Sailing the Dalmatian Islands was one of the most amazing things we’ve ever done. Describing the experience as EPIC might not even do it justice. This post is one that I’ve been really excited to share with you since the day we arrived on board.

We first looked into chartering a boat for a few days after we had such an amazing time in Greece with Naxos Yachting and Santorini Catamaran Sailing. On that trip, we chartered a catamaran for a full day of sailing around Naxos and again for a half day of sailing around Santorini. Let’s just say, our appetite for being on the water like that was ignited. 

Fast forward to planning our Croatian trip and we started doing some research. Where it would have been cost prohibitive to charter a multi-day trip in Greece, in Croatia we found it to be financially doable. 

We found Adris Nautic online and began chatting with Dubravko, the owner (who is also your skipper). From the start, Dubravko was very easy to work with. His communication was timely, payment was easy, and he helped answer any questions we had.

For additional photos and videos of our adventure, head to my Instagram and view the Dalmatian Isles highlights.

About the Sailboat

We sailed on a 14 meter long ELAN 431 luxury edition. It has room for 6 guests plus the skipper, which meant we were very comfortable as it was only my husband and I. This was our first time sleeping on a sailboat like this and it’s well appointed with everything you need. We had a small private cabin for sleeping and used one of the other cabins to keep our bags and get dressed in. There are bathrooms on board, but we took showers on the swim deck, which was actually a fun and quite liberating experience!

All the water toys are included (paddle boarding is much harder than it looks) and there is a full kitchen to prepare breakfast and lunch and keep all your snacks, beer, and wine. I spent most of my time on the loungers and there is a covered area in the back with a table to enjoy al fresco dining.

About the Skipper

Dubravko is a certified skipper and very experienced. Sailing with him is safe and fun. He is a Superhost on Airbnb as well. Dubravko enjoys sharing all aspects of life at sea with his guests as well as the wonderful food and wine that Croatia is known for. We enjoyed having breakfast on board together as well as a couple of dinners in the islands we visited. Dubravko even makes his own delicious wine and shared a bottle with us over bread, olive oil, and traditional Klapa music. Sailing with Dobrovko is not just the opportunity for a fun sailing holiday, but also the opportunity to make a lifelong friend.

Provisions and Meals

Dubravko was a great help when it came to buying food and other provisions on the boat. On our first day out of Split, he accompanied us to the local Konzum supermarket and advised where we would be able to get more food along our journey. 

Breakfast each day was had on the boat, either while sailing or moored/docked. Dubravko made us coffee each day and we usually had some kind of pastry.

Lunch was also on the boat. We stocked up at local markets on cured meats and cheese, bread, balsamic vinegar, chips, olives, and whatever other snacks we wanted to have during the day. We also had plenty of beer, wine, and bottled water.

Dinner was always in the island towns. We invited Dubravko to dinner with us a couple of times and other times it was just us. I have restaurant recommendations listed below in the sailing schedule.

Our Sailing Schedule

We booked a 5 day/4night sailing trip from Split to Dubrovnik. Along the way, we stopped and slept in Hvar, Korčula, Mjlet, and Šipon. From Korčula to Mjlet, we enjoyed a full wine tour experience, which I’ll cover in another post. The day is spent at sea with a couple of stops at incredible swimming coves and secluded beaches. Dubravko knows all the best places to jump in and get refreshed.

Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands are breathtaking! There are crystal clear blue waters everywhere you look, rocky cliffs rising almost sky high out of the sea, and plenty of colorful fish. I felt like I was in a dream. How can the earth still be this beautiful after thousands of years? 

There are two options when you arrive at one of the islands. You can either dock in a slip at the marina or moor out in the bay by anchor. We experienced both and didn’t have any issues with noise or turbulent seas. Even though it was Yacht Week, the marinas were quiet and the water was as flat as glass at night. If mooring, you’ll just call a water taxi to take you to the island. They pull right up to the back of the sailboat and off you go. The service was fantastic and also extremely fast. Hold on tight!

Hvar

Our first stop on our Croatian sailing adventure was the island of Hvar. It’s stunningly charming with lots of little alleys to get lost down. Hvar is Croatia’s answer to Mykonos and Ibiza – plenty of places to party on the water.

