Yacht Charter Itinerary Dubrovnik, Croatia to Venice, Italy
Written by Missy Johnston
Dubrovnik
Arrival in Dubrovnik mid-morning. Guests will be met on arrival and escorted to yacht for boarding. Board your yacht in Dubrovnik settle in for a lovely lunch on deck. After lunch, visit the spectacular walled city of Dubrovnik. A private guided tour of 2-3 hours is available if wanted. Tours and tour times are flexible and the Captain can coordinate each day with the tour guides in accordance with the guest’s wishes. The tours in Croatia are all walking tours from 1 – 3 hours, depending on the location and the guest’s wishes. The wonderfully preserved 15th Century “Old Town” features ancient buildings, squares, cobbled streets and fountains, all created from the same beautiful cut stone. Visit the historic main square, the priceless collections in the Dominican Monastery, the Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik Cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site well worth touring. Overnight on anchor and dine under the stars.
Polace Roman Palace Ruins
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Leave in the morning for the Island of Mljet. Ths once one of the biggest producers of olive oil in the Med. Odysseus was fabled to have been seduced here by nymphs in Homer’s “The Odyssey”, but it had to be a fable because in real life, he would never have left. Much of this island is a National Park filled with hiking and bicycling trails. After stopping for lunch in a quiet anchorage for a refreshing swim, cruise on to Polace, (literally “palace”) to explore and wander through the ruins of a Roman palace that cut right through this town. Cruising along a long wooded inlet and you could be forgiven for thinking that you were sailing up a Norwegian Fjord. At the end is a protected bay with restaurants including Konoba Ankora, well known for fresh black squid ink risotto? Hike to the large lake and take the National park boat out to the remains of a monastery on a little island. The scenery is beautiful. Relax with dinner on board or ashore.
Korcula Old Town
Cruise early morning to Korcula. Awake to breakfast anchored off of Korcula. After breakfast have a private guided tour of approximately 2 hours around the fortified medieval town of Korcula (pronounced KorCHoola) where Marco Polo was born, or wander the town ourselves, it is impossible to get lost. The streets are laid out in a unique plan for better air circulation, and look from above like a fish skeleton. Stop mid-day for a refreshing drink at the cocktail bar at the top of one of the towers, where the drinks arrive by a pulley outside the walls, as the stairs are too steep. If you are lucky, you may hear impromptu Klapa singing. Leave after lunch for Hvar.
Hvar Town Quay
Hvar town is overlooked by a large castle and has the oldest theatre in Croatia (circa 1200). This is where the beautiful people hang out. Enjoy a cocktail at the very chic “Hula Hula” before strolling along the promenade to soak up the atmosphere of Croatia’s Cote d’Azur. Late nighttime entertainment can be found at the Carpe Diem or Carpe Diem beach. The ancients considered Hvar one of the “Isles of the Blessed”. Flower-filled gardens, palms, lemon and orange groves add a fragrance lovely enough to match the visual appeal of this sun-drenched island beauty. Have a private guided walking tour of 1 – 2 hours visiting the theatre of 1506, the Benedictine Monastery, the town square and ancient stone houses. Be sure to hike up to the castle overlooking Hvar Town for a perfect view. Overnight.
Split
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Day 4: Cruise to Split. The ancient city of Split was taken from Salona as the metropolis of the Roman province of Dalmatia. The medieval town developed out of the Emperor Diocletian’s palace, which is recorded as a UNESCO – “monument of universal importance”. Other sites to visit include the Peristyle, Jupiter’s Temple and Visesllas’s Baptistery. Explore Diocletian’s Palace alone or with a private tour guide. Stop for lunch at the nearby and excellent Nostromo’s Restaurant, right at the fish market, serving, of course, fresh fish of the day. Cruise in the afternoon to Trogir to overnight. Trogir stands on the foundations of an ancient Greek settlement on a small island connected to the mainland by bridges. This medieval town is a favorite stop, which offers restaurants, markets, and beautiful sights, including the 15th Century Trogir chapel and the 13th Century portal by the master Radovan. In the early evening have a private guided tour of 1-2 hours of this lovely little town. The yacht marina is situated on another small island opposite the old city walls, which is an easy walk over a bridge to the old town. Perhaps you might hear Klapa singing in Trogir within the walled area on the island. Across from the island, during the day is a large market place, selling, amongst other items, local honey, and lavender soap.
