Self-Launched Dalmatian Island Hop: Split to Dubrovnik by Ferry & Catamaran
8 days · Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Islands)
Travel Talk charges £1,005
No-markup version: ~£720 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Talk's 8-day Split-to-Dubrovnik Premier Boat cruise. Instead of a week on a fixed-schedule small ship, you'll island-hop the same route under your own steam using Croatia's excellent network of catamarans, ferries and local buses — Omis, Makarska, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet National Park and Dubrovnik — with plenty of swim stops, orientation walks you can do yourself and optional kayaking, rafting and wall walks. You'll stay in hostels, guesthouses and budget sobas (private rooms) instead of a cabin, set your own pace, and avoid the gripes reviewers raise most about the boat tour: rushed port time and itinerary changes when weather or docking goes wrong.
Day-by-day
Arrive Split, local bus to Omis
Split → Omis
Land in Split (fly into SPU or arrive by bus/train). Drop your bag at a hostel near the old town or head straight out: Promet bus #60 (or any Makarska-bound intercity bus) runs along the coast to Omis every 20–30 minutes, roughly 45 minutes and about £3. Omis is a small, dramatic town where the Cetina river meets the sea beneath sheer cliffs — swap the onboard welcome meeting for a sunset drink on the river terrace and a wander through the old town lanes.
🚌Promet/local bus Split–Omis, ~45 min, ~£3 each way
🛏Hostel or private soba in Omis old town, private room ~£28-35 (dorm ~£18-22)
- →Walk the Omis old town and riverside promenade
- →Sunset viewpoint at Fortica (free, 20 min uphill)
- →Swim at the town pebble beach
Omis to Makarska, Biokovo views and optional rafting
Omis → Makarska
Bus down the coast to Makarska (about 50 minutes, ~£4) along the spectacular Biokovo mountain road. Check in, then do the orientation walk yourself: the long curved promenade, the old town square, and the pine-shaded beaches of Donja Luka. Swap the operator's €60 rafting add-on for a self-booked Cetina rafting trip out of Omis on the way through (GetYourGuide, ~£45-55) or just hiked to the Osejava peninsula viewpoint. Evening: seafood and a glass of local wine on the promenade.
🚌Local bus Omis–Makarska, ~50 min, ~£4
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel room in Makarska, ~£35-45
- →Biokovo mountain views from the bus (free)
- →Makarska promenade walk (free)
- →Optional self-booked Cetina rafting, ~£50
- →Swim at Donja Luka beach
Makarska to Hvar (via Drvenik ferry or Split catamaran)
Makarska → Hvar Town
Get ahead of the cruise crowds by being on Hvar early. Simplest route: bus Makarska–Drvenik (~1h, ~£4.50), then the Jadrolinija car ferry Drvenik–Sucuraj (~35 min, ~£4) and bus up the island to Hvar Town; alternatively bus back to Split and take the Kapetan Luka or Jadrolinija catamaran Split–Hvar (~1h 5m, ~£18-22). Once in Hvar Town climb to the Spanish Fortress (£5), swim off Pokonji Dol or the Pakleni boat-taxi coves, and do your own evening loop of the harbour, the pjaca and St Stephen's Square. Staying overnight on Hvar means you get the evening after the day-trippers leave.
🚌Bus Makarska–Drvenik ~£4.50 + ferry ~£4 + island bus ~£3, or Split catamaran ~£20
🛏Hostel or private room in Hvar Town (book well ahead in July/August), ~£40-55
- →Spanish Fortress walk, ~£5
- →Pakleni Islands water taxi and swim, ~£8-12
- →Hvar harbour and Old Town evening walk (free)
Hvar to Korcula via Lumbarda Bay swim
Hvar → Korcula (Korcula Town)
Take the morning catamaran to Korcula — Krilo/Kapetan Luka run Hvar–Korcula (~1h 15m, ~£18-25) or, if the direct sailing doesn't fit, hop via Split. From Korcula Town, local bus or a 20-minute ride out to Lumbarda Bay for clear shallow swimming and a wander among the vineyards and sandy beaches. Back in town, do the self-guided walk around the fan-shaped old town, climb the Revelin tower for views along the channel, and see the Marco Polo house. Worth knowing: Korcula's ports are among the most reliable on this route, so a land-based plan rarely loses you a stop.
