The magnificent Dalmatian coast is dotted with 1,185 dazzling islands. Spend an unforgettable week sailing on a beautiful vintage ship. You'll only need a pair of shorts, a couple of t-shirts and a swim suit to laze around the pearly Adriatic Sea.

Relax and let the captain and his crew (especially the cook!) spoil you while you contemplate whether to swim, sunbathe or do a bit of sightseeing. Starting and finishing in the coastal town of Split, the cruise will take you along the southern Dalmation coast with stops in Makarska, Dubrovnik, Sipan, Mljet, Korcula and Hvar.

Day: 1 | Location: Split - Hvar

As Split harbour drifts away we'll cruise past the island of Brač, and around the edge of Hvar where we'll stay for the first night of the tour.  Enroute to Hvar we'll make a stop so you can take your first dip in the Adriatic and sample your first drop of the local beer as you drip dry in the Croatian sun.  After our arrival it's time to jump off the boat and experience Hvar. Our guide will take you on a wander of this Dalmatian gem where you can check out Venetian cobbled streets, the bustling town square and even hike up to the Spanjola Fortress for awesome views over the bay. Keep your eyes peeled for super yachts as Hvar is well known with the rich and famous - the Hiltons, Bill Gates and Michael Schumacher have all been spotted here within the last few summers. Tonight our guide will take you for a sunset picnic out on the bay. No need to worry about doing the shopping, just grab a few beers and your camera. Once the sun has set, it’s time to check out the local nightlife. Tequila Boom Booms at Kiva bar if you dare or soak up vibe of Carpe Diem with cocktails and funky beats...the ideal end to your first day on the water.

Day: 2 | Location: Hvar - Mljet

After an early morning departure you’ll awake to some of the most beautiful views the Dalmatian coast has to offer. Today is all about Mljet, famous for its stunning national park. In the park you'll see amazing salt-water lakes and a secluded abbey on the Island of St. Mary in the middle of the biggest lake. It’s an awesome place for a dip and with the water a few degrees warmer than the sea, you'll think you've struck paradise. Our favourite thing to do is catch a boat out to the island to check out the old monastery, whatever you choose to do Mljet will leave an impression that's not soon forgotten. Tonight we overnight at the port of Polača /Pomena. Time to put the feet up, watch the sun come down and taste the local cuisine...another perfect end to the day.

Day: 3| Location: Mljet - Dubrovnik

Breakfast is served nice and early today as we head to Dubrovnik, known as the jewel of the Adriatic and home to some of the best waterfront bars and swim spots on the coast. Out and about you can check the sites of the old city, wandering around will take a few hours, when the feet get sore and you're ready for a swim you can  head down to East West Beach , then on to Buža bar (if you can find the hole in the wall that leads you down onto the rocks). Dinner tonight should be all about sampling the local seafood and traditional meat dishes. If you're looking for something a little more budget friendly, you can grab a pizza from one of the many local pizzerias, washed down with some local wine. After dinner we head on to Fresh cocktail bar - time to grab your mates and order a 3-litre tower of Sex on the Beach and toast another day of Croatian bliss.  Once the cocktails are done Club Fuego will open doors for the evening...beats to move your feets until the wee small hours of the morning (just don't miss the boat).

Day: 4 | Location: Dubrovnik - Korčula

This morning it’s off to Korčula to check out the island of Marko Polo, the medieval Venetian traveller who was supposedly born here – you can even visit his reputed birthplace in the Old Town!  If you’re lucky enough you might even catch the famous Moreška – a local sword dance unique to Korčula complete with stunning costume and traditional music! Join your guide for a walk around this great town, reminiscent of a mini Dubrovnik and a work of art in itself by the master medieval stonemasons of Korčula. Hear the interesting stories and take a lesson in the old fashioned way to properly guard a town against extreme weather! Evening - Hungry after all the sightseeing? Come and enjoy a pizza in town and then maybe a few cocktails at Dos Locos Bar? No visit to Korčula would be complete without a drink at Massimo, a cocktail bar on the roof of a medieval fort turret!

