Croatia: Sibenik & the Kornati Islands

Welcome to Croatia! Your adventure starts off today with a 12pm meeting at Split's central bus station, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers; but you won’t hang around for long – the wonders of Central Dalmatia are waiting! Do as the locals do and hop aboard a bus bound for Sibenik, a beautiful city on the Adriatic coast with a spellbinding history. Settle in on arrival then head out to get to know the city in the best way possible – through the eyes of a local. Meet with an inhabitant of Sibenik who will show you a side of their city that most don’t get to see as you explore the winding cobbled streets of the Old Town, stopping in to visit the creative artisans and artists who make up so much of the fabric of the town. Your local guide will then take you to a little-known tavern down a quiet alleyway to experience marenda, a light meal between lunch and dinner and a big part of the culture in Sibenik. Later this evening, you may like to head out for dinner in the town with your new travel companions and get to know each other over a glass of local rakija.

Included Activities:
-Sibenik - Marenda Snack
-Sibenik - Cathedral of St James
-Sibenik - Walking Tour with Local Guide

Say goodbye to Sibenik and cross a bridge over the Adriatic Sea to the island of Murter. On arrival, get to know the island during a bicycle tour and pedal through the main town to the village of Betina, a charming little place filled with history. Betina holds a long tradition of wooden shipbuilding, and while here, you’ll pay a visit to the Betina Museum of Wooden Shipbuilding to learn about the history of the industry and its importance to the village. Take a short stroll to the St. Roko church before continuing to the ancient Roman city of Colentum. Your leader will fill you in on the history of this archaeological site as you explore the ruins of a Villa rustica, Roman cistern and ancient mosaics. But there’s more here than meets the eye – as the sea level was much lower a few thousand years ago, many of the remains of the city now sit underwater. Don snorkelling gear and get beneath the surface to explore an underwater wonderland of ancient artefacts. After returning to dry land, the rest of the afternoon is yours.

Included Activities:
-Murter - Roman City of Colentum Snorkelling
-Murter - Betina Mueum of Wooden Shipbuilding with Guide
-Murter - Bike Excursion

Rise bright and early for a transfer to the port, where you’ll jump aboard our private boat to the incredible Kornati Islands archipelago. Enjoy breakfast on board the boat as you take in the fresh sea air and charming views of fisherman’s cottages along the way. The islands are best explored on foot, so on arrival you’ll set off on a hike to uncover the history and legends of Kornati. Sharing food and drink is a big part of Croatian culture, so for lunch today you’ll sit down with a local family, enjoy some homemade local specialties, and hear firsthand stories about life on the island to get a glimpse at what daily life looks like. You’ll hear about the importance of olive oil production to the Dalmatia region and learn the true meaning of the olive tree from the locals who know it best. And of course no visit to Dalmatia would be complete without an olive oil tasting session. This afternoon you'll see the islands from a different perspective as you snorkel through the clear waters, then it’s back to the mainland via boat for another night in Sibenik. The evening is yours to explore more of what this fascinating city has to offer – your leader will know all the best spots for an authentic dinner experience!

Included Activities:
-Kornati Islands - Olive Oil & Honey Tasting
-Kornati Islands - Home-cooked Lunch with Local Family
-Kornati Islands - Snorkelling
-Kornati Islands - Full Day Boat Cruise

Krka National Park looks like something straight out of a fairy tale – from its tiered waterfalls and vibrant Krka river to beautiful woodlands and roman ruins, this is truly a magical place. It’s surprising this national park isn’t better known, but that’s good for you as you can hike and explore without the crowds. Venture into the park with your leader at the helm and traverse criss-crossing paths and bridges dotted with old watermills and little stone houses immortalised as museums. Take some time to explore the park at your own pace. Return to Sibenik for another evening at leisure.

Included Activities:
-Krka National Park - Day Excursion

Hop on a local bus to Trogir this morning. On arrival, you'll meet a local guide who will take you on a walk to get acquainted with this delightful seaside town, whose medieval walls are bursting with beautiful Romanesque, Renaissance and baroque buildings. Take some time to explore, perhaps have lunch, then catch a transfer back to Split. You can expect to arrive in the late afternoon, at which point your adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to stay on in Split, just get in touch ahead of time and we’d be happy to arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Included Activities:
-Trogir - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide