Dubrovnik and Dalmatian Islands of Croatia

Konavle is located in the most southern part of the region of Dubrovnik around 6 miles from the airport. It is very well known for its natural beauties and contrasts starting with its green hills up to Konavle valley through numerous charming villages, vineyards all the way to its exceptional cliffs, stretching above the sea.  On arrival at Dubrovnik airport, a transfer is included from the airport to the area of Konavle where you will spend the first two nights. You shall have a welcome meeting and tour introduction at 7 pm today.

Today you shall have a charming self-guided walking tour of local paths and villages around the area of Konavle. Starting out from your accommodation in Konavle you shall head out into the countryside, crossing the valley, through forest and vineyards all the way to visit some exceptional looking cliffs, stretching above the sea.

After breakfast, you will have a transfer to Gruz port to catch a boat across to Lopud Island, a crossing of just under an hour. Nowadays Lopud is a charming and relatively quiet place with good beaches and without cars or traffic, home to a permanent population of under 300 people. In the past, however, Lopud was a very important port, with great strategic importance. In the 17th century, it is said to have had a population of 14,000 people, mostly involved in seafaring. Formally part of the Republic of Dubrovnik, from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, the French, English and Austrians took turns controlling this strategically located little island. Nowadays there are reminders of the island’s more momentous maritime past with the atmospheric ruins of a fortress and palace, churches dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries and a restored Franciscan monastery. You will have the day to walk around the island and enjoy its beaches before returning to Dubrovnik in the afternoon. 

Today you shall have a walking tour on the island of Šipan. We set out from the main port of Dubrovnik by local boat to Sipan, this is the largest of the famous Elafiti islands and have two little settlements – Luka Sipanska and Sudjuradj, both of which are ancient and you shall be amazed to their great character. Sipan is an island with a rich cultural heritage and is characterized by rich Mediterranean vegetation of vineyards, olive trees and pine forests, which is perfect for walking.

The starting point of the walk shall be Sudjuradj from where you shall head inland through the interior of the island to the other settlement Luka Šipanska. There are many possibilities to walk and to explore the island, there are just few cars on the island because Sipan is an island of the fisherman! In local history Sipan was a residential place of Dubrovnik patricians or noblemen, so if you follow the road from port Sudjuradj along the vineyards and olive trees to (western part of the island) port of the Luka you will find many interesting sights of old churches, summer residential palaces, beautiful pine forest, hidden bays and much more.

Late afternoon return to the port of Sudjradj where the boat departs to Dubrovnik.

Today our walking tour takes you to the highest peak in the national park area, hill Montokuc, on your way from Montokuc you head down through pine forests to the salt lakes again. Night stay in Polace, Mljet. In April, May and October the ferry is later on in the day and you shall not have time to do this walk, so tomorrow you can combine this walk with tomorrow’s walk.

The Island of Mljet is often known as the “green island” because of its lush vegetation, it really is a pearl in the Adriatic and one of the 8 Croatian National Parks. As with Sipan, there is beautiful Mediterranean vegetation, clear blue seas, numerous bays, beaches and cliffs, but also two lovely salt lakes, warm even early in the year. Your day starts with a bus to the port of Dubrovnik, from where you will take a boat to Polace on Mljet. Your walking tour begins on arrival at the village of Polace behind ancient remains of a Roman palace which dates from the 2^nd century. Here the walk continues through the National Park and around the salt lakes. The walk averages around 3-4 hours and there is the chance to swim and enjoy lunch in a local tavern before your return to Polace. Night stay in Polače, Mljet.

After breakfast, you take the public ferry to Dubrovnik. After checking into your hotel you shall be transferred to the centre of the city for your guided walk and then free time.

Your guided walking tour explains some of the histories of the Old City of Dubrovnik. You shall find Dubrovnik to be a beautiful, historic city of lovely red-roofed buildings all surrounded by medieval fortified walls. This gem is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The author  Sir George Bernard Shaw once said, “those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik and see Dubrovnik”.