Day 1 | Sunday 2 May
Arrive Split
Individual transfers from Split Airport to our hotel in the Bačvice district will be arranged by Academy Travel. In the late afternoon we gather in the hotel lobby for introductions, followed by a talk which sets out the themes and historical frameworks that will shape our exploration of Croatia. Afterwards, we walk together to a nearby restaurant for a welcome dinner. Overnight Split (D)

Day 2 | Monday 3 May
The Palace of Diocletian
Split’s urban fabric is inseparable from the vast palace constructed for the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the 4th century CE. Conceived as a fortified imperial residence, the complex later evolved into a medieval town as houses, churches and workshops were inserted within its walls. Over centuries of Byzantine, Venetian and Habsburg administration, the palace became the living heart of the city. We begin our exploration with a morning walking tour, tracing the line of the ancient walls before entering the palace precinct itself. Within its limestone arcades we visit the Peristyle courtyard, the Temple of Jupiter and the cellars that once supported the imperial apartments above. The former mausoleum of Diocletian – converted in the 7th century into the Cathedral of St Domnius – reveals layers of adaptation, from Roman sculpture to medieval choir stalls. After a break for lunch, we continue on foot to the Archaeological Museum for a curator-led visit, examining material from prehistoric Dalmatia through to the Roman and early Christian periods. The late afternoon and evening is then at leisure. Overnight Split (B)

Day 3 | Tuesday 4 May
Mostar
Dating back to the golden age of the Ottoman Empire, Mostar’s cityscape is dotted with the minarets of the splendid mosques built by Suleiman the Magnificent’s chief architect, Mimar Sinan. Connecting the Muslim and Catholic sides of the town is the magnificent Stari Most – the Balkans’ most celebrated bridge, which forms a majestic stone arc between medieval towers over the emerald Neretva River below. An early departure takes us across the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we begin a guided walking tour through the old town’s stone lanes and market quarter. We conclude at the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, ascending the minaret for views over the river and tiled rooftops below. Lunch is enjoyed in a riverside restaurant, offering regional dishes shaped by Ottoman culinary traditions, before we return to Split in the late afternoon. Overnight Split (B, L)

Day 4 | Wednesday 5 May
Salona and the Dalmatian Hinterland
Before Split rose within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace, the Roman city of Salona stood as the administrative capital of the province of Dalmatia. Founded in the 3rd century BCE and later expanded under Augustus, Salona developed into a substantial urban centre, with forum, amphitheatre, temples and early Christian basilicas reflecting both imperial authority and the spread of new religious traditions. A short drive this morning brings us to the extensive archaeological remains, where a guided tour traces the outlines of streets, public buildings and cemeteries set today among fields and low stone walls. Returning towards the coast, we pause at Stella Croatica in the Dalmatian hinterland for lunch, featuring regional specialities and a tasting of locally produced olive oil. There is time to explore the small museum before we return to Split for an evening at leisure. Overnight Split (B, L, T)

Day 5 | Thursday 6 May
Šibenik
Unlike Split, Šibenik occupies a distinctive place on the Dalmatian coast as one of the few medieval towns founded by Croats rather than by Greek or Roman settlers. First mentioned in 1066, it later flourished under Venetian rule, when civic ambition and maritime wealth found expression in stone. At the heart of the old town stands the Cathedral of St James, a UNESCO World-Heritage site whose sculpted frieze and interlocking stone vaulting reflect the transition from Gothic to Renaissance forms in the 15th century. Departing Split today, we first travel north to Šibenik. During the drive, our tour leader introduces the historical development of Dalmatia’s coastal cities, tracing the shifting balance between local authority and Venetian maritime power. On arrival, our walking tour leads us through the old town’s steep lanes and squares, culminating at the cathedral. We then continue uphill to St Michael’s Fortress, whose commanding position above the harbour has guarded the city since the medieval period. From its ramparts the Adriatic and the mouth of the Krka River come into view. Later in the afternoon, we proceed to Zadar and check in to our hotel, with dinner enjoyed together this evening. Overnight Zadar (B, D)

