coastal scenery, visit the magical island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, and explore the ancient walled town of Kotor before returning to Dubrovnik. However the day unfolds, it ends the same way: together. Your group gathers one last time for a farewell dinner, clinking glasses and sharing memories as the last light fades over the walls of Dubrovnik.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Porto or Equivalent

DAY 9 - UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

All good things end on the shores of the Adriatic this morning. After breakfast, your private transfer takes you to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) for your flights home, carrying with you the taste of fresh oysters, the echo of marble streets, and the warmth of friendships forged by shared wonder.

Please note: Arrival and departure airports are different. You will fly into Split Airport (SPU) and depart from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV). Please book your flights accordingly.

This is a tentative itinerary and is subject to change.