Day 1: Split

On your arrival in Split, you’ll be transferred to your hotel close to the town’s pretty harbour. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this beautiful area. Split is one of the oldest towns in the region and also has a modern vibe to it, creating just the right balance. Here you’ll find the Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is home to an array of bars, shops and restaurants nestled within its walls. Split also offers a breathtaking setting, set between the dramatic mountains and the sea and is home to some lovely beaches. The seafront area, Rive, is also going through a spruce up, making the most of the gorgeous views of the Adriactic and being modernised throughout. It’s a great place to explore and see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived, mixing with the locals in the many beachside restaurants and small wine bars.

Day 2: Split

Today’s half day tour takes you to Trogir, a fascinating historic port town set within medieval walls and you’ll enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site. After a lunch of local delicacies, you’ll return to Split and embark on a walking tour of the old town, down winding streets to Diocletian’s Palace, the retirement residence of the Roman Emperor and a jewel of Croatia’s heritage. Part imperial villa and part fortified camp, it is a wonderfully preserved example of the classical architecture of late antiquity and one of the only Roman buildings in the world that is still inhabited.

Day 3: Salzburg

After breakfast, spend the morning strolling around the enchanting city. In the afternoon, enjoy a Mozart City Tour during which you will see the highlights of Salzburg including the Mirabell Palace, the University of Music, the Hellbrunn Palace and a number of other sights which will give you an insight to what this city has to offer. Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 3: Split

You have a full day to explore Split at your own pace today. You could indulge in some delicious local snacks at the morning food market, pick up some jewellery or crafts at the stalls beneath Diocletian’s Palace or, if the lure of beautiful beaches appeals, we can arrange an optional excursion to the charming island of Brac.

Day 4: Split to Hvar Island

This morning you’ll board the ferry, make the 2 hour crossing to Starigrad and transfer to your hotel in Hvar town. Hvar is one of the beautiful islands off the Dalmatian Coast renowned for being one of the sunniest places in the country and famed for its pretty lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards. Set within 13th-century walls, the town is home to gothic palaces, winding stone streets and a wonderful main square.

Day 5: Hvar Island

A stay in Hvar is like a step back in time. Today you have the entire day at leisure to explore the churches and monasteries and get to grips with the history of this beautiful town. Alternatively, if you’d rather just relax, Hvar Town has wonderful beaches ideal for swimming or sunbathing or you could take a boat to visit the untouched Palenki Islands.

Day 6: Hvar Island to Dubrovnik

Today you’ll transfer along the length of the island and take a short ferry journey from Sućuraj back to the mainland before continuing by road past beautiful scenery and arriving at Dubrovnik. Your hotel here for 3 nights, is located between the old town and the beach area. Here you’ll find marble streets, baroque buildings all encompassed by ancient walls with views out over the glittering Adriatic. Wander through the streets stopping off in cafes and boutiques as you enjoy the laidback Mediterranean lifestyle and vibrancy that permeates every inch of this beautiful city.

Day 7: Dubrovnik

On a half day tour this morning, you’ll see the main sights in the centre of the city, including the Franciscan Monastery, the Rector’s Palace and the cathedral. The Franciscan Monastery is home to a mid-14th-century cloister as well as beautiful statues, an early pharmacy which has been in business since 1391 and a small museum home to a collection of relics and religious items. The Rector’s Palace is a gothic-renaissance building built in the late 15th century and a true marvel to behold. Nowadays, the palace is a museum with portraits, coats of arms and restored rooms, a testament to the history of Dubrovnik. In the afternoon, the itinerary is up to you. You’ll have time to explore the charming old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and soak up the atmosphere.

Day 8: Dubrovnik

Today you have the entire day at leisure to do your own thing. Whether you simply relax or explore the city some more, is up to you. Alternatively, if you haven’t had the chance to visit the beaches, take the cable car up the mountain to see the incredible views or relax in a bar and take in the local vibe, now is the ideal time. You can also take an optional day excursion to the neighbouring tiny country of Montenegro and revel in the beautiful setting, bordered by the sea and mountains, and visit the enchanting old towns of Kotor and Budva.

Day 9: Dubrovnik

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.