Region Overviews: Croatia Travel Guide: Overview
Whatever has caught your eye and enticed you to visit this beautiful corner of Europe, a trip to Croatia will definitely not disappoint.
La Serenissima. The most serene. An ancient title given to the bygone Republic of Venice, and how you'll feel as you explore its former territory. Discover the Istrian Peninsula. Cruise through Croatia from Korčula's stone palaces and vineyards to bustling Split and medieval Dubrovnik. Hike in fascinating Montenegro and along the Bay of Kotor. Savor the history, scenes and flavors of this sun-soaked land.
THIS ITINERARY: 8 days, 7 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Small Luxury Ship
Start/End Venice, Italy
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
DAYS 1-2 Start in Venice, a labyrinth of meandering canals and old-world buildings | Sail to Croatia and discover the medieval town of Korčula, a treasure trove of stone palaces and a rumored birthplace of Marco Polo | Awesome island views keep you pedaling along Korčula Island's hills past quaint villages and vineyards | Savor fresh regional specialties | Spin around the Lumbarda wine region and sip the local lifeblood.
DAYS 3-4 Šibenik boasts magnificent medieval architecture | Relish an amazing home-cooked lunch | Ride through the Croatian hinterland to lively Split, home to Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace | Explore Dubrovnik's old town, a World Heritage site and architectural masterpiece encircled by massive stone walls | A bike ride through the Konavle region provides plentiful views of mountains and the Adriatic coastline.
DAYS 5-6 Experience Montenegro, where rocky mountains are dotted with cypress, fig, olive, oak and pine trees | Hike across the Vrmac ridge along the stunning Bay of Kotor, a World Heritage site | Kotor's winding cobbled streets, charming squares, medieval churches and aristocratic mansions are delightful | Head to chic Hvar and bike amid jagged limestone cliffs and lavender fields | Take the plunge in refreshing waters off beautiful beaches.
DAYS 7-8 Pastoral countryside and traditional villages set the scene on the Istrian Peninsula | Breathtaking Roman ruins await in Pula | Behold brilliant sunsets over the Adriatic in Rovinj | Return to Venice, home to St. Mark's square, the basilica, Doge's palace, the Grand Canal and iconic gondolas.
These luxurious and sleek vessels have an intimate French atmosphere and boast an open-air bar, three lounges and a team of master chefs crafting gourmet dishes. (pool, spa)
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Please note: Due to the multiple stateroom options available on this trip, reservations can only be made by contacting one of our Trip Consultants on 800-462-2848 or via email.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do. LEARN MORE.
Note: The Dalmatian Coast's landscape is characterized by constant rises and valleys, and the continuously rolling terrain (as well as summertime heat) can make routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package—it’s built for hard-core riders.
$400 rental fee
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Although our average group size is larger than a typical Backroads tour, our ship-based trips feel smaller and much more intimate than a typical cruise.Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. Although our time ashore may be shorter than an average Backroads Hotel trip, you still have the option to select a route that matches your pace. In larger cities, you can decide to shift gears and opt for less active site-seeing activities. It's important to note, our time ashore can be limited due to changes in the nautical schedule and ship tendering.Being onboard a ship provides the benefit of being able to take advantage of ship amenities: the fitness room, spa, sauna and swimming pool. In addition, there is the opportunity to relax in the inviting common spaces or the privacy of your room, complete with balcony. Your Trip Leaders will have information on the array of options to choose from.If having longer routes or more flexibility to explore is important for you, we recommend choosing one of our River Cruise or Hotel trips. If you love meeting new people and having more time to relax aboard the ship, and enjoy the ease of unpacking once, you'll love our approach to active ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
In contrast to our Hotel trips, which typically have similar room categories, the Ponant ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories to choose from. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast, so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
Whatever has caught your eye and enticed you to visit this beautiful corner of Europe, a trip to Croatia will definitely not disappoint.
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