The guides Mate and Ilona were terrific and well versed with the area and history. The ship’s crew were attentive to all our needs. The swimming off the boat was an added fantastic bonus!
- Anonymous, 17/06/2025 18:43, Travelled with Friend/s
The Dalmatian Coast is beautiful, and sailing on the Colombo was a great experience. The crew was awesome: great food (thanks Ivan), great service (thanks Bruno) and great sailors (thanks to Mislav and Mikula).
- Gordon, 17/06/2025 17:46, Travelled in a Couple
- Crystal, 17/06/2025 16:52, Travelled in a Couple
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
Everyone on the Afrodita works so hard, the ship was very well maintained and the food was great. The hike guides very good and well informed. The trails were not maintained by any standards basically goat paths. I slipped and fell on first hike injured my leg, cuts and bruised on the loose sharp rock. The guides Martin and ILona were great. Martin applied bandages to my leg to stop the bleeding then helped me finish the last kilometer back to the boat. I had to skip the hike the next day and only did 5 of the 7 hikes opting to do the easiest. Looking back I wish I knew the trail conditions, the length and elevations were all that I remember and the hikes were moderate. Next time we will do the elegant cruse. I wish I could give 5 stars.
- Brandon Weder, 08/06/2025 14:35, Travelled in a Couple
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 guides took us on some great walks., followed by relaxation in the water and local village. The boat, food and staff were terrific. Thank you
- Mike, 06/06/2025 08:42, Travelled in a Couple
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
There isn't one particular thing - the staff, the accommodations, the FOOD (we had to hike or else get fat!), the guides, and the destinations - it was all beyond what I ever expected.
- Lisa, 02/06/2025 17:44, Travelled with Friend/s
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
The ship, the crew and the company were all superb. A beautiful ship, which was constantly being looked after by the enthusiastic crew, and a group of travellers from the far corners of the world who met and mixed throughout the week and who all became friends. Beautiful islands and interesting walks, led by Mate who was an excellent and experienced local guide and who gave us so much information about the history of each area. He really was an important part of the trip. And not to forget the breakfasts and lunches which were really good and gave us the calories to complete the walks and at a pace that suited all levels. Altogether a memorable week and a great way to mark our Golden Wedding.
- Hugh, 30/05/2025 09:50, Travelled in a Couple
The boat was immaculate. A credit to the skipper and crew. The guides Mika and Lola were fantastic.
- Warwick , 28/05/2025 10:50, Travelled with Family
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
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
Everything was near perfection. The Sail Croatia Reps, Mila and Lola were fantastic, knowledgeable, knew how to keep things moving with grace and good does of humor. The Cabin Crew and Deck Crew were super friendly and acted with concern as a was recovering from a bout of food poisoning (not Sail Croatia's or the Emanuel's Fault). Fellow passengers were super friendly and everyone got along well. Suggestions: 1: Cabins are a bit Spartan and could use a design refreshment 2: Make hiking poles available (I could not bring mine due to carry-on luggage rules) 3: Serve lunch after the hikes
- Ken, 27/05/2025 15:54, Travelled with Family
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
Great crew and good company with fellow travelers
- Gwyn, 27/05/2025 04:02, Travelled in a Couple
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
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
We had a blast, and weren't disappointed
- Katie, 26/05/2025 12:20, Travelled with Friend/s
Enjoyed the scenery and hikes. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides.
- Julie, 26/05/2025 12:15, Travelled with Friend/s
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
This was one of my best vacations ever! A perfect combination of activity, connecting with nature, and relaxation. The itinerary (northern route from Split) was expertly selected and planned, the crew was friendly and attentive, and the guides were knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend!
- Christine, 26/05/2025 11:00, Travelled with Friend/s
Great guides. Good hikes.
- Anonymous, 26/05/2025 10:57, Travelled with Friend/s
We were a group of twelve family and friends coming from all around the globe. Our two guides Mila and Lola were fantastic. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for their country was to be admired and their sense of humour and their laughter was infectious. We had a great time and I would recommend it to anyone.
- Denise, 26/05/2025 10:46, Travelled with Friend/s
Everything worked like a well oiled machine. Those who wanted to walk did and those who didn't didn't. There was no pressure on anyone. Staff were thoughtful and attentive. Thought was put into what people wanted to do including consultation as to preferences due to weather issues.
