Multi-Day Tours

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Mljet and Zaton: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ODYSSEUS

Mljet Island & Zaton Bay

From 2,170€per person

ABOUT THIS TOUR

Mljet Island & Zaton Bay

Our Mljet Island / Zaton Bay tour features two paddling paradises. The weeklong tour begins with a scenic drive north to Pelješac Peninsula to ferry to Mljet Island. Four nights are based in a tiny fishing village, Kozarica. The village is truly "off the beaten tourist track". Cut off from Mljet's single main road, the village has no shops or restaurants. Home-cooked dinners are a highlight, served on the private terrace of your guesthouse. Spend three days paddling the national park's coastal boundaries. Hike the park's well-maintained trails for dramatic views of the sea, islands, and the park's iconic inland lakes. Mljet is the most southern of Croatia's larger Dalmatian Islands. Dubbed "the most seductive of all the Adriatic Islands" by Lonely Planet and "Dalmatia's most idyllic destination" by Time Out, Mljet is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise — unspoiled nature at its best. The long, thin island, 37 km long yet only 3.2 km wide, is the Adriatic's greenest, with 80% of its landmass covered in pine forest. Mljet's 1100 inhabitants are scattered among 16 small settlements connected by a single road that runs the length of the island. Zaton Bay is home to AKT's mainland kayak base. The 2 km deep bay has three villages connected by a waterfront promenade. A mere 10 km from Dubrovnik, Zaton Bay is just far enough away to escape Dubrovnik's tourist crowds and commercialism, but close enough to benefit from its tourist infrastructure.

A stand-up paddleboarder crossing clear shallow water with an island town beyond

Itinerary

Day 1: Transit day
Arrive in Dubrovnik by 2:30 pm / car transfer to Prapratno for the 5 pm ferry to Mljet Island / 20 minute scenic drive on Mljet to the seaside village of Kozarica / check into the guesthouse / home-cooked dinner on a private terrace overlooking the sea.
Day 2: Kayak intro — Kozarica to Polače
Equipment issue and instruction in Kozarica harbour / paddle Kozarica to Polače, a favoured mooring for yachts and sailboats / stop to swim on one of several small islands / wander Polače's waterfront / car transfer to Kozarica for a home-cooked dinner.
Day 3: Bike or hike — explore Mljet
Car transfer to Polače / paddle the northeast tip of Mljet with views of Korčula and Lastovo Islands, to Pomena, the national park headquarters. Afternoon options include bike rental or hiking in the park / car transfer to Kozarica.
Day 4: Kayaking in Mljet National Park
Paddle the northwest tip of the island along towering limestone cliffs / discover the narrow break in the cliff walls connecting the inland lakes to the open sea / paddle past the iconic island home of a 12th century Benedictine monastery / car transfer to Kozarica for a final dinner.
Day 5: Relax day — Odysseus Cave
Take a refreshing swim beneath the towering cliffs of Odysseus Cave, one of Mljet's best-known natural landmarks. Spend the afternoon swimming, snorkeling or simply relaxing by the crystal-clear Adriatic before returning for a leisurely evening.
Day 6: Transition day — Mljet to Zaton Bay
Explore the lesser-known side of Mljet beyond the national park. Drive the length of the island to the sandy beaches of Saplunara before taking the ferry back to the mainland. Check into your guesthouse in Zaton Bay and enjoy dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 7: Exploring Zaton Bay
Walk to AKT's kayak base in Zaton Bay and paddle along a sheltered stretch of coastline, exploring hidden coves and beaches.
Day 8: Trsteno Arboretum or Dubrovnik Old Town
Choose how to spend your final day: paddle to Trsteno Arboretum to explore its historic gardens, or take a bus to Dubrovnik's Old Town for independent sightseeing. Rejoin the group for a farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Zaton Bay.
Day 9: Transit day
Car transfer to the airport for departure flights. You can make a departure flight at any time.

Trip Details

Inclusions:

8 nights accommodation, based on double occupancy
Meals excluding drinks: 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
Kayaking equipment: sit-in kayak, paddle, PFD, sprayskirt, dry bag
Snorkeling equipment: mask and snorkel
Local guide, ACA and WFR certified
Ground transfers: airport transfers and all transfers within the itinerary
Round-trip ferry transport to Mljet and back
Mljet National Park ticket
Trsteno Arboretum ticket

Exclusions:

Drinks
Gratuities
Travel insurance

Trip Length

9 days / 8 nights: 5 nights Mljet Island, 3 nights Zaton Bay

Days 1 & 9 are transit days; the tour starts with the 5 pm ferry on Day 1 and finishes with an airport transfer on Day 9

Arrival/Departure Point

Dubrovnik

Accommodations

Mljet Island and Zaton Bay guest house rooms with private bathrooms, towels & linens, and A/C. Mljet Island accommodations are remote; Zaton Bay accommodations have easy access to shops and restaurants.

2027 Departure Dates

May 10, May 28, July 8, August 23, October 5

MEETING POINT

Dubrovnik — transfer to the Mljet ferry

Arrive in Dubrovnik by 2:30 pm on day 1. A car transfer to Prapratno for the 5 pm ferry to Mljet is included.

Arrive by 2:30 pm

The ferry to Mljet leaves Prapratno at 5 pm and cannot be missed.

Transfer to Prapratno

Airport and ferry transfers are included in the tour price.

5 pm ferry to Mljet

Followed by a 20-minute scenic drive across the island to the seaside village of Kozarica.

Maps and directions

GET IN TOUCH

Kayak tour inquiry

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+385 99 860 6068

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+1 781 910 0662

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Things to know

By 2:30 pm in Dubrovnik, in time for the car transfer to Prapratno and the 5 pm ferry to Mljet, followed by a 20-minute drive to the village of Kozarica.
Four nights in a guesthouse in Kozarica, a tiny fishing village cut off from Mljet's main road with no shops or restaurants, then three nights in Zaton Bay, which has easy access to shops and restaurants. All rooms have private bathrooms, towels, linens and A/C.
8 km on day 2, 12 km on day 3, 16 km on day 4 and 15 km on day 6, with day 5 a transition from Mljet to Zaton Bay and day 7 a choice of activities.
All except the day 6 dinner and day 7 lunch — 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners. Home-cooked dinners on the guesthouse terrace in Kozarica are a highlight.