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Sailing the Dalmatian Coast - From Split to Dubrovnik
- Exclusive charter of a small ship for just 30 participants to explore the string of beautiful, unspoilt historic towns.
- One of the most spectacular of Mediterranean coastlines with crystal water and innumerable islands and inlets.
- Begin in Split – with 2 nights in the Old Town – and end in Dubrovnik, the enchanting UNESCO world heritage site.
Rugged cliffs plunge into turquoise seas, and rolling hills are terraced with vines, olives and fruit trees. Towns with terracotta roofs and white belfries fringe the shore. This is Dalmatia, a historic region of stone and water, Romance and Slavic cultures, ‘West’ and ‘East’.
This unique coastline, fractured into countless islands and natural harbours, has attracted states and settlers from all points of the compass. Dalmatia has been a Roman province, a Byzantine thema, a Croatian kingdom, a Napoleonic province and an Austrian crownland. Over two millennia, it was home for Greek colonists, Venetian merchants, Habsburg administrators, Italians and many other communities.
In the Middle Ages, Croats established coastal city-states that oscillated between independence and foreign rule, initially by Hungary, later – and more lastingly – by Venice. After a revolutionary decade in French ‘Illyria’, Dalmatia was absorbed into the Habsburg empire. Across the 20th century, it belonged to Austria-Hungary, the kingdom of Yugoslavia, two Axis powers, socialist Croatia in Tito’s federal Yugoslavia, and finally – after war brought destruction to Dalmatia – the republic of Croatia.
Through every shift, Dalmatia retained its distinct maritime character, hybrid culture, and rich artistic heritage.
Our journey begins in the ancient city of Split, which presents the extraordinary phenomenon of a functioning and vibrant city centre accommodated in the remains of a vast Roman palace. The emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum is now a cathedral, and its colonnaded court a café terrace; fortified gates still control the flow of life.
From Split, we embark on a private cruise of the Croatian coast on a ship chartered solely for our small group. We sail between lush islands and moor in a host of captivating small towns. Strolling from the ship through medieval and Renaissance centres is a particular pleasure.
We end in Dubrovnik, George Bernard Shaw’s “paradise on Earth”. This perfectly preserved Renaissance city is bound by its famous walls, more than a mile in length, and one of the most enchanting sights that Europe has to offer.
Our spring and autumn departures of this tour are led by two lecturers, who bring long experience yet diverse expertise to this journey. Please see their biographies for further information. (April–May: Dr Zöe Opačić, October: Dr Mark Thompson).
Itinerary
Fly c. 11.30am from London Heathrow to Split (British Airways). Transfer to our hotel in the Old Town for the first of two nights.
The core of Split consists of the vast quadrangular palace built by Emperor Diocletian (ad 295–305) for his retirement. Particularly well preserved are the colonnaded central court, Temple of Jupiter, Diocletian’s mausoleum (the cathedral) and the halls of the palace’s substructure. The once great Roman city of Salona (now Solin) gives a unique insight into the last stages of urban life, its walls now encircling a complete ecclesiastical quarter.
Visit the home and studio of Ivan Meštrović, the great Croatian sculptor (1883–1962), and the Archaeological Museum, with excellent Roman antiquities. Trogir is a delightful little island city and its Romanesque cathedral contains exceptionally fine sculpture. The 15th-century clock tower and loggia, with its large Meštrović bas-relief, complete the square. Board the MS Prestige and remain moored overnight in Trogir.
Sail in the early morning northwest to Šibenik. Afternoon walk in this attractive medieval town, with its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral. Drive out to the waterfalls in the Krka National Park. Moor overnight in Šibenik.
Morning sail to the island of Hvar mooring in its eponymous capital. Visit the walled old town, its narrow streets lined with Gothic palaces, the 15th-century Franciscan monastery and 17th-century arsenal. Overnight here.
Short cruise to Vis, Croatia’s most remote inhabited island and its oldest recorded settlement. Visit the Archaeological Museum with its famous 4th-century bc bronze head of a Greek goddess. As Vis is the least sheltered island in the Adriatic, it can be difficult to moor in bad weather and this stop may be removed from the programme at short notice. From here continue to the island of Korčula, whose history stretches back to the Neolithic era. Moor overnight in Korčula.
Walk through the old town of Korčula to see the magnificent Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral of St Mark with an altarpiece by Tintoretto. Sail at lunchtime to Slano, sheltered by its exquisite bay. By coach to Ston, which is surrounded by a series of remarkably well-preserved 14th-century walls, built to protect the northern boundary of the Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) and the town’s valuable saltpans, among the oldest in the Mediterranean. Moor overnight in Slano.
In the morning, drive to the Trsteno Arboretum, a Renaissance landscaped garden, sown with seeds brought back by Dubrovnik’s sea captains. Sail from Slano to Dubrovnik, arriving in time to begin to explore. The cathedral is a delightful exercise in Venetian Baroque, and possesses an altarpiece by Titian. Moor overnight in Dubrovnik.
Walk along the fortifications which are among the most complete and handsome city walls of any in Europe with views across the rooftops and out to sea. The Dominican convent has an excellent collection of Croatian and Italian Renaissance paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore further. Moor overnight in Dubrovnik.
The flight from Dubrovnik arrives London Heathrow at c. 3.00pm.
Please note that weather conditions can be unpredictable and the itinerary is dependent on them. Changes to moorings may need to be made at short notice.
Fly c. 11.30am from London Heathrow to Split (British Airways). Transfer to our hotel in the Old Town for the first of two nights.
