Luxury Sailing & Island Hopping in Croatia

Your Sailing Area

Croatia

Offering a quieter but equally as beautiful side to the Mediterranean that so far seems little touched by the booming tourist trade, exploring the coast and islands of Croatia is certainly best done by boat. From ancient harbour cities shrouded in impressively thick old town walls to spectacular bays for remote anchorages in crystal clear waters and fair winds, sailing in Croatia has something for everyone. With easy access from UK airports, you can fly from London and be relaxing on board in as little as 4 hours. This sailing adventure on Kairos is perfect for those looking for a little escapism, relaxation, and new experiences, as well as stunning landscapes and 5* service onboard!

As with all sailing holidays, the itinerary is not set until closer to the time, but be assured that this cruise will see you exploring the magnificent coastline of the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian coastal towns and islands of Korcula, Mijet, Hvar and Vis as you sail towards the final destination of Trogir.

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The Croatian Islands

Your first stop is likely to be the ancient UNESCO city of Dubrovnik and one of the world’s most magnificent walled cities. During the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world but today, visitors come here for leisure.  The main draw is the charming pedestrian-only old town, packed with history and elegant Baroque churches, contained within the breathtaking medieval fortifications

Vis is the furthest island from the coast and by far the most enigmatic and bohemian. Sleepy villages, traditional Croatian architecture and secluded bays make this island a great “get-away”. Wander the ancient city walls, snorkel in the hidden bays and explore its fascinating sea caves.

Hvar is one of the Croatian islands most luxurious beach destinations. The island is famous for its abandoned ancient hamlets, craggy peaks, vineyards and glorious lavender fields.

Mljet is a national park and one of Croatia’s greenest islands. It is home to crystal-clear waters, beautiful shorelines, and sandy beaches. The waters around Mjlet are at a higher temperature than the sea and are full of marine life, so there are plenty of exploring, swimming and snorkelling opportunities. Stroll around the two famous saltwater lakes or even visit the legendary Odysseus Cave.

Korcula is the largest of the three islands you will visit and has, of course, with all these beautiful islands, plenty of places to explore, swim and snorkel in crystal clear waters along stretches of sandy beaches. Korcula is known as ‘little-Dubrovnik’ and will take your breath away with its magnificent medieval architecture and fortresses. With romantic cobbled streets and cafes and bars serving the best white Croatian wines, this is the perfect place to unwind and watch the world go by.

Read more about what to expect whilst sailing here in our guide to island hopping in south Croatia. 

All voyages for Kairós

Kairós

Guest berths: 16 Rig: Bermuda Schooner

Offering guests a sailing holiday experience with luxury at the heart of everything she does, Kairós is a purpose-built charter vessel designed with the beautifully elegant lines of a classic boat. Spending her winters exploring Cape Verde, Kairos moves into the Med for the summer, offering sailing holidays in Croatia, Corfu and Italy.

This beautiful luxurious schooner was designed by Klaus Röder in 2007, who based his design on a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern-day schooners, built for performance sailing and guest comfort. Kairós offers berths for up to 16 guests, a total of six private en-suite double cabins with full walk-in shower cubicles, one twin cabin with a small wet room ensuite, and one small double cabin with a small wet room ensuite; these private cabins all have to air-condition. The well-appointed deckhouse has its very own small bar whilst below decks offers still more space to relax, from the saloon with its plasma TV to its very own library for relaxing while underway.

Built with luxury in mind, the outline on the deck is of teak and mahogany with plenty of space to sunbathe, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! The crew are, however, more than happy for guests to get involved with the operation and sailing of Kairós as much as they would like!

An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into the warm Mediterranean waters, have a swim and climb back aboard with ease. Kairós also offers her guests the option of using her water skiing, wakeboard, tube riding and snorkelling equipment!

The professional crew consists of the Skipper, first mate, mechanic, bosun, cook and two stewards, so you will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Kairós.

Cabins explained :
Deluxe Cabin: This cabin has one large double bed and an ensuite with a walk-in shower cubical.
Twin Cabin:  This cabin has two twin bunk berths with an ensuite toilet and shower wet room.
Small Double Cabin:  This cabin has one small double bed and an ensuite toilet and shower wet room. It is suitable for solo travellers or two young guests.

Read more about what to expect from life onboard here.

Deck plan

Life on board 

Our sailing holidays on board Kairós are ones of luxury, style and comfort while exploring sunshine destinations and unforgettable locations. A purpose built charter vessel, Kairós was designed with the elegant sailing lines of a traditional classic boat and is perfect for couples or multi-generational families looking for a luxury adventure on the water.

Authentic Sailing Fun

Sailing with Kairós is certainly one of comfort and relaxation. Think of a boutique, intimate classic sailing experience where nothing is too much trouble. Her dedicated and professional crew are highly trained and well-versed in a smooth sailing operation. 

She has an impressive sail area and her rig is electronically operated with retractable sails so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! That being said, there are still traditional pin and tails if guests want to have a taste of authentic sailing. 