Day 6 | Friday 7 May
Zadar
The history of Zadar spans almost every stage of Croatian history and is said to be the oldest settlement in the country, its heritage woven with the threads of Roman, Byzantine, and medieval empires which have all left their mark. Our morning walking tour explores the compact old town, beginning among the columns and paving stones of the Roman forum. Nearby stands the circular Church of St Donatus, an early medieval structure built with spolia from Roman buildings, and the Cathedral of St Anastasia, whose facade reflects later Romanesque influences. We continue to the Museum of Church Art – often known as the Museum of Silver and Gold – where a guided visit introduces reliquaries, manuscripts and liturgical objects gathered over centuries. After a break for lunch, we turn to the Archaeological Museum – home to a vast collection spanning the history of the region, from Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages to the Roman, Byzantine and medieval periods. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the seafront promenade or climb the cathedral bell tower. Overnight Zadar (B)

Day 7 | Saturday 8 May
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Inland from the Dalmatian coast, the karst landscape of central Croatia has produced one of Europe’s most distinctive natural environments. At Plitvice Lakes, a chain of terraced lakes and waterfalls has formed over thousands of years through the gradual deposition of travertine, creating a constantly evolving system of clear pools and forested slopes. Recognised as a UNESCO World-Heritage site, the park preserves both geological processes and a diverse ecosystem. An early departure today takes us northeast from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes National Park. On arrival, a guided walk introduces the network of wooden pathways that trace the lakes’ edges, offering views of cascades and turquoise waters framed by beech and fir woodland. After time together exploring the main routes, there is further opportunity to continue along the trails at leisure. Mid-afternoon we return by coach to Zadar, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Zadar (B)

Day 8 | Sunday 9 May
Trogir | Embarkation
Trogir’s history spans more than two millennia. Originally settled by the Greeks in the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE, it later came under Roman rule as Tragurium Civium Romanorum, before flourishing in the medieval and Venetian periods. Set on a small island between the mainland and Čiovo, the town preserves one of the most complete medieval urban plans on the Adriatic, its tight grid of streets and stone palaces reflecting centuries of maritime trade and civic ambition. Departing Zadar mid-morning, we travel south along the coast towards Trogir, where there is time for a break for lunch on arrival. Luggage is transferred directly to our vessel, while we meet in the early afternoon to board and settle into our cabins. We then disembark again on a walking tour that introduces Trogir’s narrow lanes, culminating at the Cathedral of St Lawrence, whose Romanesque portal remains one of the most accomplished works of medieval sculpture in Dalmatia. Returning to the ship, we gather to review the week’s itinerary, followed by a welcome dinner on board as we prepare to cruise the Adriatic. Overnight MV Avantura (B, D)

Day 9 | Monday 10 May
Jelsa and the Stari Grad Plain
The island of Hvar has long occupied a strategic position along Adriatic sea routes, first settled by Greek colonists in the 4th century BCE who established an agricultural colony at Pharos, today’s Stari Grad. The field system they laid out – dividing the plain into geometric parcels – remains largely intact and is recognised as a UNESCO World-Heritage site. Sailing south towards Hvar today, we pass the island of Brač and the distinctive spit of Zlatni Rat – often referred to as the Golden Horn – extending into the Adriatic. During the cruise, our tour leader offers a talk on board. On arrival in Jelsa, situated on the northern coast of Hvar Island, there is time at leisure to stroll the harbourfront and explore the town’s quiet lanes. Later in the afternoon, we travel inland to the Stari Grad Plain and the Hora estate, where a traditional peka dinner is prepared beneath an iron bell over embers. As evening falls among olive groves and lavender fields, we dine together before returning to our vessel. Overnight MV Avantura (B, D)

Day 10 | Tuesday 11 May
Hvar Town and the Pakleni Islands
Hvar Town developed as the principal Venetian harbour on the island, its deep natural bay offering protection to fleets that once controlled Adriatic trade routes. Fortified walls climb the hillside above the port, while Renaissance palaces and a spacious main square reflect the prosperity of the 15th and 16th centuries, when Hvar formed part of Venice’s maritime network. As we sail around the northwestern corner of the island from Jelsa towards Hvar Town, we pass the wooded Pakleni Islands scattered just offshore. During the morning cruise, our tour leader offers a talk and lunch is enjoyed on board as we approach the harbour. Disembarking in Hvar Town in the afternoon, we enjoy a guided walking tour through its principal square, visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Arsenal, once a centre of shipbuilding and civic life under Venetian rule. There is then time at leisure to explore further, whether wandering the marble-paved streets around the main square, browsing boutiques and galleries, or enjoying a drink along the waterfront promenade as boats drift in and out of the harbour. Dinner is at leisure in Hvar Town, which is renowned for its lively atmosphere and excellent restaurant scene, before returning to our vessel later in the evening. Overnight MV Avantura (B, L)