Inside Trogir Old Town
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Sibenik Cathedral Interior
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Cruise to Sibenik. Sibenik is the oldest Croatian town on the Adriatic, and is unique because of its extraordinary location in a picturesque and wide bay at the mouth of the River Krka. It lies on the slopes of the hills in the northern part of the bay, surrounded by three fortresses: St.Michael’s, St.John’s and Subicevac. In the old part of the town the houses are made of stone and closely built and the streets are narrow and winding with lots of steps and vaults. This area is easy to see without a guide, just wander the old city and the cathedral is easy to find. After lunch visit cruise up to the Krka National Park to visit the waterfalls on the River Krka. The National Park also includes a re-created village from the 1800’s with craft exhibits. Overnight
River Krka Falls
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Kornati Archipelago
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
In the morning cruise to Pasman Island, one of many in the Zadar Island Group. This island group has crystal clear waters and sandy beaches. The sea currents here change every 6 hours, making these waters some of the cleanest in the Adriatic. On shore there are vineyards, aromatic herbs and olive trees. Spend a relaxing day exploring, swimming, wandering the shoreline, or visiting the Benedictine Monastery. Choose a quiet beautiful anchorage in the Kornati Archipelago to overnight, away from it all.
Brijuni National Park
Very early am, cruise to Brijuni, to enjoy the Brijuni National Park. Wake to beautiful forests and meadows in an area that was once a favorite holiday resort area for the wealthy elite. In the tranquility of the island of Vanis, is an 18 hole golf course. After lunch, play a round of golf and then it is back to the yacht for dinner on board, and perhaps a lovely swim. Overnight on anchor.
Pula Arena
Photo Credit Missy Johnston
Leave early for Pula, a location that represents a very fine combination of the old and modern city where many famous writers and composers have found inspiration for their masterpieces. Many cultural and historical monuments dominate its panorama and represent today the unique setting of various cultural and artistic events. Have a private guided tour of 2-3 hours at your leisure. Tourist facilities are located outside the town in woods close to the sea. Beaches stretch along 100 km of beautifully and indented coastline. The area of Pula is magnificent, with country stone houses and buildings of modern architecture. Customs clearance out of Croatia. Overnight cruise to Venice.
Burano Island
Awake to the sights and sounds of Venice. After clearing into Italy, tie up at the quay just down from St. Marks Square. Late morning have a private water taxi pickup with your private guide to the island of Torecello for lunch at the famous restaurant Locanda Cipriani, owned by the same family that owns and operated Harry’s Bar in Venice. After lunch continue on with your guide to the island of Murano, home of the famous Murano glass factories creators of Venetian glass for centuries. If there is time, you may also want to stop at the island of Burano where the famous Venetian Lace is made. Return to your yacht for a special dinner under the stars while taking in the essence of Venice and St. Marks Square in the moonlight shadows of one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Venice
The next day at your leisure, your private guide can return in a private water taxi and give you a tour of that which is your special interest. Is it the back canals of Venice with a view of local life, or a guided tour of the famous Venetian families, their Palazzos and other stamps of their lives on Venice, or perhaps maritime history, or evolution of architectural styles? The subject of your choice is available from whence to experience this multi faceted city. Start off your last evening of the charter with a private special tour after dark. This tour highlights the gilded mosaic ceilings of St. Mark’s Cathedral. The caretaker will let you and your guide into the Cathedral via a side door, where after entering in the dark, the entire ceiling will be illuminated by carefully placed lighting. For a really special event, a stringed quartet can be playing as well. Perhaps after St. Marks, enjoy a catered dinner by candlelit in one of the Palazzos. Enter the water door of the Palazzo by private water taxi to experience life during Venetian Golden Years.
Disembark with private water taxi to airport.