Day 1 - 2: Orebić
![Neretva]( "Neretva river - Dalmatia")
Let the starting point of this route be Ploče town, situated on the coast of the fertile valley of Neretva river. In order to avoid a long and difficult ride towards the peninsula of Pelješac, on the coastal serpentine roads we recommend you to take the ferry boat to Trpanj, from where only a few kilometers separate you from the main center of the peninsula, Orebić.
The town was founded in the Illyricum times, and then it developed in a place of sea captains so you will find charming captains’ villas all over Pelješac peninsula that testify about the glory times of these sailors. If you want to feel the breath of old times, we suggest that you visit the Maritime Museum.
The sandy beaches and the crystal clear sea complement each other with a vegetation scene of cypresses, agaves, almond trees and olive trees. Orebić is especially appreciated among the surf lovers, because of the natural sheltered Korčula channel and the always strong winds. You may relax here in an natural surrounding and meet hospitable hosts that will offer you a delicious sort of local red wine, the Plavac of Pelješac.
We also suggest that you take a tour of the Pelješac peninsula and visit Žuljana, known on the wine tasting ceremony on its sandy beach.
Day 3 - 4: Korčula Island
![Korcula]( "Island Korčula - Dalmatia")
Another very practical thing in Orebić is that you can reach Korčula Island in only 20 minutes, and in another 5 you will be in the town of the same name, Korčula town. Hence from Orebić you can really pop to the Island of Korčula just to have a coffee in its harbour!
The historical town of Korčula is situated on the peninsula and it is circumcised by towers and fortresses and from the distance it may look to you that the entire town is actually a fortress.
During a stroll along its streets one cannot miss to notice that almost each house’s facade is decorated by noblemen’s, bishops’ and knights’ emblems built by the talented stone masons from Korčula, and in fact this island is famous for these and also famous for its ship builders.
The rest of the island also deserves to be paid some attention - it has been inhabited since prehistory, and it has a long toursim tradition - the first tourist brochures of the island were printed as long as in the 1914 in Vienna! Today, thanks to the mild climate, fresh air and sea and the healing mud, the island is also well known for the health tourism.
The Island of Korčula will surprise you also with its marvelous beaches as well as with the ancient island places that appear to be lost in some other time. The island's biggest town, Vela Luka, is situated on the other side of the island and many Dalmatian songs were sung about this town. We suggest that you visit the mansion Kaštel whith the valorous archeological collection from the Neolithic finding Vela spilja cave.
Day 5 - 7: Dubrovnik
![Dubrovnik]( "Dubrovnik - Dalmatia")
From Korčula return to Orebić on Pelješac peninsula. When from the peninsula you proceed towards Dubrovnik, stop in the towns Ston and Mali Ston. The 5 km long walls, often referred as the "European wall of China" was built in the 14th century and at that time was the biggest fortification project in Europe. Today this is the second longest wall in the world and definetely worth seeing. Ston and Mali Ston are famous by their salt plants and oysters farms and we recommend you to plan your lunch break in Ston. Trsteno place is another place recommended for a stop over and is famous for its arboretum (a kind of woodland botanical garden), the only one of the Adriatic coastline.
When you enter Dubrovnik, a real pearl of world’s architecture, forget about tourist guides because simply the entire city is worth of your attention. Since the 1979 Dubrovnik is under UNESCO’s list of protected world heritage, and in the past it was the centre of the Dubrovnik Republic, the only city-state on the East coast of the Adriatic that competed with the Venetian Republic. Dubrovnik's ancient heritage can be seen at each step because this little state had been among the most developed of the time. About the refinement of Dubrovnik maybe the best witness is the fact that this city banned the slavery in the 1416 – the very first in Europe to do so (153 years before England!). Dubrovnik is a very fashionable tourist place, so do not be surprised in case you meet some red carpet celebrity.
Day 8: Međugorje and Mostar
![Mostar bridge by Báthory Péter]( "Mostar bridge")
If you still have some time left, on your way back by the Neretva valley you can enter our neighbouring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina where we suggest that you visit two places: Međugorje and Mostar.
Međugorje is one of the most well known catholic sanctuaries of the world, famous for the Virgin Mary apparition. Međugorje is visited by around a million Catholics worshipers every year.
From Međugorje proceed inland towards the Mostar, the city famous for its old bridge from the 16th century, which is also on the UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage. If you are lucky, you may witness a jump from the Mostar bridge to Neretva river below, performed by young men in order to impress. Mostar exudes the spirit of old times where for centuries the eastern and the western cultures mixed together.