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Itineraries · Croatia

Dubrovnik–Šipan–Mljet–Korčula: a 7-day southern Dalmatia loop

A southern Dalmatia week from ACI Marina Dubrovnik built around Mljet National Park and Korčula Town, with the Elaphiti island of Šipan to split the long first leg and a sheltered Mljet bay for the last night, about 105 nm in total. Lastovo is an optional extension for a stable forecast only — the core of the week is Mljet and Korčula.

Base
ACI Marina Dubrovnik
Total distance
105 nm
Best season
May to October; June and September are calmer ashore and in the harbours, while July–August bring the most berth pressure and occasional thunderstorms.
Boat
Any monohull or catamaran of 38–46 ft; the legs are moderate and mostly in the lee of the islands. With a skipper or bareboat, your choice.
Who it suits
Suits a crew with basic coastal experience, or beginners with a skipper; the national park rules and summer berth pressure need planning more than sailing skill.

Route map

42.60°N42.70°N42.80°N42.90°N43.00°N17.25°E17.50°E17.75°E18.00°EACI Marina Dubrovnik2Šipanska Luka, Šipan3Polače, Mljet4Korčula5Lumbarda, Korčula6Okuklje, Mljet

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Dubrovnik

    no passage · marina · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: Check in, provision and refuel, then sleep at the base. If time allows, take a bus or taxi to the old town and walk the city walls in the evening light.

    Eat: The morning market in the old town for fruit and cheese; black risotto and Ston oysters are the regional classics.

    Good to know: The marina sits up the Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet, a few miles from the old town; ask the base whether the boat must come back to the exact berth on the last day.

  2. Day 2 · Šipanska Luka, Šipan

    14 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: Run down the inlet and north-west through the Koločep channel past the Elaphiti islands, with a lunch swim in the sandy Šunj bay on Lopud. Spend the night in the long, quiet harbour of Šipanska Luka, among old stone summer houses and olive groves.

    Eat: Šipan olive oil and simple grilled fish; island kitchens often cook to order, so ask in the afternoon.

    Good to know: The park harbours on Mljet are about 30 nm from the marina, so this stop splits the leg. The bay has a few mooring buoys and limited quay space; anchor clear of the ferry berth.

  3. Day 3 · Polače, Mljet

    22 nm · town quay · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: Cross to Mljet and enter Polače, a sheltered inlet inside Mljet National Park. Walk among the ruins of the late-Roman palace at the water's edge.

    Eat: Lamb or octopus cooked under the peka (order ahead) with a glass of Dalmatian red.

    Good to know: A national park ticket is required for the boat and crew — buy it on entry or online before arrival. Moor or anchor only in the designated areas of Polače or Pomena, keep to 5 knots within 150 m of the shore and discharge no wastewater.

  4. Day 4 · Korčula

    16 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: In the morning, walk or cycle to the park's two salt-water lakes and take the park boat to the Benedictine monastery on St Mary's islet. In the afternoon, sail across to Korčula Town, walled on its peninsula, with a herringbone street plan built to channel the breeze.

    Eat: Žrnovski makaruni, the island's hand-rolled pasta, with pošip white wine from the island's vineyards.

    Good to know: Book the Korčula berth ahead in July and August; an unbooked summer arrival is a gamble.

  5. Day 5 · Lumbarda, Korčula

    4 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: A short recovery day: swim off the islets in the channel east of Korčula Town, then move round to Lumbarda, a village of vineyards on sandy soil with some of the few sandy beaches in the area.

    Eat: Grk, the dry white wine that grows almost only around Lumbarda, with grilled fish or a plate of local cheese and prosciutto.

    Good to know: Lastovo is the optional extension from here — only in a stable forecast with a confirmed return window, because it leaves a long open-water way back. It is the first thing to drop.

  6. Day 6 · Okuklje, Mljet

    25 nm · mooring buoys · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: Head back east along the north side of Mljet to Okuklje, a small, well-protected bay outside the national park that shortens the final leg. Swim, walk the shore path and enjoy a quiet last evening.

    Eat: Home-style island cooking at the waterside: fish of the day, lamb and Mljet honey.

    Good to know: The buoys and jetties here belong to the waterside eateries and fill in summer; arrive by mid-afternoon. If the forecast for tomorrow is poor, go straight back to Dubrovnik today.

  7. Day 7 · Dubrovnik

    24 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps

    See and do: An early start back past Šipan and Lopud, through the Koločep channel, under the Dubrovnik bridge and up the inlet to the marina. Coming in by sea gives a last view of the old town walls from the water.

    Eat: Lunch on board from the last provisions, or the old town's seafood once the boat is handed back.

    Good to know: Plan to be alongside early: fuel, the damage check and check-out take time and are not a buffer. A strong southerly can make this leg uncomfortable — if one is forecast, come back on day 6.

A plan, not a promise: wind and sea decide each day. Your skipper or the charter base will adjust the route to the forecast.

What a week here costs

Median weekly price of the boat in Croatia over the next 12 months, from our live catalogue. Skipper, fuel and extras are not included; crewed yachts include the crew.

Sailing yacht
€3,398€2,705–€4,226
Catamaran
€5,940€4,410–€8,150
Motor yacht
€10,920€7,780–€15,890
Crewed yacht
€24,820€14,220–€42,800
Prices by month

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