Croatia & The Dalmatian Coast
13 May –
27 May 2025
- 15 Days
- Hotel & Cruise
- 25 Meals
- Group size: 15
Itinerary
Johannesburg – Zagreb
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Croatia. Ahead of us lies a trip that will take us from the rolling hills of Istria and crystalline lakes of Plitvice to the glittering Adriatic coast. Settle into your journey and cast your mind to the adventure before you.
Zagreb – Opatija
On arrival in Zagreb, we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in genteel Opatija.
Opatija was a chic resort getaway for Austro-Hungarian royalty during the 19th century, and this legacy can be seen in the handsome belle époque villas which line the town’s waterfront. Its sheltered position in the crook of the Kvarner Gulf and striking views of the azure-blue Adriatic Sea gives it a laidback Mediterranean vibe.
Tonight, we enjoy dinner at the hotel and relax after a long journey.
Opatija – Pula – Rovinj – Opatija
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore the Istria Peninsula, a region defined by idyllic rolling hills, fertile plains and a stunning coastline dotted with rustic villages.
Our tour takes us to Pula, known for its Roman history. The Romans conquered Istria in 178BC and left behind a scattering of remarkable ruins in Pula, including arches, gates and temples. We explore the town’s colossal amphitheatre, the sixth largest in the world. In ancient times its stands were packed with up to 20,000 people, and today it’s an extraordinary venue for film festivals and music concerts.
We visit Rovinj, where candy-coloured houses with shuttered windows sit on the water’s edge, hiding a maze of crooked, cobblestone alleys. The imposing St. Euphemia’s Church looks over the Old Town from a hilltop perch. The scene is wonderfully picturesque, and Rovinj is a delight to explore.
The Istria Peninsula is one of Croatia’s foodie destinations. Hills swathed in vineyards and olive groves give way to fertile valleys bordered by the Adriatic Sea. The region is known for its excellent seafood, wine, olive oil and truffles. We indulge in the local bounty with a wine tasting.
Later, we return to Opatija, where we savour a delicious dinner.
Highlights:
Opatija – Plitvice Lakes National Park Area
We have breakfast at the hotel and swap the Adriatic Coast for Croatia’s lush interior with a visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
A glorious expanse of dense beech wood forest contains 16 crystal-clear lakes connected by a network of dreamy waterfalls and cascades. We take a walk through the park and marvel at the reflections in the turquoise lakes and the pristine beauty of the woodland. The falls are usually flush with water in spring and early summer, so we look forward to a particularly photogenic expedition.
We check into our hotel in the afternoon, where we have dinner tonight.
Highlights:
Plitvice Lakes National Park Area – Split – Makarska
We leave Plitvice behind and head to the port city of Split, where we’ll board MS Leonardo, our home for the next seven nights. The week ahead will be filled with a hedonistic combination of relaxed cruising, delicious meals, dips in the ocean and explorations of Croatia’s most charming seaside towns.
MS Leonardo is a traditional gulet, exclusively chartered by Seagull Travel & Tours for the duration of our trip. The vessel has a sun-lounger-lined deck, a lounge area with a bar, a restaurant for onboard dining and spacious cabins.
We start our cruise of the Dalmatian coast by going to the port town of Makarska. White cliffs topped with green scrubby bushes fall into the glittering sea dotted with islands. We have lunch on board and find a beach for an afternoon swim. Those feeling adventurous can join an optional river rafting excursion or zoom along a zipline over the Cetina River.
In the evening, we dock in Makarska, a small port with a lively seafront and atmospheric old town. Saunter down the gangplank and find something to eat in one of the quaint restaurants.
Highlights:
Makarska – Mljet
Our ship cruises along the Pelješac peninsula towards the island of Mljet. Swimming, lounging, and an expedition to Mljet’s saltwater lakes are the order of the day.
