Croatian Coast: Family Voyage

Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Lupus Mare, Dubrovnik. A transfer is included from Dubrovnik Airport to Tauck's private yacht, Lupus Mare, where guests are invited to embark the ship starting at 2:00 PM. After settling into your cabin, join us for a safety briefing from the Captain and crew. Meet your fellow adventurers at our welcome reception and dinner onboard ship this evening.

Set sail for the island of Korcula early this morning, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia, amidst stunning views of the Dalmatian Coast and the lush islands of the Adriatic Sea. Onboard activities and a swimming stop, where you are free to use the ship's water toys – paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and pool noodles among them – make your time at sea as fun as can be. Have lunch onboard before disembarking ship for a drive to Vela Przina beach for an afternoon of swimming and sunning and learn how to play picigin, a lively and traditional Croatian ball game. This evening, embark on a locally guided scavenger hunt in Korcula town, a fortified medieval city often referred to as "little Dubrovnik"; search for clues along its historic cobblestone streets, cleverly built in the form of a fish bone to protect them from the cold north winds, while allowing mild winds to blow through. A pasta dinner follows at a local restaurant, before returning to your yacht.

Voyage across the Adriatic to Brac Island today, stopping en route for a swim and watersports in a sheltered bay, as you continue to island hop in Dalmatia. Brac is the largest of the central Dalmatian islands and is home to historical sites dating back to ancient Greece and the Middle Ages. Disembark after lunch in the village of Pucišca; famous for its white limestone architecture, it is often ranked among Europe's most beautiful. See how limestone is crafted during a visit to a local stonemasonry school and enjoy an orientation walk through the village. Pizza is on the menu for dinner tonight ashore at a local restaurant. 

A short sail brings you to Omis, sandwiched between the sea and the mountains, with the River Cetina cutting through a tall mountain and creating a deep valley. Take in the scenery as you paddle your raft along the crystal green waters of the river with a local guide, with just enough white water to get your adrenalin pumping. Have lunch at a riverside restaurant and drive to Split, Croatia's second-largest city. Founded by Roman Emperor Diocletian in the late third century AD, its UNESCO-protected Old Town is set within the walls of the expansive Diocletian's Palace, one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore the sites, with an opportunity to have dinner on your own in town.

It's on to Hvar today where time traveling takes you back two hundred years to life in Old Damatia. Spend the morning sailing to this ever-popular island, inviting with Mediterranean beauty and a historic port town of the same name. The ship will be stopping en route for water fun, giving you the opportunity to dive into the sea as you wish, with ample water toys available to you. After lunch, disembark your yacht and make your way to Terra Arhaica, an authentic, family-run, 200-year-old stone estate in Vrisnik, for a living history experience that reveals everyday life as it once was. Enjoy interactive experiences with costumed locals who show you how to grind flour for homemade bread, mend fishermen's nets, make traditional sweets, press grapes for wine and more. Then head out to the organic garden to pick fresh vegetables for a typical meal that farmers and fishermen would eat in the past. Free time to explore Hvar town follows, giving you the opportunity to discover the sights that interest you most, including the town's 13th-century walls, the 16th-century Španjola Fortress, and the main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Cathedral. Join your Tauck Director for burger night on shore or return to the ship for dinner. Spend the night aboard the boat, docked in Hvar harbor.

Join in the activities your Tauck Director has lined up for you this morning as the ship makes its way to Mjlet Island for national park adventures, anchoring along the way for a chance to swim. Have lunch onboard before disembarking in Pomena for a choice of excursions. One of the larger Adriatic islands off the Croatian coast, Mljet is 20 miles long and up to 2 miles wide with a national park that covers one-third of the island. The park is home to two salt water lakes connected by a narrow canal, dense forests, and olive groves, and is lined by lush coves. Choose to explore the lake by kayak or on a bicycle ride along the lake shore, or take a ferry ride to the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on St. Mary's Island, in the center of the largest lake. Everyone enjoys free time for hiking, swimming and more before returning to the ship for the Captain's dinner onboard.

Cruise back to Dubrovnik this morning, enjoying onboard fun with your fellow family travelers and your daily swimming stop someplace stunning en route. Arrive in Dubrovnik after lunch and join a local guide for an eye-opening walking tour of the maze of narrow streets in Old Town, encircled by a medieval wall. Completely car-free, the historic, UNESCO-protected city center consists solely of pedestrian-friendly stone streets making it a delight to explore on foot. You may recognize places you see from the TV series Game of Thrones, that represented King's Landing, including the Jesuit Staircase (Cersei's Walk of Shame), St. Dominika Street (market scenes), the City Walls (battlements), and Minčeta Tower (House of the Undying). Stradun, Old Town's main street, was transformed into the casino city of Canto Bight in the film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and in the movie Robin Hood, various spots around the Old Town were used to represent Nottingham. Take in views of the city's terracotta rooftops and the sea on a gondola ride up to Mount Srđ, before returning to the ship for a farewell reception and dinner.

Tour ends: 8:00 AM, Dubrovnik. Disembark ship after breakfast and fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Lupus Mare to Dubrovnik Airport for your journey home. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.