Discover the charming Croatian coastline and islands on this 8-day cruise aboard the deluxe M/S Apolon. Indulge all your senses and explore inspiring destinations, fishermen’s villages, and small and cozy restaurants on shore for tasting local Mediterranean cuisine and nightlife. This voyage is fully prepared in order to give you time to experience Croatian current history, to see old medieval towns and islands such as Split, Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik, and to enjoy sightseeing and Dalmatian wine tastings.
Highlights
Enjoy a free afternoon of exploration in Mljet National Park
Walk through the town of Hvar and discover the island's history & culture
Visit Split's numerous museums, National Theater, and old churches
Observe the Mediterranean architecture and rustic ambiance of Brač Island
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Board the M/S Apolon in Gruž harbor in Dubrovnik at any time throughout the day. If you arrive in the morning you cannot enter your cabin before 1:00 p.m. but you can leave your luggage on board.
The welcome meeting and dinner starts at 7:00 p.m. where you are introduced by your Cruise Director to the Captain, crew, and your future fellow passengers with whom you spend a week on board. Passengers arriving later at night are provided with a cold dinner.
After breakfast cruise to Mljet National Park, passing by the magnificent shores of the Elaphiti Islands archipelago. Enjoy swim stops and lunch on board along the way. Upon arrival to Mljet National Park, have a free afternoon to explore (entrance fees are not included), walk around the Great and Small Lake, and explore the Islet of St. Mary with its Benedictine Monastery from the 12th century. Enjoy the evening at leisure.
In the morning cruise to the Island of Hvar with a swim stop near the Island of Korčula. After lunch continue cruising towards the sunniest island of Croatia – the island of Hvar, with a second swim stop in one of the many coves and bays along the way. Hvar is one of the most popular and very attractive tourist destinations and a meeting point for the international jet set. Upon your evening arrival, a local English-speaking guide walks you throughout the town, introducing you to the history, culture, and way of life on this island. Learn how lavender was traditionally farmed on the Island of Hvar for centuries. Have a free evening on your own to explore and dine in one of numerous family-owned restaurants.
Start your day with a morning departure towards Bol, said to have the best beach for swimming in Croatia - Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape). Stop in Bol and enjoy this nice Dalmatian town on a walk, or have a cup of coffee and take a swim until lunch is served on board.
Cruise to Split in the afternoon. Split is the second largest urban center in Croatia and the seat of Split and Dalmatia County. It is traditionally considered to be over 1,700 years old. Since 1979 the historic center has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. The historical and cultural buildings are located inside the walls of the Diocletian’s Palace. In addition, its numerous museums, the National Theater, old churches, and other archaeological sites in the region make this city an important cultural attraction. Your English-speaking guide leads a 35-40 minute Split city tour and walks you through the historical Diocletian’s Palace.
In the morning cruise to Brač Island with a short refreshing swim stop. Then continue your voyage towards Pučišća, the biggest village of the island of Brač with authentic Mediterranean architecture and rustic ambiance inside a deep fjord. Shiny and white stone facades rising amphitheatrically uphill make this place so unique and worth seeing, famous for its quarries from which stone was excavated to build limestone columns of the White House in Washington DC, the Parliament house in Vienna, and many other famous buildings all over the world. Pučišća is home to the only one Stonemasonry school in Croatia where students carve Brač limestone with traditional and unconventional tools that are used here for centuries.
Depart from Brač Island, have lunch on board “en route”, and in the afternoon arrive to Makarska on the mainland, the “tourist Centre of Dalmatia” where you and your fellow travelers spend the night.
Start your day with a morning departure towards the last island on your cruise – the island of Korčula. Stop for a swim before lunch and in the afternoon arrive in Korčula town, on Korčula Island. Korčula is a city known as a birthplace of Marco Polo, the famous explorer.
Your English-speaking guide leads a Korčula city tour, and walks you through the narrow and cobbled streets of Korčula. The rest of the evening is free to enjoy dining at one of the local restaurants of your choice.
After breakfast depart for a pleasant cruise along the shores of Mljet and the Elaphite Islands where you can have a swim stop and lunch before arriving to Dubrovnik in the afternoon. After an organized panoramic drive and photo stop of breathtaking scenery at a hill above Dubrovnik, arrive at the historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where your guide shows you the most interesting highlights of the city. After the tour take some time on your own to dine or explore. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening to enjoy your stay in the Pearl of the Adriatic.
Select to join an optional afternoon farewell excursion to Dubrovnik Countryside (approximate duration 5:00 hours):
The tour takes you on country roads that pass through picturesque small villages. Enjoy a photo stop on a hill above Dubrovnik, a high panoramic point from where you can see the entirety of Dubrovnik as well as the islands around. On your journey visit the medieval watermills and spring of river Ljuta with presentation of flour production in a old, traditional way. Be welcomed with local liquor, figs, walnuts and homemade arancini – the candid sour and sweet orange peel sweets. Taste the special Dalmatian smoked ham and local cheese, sample a few of the local red & white wines and local bread, and conclude a evening with a nice walk at the small seaside town of Cavtat. Cavtat is situated on the peninsula with its centuries-old harmonious architecture and rich history; today it is one of the most attractive destinations on the Adriatic coast.
This optional excursion includes: English-peaking guide, return transfer, flour presentation with welcome drink, Dalmatian smoked ham, cheese, bread and red & white wine tasting.
Day 8: Dubrovnik | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Say farewell to all your new friends and disembark after breakfast.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,440
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Standard Cabins
Eight cabins with double or twin beds. Two cabins have extra beds (not bunk bed). Two porthole windows. 16-18 m2.
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Main Deck Cabins
Eleven cabins with double or twin beds. Large cabin window and small bathroom window. 14-16 m2.
Initial deposit is $360 (Based on 300 EUR), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.