The breathtaking Pelješac peninsula is a long narrow finger of land that juts into the Adriatic Sea, forming a coastline indented with numerous bays, peaceful coves and glassy waters. We breakfast on board the boat and stop for a refreshing swim.
We continue to Mljet, where the Mljet National Park covers a third of the island. We disembark and wind our way along paths shaded by towering pines to the park’s two saltwater lakes. Swimming in the lakes is good fun, as the water is much warmer than the open sea, and the paths lining their shores are ideal for leisurely strolls.
This evening, we’ll find a mooring in either Polače or Pomena, charming port towns on Mljet.
Highlights:
Mljet – Dubrovnik
Our dedicated crew treats us to breakfast on board as we depart for Dubrovnik, the highlight of our cruise.
As we approach the city, its famous imposing walls and red-tiled rooftops come into focus. Like a picture from a history book, the Old Town of Dubrovnik is encircled by medieval fortifications, with bell towers and church spires peeking over the top. Step inside and find a remarkably pretty urban centre with white marble streets and historic buildings.
We take a guided tour of Dubrovnik and see the Franciscan friary and the city walls. The walls curve around the city’s historic core for almost 2 km. Take in panoramic views of the shimmering Adriatic and the maze of terracotta rooftops while peeking into the courtyard gardens below.
Tonight, step out on your own to discover Dubrovik’s restaurant scene.
Highlights:
Dubrovnik – Šipan or Trstenik
We enjoy some free time in Dubrovnik this morning before continuing our Dalmatian coast cruise.
Dubrovnik is small and compact, meaning that you can cover many of the sights in a short amount of time. Here are a few ideas:
Around noon, the boat departs from Dubrovnik. The craggy mountains, sweeping valleys and deep blue sea of the Pelješac peninsula fill the horizon. We make our way to tonight’s mooring, which will be on either Šipan Island or in the coastal town of Trstenik. We enjoy a swim stop along the way, and time permitting, we visit a local winery.
We feast on board the ship tonight as the crew treats us to a Captain’s Dinner.
Highlights:
Šipan or Trstenik – Korčula
After breakfast, our island-hopping journey continues as we sail to Korčula Island, known as the “emerald isle” for its endless olive groves and vineyards.
Lunch is served on board in Lumbarda Bay, where red-roofed houses hug the shore, and dazzlingly clear water provides excellent snorkelling conditions. In the afternoon, we arrive in Korčula town. Famed as the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo, Korčula is surrounded by 14th-century city walls filled with grand Venetian, Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
We visit the Korčula Town Museum containing interesting artefacts and exhibits from the island’s history. Housed in the renovated Gabrielis Palace, the museum is on the main square, just opposite the historic St. Mark’s Church, and is an ideal starting point for exploring the town. On your wanderings, you may want to sample Korčula’s wines. The most popular variety is grk, a crisp, dry white. We overnight in the port.
Highlights:
Korčula – Hvar
An early morning departure from Korčula takes us to the island of Hvar via the Pakleni Islands.
Pakleni, a dreamlike chain of rocky islets, are a playground of hidden beaches, quiet lagoons and crystal-clear waters. The name Pakleni is often translated as “hell,” but it’s closer to paradise. We lunch on board the boat and take a dip in the sea.
We cruise to Hvar in the afternoon and go ashore for a tour of the town. Hvar’s location at the centre of the Adriatic sailing routes has long made it an important trade and military power base. Its time-polished streets and ancient buildings speak to its rich history, but these days Hvar is better known as one of the glitziest towns on the Croatian coast. Music-filled bars, trendy restaurants and fancy independent shops line its streets. Our tour shows us the main sights and takes us to Fortica Fortress. Known to the locals as the “Španjola,” it was originally built at the beginning of the 16th century and affords sweeping views of the town.
Tonight, head out to discover Hvar’s nightlife – it’s the party capital of the Adriatic.
Highlights:
Hvar – Split
Today we make our way to the final destination on our cruise, Split, travelling via the island of Brač, where we indulge in swimming and sunbathing.
