Croatia holiday, Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast
Highlights
Split | Dubrovnik | Mljet Island National Park | Korcula | StonDescription of Croatia holiday, Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast
With stunning architecture and arguably some of the best scenery in Europe, the Dalmatian Coast is truly unique. On this Croatia holiday to Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian coast, you’ll spend a week exploring the best of this striking coastal region, which has some of the most beguiling scenery and architecture in Europe.You’ll start in the UNESCO cities of Split and nearby Trogir, exploring their historic old centres, before moving on to experience life on the island of Korcula, whose medieval walled town is rumoured to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. There’s also time to discover the rest of the island on foot, passing through vineyards, olive groves and picturesque villages.
Then it’s on to Mljet Island, which has national park status and is refreshingly underdeveloped. You’ll walk through forest and villages to reach the summit of Montokuc, for beautiful views over the Dalmatian coast. On Peninsular Peljesac, your next stop, you’ll visit a local winery and explore the walled town of Ston, sampling some fresh seafood along the way.
The final three nights are spent in Dubrovnik, one of the best preserved Renaissance cities in the world. The city’s maze of narrow, cobbled streets features churches, palaces and museums, all safely tucked away behind city walls.
Travel Team
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Small group holiday
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modelled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. If you’re heading off on a gap year your, perhaps – but for those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Story: The first British woman to climb Manaslu, Valerie climbed Everest for her 50th birthday. She’s spent fourteen Christmas Days trekking to Everest Base Camp, and is involved insetting up Responsible Tourism initiatives in the Himalayas.
Story: Roshan has led over 130 trips – he adores showing travellers around Sri Lanka. He won the company Leader Award in 2010, but his career highlight was working on their Tsunami Project – which earned him a responsible tourism award.
Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Croatia holiday, Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast
Accommodation & Meals:
On this trip you will spend the week in comfortable, locally staffed hotels. We tend to avoid the larger chains and to invest in the smaller businesses, where our money stays local. All breakfasts and one picnic lunch is included. Croatian cuisine has a mixture of Central European, Italian and Balkan influences, producing a mixture of dishes like grilled lamb, pizza, fine seafood, pasta and salads. Your guide is local and will be able to recommend or arrange for you to eat in some unique, community-central restaurants. For example, in Ston, the group can stop to try oysters; or along the Peljesac Peninsula, there are several vineyards where there is the chance to try and buy some wine.
Activity:
This is a relaxed itinerary, mainly based on sightseeing and exploring the stunning terrain on offer on the Dalmatian coast. Due to this, we have a pretty low impact on the environment and are always aware of our litter disposal and energy consumption anyway. The sightseeing aspect of the tour is actually really beneficial to the country and its several historical and cultural gems. The ancient, heavily walled city of Dubrovnik, for instance, benefits from tourist fees which go towards upkeep of the buildings. We visit the Rector’s Palace, the Franciscan and Dominican Monasteries, the Stradun and the fortified walls themselves. Not only does this help preserve and celebrate Croatian culture history, but the locals benefit from tourists spending on souvenirs and food.
A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise that they are paid and treated fairly. The leaders will give a briefing on responsible tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
7 Reviews of Croatia holiday, Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast
Reviewed on 03 Jul 2018 by Sara Willmott
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our visits to the islands of Korcula and Mijit and the walking there
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring "swimming " shoes as the beaches are stony
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes , insofar as we used local hotels, restaurants and drivers.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very varied and enjoyable with a good mix of sightseeing- with excellent guides-and activity. Our local leader was exceptional-very good English, well informed, tolerant(!) and inclusive.
Reviewed on 27 Jun 2018 by Amanda Lees
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Dubrovnik
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The walking needs reasonable fitness and footwear for rough terrain.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - local guides and hotels etc. Locals not so tuned into environmental
practice.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Really good. Guide Ivan was very good.
Reviewed on 22 Sep 2015 by Christopher Hawker
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walks (not strenuous) and visit to local family 'restaurant' (using traditional cooking methods) organised by the tour guide.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This mixture of activities is a good introduction to (lovely) Croatian coast and (very busy/crowded but quite stunning) Split/Dubrovnik tourism.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly good use was made of local family owned restaurants, group transport use reduces impact, two of the hotels were a little 'bland' but presumably used on cost grounds.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Does what it 'says on the tin'. Good introduction to Croatia, made all the better, in our case, by an excellent 'tour leader'.
Reviewed on 15 Jun 2015 by Karin Herveus
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Islands of Mljet (nature parc) and island of Korcula. Nice walks and great food and wine.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring good shoes and wear insect repellent even in the daytime.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Reviewed on 20 Jul 2015 by Diane Baker
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Just getting a glimpse of the Croatian coast with its scenery and history
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a strong insect repellant if you you are walking in the countryside.
Be prepared that each day the guide will say where the group is going to have dinner that night and generall it will be in a tourist venue and in Summer in Croatia that is not cheap. You do not have to go with the group but of course it is more social and easier to do so.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Hope so
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We enjoyed our holiday and the company of our fellow travellers but will probably not return to Croatia.
Reviewed on 14 Jun 2013 by Ann Williamson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sheltering under stone archways in Split amid torrential rain. Lunch up in the mountains at Lukomir in Bosnia. Walking the walls around Dubrovnik. Laurenc, our guide, took us to many places where we had excellent food
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a sweater and an umbrella!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - benefited local economy both through using local guides and buying local goods and food
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent trip - would recommend it to others.
Reviewed on 14 May 2013 by Nick Ward
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking the walls of Dubrovnik - great views and lots of history.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect adequate hotels rather than luxury. Take a travel kettle if you want an early morning cuppa - there was no tea or coffee making facilities in any of the rooms.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Tourism is vital to Croatia as this relatively new country finds its place in the world.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Even better than expected. A lovely area to visit.
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