Dalmatian Inspiration - history, culture, sea and nature

Dalmatia, is a part of Croatia that is known as the jewel of the Adriatic Sea. The whole voyage of discovery is a delicate balance between deserted coves in National parks, medieval towns with art galleries and trendy coffee shops. You will be surrounded  by intriguing history, a crystal clear ocean and friendly people. Each island has it’s unique wine grapes, so while you voyage through the wilderness and past centuries, you can experience distinctive wine flavors.
The city Split will be your starting point for the exploration of the coast and islands of the beautiful Adriatic. Don’t forget to set aside at least two days for this beautiful jewel of Croatia. We recommend one day before your departure and one day at the end. In the very heart of old Split is the Diocletian's Palace, which transcends far of local significance because of its level of preservation and the buildings of succeeding historical periods built within its walls. In addition to the numerous museums, the National Theatre, old churches and other archeological sites in the Split region make it an important cultural center.

14 days cruise (7 days cruise)

Day 1
(Day 1)
Trogir

We depart from Split and cruise along the coast towards Trogir; a World Heritage Site blessed with a fantastic array of old buildings and traditional streets. The finest way to explore the city is to anchor the boat under the centuries old walls, enjoy its lush beauty and experience the towns friendly people. In Trogir you are surrounded by history, as it was settled by the Greeks during theirs hunts across the Mediterranean, Romans, Croats and Hungarians. Later Trogir had fallen under Napoleon's domination. All those periods left theirs marks to be discovered. Our first night will be in the marina under the Venetian tower.

Day 2 (Day 2)
Milna
In the early morning we set sails towards a quiet fishing town Milna on the island Brac. This romantic stone town is settled amongst the most beautiful island bays and beaches, and everyone of them posses something special. The core of Milna is unique and a culturally valuable unit. It’s a pleasure to walk through the cobble stone roads, that still carry the same charm, uniqueness and builder’s pride with them. Of its shores during the 19th century, the great naval battle took place, in which a single Russian ship destroyed the whole escadrille of the French general Marmont. In those, and years that followed, Milna was the most important settlement on the island.

Day 3
Palmizana

When you smell the morning coffee, Blue Dream will be on it’s way to Palmizana, an ideal place for those, who love to be in harmony with nature and tranquillity. The Traveler magazine declared the island as one of ten most beautiful islands of the world. Palmizana lives a simple life of a little island, just far enough from noisy modern civilization. Its own gallery with artwork by many famous artists, who have been coming to find their inspiration on the island for years, adds an even greater quality to the island's beautiful surroundings. Palmizana is a special romantic place, where you will enjoy sandy beaches and secluded coves. In the afternoon a trip is planned to the top of the island for a fantastic panoramic view of the Adriatic. Once you've worked up an appetite, a small picnic awaits you on top. The sea floor around Palmizana is rich with antique shipwrecks and your captain knows a couple of interesting places for snorkeling.

Day 4
Vis

We depart for the ambience of a mediaeval city Vis, situated on the island of the same name. Incredible history dating from Roman times can be found all around the island – the roman city of Issa with a forum, the inscription by the hero Calius from the 4th century BC, a bronze head of Aphrodite, fortresses and Franciscan monastery make you believe you have steped back in time. We will sail to the Blue Cave bay, famous for its unique iridescent reflection of shades of blue and silver that delight the visitors. For snorkeling enthusiasts your captain has a special place with six sunken ships from different historic periods (from the ancient times to the Second World War). Those of you looking for same shore exploration a visit to the Archaeological Museum and Museum of Fisheries are a must.

Day 5 (Day 3)
Rogoznica

This morning is the ideal time for a nice book and relaxing music. We will be on our longest open water passage to the beautiful fishing village of Rogoznica. Where you will admire thick pine forests that come down to the sea, a long coastal path, pretty little beaches, islets and bays and a little salt lake called Dragon's eye. Once there you will swap your deck shoes for walking boots and stroll around the island.



Day 6
Zlarin

There are several theories about the origin of the name of this island that was often called golden, green or coral island. The island consists of two mountain ridges with a valley of fertile arable fields in between. Ruins at this island date from the Stone Age as well the Roman times. Former inhabitants were farmers and fishermen but they will be remembered as coral divers. Hunting and processing of the coral was known already in the 15th century and it brought economic prosperity that lasted till the 20th century when this industry ceased to be successful and many inhabitants had to emigrate. In spite of everything, even today on the island there is a coral workshop where coral is worked manually and the hand made jewels are sold.


