Self-Launched Dubrovnik to Split Island Hop (18-35s Style)

Fly or bus into Dubrovnik and check into a hostel in the Old Town or Lapad (Old Town Hostel, Hostel Angelina or similar). Spend the afternoon walking the UNESCO city walls if you want the hit (£27-ish — skip it if you're saving money and instead wander the Stradun and the side alleys north of it for free). Around 5pm take the cable car up Mount Srđ (£21 return) for the sunset view over the walled city and the islands, then walk back down or ride down. If you have daylight left, catch the small shuttle boat from the Old Town port to Lokrum Island (£5-ish return plus a small island entry fee) — it's a 15-minute crossing and famous for the Game of Thrones iron throne replica and peacocks. Dinner at a cheap konoba off the main drag (try peka-less options like grilled fish, black risotto, or a burek from a bakery for under £6). Optional: a Game of Thrones walking tour booked on GetYourGuide for around £18 if you want the guided fix the original tour offers via its cruise manager.

🚌Airport shuttle bus to city ~£7, or local bus #11 ~£2; everything in the Old Town on foot

🛏Hostel dorm in Dubrovnik Old Town / Lapad (~£28)

• →Old Town walls walk (optional, ~£27)
• →Mount Srđ cable car (~£21 return)
• →Lokrum Island shuttle boat (~£5 + entry)
• →Stradun evening stroll
• →Optional Game of Thrones walking tour (~£18 via GetYourGuide)

Take the morning Krilo or Jadrolinija catamaran from Dubrovnik's Gruž port to Korčula town (roughly 2h15, around £22–28 one way; book on the Krilo or Jadrolinija site a few days ahead in high season as it sells out). Drop bags at a hostel or guesthouse in Korčula town — there are only a couple of proper hostels so book early, or use a sobe (private room) for about £25–35. Afternoon: walk the narrow fishbone streets of the walled Korčula Old Town, climb the St Mark's Cathedral bell tower (£3), and swim off Banje beach or Zrnovska Banja, ten minutes' walk from the centre. Consider a half-day taxi-boat or kayak trip to Badija Island and its Franciscan monastery (£15–25). Evening: the original tour's crowd heads to Deja Vu bar and Boogie Jungle — you can do the same for a fraction, a beer on the seafront is £3–4 and cocktails £8.

🚌Krilo/Jadrolinija catamaran Dubrovnik (Gruž) → Korčula ~2h15, ~£25

🛏Hostel dorm or sobe (private room) in Korčula town (~£30)

• →Korčula Old Town walk
• →St Mark's Cathedral bell tower (~£3)
• →Swim at Banje or Zrnovska Banja
• →Optional kayak/taxi-boat to Badija Island (~£20)
• →Seafront bars: Deja Vu, Boogie Jungle

Morning ferry from Korčula to Drvenik on the mainland (Jadrolinija car ferry, about 50 minutes, ~£8–10), then a local bus or shared taxi down the coast to Makarska (roughly 40 minutes, £5). Alternatively take the seasonal Krilo catamaran Korčula–Split and bus back south — but the Drvenik route is cheaper and quicker. Check into a hostel or guesthouse near the old town. Afternoon options: hike up to St Peter's Forest Park (Sveti Petar) for the panorama over the Biokovo mountains and the horseshoe beach, then swim at the long pebble Donja Luka beach. If you want the adrenaline the original sells as an optional: book a Cetina River rafting trip from nearby Omiš on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35–45 including transport and kit). Evening: dinner at a local konoba (grilled squid and a glass of local wine for ~£15), then Club Deep if you're in the mood — it's built into a cave and the walk-in is free on most nights.

🚌Jadrolinija ferry Korčula → Drvenik ~50 min ~£9; local bus Drvenik → Makarska ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Makarska (~£28)

• →St Peter's Forest Park hike
• →Donja Luka beach swim
• →Optional Cetina rafting from Omiš (~£40)
• →Club Deep cave nightclub

Take the morning coastal bus north along the Makarska Riviera to Split (about 1h45, ~£10 with Promet or FlixBus), then the local #37 bus from Split to Trogir (40 minutes, ~£3) — or a suburban train if available on your date. The bus hugs the coast past Brela and Omiš, which is the scenic version of the original boat's sail. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Trogir's Old Town (Hostel Traù or a sobe). Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed Trogir Old Town — the Cathedral of St Lawrence and its portal, the Kamerlengo Castle walls (£3) for the view over the channel, and the palm-lined Riva. Do the bar-hop along the Riva and the maze of back lanes; drinks are noticeably cheaper than Dubrovnik. If you'd rather the beach, Okrug Gornji is a 20-minute bus ride (£2) with a long pebble beach.

🚌Coastal bus Makarska → Split ~1h45 ~£10; local bus #37 Split → Trogir ~40 min ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm or sobe in Trogir Old Town (~£28)

• →Trogir Old Town walk
• →Cathedral of St Lawrence
• →Kamerlengo Castle (~£3)
• →Riva bar-hopping
• →Optional Okrug Gornji beach (bus ~£2)

Check out of the hostel (the original dumps you out at 9am in Trogir — you have the same morning but without the early wake-up). Two good ways to use the day. One: take a self-booked Krka National Park trip — the cheapest route is local bus from Trogir or Split to Šibenik (about 1h45, ~£10) then the bus to Skradin and the park shuttle boat into the falls; entry to Krka is about £35 in summer, so many travellers instead book a GetYourGuide day tour from Split/Trogir (~£40–50 including park entry and transport) which is often better value. Two: skip Krka and use the morning for one last swim, then hop the #37 bus into Split (£3), see Diocletian's Palace and the Riva, and fly out from Split airport (bus #37 to the airport is about £6). If you're extending, hostels in Split start around £30 and it's a great base for Hvar or Vis. Return flights home or onward bus from here.

🚌Local bus Trogir → Split ~40 min ~£3; Split airport bus ~£6; Krka via Šibenik bus ~£10 each way

🛏N/A — departure day (or ~£30 if extending in Split)

• →Krka National Park waterfalls (entry ~£35, or GetYourGuide tour ~£45)
• →Diocletian's Palace, Split
• →Last swim / Old Town morning
• →Onward flight or bus from Split