Nature
Plitvice's lakes, the Blue Cave and Mljet's emerald forests.
Dobrodošli!That's “welcome” in Croatian. Glad you're here.
The journey
Nature, wine tradition and true Croatian hospitality.
From Plitvice's waterfalls to Dubrovnik's walls, seven nights at sea and wines found nowhere else.
Wine tradition
Vugava on Vis, Pošip and Grk on Korčula, oysters in Ston.
Hospitality
Long tables, local stories and hosts who treat you like family.
12days
7nights at sea
4islands + 2 quick stops
3wine tastings
2national parks
Captain's tipPack your swimsuit. The sea is still around 22°C in early October.
The route · 45°N to 42°N
Land first. Then the sea.
Three days inland through Zagreb, Plitvice and Split, then a one-way cruise south from Trogir through the central Dalmatian islands, all the way to Dubrovnik. Tap a stop to jump to its day.
- On land · days 1–4
- 29 SepZagreb · Old Town walk, welcome dinner
- 30 SepPlitvice Lakes · Guided lakes walk
- 1 OctSplit · Via a hinterland lunch
- At sea & Dubrovnik · days 4–12
- 2 OctSplit → Trogir · Palace walk, welcome cocktails
- 3 OctBol → Vis · Zlatni Rat, tunnel winery
- 4 OctBiševo → Hvar · Sea cave, a step back in time
- 5 OctKorčula · Old Town, wine tasting
- 6 OctMljet · Salt lakes, island monastery
- 7 OctSlano & Ston · Oysters, Captain's Dinner
- 8 OctDubrovnik · City walls, cable car
- 9 OctKonavle · Wine country, lunch
- 10 OctDubrovnik · Airport transfer
The itinerary
Day by day, with a few surprises.
Here is the shape of the journey. Some moments we are keeping to ourselves until you are there.
On land
Zagreb · Plitvice · Split0129 Sep
Welcome to Zagreb
Dobro došli! As your plane comes in to land, ease those new-trip jitters with your first glimpse of Zagreb’s red-roofed residences, centuries-old towers and sky-soaring church spires. Your ode to Croatian heritage begins with a swift transfer from the airport to your hotel, where you can take a quick nap or freshen up before stepping out to explore one of Europe’s most walkable old towns.
Discover the young soul of this old city as your guide leads you down the cobblestone streets, dwarfed by a mishmash of Secessionist, Baroque Revival and Art Deco buildings. Zagreb fuses Austro-Hungarian elegance with a creative spirit and a slightly gritty charm – it’s like nowhere else in Central Europe.
As night sets in, gather with your fellow Fencox travellers for your first deep dive into Croatia’s mouthwatering food scene. Zagreb’s traditional kitchens go hearty, so keep an eye out for cheesy, oven-baked štrukli (pastry) or Zagrebački odrezak (the local ‘upgrade’ on schnitzel) as you get to know the companions you’ll be sharing this first-of-its-kind Fencox Croatia adventure with.
You'll love thisSixteen lakes, linked by more than 90 waterfalls.
0230 Sep
Plitvice Lakes
Zagreb is your oyster this morning, with a few hours free to follow your curiosity. Ride the funicular to the Upper Town, have your heartstrings pulled at the Museum of Broken Relationships or slip into Zagreb’s energised cafe scene. The choice is yours!
Then, say goodbye to the capital, and a 2-hour drive south brings you into the high country of Lika, where city streets give way to quiet river valleys and fir forests. Ahead lies Plitvice Lakes, famous for waters that shift between intense shades of turquoise and deep teal, almost needing a colour spectrum of their own .
Lace up your walking shoes for a guided exploration of Plitvice’s UNESCO-listed wonders – no strenuous hiking involved! Wooden boardwalks and gentle gravel trails skirt the aquamarine lakes, linked by travertine terraces sculpted over centuries by calcium-rich cascades. In this nature-lover’s playground, you might find the restorative forest air just as enlivening as the scenery.
Look aroundSplit's old town lives inside a Roman emperor's palace.
031 Oct
Split
Today’s 4-hour drive is the longest on the itinerary, with Plitvice’s hilly countryside transforming into bleached, limestone krš as you travel south. Your route takes you into sun-soaked Dalmatia, languidly sprawled along the Adriatic Sea at the base of the Dinaric Alps.
Instead of heading straight for the coast, get a taste of authentic Croatian hospitality, regional flavours and traditional life over lunch in a quiet corner of the Dalmatian hinterland. If peka is on the menu (meat and veggies slow-cooked for hours under an iron bell), say yes. It’s one of those little-known Fencox gems that we’re keeping mum from the masses!
