A two-week sailing trip is the optimal Croatia charter format — long enough to reach the southern islands (Korčula, Mljet, Lastovo), explore each properly, and return north without a single rushed day. This itinerary covers the classic two-week Dalmatian loop from Split, with detailed daily distances, recommended anchorages, restaurant suggestions, and weather backup options for each day.
Route Summary
| Day | From → To | Distance | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | ACI Split → ACI Maslinica (Šolta) | 11 nm | Marina Maslinica |
| Sun | Šolta → Hvar Town | 14 nm | Hvar marina or Pakleni anchor |
| Mon | Hvar → Stari Grad → Komiža (Vis) | 22 nm | Komiža harbour |
| Tue | Vis exploration day + Stiniva | 10 nm circuit | Vis Town or Rukavac anchor |
| Wed | Vis → Lastovo (Skrivena Luka) | 22 nm | Skrivena Luka anchor |
| Thu | Lastovo → Korčula Town | 18 nm | ACI Korčula |
| Fri | Korčula → Pomena (Mljet NP) | 12 nm | Pomena buoy |
| Sat | Mljet exploration (lakes + monastery) | 4 nm short hop | Polače buoy |
| Sun | Mljet → Šipanska Luka (Elafiti) | 16 nm | Šipan harbour |
| Mon | Elafiti → Dubrovnik (ACI Komolac) | 14 nm | ACI Komolac, sightseeing |
| Tue | Dubrovnik → Mali Ston (Pelješac) | 22 nm | Mali Ston town quay |
| Wed | Pelješac → Korčula → Šćedro | 18 nm | Šćedro Manastir Bay buoy |
| Thu | Šćedro → Pakleni Islands | 10 nm | Vinogradišće anchor |
| Fri | Pakleni → Milna (Brač) → ACI Split | 15 nm | ACI Split (Friday return) |
Total distance: ~210 nm. Total fuel: ~400–500 L for a 14 m yacht (€600–750). Marina nights: 5–6. Anchor/buoy nights: 8–9.
Day-by-Day Detail
Day 1 (Saturday) — Split to Šolta
After charter handover at ACI Split (typically 17:00), make the short 11 nm crossing to Šolta. Aim for Maslinica on the western tip — the small marina at the foot of the 18th-century Martinis Marchi castle is the most atmospheric way to start the trip. Dinner ashore at the castle restaurant or one of the harbour konobas. Šolta full guide.
Day 2 (Sunday) — Šolta to Hvar Town
Sail east along Šolta’s south coast, then south across the channel to Hvar (14 nm). For Hvar Town nightlife, book ACI Marina Hvar in advance (very tight in summer). Quieter alternative: anchor at Vinogradišće Bay in the Pakleni and tender to Hvar for dinner (12 min). Restaurants: Gariful, Black Pepper, or the more local Konoba Menego. Hvar full guide.
Day 3 (Monday) — Hvar to Vis via Stari Grad
Stop at Stari Grad (UNESCO Stari Grad Plain, 4th-century BCE Greek settlement) for a coffee or lunch. Then cross to Komiža on the west of Vis (24 nm total day, including the open-water crossing). Komiža is the working fishing port; dinner at Konoba Bako or Jastožera (lobster pen). Vis full guide.
Day 4 (Tuesday) — Vis Day, Blue Cave & Stiniva
Use today as a Vis exploration day. Morning: Blue Cave on Biševo (5 nm from Komiža, best light 11:00–13:00). Afternoon: round the south of Vis to Stiniva Beach, anchor outside, swim through the cliff entrance. Overnight in Vis Town on the north or Rukavac Bay on the south.
Day 5 (Wednesday) — Vis to Lastovo
The longest open-water leg of the trip: 22 nm across to Lastovo. Time the departure for the morning, when winds are typically lighter. Anchor in Skrivena Luka (“Hidden Harbour”) on the south coast — the fjord-like bay opens behind a near-invisible cliff entrance. Konoba Porto Rosso lays buoys for diners. Lastovo full guide.
Day 6 (Thursday) — Lastovo to Korčula
18 nm north-east to Korčula Town. Berth at ACI Marina Korčula (5-min walk to the medieval old town) or at the town quay directly under the walls. Walk the herringbone streets, visit Marco Polo’s alleged birthplace house, dinner at Filippi (modern Dalmatian) or the more traditional Konoba Adio Mare.
Day 7 (Friday) — Korčula to Mljet (Pomena)
12 nm west to Pomena on Mljet. Take a buoy in the small harbour (book by 15:00 or anchor in the bay west). Mljet National Park entrance is 800 m walk through the forest at Malo Jezero. Park ticket €15–25 buys lake access plus the boat to St Mary’s islet. Dinner at Konoba Stermasi above the harbour. Mljet full guide.
Day 8 (Saturday) — Mljet Lakes & Move to Polače
Half-day exploring: cycle the Veliko Jezero loop (4 km Pomena → Mali Most → bike rental on the lake), boat to St Mary’s monastery, swim in the warmer-than-sea lake water. Late afternoon, motor 4 nm round to Polače on the north coast — take a konoba buoy and dine ashore (the buoy is free if you eat at the restaurant). Roman ruins ashore, the most atmospheric overnight on Mljet.
