Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour. Our leaders are carefully selected and trained to manage the tour in a professional, organised and friendly way. They understand the needs of families and have an informal, approachable style which children like. Their infectious enthusiasm inspires the minds of the young explorers and brings the destination to life. Tipping: Explore leader Tipping isn’t compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recognise a leader that has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We’re often asked about the recommended amount. It is a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we would recommend £15 to £20 per family member as a guideline. Local crew Although voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. Accordingly, you should allow approximately £20 of local c urrency per family member. In order to make things easier for you, the Explore Leader may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the trip.

Accommodation

7 nights comfortable guesthouse Triple Rooms: This trip allows the option for triple rooms to be included at our guesthouse for the entire duration of the holiday. If you would like this option, please ask our Sales team for further information. Our base for the week is a small locally owned guesthouse, located in the centre of car free Lopud Island, within easy walking distance to the sea front. Breakfasts are served at our guesthouse, with a welcome dinner included in a local taverna. There is a good selection of local bars and restaurants close by and the beautiful Sunj beach is a twenty minute stroll away. For larger groups we will use two guesthouses located close by to each other.

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 7 Breakfasts 2 Dinners

Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Transport

Bus, Ferry You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information. Booking a land only package with Explore Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer. Joining Tour Abroad Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station. Free transfers are not available for Self-Guided, Polar, Tailormade or Tours for Churches customers. If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately. Visa and Passport Information Croatia: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US or Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore’s recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination. Vaccinations: Nothing compulsory, but we recommend being up-to-date with your routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK including protection against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. Tick-borne encephalitis protection is recommended by some medical sources at certain times of the year. Ticks are most active between spring and late autumn. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost Flight Information You are able to book this tour on a ’land only’ basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme. Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport. On our website we display a UK flight inclusive package guide price which is generally based on a London departure. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.

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Day 1 Day 1: Join Trip In Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Trip In Dubrovnik

Our tour starts today in Dubrovnik, where we’ll transfer to the Port of Gruz to catch the ferry to the island of Lopud. The ferry takes 55 minutes and offers panoramic views of the bay of Dubrovnik as well as the outer islands. If you would like an airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Dubrovnik International Airport (DBV) no later than 6pm to meet the last ferry at 8pm. The Port at Gruz is around a 30-minute drive from the airport and there are four ferries to Lopud island each day, departing at 10am, 2pm, 4.30pm and 8pm. If you arrive in Dubrovnik earlier than your choosen ferry, you might like to explore the old town. Bags can be left at the ferry port. Our base for the week is the small island of Lopud, just off the coast of the mainland. We stay in a characterful, family-run guesthouse, located just 50 meters from the sandy beach, with all the comforts of home. Upon arrival in Lopud Harbour, we’ll take a short walk to our guesthouse. Our tour leader plans to join the 4.30pm ferry and meet the group in the guesthouse reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting, after which we’ll head out for dinner (included) at a traditional tavern. For those who want to sample traditional Croatian food, it’s well worth trying a Peka, which is a technique of preparing various dishes including seafood and meats inside a bell-shaped cooking vessel on an open fire, not unlike a Moroccan tajine.
Day 2 Day 2: Introduction Demonstration To Sea Kayaking. Sea Kayak To Sunj Beach On Lopud, Beach Games. Walk Back To Lopud Town Along Island Tracks
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Introduction Demonstration To Sea Kayaking. Sea Kayak To Sunj Beach On Lopud, Beach Games. Walk Back To Lopud Town Along Island Tracks

Breakfast is served on the terrace this morning, offering views of the neighbouring inlets and islands. After breakfast, we’ll take a short stroll down to our kayaking base for an introduction and safety demonstration including paddle strokes and getting comfortable in our kayaks. Our first excursion is a paddle from the harbour to the opposite side of Lopud, where we’ll spend the morning on the sandy beach of Sunj and play some water games. An especially popular beach game in Croatia is called Picigin - it’s basically ’keepie-uppie’. The goal is to keep the ball in the air as long as possible but in acrobatic fashion with a great deal of jumping, diving and kicking. There are no winners or losers, just great fun! In the afternoon, we’ll have time to swim, snorkel, and jump from the surrounding rocks. Leaving our kayaks on Sunj Beach, we’ll walk back over the island to our guesthouse, a distance of just over 2 kilometres/1.2 miles along a mainly flat track, to get ready for dinner.
Day 3 Day 3: Introduction To ’Sup’ Stand Up Paddle Boarding With A Full Day To Practice. Sunset Paddle From Sunj To Lopud Town
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Introduction To ’Sup’ Stand Up Paddle Boarding With A Full Day To Practice. Sunset Paddle From Sunj To Lopud Town

Stand-up paddle boarding is becoming increasingly popular and it’s clear to see why! Originating in Hawaii, it’s a sport that is accessible to everyone, easy to learn and lots of fun. The inflatable boards are very buoyant allowing for maximum stability, a tall paddle is used to navigate and propel the board. After an introductory lesson, we’ll have the rest of the morning to refine our skills in the calm waters of the Adriatic. In the late afternoon, we’ll walk across the island to reclaim our kayaks from yesterday and paddle back to our base, pausing to see the sunset - the perfect way to end the day.
Day 4 Day 4: Paddle To The Green Grotto, Swim And Snorkel
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Paddle To The Green Grotto, Swim And Snorkel

