The classic Central Dalmatia loop from Split is the easiest circuit in the Adriatic: islands less than 25 miles apart, a wind that gets up at a set hour, well-equipped harbours and mooring buoys everywhere. This version favours the outer islands, Vis first, with two quiet nights and two towns to sleep alongside. Around 117 miles. Full details below.
In brief
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Departure base | Split (ACI Marina Split or Marina Kaštela) |
| Access | Flight to Split (SPU), marina 20-30 min away |
| Total distance | ~117 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~24 h over 7 days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Beginner to intermediate |
| Recommended boat | 38-46 ft monohull or 40-42 ft catamaran |
| Best period | May to early October |
| Winds | NW maestral in the afternoon, 10-20 kt; bura and jugo possible outside summer |
| Indicative budget | ~€900 to €1,400 per person (see Sailing Croatia: Dalmatia or the Kornati?) |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Split · Maslinica, Šolta · Komiža, Vis · Biševo, Blue Cave · Vis · Palmižana, Pakleni · Hvar · Bol, Brač · Milna, Brač
Weather month by month
| Month | Wind | Air | Sea | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Light maestral, jugo possible | 22-25° | 18-19° | Quiet islands, cool water |
| June | NW maestral 10-15 kt | 27-29° | 22-23° | Optimal |
| July-Aug | Maestral 12-20 kt, storms (nevera) | 30-32° | 24-26° | Peak season, harbours full |
| September | Easing maestral, first jugo | 26-28° | 23-24° | Excellent |
| October | Variable, bura possible | 20-23° | 20-21° | End of season |
Day by day
Day 1, Split to Maslinica (Šolta), 12 NM, ~2 h 30
Anchorage: Martinis Marchi marina in Maslinica, or anchor among the islets off western Šolta.
Ashore: the little harbour of Maslinica and its baroque castle turned hotel; fish dinner on the quay. A short first leg to get the feel of the boat.
Warning: leaving Split through the channel between Čiovo and Šolta, heavy ferry traffic until 4 pm.
Day 2, Maslinica to Komiža (Vis), 24 NM, ~5 h
Sailing: the only real crossing of the week, heading south-west to Vis. Leave before 10 am to take the maestral on the beam rather than on the nose.
Anchorage: Komiža quay (buoys and town quay), or Komiža bay in a NW wind.
Ashore: a fishing village at the foot of Mount Hum, fish konobas and Vis wine (plavac and vugava). Book tomorrow's Blue Cave with the water taxis in the harbour.
Warning: in a settled maestral, Komiža bay stays open to the west; prefer the quay.
Day 3, Komiža to Vis via Biševo and the south coast, 20 NM, ~4 h
Morning: the Blue Cave on Biševo, to be seen before 11 am when the sun comes in through the underwater opening. Access only by the park's small boats; the yacht stays at anchor in Mezuporat.
Sailing: round Vis by the south, a swim at Stiniva, the cove squeezed between two cliffs, then up to Vis town.
Anchorage: Vis quay (Kut) or anchor in Stonca bay.
Ashore: Vis town and its Venetian waterfront, the tunnels of the former Yugoslav base, wine and anchovies.
Day 4, Vis to Palmižana (Pakleni), 22 NM, ~4 h 30
Sailing: heading east to the Pakleni archipelago, the maestral behind you in the afternoon.
Anchorage: ACI Marina Palmižana (book ahead) or a buoy in Vinogradišće bay.
Ashore: water taxi to Hvar town in 10 minutes: the Spanish fortress, St Stephen's square, the waterfront bars. A quiet night in Palmižana, away from the bustle.
Warning: Palmižana is full by 2 pm in July-August.
Photo: Hvar · Josip Ivankovic / Unsplash
Day 5, Palmižana to Bol (Brač), 16 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: through the Hvar channel heading east, Zlatni Rat beach appears to port, a pebble spit that changes shape with the wind.
Anchorage: Bol harbour (quay, few berths) or anchor off Zlatni Rat in calm weather.
Ashore: Bol, a village of white stone, the Dominican monastery and the plavac mali vineyards on the slopes.
Warning: in a strong maestral the Zlatni Rat anchorage gets uncomfortable; fall back to the harbour.
Day 6, Bol to Milna (Brač), 14 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: round Brač by the west, a swim in Lučice bay, one of the most sheltered on the island.
Anchorage: ACI Marina Milna or Vlaška marina; anchoring possible in Lučice.
Ashore: Milna, a fishing harbour at the head of a deep bay, the quiet stop before the return.
Day 7, Milna to Split, 12 NM, ~2 h 30
Sailing: a short return through the Brač channel; one last swim at Šolta or on the north coast of Brač before handing the boat back.
Ashore: Diocletian's Palace in Split if your flight is late in the day.
Photo: Split · Arno Senoner / Unsplash
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Mooring | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Split to Maslinica | 12 | ~2 h 30 | Martinis Marchi marina | Very good |
| D2 | Maslinica to Komiža | 24 | ~5 h | Komiža quay | Fair |
| D3 | Komiža to Vis via Biševo | 20 | ~4 h | Vis quay / Stonca | Good |
| D4 | Vis to Palmižana | 22 | ~4 h 30 | ACI Palmižana / Vinogradišće | Good |
| D5 | Palmižana to Bol | 16 | ~3 h 30 | Bol harbour | Fair |
| D6 | Bol to Milna | 14 | ~3 h | ACI Milna | Very good |
| D7 | Milna to Split | 12 | ~2 h 30 | Base | n/a |
| Total | ~120 | ~25 h |
Practical checklist
- Licences: coastal skipper licence or ICC plus VHF radio certificate; the crew list is filed by the base.
- Supplies: water and fuel in Split, Milna and Vis; no fuel station at Palmižana.
- Harbours and buoys: ACI marinas can be booked online; a buoy is paid per night, often with rubbish collection included.
- Blue Cave: park ticket and park boat compulsory, allow 1 h of queuing in August.
Booking and preparation
- Compare the yachts and catamarans available from Split.
- Charter insurance recommended.
- Flights: to Split (SPU), direct from April to October.
- Activities: Biševo Blue Cave, Hvar fortress, Zlatni Rat, Diocletian's Palace.
See also: the guide Sailing Croatia: Dalmatia or the Kornati? and the page Boat rental in Split.
Nautical data: distances estimated on direct routes between harbours, ACI marinas and the port authorities of Split, Vis and Hvar. Weather: DHMZ (Croatian meteorological service). Blue Cave hours and rules to be checked with the park.
Page type: Itinerary (schema.org TouristTrip).
A word from the crew
Logbook. Komiža at sunset, Mount Hum turning red behind the harbour and the fishing boats coming home. It is the island furthest from the coast, and it shows: fewer people, more calm.
The mistake to avoid. Arriving at Palmižana or Bol at 5 pm in August. Berths go by noon; leave early, swim on the way, arrive before 2 pm.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Stiniva at 9 in the morning, before the excursion boats. Skip: the Hvar town quay at night, expensive and noisy; Palmižana gives the same effect, only better.
Our verdict. Beauty 4/5. Anchorages 4/5. Ease 5/5. Crowds 3/5. Verdict: the ideal loop for a first charter in Croatia, with Vis as the real reward.