There is so much to do in and around Dubrovnik. Given our limited time, we had to be selective with what activities made it onto our itinerary. Having never been to any of the countries located on the Adriatic Sea, we figured sailing anywhere was a must. Prior to arriving in Croatia, I booked the “Dubrovnik Island-Hopping Cruise in the Elaphites Including Lunch” tour through Viator, operated by Super Tours, for our last full day in Croatia [see post: In and Around the Walls of Dubrovnik].
That morning, we were picked up from just outside of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and taken to Gruz, the section of Dubrovnik where the new port is located.
We boarded a boat and set sail to the Elaphite (or Elaphiti) Islands.
The first stop was Kolocep Island. We hopped off the boat and wandered the ruins of 600-year-old manner houses and late-medieval churches located in between the coniferous forests and citrus groves that cover the island. Before we could finish visiting the island’s main attractions, time was up and we had to return to the boat.
From the island of Kolocep, we sailed to Sipan – the largest of the Elaphiti Islands. Unfortunately, we barely had any time on this island to explore the 15th century ruins. We walked along the coast and grabbed a cup of coffee before we were called back to the boat for lunch.
Our final stop of the tour was Lopud.
Finally, we were given more than just an hour on this island. Katie and Maya were determined to sunbathe and swim. Not interested, I left them on Sunj Beach and set out to explore the island. Strolling through the streets of Lopud town, past the hotels and restaurants, I noticed signs pointing to various attractions.
I followed the path until the paved road turned to dirt.
Hiking an hour deeper into the island, I walked past abandoned buildings, churches, and ancient ruins. I was completely alone. Not another soul in sight. I wandered the area racing against the clock.
Although the islands that we had visited were beautiful, I would say that the tour itself is not worth your time and money. Given the tour operator’s specific itinerary, we had very limited time on each island.
Returning to Gruz, we hopped in an Uber and headed to Cave Bar More. The cave under the Hotel More was turned into a bar, offering a unique experience. We had a few drinks before returning to Old Town for our last night in Dubrovnik.