Returning to our sea kayaks after breakfast, we’ll head out to explore Lopud’s coastline starting in a shallow, protected bay before venturing out across the channel to the island of Sipan. Heading south and west, we’ll first paddle to a natural stone arch which is a perfect photo-op. Under this archway, you can see the Adriatic Sea open up in all of its glory. Next, we’ll regroup and paddle along the coast to the hidden Green Cave. We’ll then tie up our kayaks and get ready for a wonderful morning of swimming and cliff jumping. But first, we’ll grab snorkels and masks and swim down through the cave’s opening. Inside, there is plenty of room to swim - you can even stand up. This large, and safe, cave opens up to reveal an ethereal green light caused by the sun’s reflection off the sandy bottom. We’ll continue to the delightful fishing village of Sudurad on Sipan, for a lunch of local delicacies (not included). Following lunch, we paddle back toward Lopud and our guesthouse. Our total kayaking distance today is 10 kilometres/6.2 miles.
Day 5 Day 5: Early Morning Ferry To Dubrovnik, Full Day For Sightseeing, Late Afternoon Ferry Back To Lopud
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Early Morning Ferry To Dubrovnik, Full Day For Sightseeing, Late Afternoon Ferry Back To Lopud

After an early breakfast this morning, we’ll take the ferry back over to the mainland to see Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Now essentially fully restored following damage from shelling in the Siege of Dubrovnik in 1991-92, the Old Town retains its unique atmosphere and charm. UNESCO granted it World Cultural Heritage status, as one of the world’s finest examples of a fortified medieval town. For fans of Game of Thrones, the iconic, red-tiled roofs of Dubrovnik will be familiar as the setting of King’s Landing, the seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms. Our local guide will accompany us to the city gates, providing an overview of the best sights to take in, followed by free time to further explore the town at your own pace. You might like to get a view from above by taking the cable car to a nearby hilltop or enjoy a walk around the city walls (the walk of the full course is 1,940 metres). You may also like to visit the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery or the cathedral in the old town. We’ll return to Lopud by ferry in the late afternoon.
Day 6 Day 6: Sup In The Morning, Afternoon Ferry To Sipan Island, Biking On The Island And Beach Time
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Sup In The Morning, Afternoon Ferry To Sipan Island, Biking On The Island And Beach Time

This morning, we’ll have more time to try stand-up paddle boarding in the calm waters of the bay. Then, later in the morning, we’ll take the ferry to Sipan, the largest and most scenic island in the Elaphiti Archipelago and its harbour town of Sudurad. Here, we’ll trade our paddles for pedals and explore Sipan Island, a traditional fishing island with just two villages and one road connecting the two. We’ll bike across the middle part of the island, which is mostly flat, with old olive growths, vineyards, stone villas and wild fig trees (a perfect dessert for late August, as they can be picked freely while biking past them). We’ll make a stop at the Saint Spirit fort-church, built in the 14th century as a defence against the Turks. It’s possible to climb up the steps onto a flat roof and see the whole of Sipan Island from the top. Continuing to the village of Sipanska Luka on the island’s north end, we’ll stop for a bite to eat at one of the region’s best-kept restaurant secrets, a family-owned tavern in a small harbour where you can feast on freshly caught seafood grilled to perfection and served with a salad. Afterwards, feel free to relax with a swim in the Adriatic before we head back the way we came, making the short ferry trip back across to Lopud and our guesthouse.
Day 7 Day 7: Free Day.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Free Day.

Today is free for you to be as active as you want. You can enjoy more time on Lopud’s beaches or take an excursion via ferry back to Dubrovnik to see more of the sights. Alternatively, you might like to go on our optional white water rafting tour to the beautiful Cetina River (suitable for children over 8 years old). This evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell meal hosted at a local, family-run farm. Dining alfresco, we’ll sample local fare (and homemade liquors for the adults) and have a walk around the farm
Day 8 Day 8: Trip Ends In Lopud
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Trip Ends In Lopud

Departing Lopud this morning after breakfast, we’ll take the ferry back to Dubrovnik’s port at Gruz and then transfer to Dubrovnik International Airport (DBV). The first ferry departs Lopud at 6.20am and the earliest your flight can depart is 10.30am. There are later scheduled ferries at 7.10am, 12.10pm and 6pm.

8 days tour

Family Dubrovnik And Croatian Islands Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Family Dubrovnik And Croatian Islands Adventure

Day 1: Join Trip In Dubrovnik

Day 2: Introduction Demonstration To Sea Kayaking. Sea Kayak To Sunj Beach On Lopud, Beach Games. Walk Back To Lopud Town Along Island Tracks

Day 3: Introduction To ’Sup’ Stand Up Paddle Boarding With A Full Day To Practice. Sunset Paddle From Sunj To Lopud Town

Day 4: Paddle To The Green Grotto, Swim And Snorkel

Day 5: Early Morning Ferry To Dubrovnik, Full Day For Sightseeing, Late Afternoon Ferry Back To Lopud

Day 6: Sup In The Morning, Afternoon Ferry To Sipan Island, Biking On The Island And Beach Time

Day 7: Free Day.

Day 8: Trip Ends In Lopud

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