ITINERARY DETAILS
DAY 1
Dubrovnik
Welcome to Dubrovnik, the enchanting walled city that has found its way on everyone’s travel bucket list. Your private driver will pick you up from Cilipi International Airport and take you to your luxury hotel in the city. Enjoy your afternoon and evening exploring the vibrant food-scene and nightlife of Dubrovnik. Ask your Leisure Travel Consultant for recommendations of their favorite restaurants, cafes, and entertainment.
DAY 2
Ston Oyster Tasting
In the times of the Dubrovnik Republic, Ston was the second most important town after Dubrovnik itself. Its wealth was derived from salt production, and the traditional production remains intact to this day. Although this charming medieval town is renowned for the spectacular city walls that are considered to be the second-longest in the world, this region is also known as the Oysters capital of Croatia thanks to the distinctive blend of nutrients in the local waters. After a walk along the famous wall, you will head towards the oyster farm and join your hosts for a scenic boat ride among the oyster beds to find out how oysters are cultivated. You will have a unique opportunity to pick your oysters and taste them on the spot. After learning about the meticulous oyster farming process, you will return to shore and indulge in the oysters you picked along with local mussels, Croatian wine, and homemade rakija (a traditional fruit brandy) in a peaceful garden overlooking the sea.
DAY 3
Day at Leisure
Discover Dubrovnik at your own pace, explore the defense walls surrounding the city or opt for an organized private tour of the Old Town. Ask your Travel Advisor for their favorite spots in the city.
DAY 4
Traditional Dalmatian Peka Cooking Class
Leave the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik behind and experience the traditional gastronomy of Dalmatia. After a short drive from your hotel, you will arrive at the family-run farm located in a picture-perfect setting, a quaint seaside village that evokes past times. After a short tour with the owner of the farm, you will help pick the vegetables needed for today’s lesson right from the garden. Your hosts will help you prepare the perfect peka, a traditional cooking technique used in Dalmatia for centuries to cook delicious meats, seafood, or vegetables. Though seemingly simple, just a cast-iron dome, some ashes, and a large stone slab, mastering the perfect peka takes time, patience, and experience. Roll up your sleeves, and listen as your host shares all the tips and tricks to this mouthwatering dish, sample some of the local grappa, cheeses, and local snacks while your dish is simmering, and once your meal is ready, enjoy it family-style in authentic surroundings.
DAY 5
Dubrovnik – Hvar
After breakfast, you will meet your private driver who will transfer you to the Dubrovnik port to catch a hydrofoil to Hvar. Upon arrival, your representative will be waiting to transfer you to your luxury hotel. Spend the remainder of your day relaxing in the hotel or exploring the vibrant town squares and cafes.
DAY 6
Hvar Wine Tour
In the 4th century BC, the Ancient Greeks brought the first grapevine to this sunny island and planted it in the fertile plain of the ancient town Pharos. People on Hvar cultivated their vineyards with great skill and are blessed with a unique terroir giving Hvar wines very characteristic notes and depth. Your tour will be led by an experienced guide, who will lead you from winery to winery while explaining more of the island’s rich heritage. You can also consider this adventure as a wine timeline because you will be able to explore two completely different wineries and production styles; Tomić- a modern winery in Jelsa with a very colorful and flamboyant owner who is considered a living legend in Croatia, and a very traditional winery Pinjada in Vrboska. Traditional wine tasting is always done in a relaxed atmosphere with an in-depth representation of the entire winemaking process, from the cultivation of grapes to wine production and proper storing procedures in cellars. All your tastings are accompanied by meze-style snacks, giving you the chance to pair excellent wines with the best local products such as aged cheese, wind-dried prosciutto, and of course, fantastic olive oil.
DAY 7
Sail to Island Vis and Bisevo (Blue Cave)
Enjoy a full day of island hopping and exploration on this all-inclusive trip to Vis Island and all of its local sites and natural treasures. Your driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the port where you will board your private speed boat. Your experienced skipper will show you all the most impressive sites along the way as well as hidden coves and beaches. Your first stop will be at the Green cave - famous for the small cracks in the ceiling, allowing beams of light to come through, leaving a trace in the sea throughout the cave. The cave is quite spacious, and its depth varies from three to five meters. Stiniva Cove, one of the most Instragrammable locations in Croatia. is your next destination. It is characterized by a very narrow entrance, after which the bay widens to a beautiful, thirty-meter-wide fine pebble beach, flanked by perpendicular rocks 35 meters high. No roads lead to the cove, so its pristine natural beauty has been preserved. Your next showstopper of the day is the famous Blue Cave on island Bisevo. When the sea is calm and the day is sunny, reflected sunbeams pass through the underwater entrance and illuminate the cave in a fascinating shade of blue, whereas submerged objects acquire a silverish glow when observed from the surface. After you are finished exploring the Blue Cave, your captain will head towards Vis – Komiza town to be exact, known for its rich cultural, historical, and fishing tradition. Komiža is also known for its fine restaurants, where, if you like, we can make lunch reservations, or you can select your perfect dining place. On the way back you will stop in Palmizana bay on Pakleni islands. Should you choose not to have lunch in Komiza, your captain will suggest great restaurants in Palmizana.
DAY 8
Hvar - Split
After breakfast and check-out, you will head to Hvar port to catch a hydrofoil to Split. Upon arrival, a private driver will be waiting at the port to take you to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 9
Private Carriage Ride and Wine Tour in Kastela
This immersive and authentic tour will let you explore the history and gastronomy of Kastela, a place where nobility sought refuge from the Ottoman invasion in the 15th and 16th and built their sturdy mansions, castles, and palaces, 17 in total, many of which remain today. Kastela is also the background to the renowned tragic love story of Miljenko and Dobrila or Croatian Romeo and Juliet, and the location where you will find Mastrinka, one of the oldest olive trees in this part of Europe, which has been bearing fruit for more than 1500 years. Finally, Kastela is the homeland of Zinfandel, since the genetic roots of this famous grape variety have been scientifically traced back to the slopes of Kozjak hill above this coastal city. Your private driver will take you to Kastela where a carriage pulled by two purebred horses will be waiting to take you deep into the vineyards and olive groves. Along the ride, and as you pass some of the castles, including Vitturi Castle, the once home of the tragic lover Dobrila, your coachman will share some of the most fascinating stories that have captivated the locals for centuries. With stops at three local wineries, you will have the opportunity to taste the finest wines of the region, one of them being the famous Kaštelanski Crljenak, the direct descendant of Zinfandel. You will explore the wine cellars and olive storage facilities where you will be able to taste the finest olive oil in the region.
DAY 10
Day at Leisure
Explore the city and its vibrant seaside promenade (Riva) filled with cafes and restaurants or opt for a full city tour or an exciting boat trip to islands Brac or Solta.
DAY 11
Departure day
Your private driver will meet you at the hotel lobby to transfer you from the hotel to the Split International Airport for your flight back home.