Idyllic beaches, medieval cities and islands strung like jewels across sapphire seas are just some of the highlights of this luxury tour down the coast of the Adriatic.
Diocletian’s Palace in Split offers a striking introduction to the Adriatic, its ancient walls still forming the city’s lively core.
Hvar Town is home to Venetian architecture, Europe’s oldest public theatre and a lively waterfront lined with historic stone houses.
Stari Grad, founded by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago, reveals Hvar’s ancient roots and contrasts with the island’s vineyards and lavender fields.
Dubrovnik’s Old Town preserves Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque landmarks, with spectacular views from the city walls over the Adriatic.
The Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, is a dramatic inlet backed by mountains, dotted with Perast, island churches and fortified towns with Venetian heritage.
Upon arrival in Split you’ll be met by your driver and, if time allows, given a tour of the city’s star attraction, Diocletian’s Palace, before boarding your private speedboat to Hvar. Once on the island you’ll transfer to Maslina Resort, a Relais and Châteaux property in its own sheltered bay on the island’s west coast. To help get your bearings, we recommend a private tour of the island on day two. Begin in Hvar Town, famed for its Venetian architecture, chic waterfront bars and as the home of Europe’s oldest public theatre. Continue to the picturesque town of Jelsa and enjoy a private tasting at a local winery before ending in Stari Grad, the island’s first settlement, built by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago.
There’s no shortage of options for what to do on day three. Perhaps sail to the pristine Pakleni Islands, hike or cycle between sleepy villages through olive groves, vineyards and lavender fields, or enjoy a four-course lunch tailored to your tastes in a private seafront setting.
Cruise by private boat to Orebic on the Peljesac Peninsula, perhaps stopping en route to swim off the beautiful beaches of Korcula. From Orebic, a private car will transfer you to Ston for a private tour and tasting at one of the area’s famous oyster farms. From Ston it’s just a short hop to Dubrovnik, where you’ll stay for three nights at Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, a slick, modern hotel built into a cliff above a sheltered bay.
A private walking tour of the Old Town will make it clear why Dubrovnik is called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Highlights include Europe’s oldest pharmacy, which has been operating inside a Franciscan monastery since 1391; the Gothic Rector’s Palace, which houses an impressive museum; and the Baroque Church of St Blaise, dedicated to the city’s patron saint. Perhaps best of all are the spectacular views of the shimmering Adriatic from atop the city’s walls. Further options include trips to the enchanting Elaphiti Islands or to nearby Lokrum Island, a UNESCO-protected nature reserve with lush botanical gardens and a Benedictine monastery.
Transfer across the border and check in for four nights at Regent Porto Montenegro, an elegant waterfront hotel in the Bay of Kotor, a dramatic, meandering fjord-like inlet enclosed by rugged mountains. The hotel is designed to reflect the region’s centuries-old ties with Venice and overlooks a super-yacht marina rimmed by cafes, boutiques and smart yachting outlets.
We highly recommend a private boat tour of the Bay of Kotor, taking in the picturesque town of Perast, the myth-shrouded island Our Lady of the Rocks, and Kotor itself, another stone-walled town dramatically wedged between brooding mountains and a waterfront lined with Venetian mansions. Also well worth visiting are Mt Lovcen, the looming black mountain that gave Montenegro its name, and UNESCO-listed Cetinje, the country’s one-time capital. Transfer to Tivat on day 11 in time to catch your flight home.