We make our way along the rugged coastline, seeing white cliffs topped with leafy bushes crumble into the sea to the island of Brač. We stop at Zlatini Rat, the Golden Horn beach, a long, thin sliver of white pebbles that pokes into the sea. We swim in the brilliant turquoise waters and soak up the laidback island atmosphere.
After lunch, we continue to Split, where we are greeted by the city’s palm-fringed promenade and its unique mix of crumbling ancient buildings and modern high-rises. The Greeks founded split around the 3rd century BC, and a few centuries later, in 305 AD, it became the site of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
The palace is one of the most imposing Roman structures in existence today, but it doesn’t take a conventional format. Its maze-like streets, grand columns and engraved façades are part-and-parcel of the city, filled with people, bars, shops and restaurants. We explore the palace and see the Cathedral of St. Domnius, formerly Diocletian’s mausoleum but reclaimed by the Christians in the 5th century.
Tonight marks our last night aboard the MS Leonardo. Find a bite to eat in Split and retire to your cabin.
Highlights:
Split – Trogir – Krka National Park – Zagreb
After an early breakfast on board, we disembark from the MS Leonardo. We travel to Zagreb by land, stopping in the gorgeous town of Trogir and visiting Krka National Park.
The old town of Trogir lies on a tiny island connected to the mainland and the far larger island of Čiovo by bridges. Trogir is a piece of living history with medieval walls and ornate buildings gracing its core. We see the town and visit St. Lawrence’s Cathedral.
Krka National Park shows us another side of the unspoilt Croatian countryside. Extending along the Krka River, the park is filled with waterfalls, gorges and verdant indigenous plants and trees. We discover Krka’s natural beauty and travel to Zagreb. We check into our hotel, where we have dinner tonight.
Highlights:
Zagreb
We breakfast at the hotel and set out for a walking tour of Zagreb’s historic Upper Town.
Zagreb is filled with majestic Austro-Hungarian architecture, its cobbled streets bordered with decorative, colourful buildings. Croatia’s cultural hub is a magnet for artists and creatives, boasting many museums, theatres and galleries.
The Upper Town is built on two small hills, Kaptol and Gradec, a part of the city that’s delightfully European. We see sights like St. Mark’s Cathedral, St. Catherine’s Church, the Parliament, Government Palace, Ban Jelačić Square, and Zagreb Cathedral.
The rest of the day is spent at leisure. Wander the cobblestone streets and have a meal at a stylish eatery, order coffee at one of the city’s excellent coffee roasteries or pop into a museum.
We gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.
Highlights:
Zagreb – Johannesburg
We check out of our hotel after breakfast and go to the airport. Our sun-kissed tour of Croatia has shown us all the country has to offer, from the rustic hillside towns of Istria and the glittering Dalmatian coast to its history-filled cities. Croatia is interesting and engaging but also provides ample space to enjoy the essentials of life: good food, good wine and the beauty of nature.
Johannesburg
We land at O.R. Tambo International, returning to South Africa on the cusp of winter. As we prepare for evenings huddled around the fire, we cast our minds back to an idyllic Adriatic cruise and meanderings through the Croatian countryside. Seagull Travel & Tours hopes to see you again soon for another adventure-filled trip.
Johannesburg – Zagreb
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Croatia. Ahead of us lies a trip that will take us from the rolling hills of Istria and crystalline lakes of Plitvice to the glittering Adriatic coast. Settle into your journey and cast your mind to the adventure before you.
Zagreb – Opatija
On arrival in Zagreb, we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in genteel Opatija.
Opatija was a chic resort getaway for Austro-Hungarian royalty during the 19th century, and this legacy can be seen in the handsome belle époque villas which line the town’s waterfront. Its sheltered position in the crook of the Kvarner Gulf and striking views of the azure-blue Adriatic Sea gives it a laidback Mediterranean vibe.
Tonight, we enjoy dinner at the hotel and relax after a long journey.
