Croatia. 7 day route from Pula to the islands of the Kvarner Bay

Pula will be the first stop on this route. First, prepare the yacht for the cruise, familiarize yourself with the equipment, and discuss important details with the manager. After everything is accomplished, you’ll have time left to take a walk and explore Pula.

The picturesque National nature park is located on the 14 islands of the Brijuni archipelago. Nature here is virgin and primordial with fresh air and crystal clean sea, blooming meadows and parks, and oak and laurel groves. Many subtropical plants have taken root here: bamboo, eucalyptus, sequoia, and palm tree. Especially amazing is the long-lived olive tree, which has been growing on the island for more than 16 centuries. There is a safari park in the northern part of Veli (Big) Brijun, where elephants from Asia, South-American camels, zebras, antelopes and even Indian holy cows walk freely. All of them arrived in the park thanks to the President of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, who was given exotic presents by high-ranking guests. The residence of this former leader still stands on the archipelago, today it’s a museum and worth a visit.

Osor occupies an advantageous position on two Croatian islands simultaneously – Cres and Lošinj. Actually, they were divided artificially; the Romans dug a canal here for better navigation. Thanks to that, many centuries ago Osor was a fairly flourishing settlement, and only in time it ceded the laurels to other cities. Now, one can see the Archeological Museum, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Bidžar bay, where there is a small beach with a view of the Franciscan Monastery ruins of the 13th century.

Mysterious Susak is located to the north of other isles in the Kvarner Gulf. Because of that it is rarely found among the top tourist destinations of Croatia. However, this characteristic should be considered Susak’s main trump card – golden deserted beaches wait for fans of quiet, unhurried recreation. The island’s infrastructure is also modest – there are no hotels, just a couple of restaurants and a church. But that’s exactly what fascinates in such places, isn’t it?

The “olive island” of Unije is the region of tranquility. Low hills overgrown with Mediterranean vegetation come directly to the coastline; Illyrian forts and an Ancient Roman villa seem to invite you to walk along old walls; pebble beaches are washed by azure water of the Adriatic Sea. You’ll find a couple of delightful konobas in the village of Unije – home-style restaurants ready to bring you joy with excellent regional dishes.

Cozy Rabac has become a popular Mediterranean resort thanks to its beaches; they have the Blue Flag award, they are safe, pollution-free and preserve the natural environment. The streets of the town are full of flowers and greenery, and the embankment of the Virgin Mary Bay is especially beautiful. There is a well-equipped, state-of-the-art pier as well. A walking path starts in Rabac and leads to Labin – another medieval Croatian town. Architectural monuments have been well-preserved here: Baroque-style palaces, Renaissance houses, and fortress walls. In summer, Labin squares turn into concert grounds and stages for performances. You can go back on foot as well; the most amazing of all walking routes here is the Sentonina path. There are many brooks and streams, high waterfalls, rapids, and a turquoise-coloured lake along the route.

Sailing to Pula will be the last stage of the cruise. Here you’ll have to address all formalities in the port and return the yacht to the manager. After that, you may explore the city and take pictures with the city’s main sights as a background to remember the trip.