🚌Hvar–Korcula catamaran, ~1h 15m, ~£20
🛏Guesthouse near Korcula Town, ~£35-50
- →Lumbarda Bay swim (bus ~£2)
- →Korcula Old Town tower climb, ~£5
- →Marco Polo House (free from outside / small entry)
- →Pupnatska Luka or Bacva beach half-day option, ~£5 boat taxi
Korcula to Mljet National Park
Korcula → Pomena / Polace, Mljet
Catamaran or ferry across to Mljet (~1h 10m, ~£14-18) and check into a guesthouse in Pomena or Polace. Buy the national park ticket (~£20) and explore the salt-water lakes: pedal or walk around Veliko Jezero, take the little boat shuttle over to St Mary's monastery island, and swim in Malo Jezero. Renting a bike (~£12/day) or a kayak (~£15) is the best way to cover the lakes. Mljet is the slowest part of this route — exactly the kind of place where the boat tour squeezes you into an afternoon and a land-based traveller gets a full evening of quiet.
🚌Korcula–Mljet catamaran/ferry, ~1h 10m, ~£16
🛏Guesthouse in Pomena or Polace, ~£40-50
- →Mljet National Park entry, ~£20
- →Bike or kayak rental around the lakes, ~£12-15
- →Boat shuttle to St Mary's Island (included in park ticket)
- →Swim in Veliko Jezero
Mljet to Dubrovnik via Sobra ferry
Mljet → Dubrovnik
A morning on the lakes or a swim, then local transport to Sobra port for the Jadrolinija ferry or catamaran to Dubrovnik (~1h 30m, ~£16-20). Arrive early enough to wander the Stradun in the golden hour. In place of the tour's onboard seafood dinner, book a table in one of the konobas in the backstreets off the Stradun (or in Gruz market) — fresher fish, less tourist tax, roughly £20-28 with wine.
🚌Mljet–Dubrovnik ferry/catamaran, ~1h 30m, ~£18
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik, ~£40-55
- →Dubrovnik Old Town and Stradun evening walk (free)
- →Konoba dinner in the old town backstreets, ~£25
- →Buza Bar sunset cliff swim (free)
Dubrovnik: city walls, old town and Game of Thrones options
Dubrovnik
Do the operator's included guided city tour yourself: a self-booked Dubrovnik walking tour (GetYourGuide, ~£18-22) or the excellent free-tip-based tours leaving from Pile Gate each morning. Walk the city walls (~£32 in high season, ~£24 low) — go at 08:00 or after 16:00 to avoid crowds and heat. Optional: the Game of Thrones tour (~£30), Mount Srd cable car (~£21 return) or the ferry to Lokrum island (~£18 return) for a swimming afternoon. This is where land-based travel wins outright: you get a full unhurried day, not a half-day squeezed between sailings.
🚌Local bus or 20-min walk into the old town, ~£2
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik, ~£40-55
- →Self-booked Old Town walking tour, ~£20
- →City walls walk, ~£32
- →Optional Game of Thrones tour, ~£30
- →Optional Mount Srd cable car, ~£21
- →Optional Lokrum island ferry and swim, ~£18
Dubrovnik – depart (or extend down the coast)
Dubrovnik
A final morning swim at Banje beach or a coffee on the Stradun before departure. If you're flying home from Dubrovnik, the airport shuttle bus from Pile/Gruz is ~£8 (or a fixed-price taxi ~£35). If you've got more time, extend with a bus down the coast to Cavtat (~£3) or across the border to Kotor, Montenegro (~£18, 2h 30m) — the sort of flexibility a fixed cruise itinerary doesn't allow.
🚌Airport shuttle bus, ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Banje beach morning swim
- →Optional Cavtat day trip by bus, ~£3
- →Optional onward bus to Kotor, Montenegro, ~£18
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£720 | £1,005 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £285 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£720
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Dalmatian Island Hop: Split to Dubrovnik by Ferry & Catamaran cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £720 per person for 8 days in Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Islands). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Talk?+
Yes — Travel Talk charges around £1,005 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £720 — a saving of roughly £285 (28%) per person.
How long is the Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Islands) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Islands).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, beaches trip through Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Islands), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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