Opatija – Pula – Rovinj – Opatija
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore the Istria Peninsula, a region defined by idyllic rolling hills, fertile plains and a stunning coastline dotted with rustic villages.
Our tour takes us to Pula, known for its Roman history. The Romans conquered Istria in 178BC and left behind a scattering of remarkable ruins in Pula, including arches, gates and temples. We explore the town’s colossal amphitheatre, the sixth largest in the world. In ancient times its stands were packed with up to 20,000 people, and today it’s an extraordinary venue for film festivals and music concerts.
We visit Rovinj, where candy-coloured houses with shuttered windows sit on the water’s edge, hiding a maze of crooked, cobblestone alleys. The imposing St. Euphemia’s Church looks over the Old Town from a hilltop perch. The scene is wonderfully picturesque, and Rovinj is a delight to explore.
The Istria Peninsula is one of Croatia’s foodie destinations. Hills swathed in vineyards and olive groves give way to fertile valleys bordered by the Adriatic Sea. The region is known for its excellent seafood, wine, olive oil and truffles. We indulge in the local bounty with a wine tasting.
Later, we return to Opatija, where we savour a delicious dinner.
Highlights:
Opatija – Plitvice Lakes National Park Area
We have breakfast at the hotel and swap the Adriatic Coast for Croatia’s lush interior with a visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
A glorious expanse of dense beech wood forest contains 16 crystal-clear lakes connected by a network of dreamy waterfalls and cascades. We take a walk through the park and marvel at the reflections in the turquoise lakes and the pristine beauty of the woodland. The falls are usually flush with water in spring and early summer, so we look forward to a particularly photogenic expedition.
We check into our hotel in the afternoon, where we have dinner tonight.
Highlights:
Plitvice Lakes National Park Area – Split – Makarska
We leave Plitvice behind and head to the port city of Split, where we’ll board MS Leonardo, our home for the next seven nights. The week ahead will be filled with a hedonistic combination of relaxed cruising, delicious meals, dips in the ocean and explorations of Croatia’s most charming seaside towns.
MS Leonardo is a traditional gulet, exclusively chartered by Seagull Travel & Tours for the duration of our trip. The vessel has a sun-lounger-lined deck, a lounge area with a bar, a restaurant for onboard dining and spacious cabins.
We start our cruise of the Dalmatian coast by going to the port town of Makarska. White cliffs topped with green scrubby bushes fall into the glittering sea dotted with islands. We have lunch on board and find a beach for an afternoon swim. Those feeling adventurous can join an optional river rafting excursion or zoom along a zipline over the Cetina River.
In the evening, we dock in Makarska, a small port with a lively seafront and atmospheric old town. Saunter down the gangplank and find something to eat in one of the quaint restaurants.
Highlights:
Makarska – Mljet
Our ship cruises along the Pelješac peninsula towards the island of Mljet. Swimming, lounging, and an expedition to Mljet’s saltwater lakes are the order of the day.
The breathtaking Pelješac peninsula is a long narrow finger of land that juts into the Adriatic Sea, forming a coastline indented with numerous bays, peaceful coves and glassy waters. We breakfast on board the boat and stop for a refreshing swim.
We continue to Mljet, where the Mljet National Park covers a third of the island. We disembark and wind our way along paths shaded by towering pines to the park’s two saltwater lakes. Swimming in the lakes is good fun, as the water is much warmer than the open sea, and the paths lining their shores are ideal for leisurely strolls.
This evening, we’ll find a mooring in either Polače or Pomena, charming port towns on Mljet.
Highlights:
Mljet – Dubrovnik
Our dedicated crew treats us to breakfast on board as we depart for Dubrovnik, the highlight of our cruise.
As we approach the city, its famous imposing walls and red-tiled rooftops come into focus. Like a picture from a history book, the Old Town of Dubrovnik is encircled by medieval fortifications, with bell towers and church spires peeking over the top. Step inside and find a remarkably pretty urban centre with white marble streets and historic buildings.
