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4.9 from 84 reviews
Sail Columbo

- Crystal, 17/06/2025 16:52, Travelled in a Couple

Unique Adventure

If you are looking for a memorable and unique experience to explore Croatia then the Sail and Hike on Sail Croatia is the way to go. From the incredible staff on board to the amazing views, this was a trip of a lifetime!!

- Tracie, 17/06/2025 14:30, Travelled in a Couple

Fun, well organised cruise.

We loved moving to a new island each day. The hikes were enjoyable. The guides were knowledgable and fun. The food was great.

- Monica, 07/06/2025 06:41, Travelled in a Couple

Great sail and hike holiday

We had a great time on and off the boat. We traveled as a couple with a set of friends. The hikes were good and guided very well by Illona and Martin. The only thing I would recommend to change is the fixed lunch as we could have enjoyed a few longer hikes without having to rush back for lunch on the boat. It was especially the case with the hike from Makarska after an hours bus drive to the national park. That day we also had the captains dinner on the boat so we could have had lunch on the mountain in the national park. All in all we had a wonderful holiday!

- Elke, 05/06/2025 15:35, Travelled in a Couple

Salve di Mare Hike Cruise

We loved our adventure aboard the Salve di Mare and the time spent with new friends. The other passengers were easy to connect with and lots of fun. The crew worked seamlessly to keep the ship sparkling, anticipated our needs, and made everything look effortless and natural. Together they created a fun and relaxed environment. Tour manager Ioana was enthusiastic and upbeat. She ensured we understood the logistics for upcoming activities and provided alternatives for those who needed to skip a hike. Hike leader Mate shared his knowledge about Croatian culture and Island history. As an experienced local hiking guide with a background in Search and Rescue, we knew we were in good hands as he led us to beautiful vistas and interesting historic locations. Sail Croatia was informed of my food allergies in advance. The chef provided creative alternatives and the waitstaff made sure I received the right items. The entire cruise was top notch due to the exceptional staff!

- Aaron & Alice, 02/06/2025 02:25, Travelled with Family

Wonderful staff at Sail Croatia - loved the hiking cruise

Our guides Mila and Lola were fabulous and passionate about what they do and Croatia. Well organized and ready with an alternative plan when the weather affected the original plans. Learnt a lot about Croatia. Hikes were really enjoyable. I especially loved Biokovo Nature Park. Great crew on our boat Emanuel which was spotless throughout our week.

- Jennifer, 28/05/2025 06:06, Travelled with Family

Mali Ante!

What a great itinerary, with a fabulous bunch of people! Everyone was so friendly. Our hikes were a good variety, ranging from flat to vertical (possibly a slight exaggeration, but there were some steep bits!) We hiked along clifftops, over rocks, through woodland, in National Parks with waterfalls galore (and some very noisy frogs!), and through small towns. All different, all gorgeous. Our guides Ivica and Lucija were brilliant, watching out for everyone, giving us lots of snippets of information, and sharing their obvious love for their beautiful country. They gave us some pretty good restaurant recommendations too!

- Paula, 27/05/2025 17:33, Travelled in a Couple

National park wonders

The small cruise experience was wonderful. We went into small ports that large cruise ships could not go and were able to explore many more fabulous destinations. The food on the ship was plentiful and top notch. The hiking tour was a good mixture of easy walks and challenging hikes. Our guides were well informed and a pleasure to spend time with. My only constructive feedback would be to better describe the terrain and required fitness level for some of the hikes because I feel they were too challenging for a few of our companions and it required that the more able hikers were spending their time assisting rather than enjoying the hike. Thank you for a fabulous vacation!!

- Joy, 27/05/2025 06:15, Travelled with Family

Miss

Great crew and good company with fellow travelers

- Gwyn, 27/05/2025 04:02, Travelled in a Couple

Ready to sign up for a 2nd cruise!

From making the reservations to answering our questions to providing us with fantastic reps, Mila and Lola.... everything was fantastic and we can't wait to explore more of this beautiful country using Sail Croatia. The Emanuel ship and crew were comfortable and made our experience top- notch. 5- stars all around!

- Jodi, 26/05/2025 20:32, Travelled in a Couple

Highly recommended - Awesome week.

Our sail/hike Split Southern Islands week was a perfect mix of activity on our hikes and time to relax either onboard beautiful Emanuel or onshore at one of the picturesque towns in which we spent the night. Food provided onboard for breakfast and lunch was plentiful and tasty (thanks to our on-board Chef). Our cabin was roomy and well presented. The whole crew and our two guides looked after us really well and Croatia and the Adriatic Sea were just stunning. We could not have asked for a better week. Thank you to our crew and our awesome guides and thank you Sail Croatia.