Then, it’s onwards to Split, a cultural heavyweight where you’ll see ancient Roman history meet the easy rhythm of Adriatic life. Launch yourself straight into its winding stone lanes or head to the palm-fringed Riva, the seafront promenade beneath the palace’s 1,700-year-old walls, ideal for a social saunter. Don’t worry about ticking off sights today – your guide will get you acquainted with all the big hitters tomorrow.
Welcome aboardTonight the sea becomes home for seven nights.
042 Oct
Split and Trogir
If you didn’t fall for Split yesterday, today might be a different story! Follow your guide through the century-spanning Diocletian’s Palace and discover the stories behind its Roman remnants, make-you-feel-small squares and limestone streets that seem to glow from within. If your history drive hits ‘overload’, simply sink under a cafe awning and watch the world go by.
Before you relax too deeply into fjaka (a distinctly Dalmatian mindset of guilt-free ‘doing nothing’), make the 45-minute hop down the coast to Trogir. Because what’s better than visiting one UNESCO-listed old town in a day? Two, of course!
Lose yourself in Trogir’s medieval streets, spiral your way up the cathedral’s bell tower or gaze out across the waters from the Venetian-built Kamerlengo Fortress – waters you’ll soon be cruising yourself.
As evening rolls in, ease your way into cruise life during a welcome cocktail reception on your ship, raising a glass to your fellow travellers and the coastal discoveries that lie ahead.
At sea
Seven nights · Trogir to DubrovnikPsst…Vis stayed closed to visitors until 1989.
053 Oct
Bol and Vis/Komiža
Rise and shine! If you’ve been dreaming about turquoise bays and sunbaked islands that harbour deep-rooted cultural and culinary traditions, then today is for you.
Your first full day cruising the Adriatic sees you step off on the island of Brač, home to one of Croatia’s most-loved beaches, Zlatni Rat. From the town of Bol, stroll the seafront promenade that connects to this golden expanse of fine pebbles, which seemingly shape-shifts with the wind and waves.
Want to taste a wine that exists nowhere else on Earth? Sip your way through the afternoon on Vis, whose naval base isolation helped preserve its authenticity. Tucked inside one of its former military tunnels is a 150-year-old winery – your offbeat destination this afternoon. Through a guided tasting, discover how the only-found-here conditions have nurtured rare indigenous grapes, including Vugava, a honeyed white.
Moored in either Vis or Komiža, a quiet fishing village on the island’s west coast, you can spend this evening soaking up the Adriatic serenity.
Sunny side upHvar soaks up more than 2,700 hours of sunshine a year.
064 Oct
Biševo and Hvar
You edge towards the halfway point of the trip, but the adventure’s only getting started. A camera-worthy sea cave is on the itinerary this morning (provided the sea and weather conditions behave). Then it’s time for a fully immersive, hands-on adventure, as you take a time machine back into old Dalmatia to really experience what life was like 200 years ago.
It wouldn’t be an Adriatic cruise without a little bit of glamour, and that’s what Hvar offers. To get you in the jet-setter’s zone, today’s onboard lunch is accompanied by enviable views of the pine-covered Pakleni Islands gliding by.
Once docked, follow your guide to learn what’s so special about Hvar’s Renaissance cathedral and community theatre, before zig-zagging up to a hilltop fortress overlooking the terracotta rooftops.
Don’t fancy the climb? A coffee (or cocktail) in Hvar’s cafe-fringed square might be the perfect preamble to a night spent out on the town, free to explore the glitzy allure that is known all around the Adriatic (and maybe spotting a celebrity?).
Look closerKorčula's streets are laid out like a fishbone, to tame the wind.
075 Oct
Korčula
If Marco Polo inspired your wanderlust, today might be somewhat of a pilgrimage as you cruise towards Korčula, an immaculately preserved medieval town. No need to rush – the Captain will set a leisurely pace, exploring the island’s secluded bays and stopping for lunch in one that takes the Captain’s fancy.
Refuelled and ready to go, kick off the afternoon with a guided tour through Korčula’s walled streets, visiting the town’s centrepiece cathedral and the House of Marco Polo. Was he actually born here? You’ll just have to come and find out! While looking up at the Gothic and Renaissance buildings, don’t forget to also look down at Korčula’s fishbone-patterned streets, which helped bring summertime relief for locals.
