Croatia, Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Take advantage of this stay in Dubrovnik, also called the Pearl of the Adriatic, to explore this cultural and historical gem and to discover the picturesque villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose eastern heritage remains very present. This programme will be a pleasant prelude to your cruise.

Day 1 – Dubrovnik

Meet at Dubrovnik airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

You will be transferred to your hotel Villa Dubrovnik 5*.

Check-in and dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 2 - Dubrovnik

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will start your day with a ride in a tuk-tuk to Mount Srd, a hill situated right behind the walled city of Dubrovnik. From there, you will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Bosnia and Herzegovina mountains to the north, of the old town and its walls to the south, and of the islands of Kolocep and Lopud to the west.

You will then visit the Old City of Dubrovnik with your guide. You will enter its famous Franciscan monastery, a masterpiece of Romanesque art in Dalmatia. You will discover the magnificent walls that surround the city, the palaces, the churches, and the many courtyards... this city is an open-air museum! You will wander along the cobbled streets, going through different doors and passageways to immerse yourself in the city’s unique atmosphere.

You will then take a boat to Lokrum Island, a peaceful haven inhabited by peacocks. You will also be able to roam among the ruins of an old Benedictine monastery and enjoy the botanic garden.

You will then have lunch on the island before boarding your boat back to Dubrovnik, where you will enjoy some free time in the old town.

Back at your hotel, enjoy a wine tasting as you admire the sunset over the Adriatic from the hotel’s rooftop.

Dinner will be served at the hotel's restaurant.

Overnight.

Day 3 – Bosnia Herzegovina

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will journey for approximately 2.5 hours by road to reach Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Your day of visits will begin with the discovery of Blagaj, a charming village renowned for its unique combination of architecture and nature. Since the Ottoman period, this village has been one of the major centres of Sufism, a mystic branch of Islam. You will actually get to see old Ottoman homes along the Buna.

Next, you will visit Mostar, a gem listed as World Heritage by UNESCO and considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans. Mostar is located in a green valley surrounded by mountains. Flowing through it is the Neretva River. You will dive into the orient as soon as you arrive and you will love the old part of Mostar, its old stone houses, its streets paved with pebbles and lined with oriental shops, mosques, and you will most especially love the warm hospitality of its inhabitants. You will also cross the highly arched bridge that is emblematic of the town and to which it even owes its name, since the latter is derived from “most”, meaning “bridge” in the Serbo-Croatian language.

You will then have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will head to Pocitelj, a picturesque village perched on the hills overlooking the Neretva Valley and dominated by the ruins of a Turkish fortress from the 15th century. There, you will be able to admire old traditional Ottoman houses made of stone and drowning in greenery; the ruins of ramparts and bastions; a labyrinth of steep, cobbled streets; stone slate roofs; and the magnificent domed Šišman Ibrahim Pasha Mosque, built between 1562 and 1563. You will be surprised by the oriental character of this village and its Ottoman architecture dominating the historical centre.

Dinner will be served at the hotel's restaurant.

Overnight.

Day 4 – Dubrovnik

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

You will complete your hotel check-out. You will take a speedboat to Kolocep, located not far from Dubrovnik and known for its stunning little beaches, before heading to Lopud Island, a small jewel featuring a botanic garden, small beaches, and a superb Benedictine monastery overlooking the island.

You will have lunch at a restaurant with sea views.

You will then be taken directly to your ship by speedboat, to begin your cruise.

Your hotel :

The Villa Dubrovnik Hotel 5* sits at the top of an impressive cliff above Miramare Bay, a few minutes’ walk from the city walls. This icon of luxury and design offers guestrooms decorated in an elegant, contemporary style with a neutral colour palette, an indoor swimming pool and a luxurious spa including a sauna, a gym, and massage booths. The hotel also features a restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes, a bar offering a wide selection of wines, and a restaurant below, on a pebble beach.

Your program includes :

• 3 nights in Superior room at Villa Dubrovnik 5* (or similar), including breakfast.
• Meals as mentioned in the programme.
• Beverages package during the meals (mineral water + 1 glass of wine or 1 local beer or 1 soft drink + 1 coffee or tea)
• Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
• Services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include :

• Dinner on day 1.
• Tips for the driver and local guide.
• Your personal expenses.
• Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note :

• It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

Contact of your hotel :

Villa Dubrovnik Hotel

Ul. Vlaha Bukovca 6, 20000

Dubrovnik, Croatie

+385 20 500 300

Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent ; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

 

 

 

 

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 - Dubrovnik

Once you have completed your disembarkation formalities, our local representative will welcome you on the quayside. You will then be transferred to the Peljesac peninsula, approximately an hour away from Dubrovnik.

The Pelješac wineries are reputed the world over for producing some of the best wines and for representing Croatia’s unique terroir and wine cultures abroad.

You will visit the Grgic Vina and Matusko Vina wineries, two family businesses run by passionate winemakers who place their experience and tradition at the heart of their products. Your morning programme will continue with the discovery of Edivo Vina, the only producer of wine aged in amphoras under the sea. These bottles and amphoras of Navis Mysterium (the mystery of the sea) are stored at a depth of 14 metres (46 feet) in a wreck, near the coast of Drace.

You will be transferred to your hotel Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik. Time and dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 - Dubrovnik

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Day and meals at leisure. You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in of the PONANT selected flight.

Your hotel:

The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is situated right by the Old City of Dubrovnik, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, and is set in an elegant historical building from the late 19th century. The hotel features an indoor pool as well as a wellness centre including saunas, a hammam, a gym, and a massage parlour. The Imperial Terrace serves a wide selection of Mediterranean dishes paired with Dalmatian wines. The lounge and the large terrace off the executive lounge offer a panoramic view of the Adriatic Sea and the old city walls.

Your programme includes:

·        1-night accommodation in Bay View room at Hilton Hotel 5* (or similar) including breakfast.

·        Lunch as described in the programme with beverage package (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

·        Services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

·        Dinner on Day 1.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

 

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

 

Contact of your hotel:

The duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.