Day 7 (Day 4)
Zirje Luka

A stop at a lovely little fishing village, the only settlement on the island, is planned. Its name derives from the seeds of former thick forests of the Mediterranean oak, which is called zir. The history of this island is very old as owing to its location, it served as an outpost back in the past. In the 6th century a fortress was built there, the ruins of which are still visible. We will take a walk around this rustic setting and enjoy the stillness. In the 12th and 13th centuries fortresses and walls encircled the island. Many traces of the ancient forts prove the importance that Zirje had as a strategic point of this region. Vegetation here is mainly composed of marquis. The rocks and islets additionally embellish the indented coast. Olives, wine grapes, figs and plums are cultivated on the island and the sea is rich with fish.

Day 8 (Day 5)
Skradin and the Krka Falls

Today will be an unforgettable day at one of the many must-see highlights Croatia has to offer. By coming to Skradin by boat, through the canyon of the river Krka, it is a unique experience that you will never forget. Rich in ancient buildings and cultural monuments, its history dates back to the Illyrian times. It was named during the times of the Roman reign. It is a peaceful little town with its narrow streets, rich gastronomic offers and its famous white wine Debit will satisfy even the most demanding of you. We will take the water taxi up to the beautiful Krka National Park. It offers the pleasant atmosphere of beautiful trails, beaches and rest areas, whereas in the upper course of the Krka River one can visit Visovac Islet, the Franciscan monastery or close by waterfall Roski Slap.
The former inhabitants of Skradin were almost exclusively farmers who planted wine grapes, olives and fruit trees. Those who enjoy the moments of solitude will appreciate the beautiful beaches where occasional visitors are only swans.

Day 9
Piskera

The next three days we will spend in the Kornati National park, away from history and lively cafe’s. Piskera will be our first stop. This picturesque island offers breathtaking views of the National park. By the folk legend The Kornati: a labyrinth of sea passages and islands, were formed from a cluster of white rocks that God was left with when He had created the world. He just dropped them into the sea, looked back and decided that no corrections were needed. Famous for their uniqueness and beauty, the Kornati Islands are practically uninhabited. Only in the warmer parts of the year they became a temporary home for fishermen and farmers and as such are the perfect destination for people looking for silence and tranquility. The Kornati Islands consist of some 140 islands and reefs. The most famous characteristic of the archipelago are the cliffs descending vertically to the depths of the ocean.

Day 10 (Day 6)
Telascica Bay
This will be our second day spent in complete privacy. Thanks to its extreme beauty, richness and importance, the bay surrounded by 13 islands with 6 islets was proclaimed the Nature Park. It is a distinctly contrasted area with the Aleppo pine-trees, holly oak woods, quiet and peaceful beaches on one side and wild, rough cliffs on the other. Telascica has been inhabited since ancient times, as can be seen from Roman remains and numerous pre-Romanesque churches. A short stroll from the shore is the salt lake Mir with its healing powers. A small picnic is planned there, so  be  prepared for a feast.


Day 11
Zut

Zut is the second largest island in the Kornati archipelago. There are no permanent settlements on the island, but some fishermen and farmers have temporary houses on the island. The oldest document about fishing trade dates from the end of the 10th century and it shows that the fishing trade in Croatia began on these coasts. It is famous for its olive-groves and top quality olive oil. Beautifully cultivated meadows and hillsides are rich with Mediterranean vegetation with more than 300 species of flora and equally rich fauna. The undersea world has more than 250 plant and 300 animal species. After dinner we will visit the nearby hill on foot, with it's splendid view of the surroundings, where you can enjoy an unforgettable sunset.



Day 12
Vodice

This will by your trip back to civilization. It’s one of the best-known tourist destinations of the Adriatic. It’s name derives from the word meaning water sources, which supplied the whole area. The defense walls from the times of the Turks with the Coric tower testify the past times. The historical center of Vodice is small but the main activity takes place on the harbor, which is crammed with restaurants, boutiques and souvenir shops. There are endless sandy, pebbly and rocky beaches for you to explore.


Day 13
Primosten
The Museum of Sponge Collecting will be on our morning schedule. The famous local specialty is spiny lobster a la Primosten, with tasting of the famous red wine Babic is on our program as well. It is produced from the autochthonous wine in the wineyards of Primosten, located in the rocks. The afternoon will be filled with a sightseeing tour of the Wine Trail and visits to the ambience gallery Stone Spheres. You will chose, how you spend the last night of your trip. Romantic souls have two choices - long stroll on a pebble beach or on walking paths around old city walls. For those looking for nightlife, there is the Aurora, the largest discotheque in Dalmatia in a converted castle with 3000 clubbers inside.

Day 14 (Day 7)
Split

The morning will be filled by sailing back to Split and admiring Dalmatian coast.