Review of MedSailors Croatia Discovery: A Week Sailing from Split

The attraction of sailing in Croatia: Is it worth it?

Sailing is one of the best things to do in Croatia, and it’s something we’ve always wanted to do. But of course, chartering our own private sailboat is outside our budget, as is for many.

Luckily, that’s where organized Croatia sailing trips come in, offering everything we would want, with the added benefit of being quite affordable when you look at the list of things you get.

Our first proper sailing trip (not counting a day trip we did in Koh Samui, Thailand) was on the MedSailors Croatia Discovery route, starting from Split.

The trip itinerary and package we detail in this article costs upwards of 900 USD, depending on the room type. And it includes 6 nights of staying on a yacht, a professional skipper, breakfasts, a stand-up paddleboard, and lots of fun.

Are Sailing trips in Croatia just for partying?

While most people connect sailing in Croatia with lots of partying, that doesn’t mean it’s always the case.

When you book a sailing trip by MedSailors, you express your personal preferences about the types of activities you want to do (no activity, lots of activity, no party, lots of partying). Then the MedSailors team allocates you to a boat with like-minded individuals.

For example, our boat was comprised of people wanting the best of both worlds, lots of sun, and water activities, but also a bit of going out for food and drinks. And they matched us perfectly!

You can read more about trip customizations later in the article.

On the other hand, another boat or two in our flotilla (a fleet of boats) had groups of people who loved partying and drinking. So it was perfect for them as well, and they seemed to have a great time.

So, while you can definitely party a lot on your sailing trip in Croatia, you can also simply relax while sunbathing and swimming to your heart’s content.

And for those really wanting to explore all the spots you go to, you can rent a motorbike or even a car and go around by yourself.

Highlights of the Croatia Discovery Route

MedSailors Croatia Discovery Route Itinerary

Before we dive into our detailed review of the Croatia Discovery Route by MedSailors, please note that due to weather conditions, some things can change and the route can be adjusted.

However, it rarely happens, as seas in this part of the Mediterranean are usually very calm and the weather is stable during these sailing trips.

Day one: Trogir to Šolta/Brač

Day one starts with arriving at the MedSailors check-in booth at Marina Baotić in Trogir between 12:00 and 14:00. By 15:00, you will board your assigned boat. The exact check-in time will always be sent to you in the days leading up to your trip.

We arrived at around 12:30 and then had enough time to go to the toilet and hit the store for some first-day snacks.

The first and last stop of the first day was Bobovišća on Brač island, about a 2 hour drive away.

It was a cute little village where, towards the sunset, we enjoyed swimming in the water, paddling around on the paddle board, and just getting to know each other.

And, to finish the day, we had a delicious dinner at Konoba Kogula.

Day two: Vis

Day two of the Croatia Discovery Route with MedSailors started very early. We left Brač just after sunrise and after a 4 to 5-hour drive reached Vis, the farthest inhabited island off the Croatian mainland.

Vis is an ex-military island, and one of the things to do in Vis is to check out the old Yugoslav Underground Boat Shelter and similar structures.

Our first stop was in the stunning Rogačić Bay just off the coast of the boat shelter.

We spent most of the afternoon swimming and paddleboarding in the bay. And we also managed to use the paddleboard to get inside the boat shelter.

After a fun few hours, we left for the nearby cute town of Vis, the main settlement of the island, and docked in its marina.

Some of us rented scooters and checked out the nearby Fort George before driving up the hills above Vis town to reach Stončica beach.

As the weather wasn’t the best, and we had plenty of swimming that day, we didn’t bathe there, but otherwise, it’s a great spot!

We also took a short stroll through the east part of Vis town, called Kut, and stopped for some delicious ice cream. We got the lavender ice cream at Slatki Kut, and it was DELICIOUS. You have to try it!

Afterward, we joined a punch party organized by MedSailors to connect with other boats and make some new friends.

Day three: Hvar

Continuing the story from the previous day, the weather progressively worsened throughout the night while we slept docked in Vis town. We could feel the boat rocking the whole night.

So early in the morning, right after sunrise, all MedSailors boats decided to skip breakfast and head out to Hvar as soon as possible.

Because of the announced bad weather, many boats stayed docked for longer inside our planned marina at Paklinski Islands just off of Hvar town, as it was unsafe for them to move.

That’s why we could no longer dock at Paklinski Islands. Instead, we sailed for about 6 hours from Vis to Vrboska, a cute little village on the north side of Hvar, where the waters were calmer.

However, about 15 minutes after exiting the Vis marina, our paddleboard got knocked off the boat when we hit a bigger wave. The wind was strong, and somehow, even though properly secured, it flew off.

