Croatia – Dalmatian Coast Hiking Tour

Welcome to Split, a 1700 year old Roman town! Meet our representative in the morning for your orientation before starting your hiking tour along the Dalmatian Coast and islands. Start your walk along the coast, passing a couple of beautiful bays and beaches, then follow the trail, which leads you to Marjan Park Forest, a famous recreational area for the locals. Discover many charming churches, walk trails with amazing views of Split, the beautiful seaside and its nearby islands. Continue on and discover the old walls of the Diocletian’s Palace, along with numerous cafes and restaurants serving fresh Mediterranean food in Split!

Distance: 7 km / 4 miles or 14 km / 9 miles loop options
Elevation gain: 180 m
Duration: 3-5 hrs + 2 hr city walk
Highlights: historic Split, orientation, Marjan Park Forest, Diocletian’s Palace
Overnight: Split

Start the day with a boat ride from Split to Island Brac. Once you arrive on Island Brac, you have the option for an easy coastal hike from Lovrecina Bay or you can enjoy the West Side Loop. This takes you along olive groves and the quiet village of Sutivan, then back along the coast to Supetar. If you like, you can combine both options for an exhilarating 25-km hike. Whatever path you choose today, you will enjoy great views on the mainland, quiet coastal paths, discovering ancient Greek and Roman ruins and sleepy fisherman villages.

One of the trademarks of Island Brac is its white stone and stone quarries. The White House in Washington D.C. and Diocletian’s Palace are just some of the sites that were built with that very same stone! All of the ancient villages and towns on Brac are truly an exhibition of fine stone work! Next, enjoy some free time and swim at one of many beaches surrounding Supetar or discover historical sites and local culture before your return to Split.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 14 or 16 km / 9 or 10 miles
Elevation gain: 190 or 140 m
Duration: 4.5 or 3 hrs
Highlights: Island Brac, coastal hike, Sutivan, Supetar, Greek & Roman ruins
Overnight: Split

Today, head towards the island of Hvar, which is rated as one of the “top 10 most beautiful islands in the world” according to Traveler Magazine! Cultural and historical sites abound, along with lavender fields, crystal clear turquoise waters, charming villages and towns; these are just some of the highlights this gorgeous island has to offer.

Take a “cultural walk” along the narrow streets of Stari Grad, which literally translates to “The Old town.” Founded in the 4th century B.C., this is one of the first Greek colonies in the Adriatic. Enjoy numerous charming squares, as well as the restaurants and cafés of Stari Grad. Then continue on to the abandoned villages once famous for lavender and rosemary oil production, to the south coastline of Island Hvar. Along the way you will walk along lavender fields, olive groves and discover charming and hidden beaches with a sparkling turquoise color, before your arrival to Hvar town. In the afternoon before dinner, treat yourself to a well deserved café or aperitif at one of the numerous bars along the Venetian-influenced piazza in Hvar town!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 12 km / 7 miles
Elevation loss: 310 m
Duration: 3-4 hrs
Highlights: Hvar island, beautiful waters, villages, cultural Stari Grad
Overnight: Hvar

After breakfast, walk to Fortica Španjola, a fortress located on a hill above the town of Hvar, where the most recent renovations were done in the 16th century. On your way to the fortress, enjoy some unforgettable panoramic views of the city, the surrounding Pakleni Islands, as well as a museum located in the fortress with special exhibits of Middle Ages antiquities.

If you are interested in some beach time, you will definitely enjoy taking a taxi boat to the Pakleni Islands, a small but beautiful archipelago located right across from Hvar. Enjoy a nice walk or swim in secluded bays, having a nice lunch overlooking Adriatic! Later in the afternoon, take a boat ride to Korcula, where you will spend the next 2 nights.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 2-3 km / 1-2 miles
Elevation gain: 100 m
Duration: 2 hrs
Highlights: Fortica Spanjola, museum, Pakleni Islands views/visit, Korkula
Overnight: Korcula

Discover your third Island: Korcula! This island is considered to be the home town of Marco Polo, the famous world traveler, and is where the Silk Road began. Korcula used to be a Greek colony, dating back to the 4th century and was called Korkyra Melaina (Black Korcula). Nowadays, it’s famous for producing some of the best Croatian white wines: Posip and Grk.

Today’s hike takes you along the nature park with some amazing rock formations and wildlife. The walk itself is very peaceful and relaxing, in an unusual but beautiful karst landscape, native to this region. The area contains dolomite rock formations and is very densely wooded. Following the nature park, continue along the ancient Napoleon Path, along olive groves, small vineyards, fields of sage, oregano and many other fragrant herbs. The hike ends in the village of Pupnat. Spend the afternoon in the medieval town of Korcula and explore its cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings and other architectural masterpieces made in Gothic and Renaissance style.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 11-23 km/ 7-14 miles
Elevation gain: 360 m
Duration: 2.5-4 hrs
Highlights: wines, nature park, forest, Napoleon Path, Pupnat, lunch with local family
Overnight: Korcula

Start the morning with a short boat ride to the Peljesac Peninsula and the town of Orebic, which was founded in the 15th century as a part of the Republic of Dubrovnik (Ragusa.) Famous for its seaman and its maritime traditions, nowadays in Orebic you can see charming stone houses (villas) that once belonged to famous sea captains. From Orebic, start your hike along the southern slopes of Mt. Ilija, where you will pass secluded vineyards, an old Franciscan monastery, and enjoy great views on Korcula and Peljesac Archipelago. Once back to the coast, enjoy a scenic walk along the waterfront of Kučište and Viganj, two very relaxed and peaceful Dalmatian villages.

In the afternoon, head back to the mainland. On the way you will pass through Ston, where you can discover the second longest stone wall in the world! Then, continue to the “Pearl of the Adriatic” Dubrovnik, where you will spend your last evening!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 9-13 km / 6-8 miles (Ston walls walk optional)
Elevation gain: 226 m
Duration: 2 hrs
Highlights: boat ride to historic Orebic, Mt. Ilija hike, Franciscan monastery, Ston
Overnight: Dubrovnik

After breakfast, take a walk in the Old Town of Dubrovnik. Explore its marble streets, Baroque buildings, and discover the rich history of a once very important Republic of Dubrovnik. This walk concludes your Dalmatian Coast adventure and you will soon be ready to return home, enriched by the discovery of one small but extremely beautiful, Mediterranean country! Pomalo!

Meals: breakfast