- Andrea and Gary, 26/05/2025 18:51, Travelled in a Couple

Above expectations hiking tour in Salve di Mare

Salve di mare is a beautiful ship with an amazing and professional crew. They looked after us with attention and care. The food on board was delicious, a big thank you for the chef and his team! Our hiking guide Matte was very knowledgeable and provided full description not only about the hikes but also about the villages visited. Ioana, leading the guests was very approachable and friendly.. Despite the extra charge for the upper cabin booked, we found out that it was on top of the engine making it very noisy and other cabins at a cheaper rate, were way more spacious than ours. Tea and coffee was free of charge only until 1pm, which we did not understand the reason, as it was an average coffee maker, not a barista style at all for the extra charge. We definitely recommend our hiking tour and we will be happy to come back and choose Sail Croatia again!

- Anonymous, 26/05/2025 11:24, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic

The crew was friendly and helpful. The boat was well appointed. We had fantastic fellow travelers. The destinations were beautiful

- Julie, 26/05/2025 05:53, Travelled in a Couple

An amazing memorable trip through gorgeous landscapes

Sail croatia put together an amazing journey along the Dalmatian coast. We were aboard the Mali Ante with a experienced and skilled crew. The chef prepared excellent Croatian cuisine for breakfast and lunch that rivaled many of the excellent restaurants we tried for dinner. We were on a new hiking cruise, designed by our guides, that included national parks and islands north of Split, including Plitvice and Krka. The guides, Ivica and Lucija, carefully selected trails to suit the abilities of the group and were very attentive to the needs of each guest. I would love to come back and do a hiking tour of the southern islands in the future. We primarily stayed in small villiages on the islands and Lucija was very kind to tell us all about the towns and their history and every night she provided excellent recommendations for dinners. Swim stops were great and refreshing! Best part of our month long vacation so far!

- Carolyn, 26/05/2025 05:52, Travelled in a Couple

Fabulous Yacht and Hiking Experience

We chose the Luxury Hiking Tour on the Salve di mare from Split to Dubrovnik. From our arrival on the Yacht to our departure everything was beyond perfect! Anita and Mate went above and beyond to ensure we had a true Croatian experience from the great hikes filled with historic information to the recommendations for additional activities and wonderful restaurants on each of the islands we visited. The Yacht crew was friendly and attentive to requests, providing wonderful meals, making sure our room and the Yacht were clean and our captain went above expectations by adjusting our island visits to ensure we always had fantastic weather. We look forward to traveling again in the future with Sail Croatia and highly recommend their trips.

- Shelly, 23/05/2025 23:39, Travelled in a Couple

Exceeded expectations

Friendly, knowledgeable boat crew Excellent food Great hikes leading to interesting points in history, connection with nature, fabulous views Would recommend!

- Steph, 21/05/2025 07:24, Travelled in a Couple

Wonderful Hike and Cruise Experience!

The staff were top notch, accommodations very comfortable and I want to give a special shoutout to Mate our hiking guide and Anita our tour guide. They truly were a team and did an excellent job of keeping us informed with daily briefings covering our hike for the day and historic things to see and places to have dinner. The great friends we met will not be forgotten!! Thank you all!

- Monica, 15/05/2025 19:58, Travelled in a Couple

Great way to see Croatia

Second time on a Sail Croatia trip and it did not disappoint. The boat was comfortable and the food was very good. Crew helpful and very friendly. The guides, Lola and Ilona, were knowledgeable, friendly and really looked after us well. Hikes were very good, places we visited beautiful and stunning views. Great company on the boat, lots of laughter. A really good week.

- Claire , 13/05/2025 11:25, Travelled in a Couple

Great experience

Thoroughly enjoyed this cruise, the staff were friendly and accommodating, the hikes were great and the guides were very attentive and knowledgeable , the rooms were clean and comfortable, and the boat was spotless clean and easy to travel on.

- Kate, 13/05/2025 10:59, Travelled in a Couple

Beyond expectations!

The food was fabulous, the crew were fantastic and the guides were amazing. Beautiful country and the hikes allowed me to burn off all of those calories I consumed. Would highly recommend.

- Anonymous, 12/05/2025 23:52, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic

What a wonderful week facilitated by our great guides Mate and Lola. They provided great knowledge of the areas we visited and safely navigated us through our hikes. The crew on the ship were very helpful, friendly and courteous providing excellent service and care.The menu:- outstanding. Thank you

- Jackie, 06/05/2025 22:00, Travelled in a Couple

Highly recommended

My sister and I spent the week doing to hiking trip. The crew were all fantastic, both of our guides were knowledgeable and fun. The food was amazing. We can’t recommend this enough.