The core of Split consists of the vast quadrangular palace built by Emperor Diocletian (ad 295–305) for his retirement. Particularly well preserved are the colonnaded central court, Temple of Jupiter, Diocletian’s mausoleum (the cathedral) and the halls of the palace’s substructure. The once great Roman city of Salona (now Solin) gives a unique insight into the last stages of urban life, its walls now encircling a complete ecclesiastical quarter.
Visit the home and studio of Ivan Meštrović, the great Croatian sculptor (1883–1962), and the Archaeological Museum, with excellent Roman antiquities. Trogir is a delightful little island city and its Romanesque cathedral contains exceptionally fine sculpture. The 15th-century clock tower and loggia, with its large Meštrović bas-relief, complete the square. Board the MS Prestige and remain moored overnight in Trogir.
Sail in the early morning northwest to Šibenik. Afternoon walk in this attractive medieval town, with its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral. Drive out to the waterfalls in the Krka National Park. Moor overnight in Šibenik.
Morning sail to the island of Hvar mooring in its eponymous capital. Visit the walled old town, its narrow streets lined with Gothic palaces, the 15th-century Franciscan monastery and 17th-century arsenal. Overnight here.
Short cruise to Vis, Croatia’s most remote inhabited island and its oldest recorded settlement. Visit the Archaeological Museum with its famous 4th-century bc bronze head of a Greek goddess. As Vis is the least sheltered island in the Adriatic, it can be difficult to moor in bad weather and this stop may be removed from the programme at short notice. From here continue to the island of Korčula, whose history stretches back to the Neolithic era. Moor overnight in Korčula.
Walk through the old town of Korčula to see the magnificent Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral of St Mark with an altarpiece by Tintoretto. Sail at lunchtime to Slano, sheltered by its exquisite bay. By coach to Ston, which is surrounded by a series of remarkably well-preserved 14th-century walls, built to protect the northern boundary of the Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) and the town’s valuable saltpans, among the oldest in the Mediterranean. Moor overnight in Slano.
In the morning, drive to the Trsteno Arboretum, a Renaissance landscaped garden, sown with seeds brought back by Dubrovnik’s sea captains. Sail from Slano to Dubrovnik, arriving in time to begin to explore. The cathedral is a delightful exercise in Venetian Baroque, and possesses an altarpiece by Titian. Moor overnight in Dubrovnik.
Walk along the fortifications which are among the most complete and handsome city walls of any in Europe with views across the rooftops and out to sea. The Dominican convent has an excellent collection of Croatian and Italian Renaissance paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore further. Moor overnight in Dubrovnik.
The flight from Dubrovnik arrives London Heathrow at c. 3.00pm.
Expert speakers
Dr Zoe Opacic
Reader in the History and Theory of Architecture at Birkbeck College, specialising in medieval art, architecture and urbanism. She received her BA, MA and PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, she edited the Journal of British Archaeological Association(2015–18) and has authored and edited a number of publications in English, German, Czech and Italian including recent contributions to the Oxford Handbook of Medieval Central Europe and the Brill Companion to Medieval Vienna. Zoë has longstanding family connections in Dalmatia and is a regular lecturer on MRT tours to Dalmatia, Italy and the Czech Republic.
More tours led by Dr Zoe Opacic
Dr Mark Thompson
Reader in Modern History, University of East Anglia. He spent most of the 1990s in Croatia as a journalist, a policy analyst for the United Nations, and then as head of media affairs for the mission in Croatia of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). His book, A Paper House, was an early account of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Since he researched Trieste for the original Rough Guide to Italy, Mark Thompson has returned many times. Other books include the prize-winning The White War. Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919 and Birth Certificate. The Story of Danilo Kiš, which has been translated into Serbian, Bosnian, German and French. A new history of Italy in the mid-1940s, Like a Dragon’s Back, will appear in 2025.
More tours led by Dr Mark Thompson
Practicalities
Lower deck cabins, 16m2 with small porthole windows (these don’t open). Twin or double beds. Two sharing: US$6,200 or US$5,730 without flights. Single occupancy: US$9,310 or US$8,840 without flights.
Main deck cabins, 13m2 with fully opening windows and door direct to the deck. Most are double beds, two are twin. Two sharing: US$6,820 or US$6,350 without flights. Single occupancy: US$10,230 or US$9,760 without flights
Main deck cabins, 16m2 with fully opening windows. Double bed only. Two sharing: US$7,130 or US$6,660 without flights.
Travel by private coach; hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Split followed by 7 on the ship; breakfasts; 6 lunches (on board) and 6 dinners (of which 4 are in restaurants ashore) with wine, water, coffee; all admissions and donations; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer, tour manager, ship manager and local guides.
Accommodation in Split: Hotel Cornaro. A centrally-located 5-star hotel with modern décor.
The ship: The MS Prestige is a first-rate, 19-cabin vessel, launched in 2012 and fully refurbished in 2025. Public areas are generous with an air-conditioned dining room and bar which opens onto a covered terrace. The sun-deck has ample seating with a shaded area. There is also a plunge pool and swimming platform. Cabins and bathrooms are finished to a high standard.
The cabins:
Lower deck cabins, 16m2 with small porthole windows (these don’t open). Twin or double beds.
Main deck cabins, 13m2 with fully opening windows and door direct to the deck. Most are double beds, two are twin.
Main deck cabins, 16m2 with fully opening windows. Double bed only.
Although by definition a cruise is more relaxing, the days in Split and the daily shore excursions require a good level of fitness and agility. There is a lot of walking in historic centres where paving is uneven and there are steps to climb, and over the rough ground of sites.
Between 20 and 30 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Romans & Carolingians, 22–29 April 2026
Heart of Italy, 20–27 April 2026.
Raphael, 12–18 October 2026
Essential Rome, 13–19 October 2026.
Dates & prices
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