We take a guided tour of Dubrovnik and see the Franciscan friary and the city walls. The walls curve around the city’s historic core for almost 2 km. Take in panoramic views of the shimmering Adriatic and the maze of terracotta rooftops while peeking into the courtyard gardens below.
Tonight, step out on your own to discover Dubrovik’s restaurant scene.
Highlights:
Dubrovnik – Šipan or Trstenik
We enjoy some free time in Dubrovnik this morning before continuing our Dalmatian coast cruise.
Dubrovnik is small and compact, meaning that you can cover many of the sights in a short amount of time. Here are a few ideas:
Around noon, the boat departs from Dubrovnik. The craggy mountains, sweeping valleys and deep blue sea of the Pelješac peninsula fill the horizon. We make our way to tonight’s mooring, which will be on either Šipan Island or in the coastal town of Trstenik. We enjoy a swim stop along the way, and time permitting, we visit a local winery.
We feast on board the ship tonight as the crew treats us to a Captain’s Dinner.
Highlights:
Šipan or Trstenik – Korčula
After breakfast, our island-hopping journey continues as we sail to Korčula Island, known as the “emerald isle” for its endless olive groves and vineyards.
Lunch is served on board in Lumbarda Bay, where red-roofed houses hug the shore, and dazzlingly clear water provides excellent snorkelling conditions. In the afternoon, we arrive in Korčula town. Famed as the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo, Korčula is surrounded by 14th-century city walls filled with grand Venetian, Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
We visit the Korčula Town Museum containing interesting artefacts and exhibits from the island’s history. Housed in the renovated Gabrielis Palace, the museum is on the main square, just opposite the historic St. Mark’s Church, and is an ideal starting point for exploring the town. On your wanderings, you may want to sample Korčula’s wines. The most popular variety is grk, a crisp, dry white. We overnight in the port.
Highlights:
Korčula – Hvar
An early morning departure from Korčula takes us to the island of Hvar via the Pakleni Islands.
Pakleni, a dreamlike chain of rocky islets, are a playground of hidden beaches, quiet lagoons and crystal-clear waters. The name Pakleni is often translated as “hell,” but it’s closer to paradise. We lunch on board the boat and take a dip in the sea.
We cruise to Hvar in the afternoon and go ashore for a tour of the town. Hvar’s location at the centre of the Adriatic sailing routes has long made it an important trade and military power base. Its time-polished streets and ancient buildings speak to its rich history, but these days Hvar is better known as one of the glitziest towns on the Croatian coast. Music-filled bars, trendy restaurants and fancy independent shops line its streets. Our tour shows us the main sights and takes us to Fortica Fortress. Known to the locals as the “Španjola,” it was originally built at the beginning of the 16th century and affords sweeping views of the town.
Tonight, head out to discover Hvar’s nightlife – it’s the party capital of the Adriatic.
Highlights:
Hvar – Split
Today we make our way to the final destination on our cruise, Split, travelling via the island of Brač, where we indulge in swimming and sunbathing.
We make our way along the rugged coastline, seeing white cliffs topped with leafy bushes crumble into the sea to the island of Brač. We stop at Zlatini Rat, the Golden Horn beach, a long, thin sliver of white pebbles that pokes into the sea. We swim in the brilliant turquoise waters and soak up the laidback island atmosphere.
After lunch, we continue to Split, where we are greeted by the city’s palm-fringed promenade and its unique mix of crumbling ancient buildings and modern high-rises. The Greeks founded split around the 3rd century BC, and a few centuries later, in 305 AD, it became the site of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
The palace is one of the most imposing Roman structures in existence today, but it doesn’t take a conventional format. Its maze-like streets, grand columns and engraved façades are part-and-parcel of the city, filled with people, bars, shops and restaurants. We explore the palace and see the Cathedral of St. Domnius, formerly Diocletian’s mausoleum but reclaimed by the Christians in the 5th century.
