dossier

Delights of the Dalmation Coast

Day 1: Arrive in Trogir
We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel (15 mins) in time for dinner in the old town.  We spend two nights here.

Day 2: Krka National Park  (8km/5mi/3hr)

We drive to Krka National Park (1hr) a myriad of lakes and waterfalls.  A stony path lined with aleppo pines gently descends to Lake Cikola, then a brief ascent rewards us with views over the park.  By ferry to the Farnciscan monastery on the island - the monks still live here today.  After a lakeside picnic, we'll explore the tiers of ponds bright with yellow water lilies that shimmer below mighty Skradinski waterfall.  Then along the river bank to pretty Skradin with its marina, returning to Trogir before dinner.

Day 3:  Split and Brac Island (4km/2.5hr/2hr)

We drive to Split (30 mins) to visit its Diocletain palace, Romanesque cathedral and old city walls. After lunch we board the ferry (1hr) to Brac.  Here we follow a mule track climbing gently past olive groves and figs to Skrip, the oldest town on the island.  We visit the island's Folk musuem (housed ina 17C tower built to fend off the Turks), arriving at our hotel in Bol in time for a swim in the sea before dinner.

Day 4:  Blaca Monastery (10km/7mi/5hr)

Visit Blaca Bay where we alight in an inlet fringed with pink oleander to follow a valley trail redolent of wild sage to Blaca monastery, built into the cliff face.  We'll learn how the feisty monks once exported 70,000 litres of wine a year to Venice and had a Viennese piano hauled up here, before following a coastal path that winds through pine trees to turquoise blue coves where we'll stop for a picnic. Then a last swim on Bol's horseshoe sandy beach before dinner in the old town.

Day 5:  Dubrovnik (2km/1mi/1.5hr)

Today we head to Dubrovnik via Ston (2 hrs - transfer included 6 mi along Bosnian coastline) famous for its oysters.  After exploring the town's medieval ramparts a short coastal walk leads us to an oyster farm where we learn more about how the fish are prepared.  Then to Dubrovnik where we spend the next three nights.  Time for a swim at our ***** hotel, before dinner in the old town.

Day 6:  Kolocep Island (8km/5mi/3.5hr)

Tiny Kolocep Island, networked by mule tracks and without cars, is just 30 mins from Dubrovnik by ferry, but it feels like another century.  Walking past agaves and prickly pears we reach Gornje Celo harbour.  Past painted fishing boats, then through pine forest to discover a ruined Napoleonic fort before descending to the island's southern tip to picnic by the lighthouse enjoying stunning views over Dubrovnik's Riviera.   We return past houses bright with bougainvillaea and pomegranates to admire limestone cliffs buffeted by azure seas.

Day 7:  Jasenice & Velji Do (5km/3mi/2.5hr)

Into the hills to Jasenice (30mins), where a cobbled path lined with rosemary winds across an open valley dotted with oak treees with Mt Snjeznica (1234m) to our right and Mt Straziste ahead.  Then Dubrovnik's mountainous coastline frames the horizon as we descend through meadows bright with crocuses to Velji Do where we'll lunch on lamb and fish cooked ina traditional peka (charcoal oven).  Free time this afternoon to visit Dubrovnik's medieval ramparts, Renaissance churches and Doges' Palace before our final dinner.

Day 8:  Return home