After five more minutes, part of our boat’s rain protectors on the side of the lounge area flew off.

None of this was at the fault of our wonderful skipper Jack, but just a consequence of sailing in slightly worse conditions. According to Jack, our group was the unlucky one to have been sailing on one of the TWO days like that out of the four months of trips he’d done in Croatia that year.

We were a bit traumatized by the loss of our paddleboard but were otherwise unharmed. And Matej was the only one who vomited, so it’s all good!

After arriving in Vrboska, we went for a swim at “Sandy Beach”, which was actually mostly sandy, except for some small rocks here and there.

At 4 PM, all of the MedSailors boats boarded a free shuttle bus for Hvar town. The bus dropped us off above the town at the Fortica Fortress, which offers the best views of Hvar town and Paklinski islands.

From there, our group descended on Hvar town for some delicious food at Fig Hvar. We had the veggie burger, which was hands-down one of the best veggie burgers we had.

We strolled around the town, watched the sunset near the marina, and then finished the day with some ice cream before getting a taxi back to Vrboska with another couple from our boat.

This was the night we could have gone out to party in Hvar, which is famous for its parties. But we had a more chill night, which, after the rough ride to the island, felt great. However, the MedSailors team invited anyone interested to join them at the famous Kiva bar and then afterward at Club Seven.

Day four: Vrboska, Hvar

On day four, we had the whole day of free time to either go around Hvar or chill in Vrboska and the surrounding area.

We didn’t feel like going around too much, so right after breakfast, our skipper Jack took us out with the boat to the nearby bay for some swimming and relaxing. And we also had our lunch right there.

Some from our boat rented scooters right in Vrboska and went to explore around, which is a great way to see a bigger area.

Just before sunset, we all went to Hora Hvar for olive oil and wine tasting, as well as a well-deserved dinner of traditional Peka.

While we’re not the biggest wine enthusiasts, nor do we know how to recognize the difference between similar wines, we still enjoyed the experience. Our favorite was the white wine, which seemed to be the favorite of most in our group.

Hora Hvar is a unique restaurant set in between the beautiful vineyards of the Stari Grad Plain and is trying to preserve the traditions of the area. Their location is absolutely stunning!

Day five: Vrboska to Makarska

Day five started by heading out to the bay just outside Vrboska, where we had been the day before, for some morning swims and breakfast.

After breakfast, we had plenty of time to swim around and have fun before we headed towards Makarska.

The drive to Makarska from Vrboska was not that long. It took us about two hours to reach our first stop, right outside Makarska Beach, where we had some time to swim around.

This is where Matej learned to dive into the water from the boat after never trying it before in his life. Thanks to the wonderful group for their support!

Afterward, we moved places to dock on the Makarska Riviera.

Makarska is known as an adventure capital, and some of the things you can do there are zip lining, parasailing, canyoning, and rafting.

Some people chose parasailing, but our whole group and most others went for ziplining in Tučepi, which was super fun! We performed tricks/acrobatics and had a blast.

The thing we loved the most was that you didn’t have to brake yourself while ziplining. That was perfect for us, as it was our first zipline. So we could enjoy it 100% without having to worry about anything.

After ziplining, we reserved a table at Tavern Kalalarga, famous for its seafood menu. We also got to try two fabulous vegetarian pastas: one with cheese and another with tomato sauce. Both were amazing!

Even though we weren’t shown an actual menu while ordering, as they usually serve freshly caught fish, we were surprised with the acceptable prices. And the portions were great!

To end the night, we did what Makarska is also known for. A party at Deep Makarska, a club set inside a cave that opens out to the beach. It was recommended by the MedSailors team. And while it’s not the best club we’ve been at, it was an interesting setting and we had fun.

Day six: Makarska to Brač

On our last full day after waking up in Makarska, we headed out for Brač Island.

Our first stop on Brač was in a nice bay, perfect for dropping the anchor and doing what we did best on this trip: swimming around, jumping in the water, and, of course, having lunch.

This was also the spot where we had the famous MedSailors paddleboard race, in which every boat picks a group of five people to race with a paddleboard against all other boats.

The rules were pretty simple: get from one boat to another and return the fastest. And don’t fall off the paddleboard or get detached from it. Otherwise, you’re disqualified.

We came in third out of four participating boats, but we’re still proud of our achievement and how we performed!

After all, we didn’t have our paddleboard on the boat for the last few days (remember how it flew away on the way from Vis to Hvar?). We got one just seconds before the race, so we didn’t manage to come up with the best strategy. 😅

We were a mixed group of not-super-fit people racing against some obviously good surfers from Australia. As they approached the start line, we saw how good they were already! Their strokes were synchronized, and it looked like they absolutely knew what they were doing. Props to them!