- Martin, 26/05/2025 06:03, Travelled with Friend/s
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
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
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
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
Well organised. Great crew and amazing tour leaders ❤️
- Rosette, 20/05/2025 11:53, Travelled with Friend/s
My wife and I didn't know what to expect, but the experience was first class. The tour guides - Anita and Mate, were fantastic and made for a great trip, as did the rest of the crew. Would certainly go with Sail Croatia again.
- Nic, 19/05/2025 00:30, Travelled in a Couple
Many aspects: Being early in season we had it all to ourselves. Our small group of 14 made it very fun and social. The boat was clean and well maintained and the crew knew their business. Breakfasts and lunches were good in fact overtop. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. Our hiking guides were gracious and knowledgeable. Everything was smooth and organized. My only issue was WiFi/internet access wa spotty at best.
- David, 18/05/2025 13:07, Travelled in a Couple
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
The crew, guides & boat were fabulous. The pictureques coastline & islands we visitied were asolutely amazing. A fun & engaging time was had with fellow travellers who were from Australia, Canada & USA. The onboard catering was excellent although not sure we needed dessert after every meal. A bowl of fresh fruit would have sufficed. As an Aussie coffee lover, the machine coffee & its cost made be worth some tweaking. A barista style coffee machine would be the only improvement I could recommend on our cruise.
- Miriam, 15/05/2025 09:46, Travelled with Friend/s
From the first greeting at the dock in Split to making sure we had transport to our next destination in Dubrovnik, Anita made us feel like family. Each day’s activities were communicated through regular briefings and schedule updates on WhatsApp. Our hiking guide, Mate, explained the details of each walk and made sure we all felt confident with the pace and difficulty each time he led us to the magical views he shared with us. The crew were fantastic. The Captain changed some days around to avoid bad weather and rough seas. The food was great and the ship was always clean and tidy. We had a great time and the Sail Croatia guides and the Salve Di Mare crew made sure we were comfortable, active and well informed. We learnt so much about Croatia. Obviously a place loved by our guides and the crew. Thank you for sharing your country and your knowledge with us!!
- Tom, 14/05/2025 18:27, Travelled in a Couple
The overall experience was outstanding! The tour leaders, Anita and Mate, engaged positively with everyone as they introduced us to beautiful Croatia. The crew of the Salve de Mare were professional, friendly, and contributed to the overall wonderful trip.
- Heather, 14/05/2025 13:28, Travelled with Friend/s
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
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
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
Sail Croatia staff were amazing. Anita and Matthias (sp?) were both perfect hosts. They made the trip. Hikes were amazing, knowledge of local attractions was fantastic. Salve Di Mare boat was beautiful and crew were also amazing. Food was top notch and each stop was a different and incredible experience. The trip exceeded our expectations - highly recommend!
- Darren, 12/05/2025 14:32, Travelled in a Couple
This hike cruise was fabulous! Amazing ship and crew, tasty food and our hiking guides Lola and Ilona were just awesome, the hikes were stunning everyday with optional add on activities if we wanted to do them. The other guests made the cruise so sociable, I have belly laughed a lot! To be honest the whole experience was better than I could have imagined - there’s no doubt I’ll book again! Can’t wait to come back and explore Croatia more! Especially if we can have Lola and Ilona again, they really made the week special!
- Kaye, 12/05/2025 11:32, Travelled with Friend/s
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
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
The guides Marte and Lola brought Croatia to life for us. They had love and enthusiasm in showing us the history and beauty of their home. There was a genuine feeling of exploration and excitement within our group. The crew on board the Salve di Mare were so welcoming as well, whilst they worked so hard at their jobs.
- Warren, 05/05/2025 03:17, Travelled in a Couple
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
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
The beauty of the islands/locations we visited/hiked, the delicious Croatian dishes we enjoyed and the intimate nature of our ship Columbo all lived up to our high expectations. What we did not foresee was even more significant in making this a most memorable journey: the wonderful camaraderie that quickly developed amongst our fellow marauders, the warmth and capable leadership of our incredible guides (Mate and Karla), and the ,world class professionalism of Captain Antonio, Bruno and the rest of the crew,, We came in search of some adventure and left with new friends, an immense fondness for Croatia and its proud people. For this , we owe tremendous thanks to Mate and Karla who were the orchestra leaders who helped us all make music. Unforgettable!
- Terry, 09/10/2024 08:44, Travelled in a Couple
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
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