Dubrovnik & Splendours Of Dalmatia For Solo Travellers - Ms Adriatic Sun

Arrival in Dubrovnik

Mljet National Park and Trstenik - We’ll set off from Dubrovnik this morning and enjoy your first taste of the crystal waters of the Adriatic with a swim stop. After your refreshing dip, you’ll be ready for lunch on board before arriving at Mljet. The Dalmatian coastline is legendary: one of Europe’s most dramatic, extending for hundreds of miles, where steep limestone cliffs plunge into sapphire-blue waters. The mirror-like Adriatic is studded with countless islands, some tiny, some large, some inhabited, some not. Mljet is one of the most seductive of such islands, where the hillsides are clad in a green carpet of lush pine forests bringing that instantly recognisable Mediterranean aroma to the air. Nestling in picturesque coves are medieval fishing villages, refreshingly free from tasteless development, where the alleyways are simply pebbles set into the earth and overhead shutters sway precariously in the warm, gentle breezes. Life here continues much as it has for centuries. Here we’ll enjoy a visit of the national park including the tiny islet of St Mary’s with its 12th-century former Benedictine monastery. With its colourful walls and altar carved from local stone you will already feel a long way from home in this most atmospheric of places – it’s easy to see why legend has it that the Greek hero Ulysses came here to contemplate.  After our visit to Mljet, we'll hop back on board and enjoy a short voyage to the pretty little seaside village of Trstenik on the Pelješac Peninsula, arriving early evening. Nestled at the foot of the rolling hills behind, this picturesque, secluded spot is famed for its wine production where generations of families have produced excellent wines for hundreds of years. We'll remain moored overnight, so you can have dinner at your leisure in this charming spot - you'll really feel like you are getting away from it all!

Makarska - We’ll start with a leisurely morning sailing as we make our way north, pausing for a swim stop before a delicious lunch onboard, an idyllic start to the day. Later this afternoon, we’ll arrive at Makarska from where you can marvel at the rocky splendour of Mount Biokovo, nearly 1,828 metres above sea level, which shelters the coast from less temperate climates further inland. During the 10th century this region was bedevilled by fearsome pirates preying on passing ships. A slightly raffish atmosphere still prevails but piracy has long since been replaced by more peaceful activities such as fishing, and the production of olive oil and wine. St Mark’s Baroque church and some palatial 18th-century Venetian style houses stand guard over Makarska’s main square.   We’ll moor overnight for you to enjoy dinner ashore at leisure.

Pučišća and Omiš - We’ll sail this morning to the glorious island of Brač, mooring in idyllic Pučišća. This jewel of a place, perhaps the most spectacular of Croatia’s villages, boasts dwellings of gleaming white stone reflecting the sun onto the crystal-clear water. Once ashore, stroll the streets of this charming spot and enjoy a visit to a stonemasonry school for which this town is known before returning on board for lunch. Continuing the short journey north this afternoon, we’ll visit Omiš, a small coastal town situated at the mouth of the Cetina River. Populated as early as Roman times, Omiš was a fortified town in the Middle Ages with many rulers and masters and some of the medieval fortifications still remain. Here, you can wander through the old town, discovering little alleys and historic churches or enjoying a coffee in one of the many cafés. This evening, relax on board as the chef presents the Captain’s Dinner – a delicious selection of Croatian and Mediterranean specialities.

Stari Grad - This morning we’ll stop once more for an invigorating swim before we cruise to another stunning island in this incredibly beautiful archipelago, Hvar. Enjoy another delicious lunch on board before mooring later this afternoon at Stari Grad on the northern side of the island of Hvar. The literal translation of Stari Grad is the Old Town and it is indeed the oldest town in the country with the first settlers from Greece establishing a colony here back in 384 BC. Both the historical centre and the Stari Grad Plain were included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2008. A walking tour with your local guide will show you some of the highlights of the historical town centre. Pass House TVRDALJ, the summer house and walled garden of the 16th century poet and aristocrat Petar Hektorović and one of the most well-known buildings in the town. There is also the Dominican Monastery of St. Peter the Martyr as well as a wealth of cobbled streets filled with al fresco bars, cafés and restaurants. In your free time, you might just enjoy a stroll on the seafront promenade or perhaps visit the Monastery Museum with numerous works of art. The ship will remain moored in Stari Grad overnight for the opportunity to dine at leisure where you wish.

Hvar and Korčula - This morning, enjoy a visit to the bewitching little town of Hvar. Wandering here is pure joy and, remarkably, it’s so compact and cosy that the streets don’t even have names. With its freshwater springs, the island is unusually green, its hillsides boasting spectacular pine forests. Elsewhere you’ll find olive groves, orchards and vineyards, the aromatic pleasures of the island exemplified by the delicate fragrance of abundant lavender fields. Hvar has been inhabited since Neolithic times; later, the ancient Greeks founded a colony here, and during the 14th century, as the Venetian Empire extended its influence, it became a major naval base. Also on the island’s northern shores are some distinctive fortified 16th century buildings, built to repel pirates and assaults by the Ottoman Empire. After exploring Hvar’s agricultural, historical and cultural splendours, we’ll return to the ship for lunch as we sail towards Korčula.  Ruled by the Venetians for 800 years, it is rather reminiscent of a much smaller Dubrovnik, with its host of tangled lanes so typical of medieval Mediterranean ports. The town is a charming small fortress, celebrated for supplying timber for the wooden walls of Venice and its harbour was a major shelter for the Venetian fleet. You’ll find architectural gems at every turn in its narrow, cobbled streets. Famous for its artistic and musical traditions, Korčula has its own unique sword dance, the ‘moreska’, and a form of acapella singing, but is much more famous as the birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. His house can still be visited, as can the Icon Museum with its glorious collection of Byzantine icons.   After our guided walking tour, there’s time at leisure to explore this beautiful town further, perhaps spotting a restaurant for dinner this evening.

Dubrovnik - As our elegant yacht drifts on past the rocky shores of the beautiful Elaphite Islands, if the weather allows, this will be your last chance to take a swim off the back of the ship as if it were your very own! After our last lunch on board, we’ll arrive in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik, an independent city-state for much of its history, has evolved differently to the rest of Croatia. On arrival this afternoon, we'll take a tour with an expert local guide explaining the city’s landmarks and intriguing history. The city threw off its Venetian shackles during medieval times founding a commercial empire trading with the eastern Mediterranean, France, Spain and later the Ottoman Empire. As so often happened, the city began to reflect its resultant wealth and today this wonderfully Baroque city proudly nestles behind its huge imposing ramparts in a situation of outstanding natural beauty. The main avenue, lined by intimate cafés, is completely paved with gleaming marble, which dazzles in the sunlight and gives credence to the city’s description as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’.

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