Active Croatia Discovery — Self-Launched

Arrive in Dubrovnik and check into a hostel or budget sobe in the old town or Lapad (cheaper and quieter). In the late afternoon, do a self-guided walk of the walled old town — Stradun, the Rector's Palace, the City Walls and Fort Lovrijenac. If you want a structured intro, a 'Game of Thrones' or history walking tour booked via GetYourGuide costs ~£18-25. In the evening eat grilled fish or ćevapi at a konoba off Stradun (cheaper than the main drag) and swap plans with other travellers in your hostel.

🚌Arrival by air to Dubrovnik (DBV); airport shuttle bus to old town ~£6 (Platanus/Atlas). Local buses in town ~£2.

🛏Hostel or budget sobe, Dubrovnik old town/Lapad (~£25-40/night)

• →Self-guided old town walk (Stradun, City Walls exterior)
• →Optional GetYourGuide walking tour (~£20)
• →Konoba dinner

Walk to Gruž or the old port (Dubrovnik's local ferry port) and take the Jadrolinija/local ferry to Koločep (Kalamota) — sailing takes ~30 mins. Follow the island's marked pine-forest trails between the villages of Gornje and Donje Čelo; the full loop is an easy-to-moderate 2-3 hours with secluded rocky coves for swimming. Because the trails are waymarked, you can do this without paying for a guide — an optional local hiking guide from Dubrovnik costs ~£40-60 if you want one. Grab lunch in one of the two village konobas, swim off the rocks, then take an afternoon ferry back. Free evening in Dubrovnik.

🚌Local ferry to Koločep ~£5-7 each way (Jadrolinija), ~30 mins. Walk to the port.

🛏Hostel or budget sobe, Dubrovnik (~£25-40/night)

• →Ferry to Koločep
• →Waymarked pine-forest hike (Gornje Čelo–Donje Čelo loop)
• →Swimming coves
• →Optional local hiking guide (~£50)

Book a morning sea kayaking tour (GetYourGuide/Klook or a local operator at the Banje beach put-in) that paddles beneath Dubrovnik's city walls and around Lokrum island — typically 3-4 hours including a swim stop, ~£35-45. In the afternoon, take the catamaran from Dubrovnik to the island of Mljet (seasonal, ~1.5-2 hrs; check the Jadrolinija/Krilo timetable as it's often once daily). Check into guesthouse accommodation in Polače or Sobra. Free evening — a low-key dinner or optional group meal at one of the island konobas.

🚌Catamaran Dubrovnik–Mljet ~£12-18, ~1.5-2 hrs (book ahead, limited sailings).

🛏Guesthouse or budget room, Polače/Sobra, Mljet (~£25-40/night)

• →Guided sea kayaking beneath the city walls (~£40, book via GetYourGuide/Klook)
• →Swim stop at Lokrum
• →Catamaran to Mljet

Walk or cycle into Mljet National Park and hike the easy loop between Veliko and Malo Jezero (the two saltwater lakes) — well-marked, no guide needed. Optionally take the 'solar boat' across to the islet of St Mary (Melita) with its 12th-century Benedictine monastery (~£8-12). Entry to the national park is ~£15-20 in season. In the afternoon, take the catamaran to Split (via Sobra), then board the local ferry from Split to Supetar on Brač, and bus/taxi the short hop to the village of Postira. Check into a guesthouse and enjoy a quiet evening by the harbour.

🚌Mljet NP entry ~£18. Catamaran Mljet–Split ~£18-25 (~2.5 hrs). Split–Supetar ferry ~£5-7 (~50 mins). Local bus Supetar–Postira ~£2-3.

🛏Guesthouse/sobe, Postira, Brač (~£25-40/night)

• →Mljet National Park lake loop hike
• →Optional solar-boat to St Mary's islet & monastery
• →Catamaran + ferry transfer to Brač

Walk or take a short local bus from Postira up to the medieval stone village of Dol in the hills above. The village is a self-explorable maze of traditional dry-stone houses and hrapoćuša stone-roofed dwellings and caves — you can wander it independently, or book a local specialist guide (~£35-50) to unlock the history and stories. Admire the old olive presses and stone architecture, then celebrate with lunch at a village konoba serving peka, local lamb and Brač olive oil (~£15-20). Free afternoon and evening back in Postira — swim at the beach or cycle the coastal path.

🚌Local bus or walking Postira–Dol (bus ~£2-3, walk ~45 mins uphill).

🛏Guesthouse/sobe, Postira, Brač (~£25-40/night)

• →Dol eco-village self-guided or guided walk
• →Hrapoćuša stone-house & cave exploration
• →Konoba lunch (local peka/olive oil)

Take the local bus/taxi down to Supetar early, then the Jadrolinija ferry to Split (~50 mins). On arrival, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diocletian's Palace — the Roman basement halls, Peristyle and Cathedral of St Domnius are all walkable independently (optional palace guided tour ~£15). In the afternoon take a public intercity bus from Split's main bus station up the Adriatic coast to Šibenik (~1.5 hrs). Check in, then walk the old town and hike the short St Anthony's Canal trail for sunset views over the channel.

🚌Bus Supetar–Supetar port ~£2. Ferry Supetar–Split ~£5-7. Intercity bus Split–Šibenik ~£10-12 (~1.5 hrs, frequent).

🛏Hostel, guesthouse or sobe, Šibenik old town (~£25-35/night)

• →Jadrolinija ferry Supetar–Split
• →Self-guided Diocletian's Palace & old town
• →Public bus Split–Šibenik
• →St Anthony's Canal trail hike

Catch the local bus or book a cheap shared shuttle from Šibenik to Krka National Park (Skradin is the nearest town, ~20-30 mins). Buy a park ticket (~£18-25, cheaper outside July-August) and hike the wooden boardwalk loop past Skradinski Buk — the famous series of waterfalls and travertine cascades. Swimming at Skradinski Buk is no longer permitted, but the Visovac monastery and Roski Slap are worth extending to via the park's boats/trails. Return to Šibenik in the late afternoon for a free evening and an optional farewell dinner in the old town with new hostel friends.

🚌Local bus/shared shuttle Šibenik–Skradin ~£4-6 each way (~30 mins). Park entry ~£18-25.

🛏Hostel, guesthouse or sobe, Šibenik (~£25-35/night)

• →Krka National Park boardwalk hike (Skradinski Buk, Visovac)
• →Optional boat to Roski Slap
• →Šibenik old town farewell walk

Depart at any time. If your flight is later, visit the UNESCO St James's Cathedral and the four fortresses (St Michael's, St Nicholas's) or grab a coffee on the riva. Public buses connect Šibenik to Split airport and Split/Zadar for onward travel.

🚌Bus Šibenik–Split (or Split airport) ~£8-12 (~1.5 hrs).

🛏Check out

• →Optional St James's Cathedral & fortress visits
• →Departure