- Sam, 05/05/2025 05:53, Travelled with Family

Hiking Tour Exceeded Expectations

I booked the Hiking Split Return South route for my 50th birthday and it exceeded all of my expectations. My husband and I were on the Columbo and our guides Mate and Karla were awesome. They were knowledgeable and fun and you could tell that they were passionate about Croatia and hiking. The food was great, the swim stops were fun and I haven't laughed that much on a trip ever. We had a great group of like minded people from around the world who made every day fun. From the captain to the crew and especially our guides Mate and Karla, we all felt very well taken care of onboard and off. I would highly recommend Sail Croatia and will definitely book another trip with them in the future. Lindsie & Curtis (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

- Lindsie, 10/10/2024 17:10, Travelled in a Couple

Just do it!

The Sail Croatia hike week gave us exactly what we were hoping for and more. A week sailing between beautiful islands (on Columbo), interesting hikes each day, like-minded people on the trip (some of which will become life-long friends), good food and local tips for each island, regular swim stops and a whole lot of fun and laughter. Our tour guides Mate and Karla provided expert guidance, fun and constant enthusiasm. Their passion for their country was truly infectious. We have fallen in love with Croatia. Thank you, Jill and Rich (UK)

- Jill, 09/10/2024 20:29, Travelled in a Couple

Amazing Hike Trip

Our plan was to do the E-bike trip but it was full so we decided to jump on the hike trip! We definitely made a good decision!! Mate and Karla did such an amazing job accommodating everyone! They both really love their country and love to share it with everyone!! We were able to go off on our own and rent bikes/mopeds if we chose to change things up a bit! We met so many great people from all over the world! We highly recommend sailing with this group!

- Carol, 08/10/2024 10:02, Travelled with Family

Life affirming hike holiday

The tour guide Karla and hike guide Mate were really amazing. We feel so lucky to have had them with us.. Really knowledgeable and friendly people who helped bring a group of strangers together to be friends by the end of the week. Thanks too to Bruno and the captain and crew on Columbo for taking such good care of us. The hikes were beautiful. Sometimes they were challenging but not so difficult that we were not able to enjoy the scenery and get to know each other on the way. Our favourite hike was in Makarska, where the views were stunning. Our weather was mixed with some unexpected heavy rain at times but the itinerary was adapted well to suit sailing conditions. The boat was full of like-minded travellers from all over the world and we had a really fun-filled week with the best people.

- Anonymous, 08/10/2024 08:33, Travelled in a Couple

Great Sail Croatia Hiking Trip

We were on the Colombo boat with Bruno and an excellent crew. They were polite, efficient, hard working, friendly and very good at their jobs. Our guides Mate and Karla were fantastic! They were knowledgeable, fun, interesting and dealt with our group exceedingly well. They were motivating and lovely. They really made the trip special. We also had a group of wonderful like minded people taking the tour which made it even more fun. Thank you Sail Croatia for a very memorable holiday. 🤗🙏

- Sue, 07/10/2024 19:18, Travelled with Family

Brilliant Holiday!

Mate & Karla created an atmosphere that was joyous, fascinating, physically challenging (what we'd hoped for), historically relevant, whilst oozing their love of their gorgeous homeland, nature, fun facts, & always with a smile & belly laughs! They were the reason 30 people came together as strangers & left wanting (& hoping) to stay in touch with them all!! Very organised, very safe, & inspirational. The crew were also a huge part of making this trip as perfect as it was as well. Thank you to all who played a part. We sure love Mate & Karla!!

- Ellen, 07/10/2024 16:57, Travelled in a Couple

Unbelievable Trip!!

This cruise/hike was the most amazing trip!!! Our guides- Mate and Karla made it even better as they planned our daily hikes, kept in contact with us, shared their local knowledge, protected us, and had fun with us!!! They were perfect and we couldn’t have asked for anything or anyone more! Bruno worked hard to keep us hydrated and fed and the sailors, cooks, and Captain of Colombo ship were perfect. The itinerary was so fun! Everyone on the ship bonded and loved the experience!!! We were all sad to say goodbye! Thank you!!!

- Linda, 07/10/2024 16:39, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic week

The trip was amazing from the fantastic crew, to great food and meeting a lovely group of like minded people., Anita the sail Cristian rep was fabulous with a wealth of knowledge on each area and always updated us on what was available at port stops by what’s app. Mika our hiking rep was competent with great knowledge of the terrain and our safety was paramount to her. Her daily updates were very informative. Her passion for the environment and her country was impressive.. I loved the daily sea swim stops . The hikes were challenging at times for me but with Mila and Anita encouragement I completed all of them. I would highly recommend this holiday.

