Island hopping and hiking near Dubrovnik, reach St. Elias-love Croatia
Details
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If you have never visited Dubrovnik and are afraid of the crowds that this amazing city draws in summer, fear not and join us to see it at the end of September. To see a preview of Dubrovnik please click on the video below:
https://youtu.be/9ViuVCrbgmI
If you like hiking this is also a trip for you. But most of all you should come along if you want to swim in warm sea at unspoiled beaches that no tourists have discovered yet. Hiking the Balkans is inviting you to a long weekend in Dubrovnik and the nearby island of Mljet.
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LEC photos from the trip in 2012 can be seen here https://www.meetup.com/London-European-Club/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=26433967
The hikers amongst you will have the pleasure to climb St. Elias Peak on mountain Peljesac if you join this late summer adventure.
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St. Elias Peak, photo: Maja Trajkovska
After arriving to the airport in Dubrovnik we will head to Mali Ston, a village which is famous for the production of oysters. We will have a late lunch there after we climb the " European wall of China". Having been there myself I can vouch for the views of both Ston and Mali Ston, they are spectacular.
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The wall, which today is 5.5 kilometre long, links Ston to Mali Ston, and is in the shape of an irregular pentangle. It was completed in the 15th century, along with its 40 towers (20 of which have survived) and 5 fortresses. It was built to strengthen the defences of the Dubrovnik Republic (also known as Republic of Ragusa in Italian). But before we go to Dubrovnik we will spend two evenings and a day on the Island of Mljet.
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Island Mljet- National Park
Mljet is the most south eastern inhabited island in Croatia and one of the most seductive of all the Adriatic islands.
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Coast of the Small Lake
Much of the island is covered by forests and the rest is dotted with fields, vineyards and small villages. We will be staying in hotel Odysseus in the middle of the National Park of Mljet, where the lush vegetation, pine forests and spectacular saltwater lakes are exceptionally scenic. After we arrive you can either choose to stay on the terrace of the hotel or go for a late night swim to the nearby Small Lake which is 500m away.
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Terrace of hotel Odisej
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The next day we will do a hike around the Small and Large Lake and also go up several viewpoints during the 12 km hike. You will have an opportunity to enjoy the unique flora and fauna of this island which is one of the 7 specially protected areas on the Croatian coast.
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The Island is also ideal for cycling and kayaking as optional activities but we have decided to take you to Odysseys cave on the other side of the Island, for me the most spectacular spot on Mljet. After a short drive and a 20 minute hike we will approach the cave.
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Photo: Maja Trajkovska
According to legend, this is where Odysseus spent seven years with the nymph Calypso.
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The cave’s entrance zone is deserted and resembles a large well with steep sides; the approach to the cave is through a passage measuring 5 m in circumference and then along the seabed leading to the centre of the cave for another 50 m. The tunnel leading to the main hall is 7 m deep, its walls are smooth and it descends to 18 m before gradually dropping to 30 m.
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You can leave your hiking boots and enjoy the deep blue sea just like our guide Mio did when testing the waters.
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The best time to dive is at noon, especially during the summer months when the sunlight penetrates the cave through two side openings, creating magnificent light effects in hues of blue.
https://youtu.be/kJo59-Ev8zU
In the evening we will have an opportunity to try some of the many tasty Croatian wines to round up this day before we head for a rest to prepare for the most challenging hike of this trip.
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On day 3, after leaving the island on a ferry at 10am, we are heading towards Peljeshac peninsula the home of the mountain St. Elias, which we will be climbing. The peak is 961m high and we will be starting from 0, so the hike will take around 6-7 hours depending on the size of the group. We can either have a packed lunch or a BBQ at the top because the mountain hut has a BBQ. When we come down to Orebic we will have a short break in one of the many cafes by the coast before heading to Dubrovnik where we will spend the next two nights.
Dubrovnik is among the ten best preserved medieval walled cities in the World and it is one of the most visited destinations on the Adriatic coast. In 1979 the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
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The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade and as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. The beginning of modern tourism is associated with the construction of the Hotel Imperial in Dubrovnik in 1897. Although it was demilitarised in the 1970s to protect it from war, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by land by the Serb and Montenegrin soldiers in what remained of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling.
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We will explore the many narrow streets of the city by foot and than go out in the evening to round up this trip before we head off to the Dubrovnik airport in the morning to catch the 10:40am flight.
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Some Dubrovnik locations were used in filming of the Game of Thrones:
http://www.boredpanda.com/tracing-game-of-thrones-filming-locations-asta-skujyte-razmiene-croatia/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook
To read more about my research trip to Mljet and my other Balkan travels please go to http://hikingthebalkans.tumblr.com/
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Design: Clarice Muller Photo: Maja Trajkovska
The price of £385 for this trip includes:
A minibus and driver for the duration of the trip which offers great flexibility.
Ferry tickets.
All hotels&accomodation (3 and 4 star) and breakfast during the trip, based on two sharing a room. A single room supplement is available at £100 extra.
Packed lunches.
English speaking mountain guide.
The price DOES NOT include flights or travel/health insurance.
Entrance fees to national parks and all optional activities such as kayaking, cycling.
All meals which are not breakfast or packed lunch.
A £100 deposit is required when you RSVP and the remaining £285 are due by the 20th of August.
Useful information:
Bring your hiking shoes, swimsuit and camera!
Local concurrency in Croatia is Kuna (HRK) £ 1 = 8,6 HRK
Recommended flights:
Easyjet www.easyjet.com (http://www.easyjet.com/)
Wednesday, 28th of September departing from London Gatwick at 7:05 arriving to Dubrovnik at 10:40
Flight number: EZY5427 Price: 45.49 GBP
Sunday, 2nd of October departing from Dubrovnik at 10:10 arriving to London Stansted at 11:55
Flight number EZY5426 Price: 202 GBP
This trip is open only to members of Hiking the Balkans who want to learn about different Balkan cultures and are respectful of nature and other people's customs. We do not accept people who behave in ways that may endanger the safety of the group and the organiser reserves the right to exclude participants from hikes if they have displayed such behaviour.