Sailing Italy to Croatia (Self-Launched)
10 days · Venice to Zadar, Adriatic Coast
G Adventures charges £1,990
No-markup version: ~£615 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day Adriatic hop from Venice to Zadar, replacing a private crewed yacht charter with a mix of public ferries, catamarans, buses, and optional shared-day-sail or budget flotilla trips. You'll trace the Gulf of Trieste to Izola, ride down the Istrian coast via Rovinj and Pula, island-hop the Kvarner archipelago, and finish in Zadar — booking each leg yourself and staying in hostels and guesthouses along the way. Costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume hostel dorms/private budget rooms, local transport, and self-booked activities.
Day-by-day
Arrive Venice
Venice, Italy
Land at Marco Polo or Treviso and get to the mainland (Mestre is far cheaper to sleep in than Venice proper). Use the ATVO/ACTV bus or the train from Santa Lucia if you're staying on the island. Settle in, buy a Venice day transport pass if you plan to sightsee, and prep tomorrow's onward booking. Evening: wander Cannaregio or Dorsoduro for cheap cicchetti and a spritz.
🚌Airport bus to Mestre ~£8; ACTV vaporetto day pass ~£9 if used
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mestre or Cannaregio (dorm £22-35/pp)
- →Orientation walk around Cannaregio
- →Cicchetti crawl
- →Book onward bus/ferry tickets
Venice to Trieste (gateway to Slovenia)
Trieste, Italy
Take a Trenitalia regionale or Frecciarossa from Venezia Mestre to Trieste Centrale (roughly 2-2.5 hrs, £12-25 depending on train type — book on the Trenitalia app). Trieste is the natural staging point for the Gulf of Trieste. Stroll the Canal Grande, Piazza Unita d'Italia, and the Castello di San Giusto. Overnight near the station for an easy onward hop into Slovenia.
🚌Train Venezia Mestre-Trieste Centrale ~£12-25
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Trieste Centrale (£25-40/pp)
- →Piazza Unita d'Italia
- →Castello di San Giusto
- →Canal Grande walk
Trieste to Izola, Slovenia
Izola, Slovenia
Cross into Slovenia by bus (Arriva or Nomago run Trieste-Koper) then a short local bus to Izola, or take the seasonal coastal bus. Total journey ~1.5-2 hrs, £6-12. Izola is the charming old fishing town the original tour highlights — compact Venetian-style lanes, a small harbour, and pebble beaches. Evenings are cheap: konoba seafood and local wine. Stay 2 nights.
🚌Trieste-Koper bus ~£5-8; local bus to Izola ~£2-3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Izola old town (£25-40/pp)
- →Izola old town and harbour
- →Swim at Svetilnik beach
- →Seafood dinner at a konoba
Piran and Slovenian coast
Piran, Slovenia
Day trip along the short Slovenian coast to Piran — a gorgeous Venetian-style peninsula town with Tartini Square and medieval walls. Local buses run Izola-Piran frequently for a couple of euros. Optional: a shared day-sail or kayak trip around the Gulf of Trieste booked through GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£45-70) if you want the sailing experience the original tour gives.
🚌Local bus Izola-Piran ~£2 each way
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Izola old town (£25-40/pp)
- →Piran Tartini Square
- →Medieval city walls viewpoint
- →Optional shared day-sail or kayak (~£45-70)
Into Croatia: Izola to Rovinj
Rovinj, Croatia
Bus or shared transfer from Slovenian Istria to Rovinj (via Koper and the Croatian border, roughly 2.5-3.5 hrs, £12-20 with Arriva/FlixBus or a cross-border shuttle). Rovinj is Istria's postcard town — a hilltop church spire, pastel houses stacked over the sea, and a lively old town. Afternoon: walk the Grisia art street and swim off the rocks near Punta Corrente.
🚌Cross-border bus Izola/Koper to Rovinj ~£12-20
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Rovinj old town (£25-40/pp)
- →Rovinj old town and Grisia street
- →St Euphemia church tower
- →Swim at Punta Corrente
Pula: Roman Istria
Pula, Croatia
Bus down to Pula (~40 min, £4-6). Pula's Roman amphitheatre is one of the best preserved in the world and far cheaper than Rome's. Combine it with the Temple of Augustus, the forum, and the Arch of the Sergii. If you want to be on the water, day-sail or boat trips along the Istrian coast can be booked locally or via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£40-60). Return to Rovinj or overnight in Pula.
🚌Local bus Rovinj-Pula ~£4-6
🛏Hostel in Pula or Rovinj (£25-40/pp)
- →Pula Roman amphitheatre (entry ~£8)
- →Temple of Augustus and forum
- →Optional coastal boat trip (~£40-60)
Up the coast to Kvarner: Rijeka or Krk
Rijeka / Krk, Croatia
Travel north up the Istrian coast into the Kvarner Gulf. Bus Rovinj to Rijeka (~1.5-2 hrs, £8-12), then hop to the island of Krk via the bridge (local bus ~£4-6). Krk town has a walled old core and a Romanesque cathedral. This is your entry into the Kvarner island chain that the original sailing route explores. Stay near Krk town or in a nearby village.
🚌Bus Rovinj-Rijeka ~£8-12; bus to Krk ~£4-6
🛏Guesthouse or hostel on Krk island (£25-40/pp)
- →Krk old town walls and Frankopan castle
- →Swim at Vela plaza beach
- →Coastal sunset walk
Kvarner island-hopping: Cres or Losinj
Cres / Losinj, Croatia
Catch the local ferry or catamaran from Krk/Rijeka to Cres (Jadrolinija ferries, ~1-2 hrs, £5-10 per leg). Cres is the biggest Kvarner island — quiet, green, with pebble coves and the pretty harbour town of Cres. Optional: continue to Losinj or hop across by inter-island ferry. Fresh seafood and secluded beaches are the draw, mirroring the original tour's days of island touring.
🚌Jadrolinija ferry Rijeka/Krk-Cres ~£5-10
🛏Guesthouse or hostel on Cres (£25-40/pp)
- →Cres old town harbour
- →Hike or cycle to remote coves
- →Seafood dinner in Cres town
Cres to Zadar
Zadar, Croatia
Ferry from Cres back to the mainland (or onward to the Zadar direction), then a bus down the coast. Total journey will likely be 4-6 hrs in sections depending on routing (£15-25). Zadar rewards arrival: the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun on the waterfront, the Roman forum, and the lively Kalelarga street. Book a hostel inside the old town walls.
🚌Ferry between islands/mainland ~£5-10; bus to Zadar ~£10-15
🛏Hostel in Zadar old town (£25-40/pp)
- →Zadar Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun
- →Roman forum and St Donatus
- →Walk the Kalelarga
Depart Zadar
Zadar, Croatia
Breakfast in the old town, then onward travel — Zadar has an airport (Ryanair/EasyJet to UK) and a main bus station with links to Zagreb, Split, and beyond. If you have time, walk the Riva one last time and grab a burek before you go.
🚌Airport bus ~£5 or onward bus/train
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Final old town walk
- →Depart from Zadar bus station or airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£615 | £1,990 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,375 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£615
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 Sailing Italy to Croatia (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £615 per person for 10 days in Venice to Zadar, Adriatic Coast. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,990 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £615 — a saving of roughly £1,375 (69%) per person.
How long is the Venice to Zadar, Adriatic Coast trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Venice to Zadar, Adriatic Coast.
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, budget, backpacker trip through Venice to Zadar, Adriatic Coast, 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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