Day 9 (Sunday) — Mljet to Šipan (Elafiti)
16 nm south-east to Šipanska Luka on the small island of Šipan, the largest of the Elafiti chain near Dubrovnik. Tiny harbour, two seasonal restaurants, near-zero tourism — the calm before Dubrovnik. Anchor in the bay or take a town quay slot.
Day 10 (Monday) — Šipan to Dubrovnik
14 nm south to ACI Marina Dubrovnik in Komolac. The marina is 6 km from the Old Town — take the marina shuttle or taxi (€15–20). Reserve evening for the Old Town: walk the city walls (open until 19:30, time for 17:00 entry to avoid cruise crowds), dinner at Pantarul (in Lapad, less expensive than Old Town options) or splurge at 360 inside the walls. Dubrovnik full guide.
Day 11 (Tuesday) — Dubrovnik to Mali Ston
22 nm north along the Pelješac peninsula to Mali Ston — centre of Croatia’s oyster and mussel farming. Lunch at Bota Šare or Kapetanova Kuća: fresh oysters with Pelješac Plavac Mali (the Dingač and Postup vineyards are the Croatian Burgundy). Walk the Stone Walls of Ston (5 km, the “Croatian Great Wall”).
Day 12 (Wednesday) — Pelješac to Šćedro
18 nm north-west, passing Korčula. Aim for Šćedro Island (the small uninhabited island south of Hvar) — Manastir Bay or Lovišće. Konoba Klanac for dinner ashore. The most atmospheric quiet stop of the trip. Šćedro full guide.
Day 13 (Thursday) — Šćedro to Pakleni
10 nm short hop to the Pakleni Islands. Anchor in Vinogradišće or Stipanska. Tender to Carpe Diem Beach Club (Stipanska) for a final wild night out, or stay quiet at Toto’s on Sveti Klement. Palmižana / Pakleni full guide.
Day 14 (Friday) — Pakleni to Split via Brač
Final sailing day: 5 nm to Milna on Brač for a long lunch in the picturesque ACI marina, then 10 nm to ACI Split. Aim to be in Split by 18:00 for evening fuel-up and a last walk on the Riva. Charter return Saturday morning by 09:00.
Variations & Backup Routes
Bura backup (north-easterly storm)
If a Bura is forecast (typical autumn / less common summer), reverse the route — head south on day 1 (Pakleni → Hvar → Vis) so you’re south of the worst weather, return north when the Bura abates. Bura on day 5 means stay an extra day on Vis (Komiža is well-sheltered) rather than crossing to Lastovo.
Family adjustment (with kids under 10)
Skip Lastovo (open-water crossing) and Vis (long crossing). Replace with: Day 5 stay on Hvar at Stari Grad (calm, beach access), Day 6 to Šćedro, Day 7 to Korčula. Total reduces to 11–12 days on the boat plus 2 land days — or stretch to 14 with longer beach mornings.
Wine focus
Add a half-day at Pelješac vineyards (Dingač, Postup) on Day 11 — rent a car at Mali Ston for 6 hours, drive the 30 km up the peninsula to the cellars. Add a half-day at Stina Winery on Brač (Day 14, walk from the Bol harbour).
What This Itinerary Costs
For a 14 m catamaran in mid-July with 4 adults, full bareboat:
- Charter (2 weeks): €15,000–20,000
- Marina nights (6): €1,000–1,400
- National park fees (Mljet, Lastovo Park): €120–180
- Fuel (~450 L): €680
- Provisioning + restaurants: €3,200–4,500
- Transit log + cleaning + tourist tax: €700–900
- Total: €20,700–27,660 = €185–245/person/day
See our Croatia Yacht Charter Cost Guide for detailed budget breakdowns by tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 14 days too long for a Croatia yacht charter?
No — 14 days is the sweet spot for visiting both central and southern Dalmatia without rushing. One-week charters typically cover only Split-area islands (Hvar, Brač, Vis, Pakleni). Two weeks add Korčula, Mljet, Lastovo, and Dubrovnik — the southern half that defines a complete Dalmatian experience.
Do I need to be in shape for a 14-day sailing trip?
No — cruising-style sailing is low-effort. Most days involve 3–4 hours of relaxed motoring or sailing, with the rest swimming, eating, and walking ashore. A skipper-led charter requires zero sailing skill from the guests.
Can you do this 14-day route in either direction?
Yes — reverse for a Bura forecast (head south first), or simply for variety if you’ve done the standard direction before. The southern islands look different sailed north-to-south.
What’s the best 14-day Croatia route for first-time sailors?
The route above is the “classic” first-time loop — designed to balance variety (towns, islands, beaches, national parks), distance (no leg longer than 22 nm), and overnight options (mix of marinas and free anchorages). The Vis-Lastovo crossing is the single open-water leg; everything else is sheltered island-hopping.
Book Your Croatia Sailing Route
Our charter team in Šibenik (D-Marin Mandalina) can match you with the right boat, skipper, and start point — Trogir, Split, Dubrovnik, or anywhere on the coast.