- Liz, 05/10/2024 16:02, Travelled in a Couple

Best cruise ever

Comraderie, top professionalism and best exposure to the delights of Croatia for. Sea to land

- Jaslovelin , 05/09/2024 06:51, Travelled in a Couple

Bucket list ticked

Great team , food was amazing and the hikes were tough but awesome !

- Barbara de Kock , 01/07/2024 06:02, Travelled in a Couple

Highly recommended

The logistics were spot on making this a super easy trip. The hikes were clearly explained in advance and our guides, Mate and Marija, were fantastic - their local knowledge and skill made all the difference. Swim spots along the way were a welcome opportunity to relax and the variety of hikes meant we saw diverse terrains, flora and fauna. Highly recommended!

- Simone, 21/06/2024 15:20, Travelled in a Couple

Mrs

Superb holiday guides. Great boat and wonderful staff. The hikes were incredible. A holiday I will always remember

- Teresa, 18/06/2024 11:54, Travelled in a Couple

Ms

The crew were fantastic

- Joan, 14/05/2024 07:06, Travelled with Family

Fabulous experience!

From start to finish we had a great holiday. The boat was gleaming throughout, the crew were friendly and the food was excellent. Just what we needed to fuel up for the hikes. Our guides (Mate and Andro) were kind, helpful, informative and both had a great sense of humour. The hikes were good fun and the views were spectacular! We met lovely people from around the world. We would definitely do this again.

- Claire , 13/10/2023 07:51, Travelled in a Couple

Fantastic active (but relaxing) holiday

WOW. The guides and crew of our hiking trip made our experience so fun and easy. The hikes were calibrated to the group's preferences, so they were just challenging enough to keep it fun and provided great views of the islands. Breakfasts and lunches on board were delicious. And I can't say enough good things about our guides and crew - so kind, thoughtful, and detail-oriented. This trip was the perfect way to unwind while not just sitting in a beach chair for a week. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a mix of relaxation and adventure.

- Anonymous, 10/10/2023 13:05, Travelled in a Couple

Go, do it....this fantastic hiking cruise!!

I am not a fan of big ship cruising so this was perfect!!! Small boat and small number of passengers with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sun, great crew, beautiful food, drinks and service, relaxed schedule with plenty of free time at each port. The other passengers were from all over the world, we got to know everyone and we all got along so well. The destinations were some of the most beautiful places I have ever visited....the islands OMG!! The water is the cleanest and clearest in Europe. Mate, our hiking guide lead us on 7 fabulous hikes, some quite challenging which I was hoping for. All had amazing views and destinations. I am definitely coming back to do the new hiking cruise route. Thank you to everyone and thank you beautiful Croatia xxoo

- Kathleen, 02/10/2023 03:09, Travelled with Family

5 stars

We loved the hiking cruise! You could swim and walk everyday, and we saw islands/ parts of Croatia we never would have visited otherwise. Everyone on the boat was great. We were recommended by friends, and we will continue to highly recommend too! Thanks Sail Croatia

- Amanda , 26/09/2023 08:37, Travelled in a Couple

Sail Croatia - trekking

Mate and Lola gave lots of info and were always concerned about our safety.

- Kirti, 25/09/2023 18:33, Travelled in a Couple

Great trip

The organisation, the friendly crew, the varied and well paced hikes. Mate and Lola made a great team leading the hikes and providing information about each location and they had some great restaurant recommendations. Must also mention Lucy who did a great job serving the meals each day as well as making a delicious Aperol Spritz . Each day was varied but with plenty of time to relax or explore each town. Never having cruised before we were not too sure what to expect but loved it and would not hesitate to recommend the trip and sail croatia. We have already told many of our friends.

- Joanne, 25/09/2023 15:20, Travelled in a Couple

Wonderful experience

Beautiful coves where anchor was dropped to allow us to swim off the swimming deck in crystal clear sea. Towns and villages were fantastic, each had a unique charm and some had summer music concerts to entertain. Hikes were enjoyable if challenging in the humidity. Whilst short in distance they all involved walking up steep and rugged terrain, do pack hiking poles! Mate was our experienced and very knowledgeable guide, we had complete trust in him. Decks were kept clean and tidy, there was always space to sunbathe. Meals onboard were tasty and well presented, a captain’s dinner was provided free one evening. Not rated 5 stars as our ship EOS (21 cabins) was tired and a little “crusty” in places, we were expecting a higher standard and more spacious accommodation. A good mix of English speaking passengers onboard, all respectful to each other and we made new friends for life.

