Welcome to Dalmatia, where the rugged Dinara Mountains meet a sun-kissed shoreline • Catch views of bustling Split and the Adriatic Sea from our first trail on the slopes of Mt. Kozjak • Keep your eye out for the wild horses that call this area home • A lunch of fresh country fare is served among mountainside olive groves • Settle into our first hotel, nestled on the beach with views up the rugged coast • Stroll the sleepy village promenade before meeting tonight to toast the adventure to come. 

Head north to hike the sweeping travertine cascades of Krka National Park, where terraces of brilliant green pools are connected by curtains of falling water • Scenic boat crossings over the national park’s rivers and lakes allow us to link together our hiking route • Dine in a fortified village where the Krka River meets the sea • Embark on a walking tour of historic Šibenik, home to St. James’ Cathedral, a wedding cake of arches and domes carved from stone the color of golden sand • Hop a boat to Šibenik’s imposing bayside St. Nicolas Fortress, then continue onward to the island of Zlarin, known for its red coral • Dine on the deck of our private boat and perhaps jump straight into the sparkling aquamarine sea for a swim. 

Marvel at the rocky moonscape of Pag Island, whose shepherds guard the secret of Croatia’s favorite cheese • Even in this stark landscape grapevines can thrive—as we learn during lunch at a winery • Tour salt pans where sea salt is harvested • Hop a boat to Dugi Otok (Long Island) • Marvel at the views as you trek across the cliffs of Telašćica Nature Park, where the island lake of Jezero Mir is suspended above the sea • Taste Croatia’s renowned olive oils at the source • Play castaway in the Kornati archipelago, where our boat stops for a chef-cooked lunch • Toast to our journey over mountains and islands against the backdrop of romantic seaside Zadar.