7 days itinerary - North Adriatic

Day 1: ACI Marina Punat - Island Cres

Cres is the biggest Croatian island, situated at the northern tip of Kvarner gulf. Island Cres is long and is indented with a total length of 248 km. This means plenty of coves, bays and fine, mainly narrow mountainous islands stretching 66 km in length and only from 2 to 12 km in width. The coast has pebbly beaches for you to explore on its western and southern side, while northern and eastern shore is rather steep and rocky, with some spectacular scenery, inhabited only by the biggest bird in Europe, the endangered griffon vulture, which could be often seen gliding in the clear skies. On the way along these islands, the scenery keeps changing dramatically, from steep shores and high peaks to low plains and lagoons. Vegetation is incredibly diverse: from scarce rocky pastures, scattered olive and fig trees, to dense shrubs, coastal forests and finally rich pine forests. Island Cres is also famous for its self-sufficient water supply: a huge freshwater lake Vrana has enough water to comfortably supply island Cres and Losinj with potable water of excellent quality.

Day 2: Osor

Osor is the small town today but as such completely itself as "a city museum". Its length and straightens as a rampart between the west Adriatic land and the East makes this town the crossing of the roads that go from the West to East part of the islands Cres and Lošinj. A narrow band of a few tenths of meter of land, which used to link the two islands Cres and Lošinj, was favorable to trading development and was also creating a safe port. During the antic period, Romans ruling Galleys would come and reload their cargoes so that the ships on the other side could take it farther. A channel was ditched through. It was the first movable bridge, which today also serves modern seafarers by making their route shorter.

Day 3: Island Rab

The island is one of the most densely wooded islands in the Adriatic and is a veritable botanical exhibition, with plants not native to the island. The Komrcar Park, with its laurel, poplar, cypress, Indian fig tree, and rosemary, pine and hundred-year-old agaves is now the pride of Rab. Its more than 300 freshwater springs provide a valuable water supply to the population of the island--which, in contrast to most of the Adriatic islands, is increasing, in part because of good communications with the mainland. Because of these numerous springs, Rab is considered to be the greenest island in the Adriatic.

Day 4: Island Ilovik

Ilovik is the southernmost inhabited island of the Cres - Lošinj archipelago. The present day settlement originated about 200 years ago when farmers from Veli Losinj came to settle permanently here. Ilovik is said to be the island of flowers because almost every house has oleanders, roses and other flowers growing around it. The lovely beaches in the small coves on the island are a true oasis of peace.

Day 5: Island Premuda

Premuda: This island is situated west of Dugi Otok, covered with macchia and dense vegetation, with numerous little coves and exquisite beaches washed by crystal-clear sea. The island represents a genuine peaceful oasis and is a refuge for all those who want to escape everyday life, particularly if they have their own or a rented boat. The sunken wreckage of the ship Sveti Istvan in the waters near Premuda is an inviting challenge for experienced divers.

Day 6: Island Susak

The island of Susak is such a place, just now opening up to the European travel imagination. Long lost in relative isolation from the rest of the Croatian population, it has developed its own rich culture, dialect and traditions. About 40 miles southeast of the tip of the Istrian peninsula, Susak is a little larger than the average Croat island, and is one of the relatively few to have supported a native population for hundreds of years. It has the only sand beach in all of the Croatian islands, and its vineyards produce some of the best wine in the region. It is sunny, lush and untouched.

Day 7: Pula

Return to the base