Croatia, Herzegovina and Montenegro: The Adriatic Sea

• Kayak the aqua bays and hike the green heights of Croatia’s legendary islands
• Sail the sun-drenched Adriatic on a luxury catamaran for the utmost in peace and privacy
• Explore the medieval cities of Dubrovnik, Korcula and Mostar, as well as rural hamlets and fishing villages

The Dalmatian coastline may be the most breathtaking in the entire Mediterranean – rocky headlands, crenellated cliffs, sandy beaches, turquoise bays, and ancient towns that tumble in a cascade of white blocks to the sea. With more than nearly 1200 islands, islets and reefs, this stretch of coast along Croatia and Montenegro could not be better suited for exploring by kayak. Paddling allows us to navigate intimate coves, investigate grottoes, and get close to shore to observe nature on uninhabited islands.

Between paddling destinations, we sail aboard a new luxury catamaran for another exhilarating experience of the glittering blue Adriatic. The boat, which sleeps up to eight people, serves as our floating home base from which to launch our kayaks. We typically begin our day paddling after breakfast, explore various destinations ashore on foot, then sail in the late afternoon, to arrive at our next location in the evening.

A key feature of this trip is also the time we spend discovering the cities and villages of ancient Dalmatia. From Dubrovnik’s romantic old quarter to the stone forts and narrow lanes of Korcula town, to Mostar’s elegant single-span bridge, the cultural and architectural treasures of past centuries are as seductive as the beauty of the landscape and sea.

Our diverse itinerary focuses on three very different Balkan countries, each with its own distinctive traditions. We’ll paddle around the small collection of islands off Dubrovnik in Croatia, visit Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and kayak the protected waters of Montenegro, our most southerly point. This active, small-group adventure is an immersion in the Adriatic sun -- a journey along a stunning coast steeped in history, with some of the best local cuisine in the Mediterranean.