Essence Of Croatia

Upon the arrival to the base, we will set sails towards our first destination – Island of Šolta for dinner and overnight onboard. Sesula bay is a small bay just after Maslenica and you will reach it in 2-3 hours. This bay is ideal for relaxing on boat, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and enjoying in excellent grill food or octopus peka. Sismis bar Sesula is grill restaurant with excellent service and spectacular view. Owners are always helpful and waiting for clients with dinghy, helping with the mooring. Another good option (when you overnight in Sesula bay) is to have a morning coffee in Maslenica, where you can go by walk (15 min) or dinghy (if you have outboard engine).

Head towards the stunning Bobovisca Bay on Brac Island. Here, you’ll spend the day soaking up the sunshine.

As well as its natural beauty and distinctive wines, the island of Vis is famous for its rich history. The Ancient Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austro-Hungarians, British, Italians and Yugoslavs have all passed through the island. During the Napoleonic Wars, the island was heavily fortified by the British as part of their strategy to dominate the Adriatic and later by the Austrians as they reclaimed their Dalmatian territories after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. After the WW2, Vis became a Yugoslav military base with access to foreigners being strictly prohibited. The Vugava, grown mainly on the stony soil in the SE of the island, is the pride of Vis. It gives a full-bodied wine, with apricot flavors reminiscent of a Viognier. The best Vugava came from the Lipanovic vinery and is a world-class wine. Lipanovic tasting room is at the end of a tunnel that has been drilled into a rock hillside. As a wine cellar it’s perfect.

A bright spot on the Mediterranean, Hvar Island offers a luxurious island lifestyle that most people dream about. Hvar Island’s history has been dated back to around 6000 BC. Throughout the centuries, Hvar Island has become a favorite and treasured vacation spot. Hvar’s long history has developed into a both posh holiday destination mixed with a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, topped with a rich cultural and historical heritage. The tradition of wine production on the island of Hvar reaches back to the ancient times. In the 4th century BC Greeks from the island of Paros established their colony Faros on the today’s territory of Stari Grad. They brought the field crop of vine from their original homeland. Plavac mali is the most famous Dalmatian wine sort and the best quality wines of this red sort come from the south slopes of the island of Hvar. It is characterized with dark red color, very pleasant bouquet and specific aroma. Plenković winery has more than one hundred awards, medals and recognitions which validate achievements of lasting excellence and champion tradition.

Our next stop is magnificent town of Korčula, birthplace of Marco Polo. Korčula is a historic fortified town on the protected east coast of the island of Korčula. The old city is surrounded by walls, and the streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds. The town’s historic sites include the central Gothic and Renaissance Cathedral of St Mark, the Town Hall and the massive city fortifications. The 15th-century Franciscan monastery with a beautiful cloister is situated on the islet of Badija, near Korčula Town. Dinner will be served in the restaurant of Lešić Dimitri Palace, once a bishop’s palace and today a luxury boutique heritage hotel. LD’s dedicated Head Sommelier Drazen Matkovic takes guests on a journey around the vineyards of Dalmatia in our series of Wine Tasting events. With perfect wine pairings and surprising anecdotes about regional viniculture history, this is a memorable experience for visitors to Korcula who wish to immerse themselves in local culture.

The next day will be short in sailing but will compensate for it with daylong visits to some of the most renowned wineries in Croatia. You will taste red Plavac Mali, Dingac and Postup and white Posip, Grk, wines from the bottle and barrel. Pelješac peninsula is the most famous region in Croatia for the production of quality red wines. You will also have the opportunity to buy wine at vineyard prices.

Amid all the translucent splendor of its Riviera, Dubrovnik is truly the pearl in a crown. Once it rivaled Venice as a maritime power, with its ships playing their trade to all corners of the known world Dubrovnik enjoyed great importance in the movement of goods and travelers in Europe for a thousand years, thanks to its exceptional geographical position. Wondering amid the maze of narrow, cobbled streets, wide squares amid fountains, palaces and magnificent churches, markets, bazaars, and restaurants, you are stepping through an age long gone and forgotten. One of the lovely features of Dubrovnik is that one can make a tour of churches, museums, palaces, and city walls on foot. In the summer heat it is pleasant to sit in the deep shade of the palaces and monasteries, waiting for night to bring a light mistral wind to cool the hot city walls. Dubrovnik represents living history – the pearl of the Adriatic, spread out on stone rocks and cliffs descending into the embrace of the sea and the waves.

Breakfast onboard and check-out. Transfer to the airport.