We dined at Ko Doma, Hvar’s top restaurant. It’s courtyard is secluded and romantic, and the food is phenomenal. Get the 4-course meal with wine. The shark tempura was amazing! We followed that with a nightcap at the Adriana Hotel. We found a little table for two overlooking the water and sipped one of the best gin and tonics I’ve ever had.

We returned to the boat via water taxi and had the nicest surprise left by Dubravko. He had placed two wine glasses out for us, intended for a nightcap. So we had a glass of wine up on deck while looking at the stars. I swear, you could see the entire universe.

Korčula

On the morning we sailed to Korčula, we had a visit from Daily Fresh Boat, a floating bakery with croissants and fresh squeezed juices. How cool is that?! 

We stopped for swimming at Mystic Bay (simply incredible) and another sandy beach. I mean, does it get more pristine than this?

We took the water taxi in for dinner at Pizzeria Amfora. It’s a casual and lively place with outdoor seating along the street. I could see the water from my seat. The pizzas looked incredible but we opted for lamb and shrimp pasta, both being quite good.

After dinner we had drinks at Massimo Cocktail Bar. It’s in a 15th century medieval tower and you can get Game of Thrones themed drinks. It’s a bit touristy but the view and experience of climbing the tower are pretty cool.

Mjlet

Mjlet is one of the larger Croatian islands. It is covered in vegetation and a large portion of the island is a national park. We docked in the marina and got our first real taste of yacht week. We entered the slip that Dubravko had reserved, between two other boats already in party mode. Everyone was listening to music and entertaining on board their boats. We had our own little party with wine and a sunset view from the swim deck. The marina is lined with restaurants which were in full swing and people were leisurely strolling along the boardwalk. I can still hear the sounds of it all. What an experience! 

We had a late night dinner at Konoba Nine, just steps from our boat. The owner is a friend of Dubravko’s, and he actually free dives to spear fish for the restaurant. On the wall is a television showing videos of him diving with a GoPro camera. We had red snapper that had been caught that morning with grilled vegetables and fries. It was delicious!

The morning of our departure was July 4th and many of the boats and their occupants were decked out in red, white, and blue. I’ll never forget waking up to the sounds of Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA in Mjlet, Croatia. Life is funny like that sometimes.

Paul grabbed marmalade filled croissants from a local bakery, which happened to be maybe the best croissants ever and after devouring them with coffee we set sail for Šipon. Along the way we stopped at the Odysseus Cave and paddle boarded our way into it. The sea glows inside the cave and was totally worth the excursion. Odysseus was allegedly shipwrecked nearby and trapped by Calypso. A lot of other boats like to stop here and people like to jump from the cliffs and swim into the cave.

Šipon

Our final island stop in our Croatian sailing adventure was Šipon. In comparison to the other islands, Šipon is much smaller. It has a quiet little fishing village with a few restaurants and basically zero tourists. 

A few of the buildings are shuttered and derelict, but that’s what I love about a place as rustic as Šipon. I kept imagining what I would find behind doors that haven’t been opened in decades. I always like to imagine how I would transform the space and create some kind of bed & breakfast with a little shop on the main level.

There is an ancient castle on the island that is now privately owned. You can see into the courtyard through a small window in the gated entrance, but other than that it remains very mysterious. I found this to be another secret treat that Šipon had to offer.

We dined on fresh shrimp and octopus at Konoba Stara Mlinica. Fishermen were still catching fish off the docks with a simple line. The atmosphere is so relaxed and quiet. We ended the evening with grappa on the boat with Dubravko.

Breakfast was another croissant run at a local shop followed by sailing to Dubrovnik, our final destination. There’s nothing quite like entering Dubrovnik from the sea. You really get to experience the immensity of the old city walls, and of course, get all the Game of Thrones feels.

Is It Worth It?

ABSOLUTELY!! I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life. Waking up each day to a clear blue sea and a rising sun never gets old. Sailing with Adris Nautic is truly a Croatian sailing adventure. It is an authentic experience where we felt fully engaged in Croatian culture, and we saw first hand how incredibly beautiful we have always heard Croatia to be.

Be sure to give Dubravko a follow on Instagram, too – @croatia_sailing_adventure! He’s new to the platform and I know you’ll enjoy his posts.

If you have any questions about our experience, let me know if the comments! Have you ever sailed like this before? 

xo – Erin

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