Day 11 | Wednesday 12 May
Vis and the Blue Cave
The island of Vis has long stood at the edge of Dalmatia’s maritime world. Settled by Greek colonists in the 4th century BCE as Issa and later developed under Roman, Venetian, Austrian and Italian rule, its harbour reflects successive layers of influence. For much of the 20th century the island was closed as a Yugoslav naval base, a period of isolation that helped preserve both its historic fabric and agricultural landscape. Reopened to visitors in 1991, Vis retains a character shaped as much by continuity as by change. Sailing from Hvar towards Vis today, there is the possibility of visiting the Blue Cave on the nearby island of Biševo, where light refracted through a submerged opening casts a shifting blue glow across the grotto’s interior. Lunch is enjoyed on board as we approach the azure waters of the harbour, and in the afternoon we disembark for a walking tour introducing the waterfront and narrow streets of Vis town. Beyond the harbour, the white limestone slopes of the Dinaric range rise above the Adriatic, with the remainder of the evening at leisure to dine ashore and enjoy the views. Overnight MV Avantura (B, L)

Day 12 | Thursday 13 May
Korčula
Known to the ancient Greeks as Korkyra Melaina – “Black Corfu” – for its dense pine forests, Korčula developed as a maritime and mercantile centre under successive Greek, Roman and Venetian rule. Its fortified old town projects into the sea on a narrow peninsula, laid out in a distinctive fishbone pattern designed to channel prevailing winds and moderate summer heat. Local tradition also associates the island with Marco Polo, said to have been born here in the 13th century. We sail towards Korčula in the morning, with a talk and lunch on board. On arrival, we disembark for a walking tour through the walled town, tracing the medieval streets that radiate from the central spine. Our tour takes in St Mark’s Cathedral, a 15th-century structure combining Gothic and Renaissance elements, with time to examine its carved portal and treasury, before passing patrician palaces and small chapels that reflect the island’s prosperity under Venetian rule. Later, we travel to a local winery for a tasting of Korčula’s distinctive varieties, including Pošip and Grk, whose character reflects the island’s limestone soils and Mediterranean climate. There is free time for dinner in Korčula before we return to our vessel. Overnight MV Avantura (B, L)

Day 13 | Friday 14 May
Mljet National Park and Ston
One of the most densely forested islands in the Adriatic, Mljet has long been associated with myth and monastic retreat. Its northwestern lakes, formed by rising sea levels flooding karst depressions, create a distinctive landscape where salt water meets woodland. Recognised as a national park, the island preserves both natural systems and traces of Benedictine presence on the small islet of St Mary. We sail south to Mljet in the morning and explore the island’s salt lakes on arrival, walking along shaded paths beside the water. Lunch is enjoyed together back on board as we continue towards the Pelješac Peninsula and the town of Ston, whose defensive walls once protected valuable salt pans that sustained the economy of the medieval Republic of Ragusa. Here we visit a local oyster farm to sample their award-winning oysters cultivated in these sheltered waters. Returning to our vessel in the evening, we conclude the day with the Captain’s Dinner, accompanied by live entertainment on board. Overnight MV Avantura (B, L, T, D)

Day 14 | Saturday 15 May
Dubrovnik
For centuries Dubrovnik stood as the independent Republic of Ragusa, a maritime state whose wealth rested on diplomacy and trade between the Ottoman Empire and the Latin West. Enclosed within formidable stone walls, the city developed a refined civic culture expressed in its palaces, monasteries and carefully ordered streets. From the 14th to the 17th centuries it rivalled Venice in commercial reach while maintaining a distinct political identity. Our final sailing into Dubrovnik takes place this morning, where we disembark for a walking tour through the limestone-paved Stradun and adjoining lanes. A visit to the Rector’s Palace introduces the administrative heart of the republic, where elected officials governed under strict constitutional limits. There is opportunity to walk the city walls for sweeping views across the Adriatic and the tiled rooftops below. By early afternoon we make our way back to the vessel, with the option for independent time in the city for those who prefer to explore further and return later at their own pace. In the evening, we come together ashore for a special farewell dinner. Overnight MV Avantura (B, D)

Day 15 | Sunday 16 May
Disembark | Depart Dubrovnik
Our cruise concludes in Dubrovnik’s Port Gruž this morning. Following breakfast on board, we disembark and the tour comes to an end. A group transfer to Dubrovnik Airport is available for those departing today. (B)