Self-Launched Croatian Islands: Dubrovnik to Split by Ferry & Catamaran
8 days · Croatian Islands (Dubrovnik to Split)
Choose Balkans charges £1,235
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Choose Balkans' 8-day Dalmatian yacht cruise — same island-hopping route from Dubrovnik to Split, but using Croatia's excellent public catamaran and ferry network (Jadrolinija, Krilo, TP Line) plus budget guesthouses and hostels instead of a chartered yacht. You'll hit Dubrovnik's Old Town, Slano/Ston, Mljet National Park, Korčula, Vis, the Blue Cave on Biševo, Hvar, Bol and Zlatni Rat, Pučišća, Omiš and Split's Diocletian's Palace. Costs are approximate 2026 budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dubrovnik — Old Town & Welcome Meal
Dubrovnik
Arrive in Dubrovnik and settle into a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Town or Lapad. Spend the late afternoon wandering the marble-paved Stradun, the harbour (Gruž or the Old Port), and the city walls at golden hour. Book your onward catamaran/ferry segments online in advance (Jadrolinija, Krilo or TP Line) — summer sailings sell out. Finish with a relaxed Dalmatian dinner of seafood and a glass of local wine.
🚌Airport shuttle (~£8) or local bus line 11 into town
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Dubrovnik Old Town/Lapad ~£30-40/night
- →Walk the Stradun and Old Port
- →Sunset at Dubrovnik Harbour
- →Welcome seafood dinner
Dubrovnik Old Town — City Walls, Cable Car & Ston Option
Dubrovnik
Do your own walking tour of the Old Town (free-tip guided walks leave from Pile Gate, or use a self-audio guide). Climb the City Walls for the classic rooftop-and-sea views, then ride the cable car up Mount Srđ for panoramas over the islands. Optional half-day excursion to Ston — a short bus ride away — for the ancient stone walls, historic saltworks and famous oysters. Pack your bag ready for tomorrow's catamaran.
🚌On foot + local bus to Ston (~£5 each way) or cable car (~£8)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Dubrovnik Old Town/Lapad ~£30-40/night
- →Dubrovnik City Walls walk (~£28)
- →Cable car to Mount Srđ (~£8)
- →Optional Ston walls & oyster excursion
Dubrovnik to Slano / Ston — Coastal Stop
Slano / Ston
Leave Dubrovnik by local bus or shared transfer along the coast toward Slano, a quiet bay town on the Pelješac-facing shore. Base yourself here or in nearby Ston. Afternoon: explore Ston's medieval walls, salt pans and shellfish farms — you can sample fresh oysters straight from the water. Quiet evening by the bay.
🚌Local bus Dubrovnik–Slano (~£6) or shared minivan transfer
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Slano/Ston ~£35-45/night
- →Ston medieval walls
- →Ston saltworks & oyster farms
- →Bay-side evening stroll
Mljet National Park & Ferry to Korčula
Mljet / Korčula
Take an early catamaran or ferry across to Mljet, Croatia's greenest island. Explore Mljet National Park (~£20 entry) — cycle or walk between the Great and Small Lakes, swim in the warm water, and visit the 12th-century Benedictine Monastery on St. Mary's Islet. In the afternoon continue by ferry/catamaran to Korčula, then take a self-guided stroll through Korčula Town's Venetian old town.
🚌Ferry/catamaran Dubrovnik–Mljet–Korčula (~£18-25 combined)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Korčula Town ~£35-45/night
- →Mljet National Park lakes & monastery (~£20)
- →Swim in the Great Lake
- →Self-guided Korčula Old Town walk
Korčula to Vis — A Day of Seascapes
Vis
Catch the morning ferry/catamaran towards Vis (often changing at Split or via Hvar, so check timetables the night before). Vis is the most remote and least developed of the main islands — the day's entertainment is the crossing itself and a swim stop in one of the secluded bays. In the afternoon, wander Vis Town's harbour, take an optional excursion or scooter/bike rental to the fishing village of Komiža, and soak up the maritime heritage.
🚌Ferry/catamaran Korčula–Vis (~£18-28)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Vis Town ~£35-45/night
- →Scenic island crossing
- →Swim stop in a secluded bay
- →Optional Komiža fishing-village excursion
- →Explore Vis Town harbour
Blue Cave (Biševo) & Hvar Town
Biševo / Hvar
Get an early start for the Blue Cave on Biševo — book a local boat tour from Vis (weather permitting, ~£30-40) to see the glowing blue chamber. Swim stop on the way back. Then take the catamaran to Hvar and explore Hvar Town on foot: the Venetian piazza, the fortress above the town, and the harbour at dusk.
🚌Local boat tour to Blue Cave (~£35) + catamaran Vis–Hvar (~£12)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hvar Town ~£40-50/night
- →Blue Cave (Biševo) boat tour
- →Swim stop
- →Self-guided Hvar Town & fortress walk
Bol, Zlatni Rat & Pučišća — Brač Island
Bol / Pučišća
Hop across to Brač: catamaran to Bol, then walk or take the shuttle to Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape), Croatia's most photographed beach, for a free morning of swimming and windsurfing-watching. Carry on by local bus to Pučišća, the stone-carving village on the north coast, where you can watch stonemasons at work and enjoy a slow evening — the independent traveller's version of the Captain's Dinner, with live music in a konoba if you're lucky.
🚌Catamaran/ferry to Bol (~£10) + local bus Bol–Pučišća (~£4)
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Pučišća ~£35-45/night
- →Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) beach
- →Windsurfing-watching / swimming
- →Pučišća stone-carving village
- →Konoba dinner with local music
Omiš & Split — Diocletian's Palace, Departure
Omiš / Split
Take the catamaran or ferry from Brač (Supetar) to Split, then a short local bus to Omiš for a quick look at the dramatic Cetina gorge and the old fortress town before looping back to Split. In Split, do a self-guided walk of Diocletian's Palace, the Riva waterfront and the old town lanes — free audio guides or a low-cost walking tour work well. Overnight or onward travel from Split airport, bus or ferry.
🚌Catamaran Brač–Split (~£10) + local bus Split–Omiš (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Split Old Town ~£30-40/night (if staying) or depart same day
- →Omiš gorge & fortress
- →Diocletian's Palace self-guided walk (~£0-15)
- →Split Riva waterfront
Self-launched vs. Choose Balkans
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Choose Balkans | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £1,235 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £445 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Choose Balkans-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
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 Self-Launched Croatian Islands: Dubrovnik to Split by Ferry & Catamaran cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 8 days in Croatian Islands (Dubrovnik to Split). 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 Choose Balkans?+
Yes — Choose Balkans charges around £1,235 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £445 (36%) per person.
How long is the Croatian Islands (Dubrovnik to Split) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Croatian Islands (Dubrovnik to Split).
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, backpacker trip through Croatian Islands (Dubrovnik to Split), 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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