Once you’ve had your fill of history, all that’s left to do is taste award-winning wines in nearby Žrnovo. Feast on artisanal cheeses and cured meats washed down with light-bodied Pošip and discover the strange story of Grk, an ancient grape whose vines produce only female flowers. It can’t pollinate itself, so it’s planted among other varieties that do the job for it, which helps explain why it grows almost nowhere else.
You'll love it herePack a swimsuit. The saltwater lakes are often warmer than the sea.
086 Oct
Korčula and Mljet
Leave behind the storied streets of Korčula as you set sail for Mljet – the mythical island where Odysseus was held captive by the nymph Calypso. You might think yourself less ‘captive’ and more ‘captivated’ when you glimpse its interconnected saltwater lakes shimmering in the sunshine.
A quick boat ride will whisk you to the tiny island of Sveta Marija, home to a Benedictine monastery-cum-cafe with 12th-century roots. There are few settings more desirable for coffee and cake!
Prefer an active afternoon? Hire a kayak to explore the coastline under your own steam – grab a single or bring a buddy for a double-trouble adventure. Alternatively, stroll the pine and oak-shaded trails while drinking in the Adriatic views, or pedal with fellow Fencoxers to discover Mljet National Park’s less-visited corners by bicycle. If a convertible’s more your style, that’s an option too.
With your anchorage in a forest-fringed bay nearby, there’s blissfully no need to leave Mljet’s natural wonderland come evening.
Fun factSton's stone walls stretch for about 5.5 km.
097 Oct
Mljet and Ston
This morning, cruise towards the mainland and Ston, home to the oldest active saltworks in Europe. Don’t worry, a day away from the islands doesn’t mean it’s the end of your Adriatic adventure. Perhaps a post-breakfast swim is the invigorating reminder you need?
Your ship moors in Slano, a former Republic of Ragusa stronghold tucked into a cypress-blanketed bay, and Ston is a short hop away. Have your camera ready to capture its medieval walls, which stretch dramatically across the surrounding hills.
The fortifications extend all the way to Mali Ston, where you can sample what some hail as the tastiest oysters in the world. Oyster farming here has ancient roots and it’s not every day your foodie experience comes plucked straight from the Adriatic with a Protected Designation of Origin label.
And the oysters are just the appetiser! This evening, frock up for the Captain’s dinner to celebrate your aquatic adventure in style.
Don't missThe city walls at golden hour, when the stone turns honey-coloured.
108 Oct
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik beckons on the horizon today. Rather than heading straight into Port Gruž, enjoy a lunch on the deck as you cruise beneath the mighty medieval walls that encircle the Pearl of the Adriatic’s UNESCO-listed core.
Once docked, dive straight into the Old Town to walk alongside your guide through Dubrovnik’s polished limestone streets, jam packed with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural gems. With a local at the helm, this is less about the sights and more about understanding the successive empires, republics and kingdoms that made this city tick.
Dubrovnik might be enthralling up close, but it’s equally wow-worthy from afar. Jump aboard the cable car that climbs up Mount Srđ. From here, the views across the city’s red-tiled rooftops with the Elaphiti Islands scattered beyond are hard to beat.
By now, you’re a Croatian culinary pro. Take the opportunity tonight to satisfy your wildest cravings at a Dubrovnik restaurant of your choice, whether that’s inky black crni rižot or a plate of fish fresh off the grill.
Look closerKonavle is famous for its fine silk embroidery, passed down for generations.
119 Oct
Dubrovnik Hinterland and Konavle
It would be easy to spend another day in Dubrovnik, but the rolling fields and stone villages of Konavle are every bit as appealing… and the tourist crowds are yet to receive the memo! Say farewell to your cruise ship home and travel southeast towards Čilipi, through the fertile landscapes of the Dubrovnik Riviera where family-run wineries pepper the scene.
It might be difficult to choose if you didn’t have a local expert on hand to steer you towards the most tempting tastings, from citrusy Malvasija Dubrovačka to Maraština with its subtle hints of vanilla. Generations of winemaking knowledge bring the experience to life and the unrivalled Croatian hospitality is matched only by a deep connection to the land that comes through in every sip.
After returning to Dubrovnik, gather with your fellow Fencoxers for one last mouthful of Dalmatian foods, raising a glass of your favourite new vintage to the end of this shared adventure.
Until next timeThe Adriatic has a way of calling you back.
1210 Oct
Farewell, Croatia
Your Croatian trip may be drawing to a close, but the memories are yours to keep. Enjoy breakfast in Dubrovnik, taking a moment to reflect on the island-studded seascapes, soul-stirring towns and heartfelt hospitality you’ve experienced along the way.