- Carol, 25/09/2023 06:02, Travelled in a Couple

Ceira, Sales Rep at Sail Croatia replied 2023-09-26:

Hi Carol, thank you for your 4-star review! We are really happy to hear you had a wonderful time onboard our Hike cruise, and appreciate all your comments regarding the boat cleanliness, delicious meals onboard, daily hikes, destinations and swimming out at sea in lovely secluded bays, thank you. It sounds like you were able to fully immerse yourself in the country and culture, which we love hearing about! Your kind comments will be passed on to Mate and the rest of the crew. All Premier ships include ensuite bathrooms and air-conditioning, and each of our ships are unique in style. We aim to provide transparency for all ship types offered, and you will find the ship options outlined on our website under the Hike page. We are thrilled to know you have made life-long friends Carol, and we hope to welcome you back for another Active Adventure soon!

Awesome People Awesome Time

The tour manager, hiking guide and crew were all so friendly and helpful. Made the cruise relaxing and fun. They made sure we knew what was happening and any changes as soon as possible.

- Rose, 18/09/2023 16:02, Travelled in a Couple

Sail and Hike Croatia

Fantastic places to swim and hike to view points. Had a fabulous holiday with like minded people.

- Janet, 19/06/2023 18:43, Travelled in a Couple

Amazing holiday

Location was beautiful Friendly and knowledgeable guides Lovely ship staff nothing was too much trouble Good mix of passengers Great food nicely prepared and plentiful

- Laurie, 19/06/2023 06:16, Travelled in a Couple

Excellent way to see Croatia

You get to see more of islands, the hike were great and not easy so you do need some level of fitness. Food was brilliant as were the crew onboard and guides. Rooms were great only niggle was air con not very cold. All in all a great experience and great way to see Croatia just wish they did this in other countries like Greece as would book again in a heartbeat

- Janet, 19/06/2023 05:06, Travelled in a Couple

Hike/Sail Croatia is the way to go

The boat was a perfect size, always spotless, the food was delicious, the crew superb, charming and helpful and the organization excellent. Each walk was special, Mila and Mari were a perfect combination of guides and always made a plan with the weather enabling us to hike come what may. In the misty, pouring rain a three hour hike was fortunately reduced to a 1 hour hike. We were all very impressed with our captain, especially with his horizontal parking in a tiny harbour! I would definitely recommend doing this trip but be warned for all types of weather and bring appropriate clothing.

- Karin, 29/05/2023 16:02, Travelled in a Couple

Hiking in Croatia

Our trip was great because we had excellent guides in Mila and Mare. Rainy weather meant the boat couldn't follow the itinerary but we were still able to hike everyday. The hikes were challenging; the views were spectacular and I noted that the guides were very alert to conditions on the trails so I never felt the hiking was unsafe. I also appreciated that the guides shared the best things to do and places to eat at every port.

- Elizabeth, 23/05/2023 11:42, Travelled with Family

Hike/Cruise Croatia was wonderful!

Great captain, Vlado, fabulous guides Mila and Mare, were key to us having a fabulous trip even though our weather was not perfect. The whole crew made our stay on the boat amazing. Clean rooms, hot showers, spectacular destinations! Will definitely be back to Croatia.

- Kim, 22/05/2023 07:22, Travelled in a Couple

Lovely tour guides, great walks, lots of food.

Loved the friendliness and openness of the crew and guides - showed us the best of Croatian people. There were a few "buts" - there were tv-s in cabins, but they didn't work, the lock of our cabin broke, took a while to get it sorted. The drinks on board cost twice that on shore - I only had 2 classes of wine during the trip and loads on shore - maybe the price policy needs to be worked on... I did also have a question about the wages of the crew and guides - maybe Sail Croatia should pay them more, add it to the overall cost and not do the whole "usually our guests leave tip that much". If people want to add extra tip, they could but this passive agressive - leaving the envelope and instructions how much people need to tip, is leaving a bit of unpleasant shadow to the trip.

- Anonymous, 22/05/2023 05:17, Travelled in a Couple

Cayley, Sales Rep at Sail Croatia replied 2023-05-31:

Hi there, thank you so much for your 4 star review and for joining us this season. We are so pleased to read how happy you were with the crew and guides on your cruise and I will be sure to pass your kind words on! Please be assured that your feedback is very important to us and has been well received. It is only with such feedback we can improve our services and experience for guests, where possible. The points you have raised will be passed onto the correct teams, so thank you for bringing these to our attention. We do have a blog on tipping available on the website as this is not compulsory in Croatia, so is entirely up to the individual if they wish to leave a tip. We wish to thank you for a pleasant week on board.