Tonight marks our last night aboard the MS Leonardo. Find a bite to eat in Split and retire to your cabin.
Highlights:
Split – Trogir – Krka National Park – Zagreb
After an early breakfast on board, we disembark from the MS Leonardo. We travel to Zagreb by land, stopping in the gorgeous town of Trogir and visiting Krka National Park.
The old town of Trogir lies on a tiny island connected to the mainland and the far larger island of Čiovo by bridges. Trogir is a piece of living history with medieval walls and ornate buildings gracing its core. We see the town and visit St. Lawrence’s Cathedral.
Krka National Park shows us another side of the unspoilt Croatian countryside. Extending along the Krka River, the park is filled with waterfalls, gorges and verdant indigenous plants and trees. We discover Krka’s natural beauty and travel to Zagreb. We check into our hotel, where we have dinner tonight.
Highlights:
Zagreb
We breakfast at the hotel and set out for a walking tour of Zagreb’s historic Upper Town.
Zagreb is filled with majestic Austro-Hungarian architecture, its cobbled streets bordered with decorative, colourful buildings. Croatia’s cultural hub is a magnet for artists and creatives, boasting many museums, theatres and galleries.
The Upper Town is built on two small hills, Kaptol and Gradec, a part of the city that’s delightfully European. We see sights like St. Mark’s Cathedral, St. Catherine’s Church, the Parliament, Government Palace, Ban Jelačić Square, and Zagreb Cathedral.
The rest of the day is spent at leisure. Wander the cobblestone streets and have a meal at a stylish eatery, order coffee at one of the city’s excellent coffee roasteries or pop into a museum.
We gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.
Highlights:
Zagreb – Johannesburg
We check out of our hotel after breakfast and go to the airport. Our sun-kissed tour of Croatia has shown us all the country has to offer, from the rustic hillside towns of Istria and the glittering Dalmatian coast to its history-filled cities. Croatia is interesting and engaging but also provides ample space to enjoy the essentials of life: good food, good wine and the beauty of nature.
Johannesburg
We land at O.R. Tambo International, returning to South Africa on the cusp of winter. As we prepare for evenings huddled around the fire, we cast our minds back to an idyllic Adriatic cruise and meanderings through the Croatian countryside. Seagull Travel & Tours hopes to see you again soon for another adventure-filled trip.
Croatia has vibrant cities, rolling vineyards, tumbling waterfalls and a glittering 1,800-kilometre coastline. Join Seagull Travel & Tours as we journey from the capital Zagreb to explore the country’s captivating beauty and ancient history, pausing along the way to plunge into the clear, sparkling waters of the Adriatic.
From Zagreb, we travel to Opatija, a nostalgic resort town on the tip of the Istria Peninsula. We explore fairytale towns and taste the region’s wines before heading inland to the Plitvice Lakes National Parks. Here, a series of waterfalls plunge into turquoise lakes amidst deep forest, an impossibly beautiful display.
Next, we take to the water aboard a privately chartered boat to navigate the innumerable coves, inlets and islands of the Dalmatian coast. We island hop from Mljet to Korčula to Hvar, stopping in tiny port towns and Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic. Our days are spent swimming in the sea, eating good food and relaxing on board. Our cruise ends in Split, where we get lost inside the walls of Diocletian’s palace.
Onwards, to Zadar via gorgeous Trogir and the breathtaking Krka National Park, where we see crashing waterfalls and the mighty Krka River. We end our trip with a tour of Zagreb, Croatia’s creative and cultural centre.
Expertly designed by Seagull Travel & Tours, Croatia & The Dalmatian Coast is a luxury journey showing you what the country has to offer by land and sea. We take care of the finer details so you can delight in the local cuisine, get lost in winding cobblestone streets and revel in the welcoming Adriatic Sea.
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Seagull Travel & Tours crafts small group tours that offer luxury, convenience, and spontaneous moments of joy.
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We are here to help
The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
