Sailing Croatia: Dubrovnik to Split (Self-Launched Island Hop)
8 days · Croatia
G Adventures charges £1,100
No-markup version: ~£565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent 8-day version of G Adventures' Dalmatian Coast sailing trip: instead of chartering a skippered 17m yacht, you island-hop the same route — Dubrovnik, Mljet, Korčula, Hvar, Trogir and Split — using Croatia's excellent Jadrolinija/Krilo catamarans and ferries. You get the same walled medieval towns, Mljet National Park hiking, secluded swimming coves and Hvar nightlife, staying in hostels and guesthouses. Optionally book a one-day shared day-sail or kayak trip in Hvar or Korčula to get the sailing feeling without the private charter price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP; June–September peak prices run higher.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dubrovnik — Old Town & City Walls
Dubrovnik
Fly into Dubrovnik (Čilipi) and take the Atlas/Gruž shuttle bus (~€10 / £9) or local bus to Pile Gate. Settle into a hostel in the Old Town or Gruž area. Afternoon: walk the UNESCO-listed City Walls (~€35, £30) and wander the Stradun. Evening: sunset at Buža bar on the cliffs, cheap konoba dinner in Gruž (grilled fish, black risotto ~£12-15). Book your onward catamaran to Mljet/Sobra tonight (Jadrolinija or Krilo, book online in advance in summer).
🚌Airport shuttle bus to Dubrovnik ~£9
🛏Old Town or Gruž hostel dorm (~£20-25/night)
- →Dubrovnik City Walls walk
- →Stradun & Old Town stroll
- →Buža cliff bar sunset
Dubrovnik to Mljet — National Park & Odysseus' Cave
Mljet (Sobra)
Take the morning catamaran/ferry from Dubrovnik to Sobra on Mljet (~2h, ~€15-20 / £13-17). Check into a guesthouse or the small hostel near Sobra/Pomena. Hire a bike (~€15/day) or take the local bus/taxi to Pomena and enter Mljet National Park (~€15-25 entry, includes boat to St Mary's Island). Swim in the salt lakes, hike the forest trails, and optionally kayak to the Cave of Odysseus (~€25). Quiet, green and blissfully uncrowded — the same stop the sailing tour anchors at.
🚌Jadrolinija catamaran Dubrovnik–Sobra ~£15
🛏Sobra/Pomena guesthouse or hostel (~£20-25/night)
- →Mljet National Park entry & salt lakes
- →Bike hire around the island
- →Cave of Odysseus kayak (optional)
Mljet to Korčula — Marco Polo's Walled Town
Korčula
Morning ferry from Sobra to Korčula town (~1.5-2h, ~£12-15). Drop bags at a hostel/guesthouse in or just outside the walled town. Spend the day exploring the maze of stone alleys, St Mark's Cathedral, the Marco Polo House and the seafront promenade. Afternoon: swim at Banje or Luka beach. Evening: cheap eats at a konoba (Korčula lamb, pašticada) and a drink at a bar inside the old town walls.
🚌Jadrolinija ferry Sobra–Korčula ~£13
🛏Korčula old town hostel/guesthouse (~£22-28/night)
- →Korčula Old Town walking
- →St Mark's Cathedral
- →Beach swim at Luka/Banje
Korčula — Beaches, Vineyards & Optional Day Sail
Korčula
Full day on Korčula. Option A: hire a bike or scooter and ride to Lumbarda for sandy beaches and Grk white wine tasting, and to Vela Luka or Pupnat for village life. Option B: book a shared half-day sailing or kayak trip around the archipelago via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£35-50) — the closest you'll get to the original yacht experience. Option C: hop the local ferry to Badija island for a swim and a walk around the Franciscan monastery.
🚌Bike/scooter hire or local ferry ~£8-12
🛏Korčula old town hostel/guesthouse (~£22-28/night)
- →Lumbarda vineyards & beaches
- →Shared half-day sail or kayak (optional ~£40)
- →Badija island ferry & swim
Korčula to Hvar — Stari Grad & Hvar Town
Hvar
Take the morning catamaran Korčula–Hvar (via Stari Grad or direct to Hvar town, ~1.5-2h, ~£15-18). Check into a hostel in Hvar town or the cheaper Stari Grad. Afternoon: climb to the Spanish Fortress (~€10) for the classic view, explore the Renaissance square and St Stephen's Cathedral, then swim at Pokonji Dol or Hula Hula. Evening: Hvar's famous nightlife — beach bars and club Carpe Diem.
🚌Krilo/Jadrolinija catamaran Korčula–Hvar ~£16
🛏Hvar town or Stari Grad hostel dorm (~£25-30/night)
- →Spanish Fortress hike
- →Hvar Old Town & cathedral
- →Pokonji Dol beach swim
- →Hvar nightlife
Hvar — Pakleni Islands & Lavender Villages
Hvar
Take a water taxi from Hvar town to the Pakleni Islands (~£8-10 return) and spend the day swimming, snorkelling and walking between coves — this is the 'anchored in a quiet bay' experience done independently. Alternatively, take the local bus to Stari Grad plain (UNESCO) and the village of Velo Grablje, or join a boat excursion to the Blue and Green Caves on Vis (~£45-60). Evening: cheap pizza or grilled fish back in Hvar town.
🚌Water taxi to Pakleni Islands ~£9 return
🛏Hvar town or Stari Grad hostel dorm (~£25-30/night)
- →Pakleni Islands water taxi & snorkelling
- →Stari Grad plain & Velo Grablje villages
- →Blue Cave boat trip to Vis (optional ~£50)
Hvar to Trogir — UNESCO Harbour Town
Trogir
Morning catamaran from Hvar to Split (~1h, ~£14), then local bus #37 or #38 from Split to Trogir (~40 min, ~£3). Trogir's tiny walled island old town is a UNESCO gem — wander the Kamerlengo Fortress, St Lawrence Cathedral and the Riva. Late afternoon: swim off Okrug Gornji beach or take the short boat to the Ciovo island coves. Last-night dinner on the Trogir waterfront.
🚌Hvar–Split catamaran ~£14 + local bus to Trogir ~£3
🛏Trogir old town guesthouse (~£25-30/night)
- →Trogir Old Town & Kamerlengo Fortress
- →St Lawrence Cathedral
- →Okrug Gornji beach
Trogir to Split — Diocletian's Palace & Departure
Split
Morning bus back to Split (~£3), drop bags at the bus/ferry station lockers. Spend a few hours exploring Diocletian's Palace, the Riva promenade and Marjan Hill viewpoint before your flight or onward ferry. Airport bus from the bus station is ~£5 (30 min).
🚌Trogir–Split local bus ~£3 + airport bus ~£5
🛏—
- →Diocletian's Palace
- →Riva promenade
- →Marjan Hill viewpoint
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£565 | £1,100 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £535 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£565
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing Croatia: Dubrovnik to Split (Self-Launched Island Hop) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £565 per person for 8 days in Croatia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £565 — a saving of roughly £535 (49%) per person.
How long is the Croatia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Croatia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, culture trip through Croatia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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