Usually, there is also a game where you must run straight on top of five paddleboards connected together without falling down. However, due to the day that we lost to rough seas, we didn’t get a chance to try that. Maybe next time!

2024 UPDATE: We did it on the Greece Athens Voyager sailing trip!

After a fun-filled morning and a nice lunch, we left for Supetar, the main tourist and transportation center of the island Brač.

There, we had a few hours to go around the town, take in the view of the beautiful architecture and, of course, enjoy some delicious ice cream.

For dinner, we went to the quite famous restaurant Peperoncin, known for great pizzas. Please note that this restaurant gets very busy in the evening, so prepare to wait a bit for a table or try reserving it in advance.

And to finish the night, we went for a cocktail at Hotel Osam Rooftop Bar. 

Day seven: Brač to Trogir

We wished the last day of our sailing wouldn’t come, but it did. On our last morning, we left Brač quite early as on the way back to Trogir, we also stopped at a cool spot south of Čiovo island.

We had a few hours to chill on the boat or swim around, which was the perfect way to finish off the amazing trip we had.

And that was that. The trip was finished. The only thing left to do was to pack our bags and leave the boat in Trogir’s marina.

Who are MedSailors sailing trips in Croatia for?

MedSailors sailing trips in Croatia are catered to 20-35 year-olds and are great for groups, couples, and solo travelers on boats accommodating between 8 to 10 people.

What makes MedSailors stand out are their great group matching, well-organized trip itinerary, and great-value-for-money trips to some of Croatia’s best seaside spots.

Insight into the accommodation and amenities onboard

List of MedSailors Yachts

Monohull yachts like the Premier and Superior Yachts offer the most authentic sailing experience, while catamarans offer more space and a more luxurious experience.

Premier Yacht

Superior Yacht

Premier Catamaran

Superior Catamaran

Yacht cabin amenities

Depending on the yacht, there are different types of rooms as well: single beds, bunk beds, double beds, and double beds with ensuite bathrooms.

We were in the Superior Yacht, which had a private bathroom. The cabin had little room above the bed, but we didn’t have a problem with that. Behind the bed, at the end of the cabin, we stored all of our belongings.

The beds were actually super comfortable and we had a great sleep. Even on the night in Vis when the boat was swaying left and right!

Bathrooms and showers

Depending on your room type, you might have your own bathroom with a toilet and shower, or you will share one with others. There is also a shower/hose on the back of the boat, so you can wash yourself off after a swim.

On one night in Makarska, we also had a bathroom pass with proper showers and toilets that we could use.

Power and charging electronics

There is power onboard most of the time, as the boats will be docked in a marina and connected to shore power or have engines on while en route.

For one or two nights, you might be docked in a small bay, so there won’t be power overnight. That’s why having a power bank with you is super useful. Plus, it’s always a good idea to charge everything when you have power in the marina or while sailing.

But don’t worry, you’ll be informed about all of this in advance.

Social and dining area

Our Superior Yacht had a big shared social and dining area with two big tables. The tables could also be turned into a nice sitting area.

The kitchen, with fridges for storing drinks or snacks, was in a small protected area.

Bow – the front part of the boat

The front of the yacht had a dinghy on top which we used as our sunbathing spot. 😀 But there was also enough space around to lay down and chill.

Clothes drying

Are there any additional costs involved?

Trip customization options

While the itinerary is fixed and rarely changed, you should inform them of your food preferences and/or allergies and the type of people you would like to be matched with.

Food options

Choose your group of travelers

The most important thing to do after booking your MedSailors sailing trip in Croatia is to specify what kind of a person you are and what kind of a trip you would like. This will help the MedSailors team match you with other like-minded trip-goers.

As mentioned before, our group was fantastic, and MedSailors did a splendid job.

But remember, if you prefer to skip some activities, you are free to do so and arrange your own exploration and free time as you wish.

When to book your MedSailors Croatia Discovery trip

What to pack for your MedSailors sailing trip in Croatia

You honestly don’t need much for the sailing trip, as you’ll be in your swimming suits most of the time anyway.

Preferably, pack your stuff in a backpack rather than a suitcase, as it’s going to be easier to store it. We had two gear bags and one 40L backpack and had just enough space for everything. So there is enough space, just not for super big luggage.

Final thoughts

The Croatia Discovery route with MedSailors was exactly what we expected from such a trip, and it couldn’t have been a better introduction (Discovery) to the Croatian seaside.

Nothing can beat anchoring the boat in a beautiful bay with just a few other boats and jumping into the crystal clear water straight off the boat on a crisp, sunny morning.