From the “Pearl of the Adriatic Sea” to Mostar

 1 week ex Dubrovnik – departures on Sundays

 This route differs in several aspects from most others. First, you will have plenty of time to fully enjoy the beautiful and unique city of Dubrovnik, since we will not set sail until Monday. During the cruise, we will visit the islands of Korcula, Lastovo and Mljet, definitely some of to the most beautiful islands of South Dalmatia. The main highlight of the trip is undoubtedly a fullday bus tour through the Neretva River Delta, the “Croatian California”, to Mostar, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Here you will discover the magic of Orient, where mosques and minarets govern the image of the city with the famous bridge over the Neretva River.

 1st day: Boarding in Dubrovnik (the port of Gruz) during the day. Depending on flight schedules, you will have the whole day and the evening to discover the unique city of Dubrovnik which looks like a big museum. The distance from the port to the old town is a good half hour walk or a few minutes by bus, which departs from the immediate vicinity of our boats (approximately every 15 minutes, the fare is 10 kunas, last return bus at around 2.00 am). Stroll through the famous “Stradun”, take a walk along the massive city walls and visit the countless sights. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

 2nd day: After breakfast, we cast off and set sail to Korcula. We cruise along the mountainous peninsula of Peljesac (Sveti Ilija, 961 m, the highest peak) and after a swim we head to the island of Korcula. Korcula has one of the most beautiful old towns of Dalmatia, known for its fortresslike appearance, often called “Little Dubrovnik”. In ancient times, the island was also named “Black Island”, due to its vast pine forests. Overnight stay in the port of the town of Korcula.

 3rd day: As early as 6.00 am, we weigh anchor and head round the northwest end of the Peljesac peninsula towards mainland. At about 10.00 am we will tie up in the port of Ploce, where a bus will already be waiting to take us on our day trip. We will first drive into the Neretva River Delta which stretches over an area of 20,000 hectares. 12,000 hectares belong to Croatia, the rest to Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was originally a pure swamp, however in 1880 parts of it were drained so the land could be used for agriculture. Hence came to life the largest tangerine cultivation in the Adriatic area, also called the “Croatian California”. Once upon a time, boats were the only means of transportation in the delta – the bigger ones were called “Ladja”, the small ones “Trupa”. Although now there are roads and streets, some farmers still use those boats, typical of the Neretva River Delta, to transport their products through the channels to the riverside markets. The area boasts of a rich flora and fauna. In addition to a variety of plants, here you may find 310 bird species as well as 34 freshwater and 100 marine fish species. After a boat ride through the Neretva River Delta channels, we will enjoy a traditional meal before continuing to Mostar, the capital of Herzegovina, the part of Bosnia-Herzegovina which is predominantly populated by Croats. The town’s landmark and eponym of Mostar, the “Old Bridge” (Croatian: Stari most) over the Neretva River, was built in the 16th Century by the Ottoman architect Mimar Hajrudin. It was destroyed during the war in 1993 and reconstructed in the years from 1996 to 2004. In 2005, the bridge and the old town of Mostar were included in the UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. The bridge stands as a symbol for the peaceful coexistence of different peoples in Mostar and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Near the bridge there is the Karadjoz-Beg Mosque, which is open to visitors. After a guided tour through the old town, we drive back to Ploce and flow to the little village of Trpanj on the Peljesac peninsula, where we will moor for the night.

 4th day: We set sail towards the southern Dalmatian islands. Today’s destination is the town of Vela Luka. Vela Luka is located in a deep bay on the western tip of the island of Korcula. The surrounding hills protect it from north and south winds, in summer the Mistral gives a pleasant cooling breeze. The bay is fronted by a few small islands; the most popular one is Proizd, with regular taxi boat rides to this resort island. Vela Luka, by the way, is the birthplace of several famous Croatian singers and it is said that the folk songs sung by the fishermen here on the island sound at their best.

 5th day: Less than three hours by boat from Vela Luka lies the island of Lastovo, which was closed to foreign visitors for decades, because it used to be a military base at the time of the former Yugoslavia. The island was therefore able to preserve its originality and is a true oasis of tranquillity with lush Mediterranean vegetation. A few years ago, the archipelago of Lastovo was declared a natural park (entrance fee approx. € 3 per person, to be paid onsite). We will moor in the bay of Sveti Mihajlo, close to the island’s capital, Lastovo. The town of Lastovo is not located directly on the shore, but on a mountain about 2 km above the bay; anyhow, it is certainly worth a short walk.

 6th day: We leave Lastovo and head toward the island of Mljet, where we will moor in the Bay of Pomena. A part of the island of Mljet was declared a National Park – two saltwater lakes (in the larger one, there is a small island with a former monastery) are connected to the sea only by a narrow channel. After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to visit the National Park (entrance fee, including boat ride to the monastery: approx. € 15 per person, to be paid onsite). Then, we again set sail and continue to one of the eastern bays of the island of Mljet, where we will spend the night.

 7th day: We head to the Elafiti Islands, where we anchor in one of the many coves, to take the last dip. After a long swimming break, we will return to Dubrovnik, where we will spend the last night of our trip. Enjoying Saturday evening in the unique atmosphere of the old town will surely fascinate you. Stroll along the “Stradun”, enjoy a drink in one of the cafes or listen to the street musicians…

 8th day: After breakfast, at around 9:00 am, disembarkation. If your flight departs in the afternoon or in the evening, you will have one more chance to visit the old town.