Before saying your goodbyes, be sure to exchange contact details with your newfound travelmates. After all, some of the best souvenirs are the friendships we sow along the journey – and who knows, perhaps your next adventure together is already taking shape.
When it’s time to depart, your driver will transfer you to Dubrovnik Airport with plenty of time for your onward flight. Until the next journey, safe travels!
Limited places on board
Grab your spot.
Twelve days, seven nights at sea and a small group of fellow travellers.
$13,111 AUDper person · $3,278 deposit secures your cabin
Departs in
Enquire now
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Živjeli!That's “cheers” in Croatian. Practise it before Day 5.
In the glass
Three wine tastings, and the oysters.
Croatia grows more than 130 indigenous grape varieties. On this trip we meet them in the places that made them.
Day 5 · Vis
Vugava
White · native to VisPoured in a 150-year-old winery built into a former military tunnel, the only one of its kind in the world. Cool, steady and dark, it is a natural cellar.
Day 7 · Korčula
Pošip & Grk
White · native to KorčulaAward-winning labels from a family-run island winery, with homemade cheeses and cured meats. Grk grows almost exclusively in this one corner of the island.
Day 9 · Mali Ston
Ston oysters
Ostrea edulis · Bay of Mali StonThe European flat oyster, farmed in the bay since Roman times where fresh water meets the sea. Eaten straight from the water.
Day 11 · Konavle
Malvasija & Maraština
White · Dubrovnik's wine countryCitrusy Malvasija Dubrovačka and vanilla-hinted Maraština, poured by family-run wineries in the rolling fields south of Dubrovnik.
RelaxThe rest is arranged. Just bring sunglasses.
Before you go
Worth knowing.
Not included
- International flights
- Tourist tax, paid on board
- Dinners on board other than those listed
- Optional activities, such as bike or kayak hire on Mljet
- Drinks outside the tastings and welcome drink
- Travel insurance
Good to know
- The Blue Cave visit depends on the weather and sea conditions.
- Overnight harbours depend on berth availability, and you may moor in Vis or Komiža on Day 5.
- Dinner on Day 10 is at a Dubrovnik restaurant of your choice.
- Early October brings warm seas, quiet towns and harvest season in the vineyards.
Postcards
Blue in every shade.
Psst…Lou & Liane answer every question personally.
Questions
Good to ask.
The trip is $13,111 AUD per person. A deposit of $3,278 AUD per person secures your place, and every traveller has their own private cabin. Send us an enquiry and our booking managers, Lou & Liane, will help you secure yours.
Yes. A deposit of $3,278 AUD per person secures your place and your private cabin. Lou & Liane will send you the details when you enquire.
Yes, always. Every traveller has their own private cabin for the whole trip, on land and on board.
Of course. Our trips are made for solo travellers, but you're very welcome to bring a friend along, and you'll each still have your own private cabin.
Your accommodation throughout the trip, on land and on board, plus every meal, visit and tasting listed under “Included” in the itinerary above, including the wine tastings and the oyster tasting in Ston.
International flights, travel insurance, tourist tax (paid on board), dinners on board other than those listed, drinks outside the tastings and welcome drink, and optional activities such as bike or kayak hire.
It starts in Zagreb on 29 September 2027 and finishes in Dubrovnik on 10 October 2027. You'll travel down through Plitvice to Trogir, then sail the islands to Dubrovnik.
You'll sail on a lovely cruise ship, the MV Admiral or MV Aquamarin, for seven nights. You unpack once and wake up somewhere new each morning.
Not at all. The tastings at local wineries are relaxed and come with local treats. They suit curious first-timers as much as keen wine lovers.
Usually warm and settled, with seas still lovely for swimming, quieter towns after the summer crowds and harvest season in the vineyards.
Travel insurance isn't included in the price, and we strongly recommend arranging it when you book.
Tap Enquire now and send us your details. Places on board are limited, so our booking managers, Lou & Liane, will be in touch to confirm your spot.
Živjeli!“Cheers!” Curious minds make the best travellers. Lou & Liane would love to hear from you.
Vidimo se!“See you soon.” We will save you a spot on deck.
Ready to taste the Adriatic?
Twelve days of lakes, islands, wine cellars and long tables, from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. Places on board are limited, so send us an enquiry and we'll be in touch about your spot.
Enquire nowSecure your private cabin with a $3,278 deposit and reach out to Liane & Lou, our booking managers.
29 September – 10 October 2027Zagreb → Dubrovnik12 days · 7 nights at sea