Dalmatian Coast Self-Launched Island Hop: Split to Trogir

Fly into Split (SPU) or arrive by bus from Zagreb/Zadar, then walk or take city bus 37/17 into the old town. Drop bags at a hostel in the Varoš or Old Town area and spend the afternoon self-touring Diocletian's Palace with a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5-8 tip) or an audio guide. Climb the Cathedral of St Domnius bell tower (~£6) for rooftop views, peek into the Temple of Jupiter (small fee) and wander the Riva waterfront at sunset. Buy a 24-hour Split city transport pass if you're staying outside the centre.

🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£6 or local bus 37 ~£2; walking in the centre

🛏Hostel in Split Old Town/Varoš, dorm £16-22 (private doubles £45-60)

• →Free tip-based walking tour of the Old Town
• →Diocletian's Palace cellars (small entry fee)
• →Cathedral of St Domnius bell tower climb
• →Riva waterfront sunset

Take the morning Krilo or Jadrolinija catamaran from Split to Hvar Town (1-1h45, ~£20-28 one way — book online a few days ahead). Check into a soba/guesthouse above the harbour, then self-tour the Old Town: the main square, the Renaissance cathedral and its bell tower, and the stepped lanes up to Španjola Fortress (~£6 entry) for the classic view over the Pakleni Islands. Afternoon swim at Pokonji Dol or a small boat shuttle to the Pakleni Islands (~£8 return). Eat konoba-style: gregada or grilled fish with a glass of local white.

🚌Split–Hvar catamaran ~£24 (book online); walking plus local taxi boat to Pakleni Islands ~£8

🛏Soba/guesthouse or hostel in Hvar Town, £22-35 per person

• →Španjola Fortress
• →Hvar cathedral and Old Town
• →Pakleni Islands boat shuttle and swim

Early catamaran Hvar Town to Korčula/Dominče, or take the Hvar–Korčula line and connect by catamaran to Orebić on Pelješac (check Krilo and Jadrolinija timetables the day before; a simpler alternative is Hvar–Split–Ploče bus which is slower). Once in Orebić or Trstenik, base up in a guesthouse. Afternoon bus or hitch-friendly ride to Ston to see the 14th-century walls (~£8 entry) and eat oysters fresh from the bay at a local shack. For the equivalent farm-to-table experience, book the Antunović estate near Potomje directly (book ahead — dinner with peka, wine and cheese tasting ~£35-45) or join a Pelješac wine-tasting at a smaller family winery for ~£20.

🚌Catamaran Hvar–Korčula–Orebić or ferry to Ploče + bus ~£18-25 total; local bus to Ston ~£4

🛏Guesthouse/soba in Orebić or Trstenik, £20-30 per person

• →Ston walls walk
• →Oyster tasting at Mali Ston
• →Pelješac wine tasting / farm dinner (book direct)

Cross to Mljet by bus to Prapratno and the short Jadrolinija ferry to Sobra (~£12 ferry + £6 bus), or take the Krilo/catamaran connection via Korčula to Polače/Pomena — check timetables carefully as Mljet services are limited. Pay the national park entrance (~£18-20 including the boat to St Mary's Isle), hire a bike (~£10/day) and ride between the saltwater lakes. Take the small boat across Veliko Jezero to the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on St Mary's Isle, then swim in the lakes. Eat at a simple konoba in Pomena; night is quiet, which is the point.

🚌Pelješac–Mljet ferry/bus combo ~£18; bike hire ~£10

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Pomena/Polače, £20-30 per person

• →Mljet National Park entrance
• →Boat to St Mary's Isle monastery
• →Bike loop around Veliko Jezero
• →Lakeside swim

Morning ferry Mljet–Dubrovnik (seasonal fast boat to Gruž, ~£25) or ferry to Sobra then catamaran. Base in a hostel in Gruž or outside the walls (Placa-area hostels are double the price). Do the Old Town on foot: Onofrio's Fountain, Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery with its 1317 pharmacy, and then pick either the city walls walk (~£30 — do it early or late to dodge cruise crowds) or the cable car to Mount Srđ (~£22 return, or hike up free in about 50 minutes). Evening: cheap-ish seafood or pasta away from Stradun, then sunset drinks on the rocks at Buža.

🚌Mljet–Dubrovnik ferry/catamaran ~£25; local buses ~£2 per trip

🛏Hostel in Gruž/Old Town outskirts, dorm £22-30 (book ahead — Dubrovnik is tight in summer)

• →Old Town self-guided walk
• →Franciscan Monastery pharmacy
• →City walls walk or Mount Srđ cable car/hike

Take the direct Krilo catamaran Dubrovnik–Korčula (~2h15, ~£25) or the Jadrolinija ferry to Vela Luka and bus to Korčula Town. Explore the fishbone-plan Old Town on foot: the Cathedral of St Mark, the Venetian town hall, and the Marco Polo house (claims vs facts are part of the fun). Book a small wine tasting at a family winery directly (Korčula has many — direct farm visits run £15-25) or try the local Pošip and Grk whites in a konoba. Afternoon: cycle or bus east to Lumbarda's sandy beaches.

🚌Dubrovnik–Korčula catamaran ~£25; walking/rental bike ~£10

🛏Guesthouse/soba in Korčula Town, £22-32 per person

• →Korčula Old Town walk
• →Cathedral of St Mark
• →Family winery tasting
• →Lumbarda beach

Catamaran Korčula–Hvar–Split or Korčula–Split, then the short Split–Supetar ferry plus island bus to Bol (~£25-30 total, timetable-dependent). Settle into a soba, then walk the pine path to Zlatni Rat beach for a swim and wander inland to Blaca Hermitage if you're up for a hot 40-minute walk or can share a taxi (~£25 split). Kitesurf-watching at Zlatni Rat, dinner of brački vitalac or fresh fish in Bol village. This day replaces the cruise's Captain's Dinner — treat yourself at a konoba instead (~£25).

🚌Catamaran + Split–Supetar ferry + island bus ~£28; taxi to Blaca split ~£8

🛏Soba/guesthouse in Bol, £22-32 per person

• →Zlatni Rat beach
• →Blaca Hermitage walk
• →Bol harbour evening

Bus to Supetar, ferry to Split, then local bus 37 or the airport-side bus to Trogir (~£12-15 total, 1.5-2h). Drop bags at a guesthouse and self-tour Trogir's UNESCO island Old Town: the Cathedral of St Lawrence with Master Radovan's 13th-century portal, Kamerlengo Fortress (~£5), the 15th-century Town Hall and the maze of lanes. Evening harbourside meal on the Riva, or cross the bridge to Okrug for cheaper seafood. Buy your Split airport transfer and check flight times tonight.

🚌Brač bus + ferry + local bus ~£14

🛏Guesthouse in Trogir Old Town or Okrug, £20-30 per person

• →Trogir Old Town walk
• →Cathedral of St Lawrence
• →Kamerlengo Fortress
• →Local market

Breakfast at a bakery, then take local bus 37/38 or a 15-minute taxi (~£15 split) to Split Airport. If your flight is late, store bags at the bus station and do a final swim at Okrug beach. Note the airport is small and chaotic in July-August — arrive 2.5 hours before departure.

🚌Local bus to Split Airport ~£2, or shared taxi ~£8 each

🛏N/A — depart

• →Okrug beach swim (optional)