Day: 5 | Location: Korčula - Makarska

Today we sail up the mainland coast to the seaside resort of Makarska, popular with locals and tourists alike, famous for it’s long pebble beach, water sports and palm fringed promenade framed by the lofty heights of the Biokovo Mountains. Your Guide will lead you into the town square on arrival to tell you a little more. Evening – Dinner at Konoba Susvid, a great traditional tavern in the town centre with a few drinks in town afterwards. If you’re here in peak season, don’t forget to check out Club Deep – a nightclub inside a cave that used to be a weapons depot in the Second World War! A place of war becomes a place of party – how cool is that?

Day: | Location: Makarska - Omis

As we head up the coast we sail deeper into pirate territory on the short trip to our destination of Omiš! The town was famous for being heavily involved in Pirate activities 1000 years ago where the local sea Captains would “supervise” navigation of trading vessels and refuse to pay taxes to their Venetian rulers. Do check out the markets in town and if you’re feeling energetic, head on the 2 hour (there and back) hike up to the Stari Grad Pirate Fortress in the mountains! This evening we get into the local spirit of things with a Captain’s Dinner and Pirate Fancy Dress Party! Arrrrr!

Day: 7 | Location: Omis - Split

After breakfast the morning is yours to top-up your tan before we make our final trip back to Split! Your Guide can advise you on accommodation / laundry places and ongoing travel, but you’ll have your final night (tonight) aboard the boat. By this stage the Captain will be calculating all the bar bills so make sure you pay up and get your passport back especially if heading off early the next morning! Evening - Come on a walking tour of the awesome Diocletian Palace, one of the most complete and well preserved Roman buildings in the world, it forms the core of the entire old town of Split. Your Guide will take you out to the Golden Gate to see the imposing statue of Gregory of Nin, a 1000-year-old Slavic Bishop who is one of the symbols of the city! Enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers and head out to party in Dalmatia’s capital!

Day: 8 | Location: Split

Check out 9am checkout sharp. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to your new friends and crew! Transfers to the airport are right in the harbour and the international ferry port is there as well.

Please note: The captain reserves the right to change the route in case of bad weather conditions.

What's Included

• 7 continental breakfasts 5 lunches & 2 dinners
• 7 night's accommodation (Saturday to Friday inclusive)
• Island orientation walks
• English speaking Busabout Guide
• Bedding on the boats (bring a towel)

What's Not Included

• Local payment of €25 to cover all park entry fees and local taxes (approximately)

Tour Options

Explore the islands at your own pace, or join in with one of Busabout's optional extras. Full details from your Busabout Guide.

• Captain’s Dinner
• Kick back with a beer onboard
• Traditional group dinners
• Sunbaking and swimming in secluded bays – all completely free!
• Hire a small boat and sail across the Mljet salt lakes to discover its secluded abbey
• Bike hire in the National Parks
• Beach ball games and lilos

Here at Busabout Adventures we've only ever aimed at one thing - to show you around some of our favourite countries sharing a little bit of the passion we have for these destinations. We promise to give you the best possible value-for-money adventures . All our crew have a passion for the land in which they work and have all travelled extensively themselves - so they know how to make your budgets stretch.

The trips and itineraries have been developed by local experts who passionately believe that their trip is the best in the world - it makes for interesting end-of-year parties, but it means you get the best the country has to offer. Check out the Trip Options for full itineraries or keep reading to find out why our trips are so good.

What makes us a little bit special...

We have a lovely team both in the office to help you with enquiries and out there on road, track and sea. Judging by the thank you emails we get they are building themselves a nice reputation for being the independent travel experts - they know you are there for a good time but don't like being herded like cattle: you can still feel like an independant traveller on a tour but only if you are given the time and space to experience things for yourself.

In some destinations we have expert guides from the country you are visiting, on others we have Trip Managers and Drivers who make use of a series of expert Local Guides along the way - either way there will be plenty of opportuntiy for that unique local insight which is so important to travelling.

Our accommodations vary from boat to hotel to tent - not all on the same trip, but with one thing in common: they are the best options available for the budget traveller. Our style of travel suits the independant traveller, so you can be sure that you are likely to have plenty in common with other members of the group before you even meet. We have people from all over the world on our trips: some of which are solo travellers, some couples and sometimes groups of friends.

The group dynamic is different on every trip - but you can be sure that you guides main aim is too build cameraderie and the group-feel. Cooking dinner together overlooking Chefchaoun or lounging on the deck of our sailing boats in Croatia is a sure-fire way to get that bonding going. Not to mention our nights out sampling the local night-life.