Croatia Family Vacation

Overview

This action-packed Croatia family vacation explores the Dalmatian Coast. Bike through charming villages, hike mountainous coastlines, paddle enchanting bays, and explore the coastal waters of the Mediterranean. The trip starts in Split and ends in Dubrovnik, lasting 6 days with an average group size of 12 people. It is rated Level 2 and costs from NZD 10,499 per person, including taxes and fees. Create lifelong memories as you hike, bike, kayak, cruise, and more on this Croatia family vacation exploring the Dalmatian Coast. Smile-inducing moments await adventurers of all ages along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. By day, enjoy azure waters, endearing harbor towns, and picturesque villages, while nighttime brings ample opportunity for you to savor a glass of locally produced wine, while the kids recount the cool things they learned. Discover hidden gems found in Croatia’s idyllic coves and vineyard-clad hillsides. Bike through charming villages, hike mountainous coastlines, paddle enchanting bays, and explore the rich coastal waters of the Mediterranean. Al fresco delights and a fairy-tale backdrop make for a postcard-perfect scene on this all-inclusive Croatia family vacation. Throughout these full days, enjoy the best in regional accommodations and scrumptious fare as Austin’s signature touch of inspired, thoughtful service invites you to relax and hang out with the kids as you fall in love with Croatia’s crystalline waters, picturesque harbor towns and fresh-off-the-boat seafood. Day 1: Ferry to Hvar Island, cycle Jelsa and Vrboska. We meet in the morning in Split before we ferry to beautiful Hvar Island, disembarking at the quaint harbor town of Stari Grad. Mount up and pedal to Jelsa, admiring the octagonal Renaissance Church of Saint John. Continue on to Vrboska, also known as "Little Venice" for its plethora of small bridges. Explore the 16th-century church of Saint Mary of Charity and the Renaissance works of Veronese and Bassano at the Church of Saint Lawrence. We'll enjoy lunch in Stari Grad, a 2400-year-old city, before a short but steep incline. Your ride will finish with a downhill into Hvar, whose long waterfront promenade, yacht-lined quays, traffic-free marble streets, and tasteful harbor-front bars and cafes offer the perfect retreats for relaxing and people-watching. Explore beautifully ornamented Gothic palaces, a Franciscan cloister, and a historic arsenal before climbing to a Spanish fort for spectacular views of the city at sunset. This evening we gather for a festive welcome dinner. Accommodation: Riva Hotel, Hvar. Meals: Lunch, Dinner. Biking: Up to 27 miles (43.5 kilometers), easy to moderately strenuous. Day 2: Sea kayak the peaceful Pakleni Otoci Islands. This morning we set off to explore the peaceful Pakleni Otoci Islands by sea kayak. Scattered off the southwest coast of Hvar and blanketed in the low pine forest, the archipelago originally derived its name from the native paklina, a pine resin once used as a ship sealant. Paddle the idyllic bays of Marinkovac Island and savor the ubiquitous scent of pine, lavender, and rosemary as you coast along the sandy beach at Sv. Klement Island. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and try a Croatian specialty such as Cevapi (spiced sausages) with ajvar sauce, mussels, and black risotto. Accommodation: Riva Hotel, Hvar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Kayaking: 3.5 hours including lunch, easy. Day 3: Cycle Korcula Island. Travel by private boat from Hvar Town to Vela Luka on Korcula Island for a day of biking. Set on a tiny peninsula on the Peljesac channel, Korcula was first home to Slavic pirates who used the island as a base from which to attack passing ships; in the year 1000, it was taken over by Venice, marking the start of an 800-year on-and-off Venetian rule. Today, the island is renowned for its gorgeous white quarried stone, countless secluded bays, small, uninhabited islands, and breathtaking views. Make a stop in Konopica to enjoy lunch as a group. Explore several small villages on today's ride, which culminates in the medieval walled town of Korcula, whose Old Quarter boasts a harmonious mix of 15th-century Gothic and 16th-century Renaissance trimmings. Visit the home of Marco Polo, Saint Mark's Cathedral with paintings by Tintoretto, the Town Museum, and the Byzantine Icon Museum. Feast on some fresh and authentic Croatian seafood tonight. Accommodation: Hotel Liburna, Korcula. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Cruise: Travel by boat from Hvar to Vela Luka on Korcula Island. Biking: Up to 30 miles (48 kilometers). Day 4: Hike Kocje nature preserve & explore Korcula Town. Today we'll travel to the village of Zrnovo where our hike begins through Mediterranean vegetation and along centuries-old stone walls. As we enter the Kocje nature preserve the landscape changes from fields to lush Croatian Oak forests, a canyon with dolomitic rock formations, and a cave with natural spring water. We then make our way to a farm-to-table restaurant for lunch. After, you'll have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy Korcula and even go for a swim in the Adriatic if you please. Dinner this evening is on your own. Accommodation: Hotel Liburna, Korcula. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Hiking: 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Day 5: Buggy safari on Lumbarda beach, snorkel and wine tasting. Today we start with an exciting buggy safari heading for Lumbarda beach. Follow your guides along the coastal gravel roads above Lumbarda and Zrnovo villages, pausing to admire the spectacular views and to swim and snorkel on the sandy Przina beach where you'll enjoy a wine tasting and lunch. Afterwards a transfer out to Korcula for an optional bike ride along tranquil waters to Racisce bay and back. This evening we gather for a delectable farewell dinner. Accommodation: Hotel Liburna, Korcula. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Diving/Snorkeling: Snorkel two hidden bays. Biking: Up to 21 miles (33.8 kilometers), easy. Day 6: Head back to Dubrovnik, depart for home. Enjoy one last breakfast before you are transferred to the Dubrovnik airport or Dubrovnik town. Most will opt to spend a night in Dubrovnik to explore its picturesque town center which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accommodation: Not applicable. Meals: Breakfast. Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate. This trip includes: 5 nights' accommodation, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, highly experienced guides and leader, industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1), all activities outlined in the itinerary, delicious and nutritious snacks, all necessary equipment, water bottle and bottle cage, hiking poles, Cannondale Bike with straight handlebars, transportation in air-conditioned vans, special "Wow" moments, knowledgeable Customer Care Team, "trip ready" calls prior to your trip, and "My Account" online space. FAQs: Where does the trip start? On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Hotel Luxe at 7:30 am or the Split ferry (located at Gat Svetog Duje 1) at 8:00 am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Split, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times. Please come prepared in your cycling clothing and footwear for our first ride as a group today. Where does the trip end? Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Dubrovnik Airport in time for flights below or a hotel of your choice in Central Dubrovnik around 12 pm. What flights would you recommend? Arrival: We recommend arriving in Split at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the host city prior to your trip start. Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Dubrovnik after 2 pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense. What accommodations do we stay at on this trip? We have selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel - it's not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels in Croatia. We prefer to stay along the stunning Dalmatian seaside close to historical and very explorable villages, so that you can take advantage of all the region has to offer. While there are laundry facilities at most locations, they may not be convenient or there may only be one machine to service your entire group. We recommend bringing enough clothing for the entire trip. If you do need to do laundry there are services where they could do it for you at each of the hotels, but expect to pay high prices for these services. Will my accommodations be exactly the same as those featured? Occasionally, your accommodations may differ from those featured, but they'll always be hand-picked by our expert team with care. We'll send your final accommodation list a month before your trip begins, so you'll know exactly where you're staying before you set off. Adventure Made Easy: Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path. With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading average 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience. Award-winning guides lead the way. It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too! You’ll never need to sweat the details. When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. All you need to do is show up! Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely. Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted partners and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides. Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best. Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest. "Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary. For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included