Although there is less focus on the “hands-on” sailing of Kairós, the Captain and crew offer interesting sailing talks and information briefs for guests during the voyage. Learn about the history of the boat, its sailing terms and even take a tour of the engine room if you fancy! Understanding these elegant classic vessels and feeling their power with the wind is truly an unforgettable experience.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Every space on Kairós is considered with the guests at the forefront of all design. From the spacious saloon, private ensuite cabins clad in tropical wood to the sweeping open decks with plenty of sun lounging spaces – the boat is certainly oozing 5* luxury.

The generously proportioned cabins all have plenty of luggage storage, full size domestic showers and air conditioning units. Kairós has six double cabins and two smaller twin bunks. All bedding, towels and a robe per person are included in the ticket price. Each cabin is named by the winds of the sea and this matches the allocated swim towel set for guests, so if you leave it drying on deck, a member of crew will deliver it back to your cabin when dry. 

Daily cabin service is also part of the offering. A member of the crew will make your bed and freshen up your bathroom every day and if you want a towel change or full cabin clean, just leave the relevant sign on the cabin door! 

Eating and Entertainment

Although the day is punctuated by meal times, you certainly don’t feel like you’re running on a schedule. The relaxed nature of both the boat and the crew give a perfect balance. 

Depending on the voyage location, the daily routine can change and is flexible depending on the wishes of the group. Perhaps sit back and relax as the crew set the sails to another remote anchorage to enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and the on-board water toys! Or spend the morning swimming in a secluded bay or exploring an ancient port city before setting the sails to a new location. 

Start the day with a rich buffet style breakfast, on to a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon before finishing the day with a freshly cooked dinner. For every voyage on Kairós, guests enjoy a meal ashore at their own expense to really immerse themselves in to the local culture and cuisine. Guests tend to go off in their own groups but sometimes the crew can join in if guests are unsure of the best spots!

Depending on the mood of the group, the crew can arrange some light hearted entertainment too – from local musicians over dinner to a friendly on-board music quiz (which is always amusing with international guests!) or even a wine tasting session (at an extra cost).

Water-toys

For those water lovers with a sense of adventure, Kairós has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding and tube riding are all chargeable once on board. Kairós offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption. The onboard currency is EUROS and guests can open an on-board account which can be paid at the end of your voyage.

Kit List

Kairos has plenty of storage space in every cabin but please consider bringing your items in a soft suitcase or bag as hard cases can be harder to store in your cabin. We recommend a travelling light principal with lots of lightweight, easy-drying layers. Below is a list of recommended items. These are not mandatory, and those who have sailed before may have their preferences!

The dress code is always casual – our only request is not to wear swimsuits at mealtimes!

• Light shoes/trainers (with good grip)
• Flip flips, sandals
• Swimsuits
• Lightweight clothes (t-shirts, shorts, trousers, dresses, cardigans etc)

It can be a few degrees colder out at sea, so please bring layers even if the forecast seems like a warm week!

• Windproof and waterproof jacket/coat

• Sun cream (please use reef-safe, eco products where possible) 
• Sunglasses and a sun hat/cap
• Small personal first aid kit and any medication you may need
• Personal wash kit (please use reef-safe, eco products where possible)
• Cash – EUROS

• Charging cables for personal devices
• EU 2pin adaptor for use in cabins
• A good book to read!
• Consider a small backpack/bag for onshore exploring.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be not more than 12 miles offshore.

*Please note passengers sailing on Chronos, Rhea or Kariós do not require personal accident cover, only health insurance. 

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals* on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea) *One meal is eaten ashore at the customers own expense.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Meat eaters and vegetarians only please.

• Are there any added extras?

  One meal is eaten ashore at the guests expense. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased on board. Water-sports are not included.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Kairos has 6 Deluxe Double Cabins Ensuite (10m2), 1 Standard Double Cabin Ensuite (8m2) and 1 Twin Bunk Cabin Ensuite (8m2) (latter 2 cabins are really well suited to younger sailors and solo travellers).

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have portholes.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Are bedding and towels included?

  All bedding, a hand towel, bath towel, swim towel and bathrobe is included per person.

• Is there a hairdryer on board?

  Yes, there is a hair dryer in each cabin.

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Kairos does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating/air conditioning onboard?

  Yes.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew! There will be an honesty box available at the end of your voyage (as a general guide, a 5-10% tip based on your ticket price)

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.

• Is there WIFI on board?

  When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan. There is chargeable access to Starlink on all voyages. You can buy vouchers once on board if required.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes, there are 2pin EU sockets throughout the boat so please bring an adaptor if needed.

• What is the currency on board?

  Euro's

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Kairos is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy. There is an admiralty ladder and there will always be a crew member to steady.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not!

• Does the boat have any water toys?

  Yes, Kairos has water skis, wakeboard, tube-riding, snorkelling. For activities that require pulling with a dinghy we charge €1 per minute of use.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

Travel Planning

From: Cavtat

To: Trogir

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

GETTING THERE

Cavtat

BY AIR

Dubrovnik Airport is a 6 minute taxi ride into Cavtat.

Flights go to Dubrovnik Airport from London Heathrow, London Stansted, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Nottingham/East Midlands Airport with Jet2, TUI and British Airways.

GETTING HOME

Trogir

BY AIR

Split Airport is an 8 minute taxi ride into Trogir. You can also get the no. 37 bus operated by Promet Split, which only takes 10 minutes and runs every 20 minutes.

Flights go to Dubrovnik Airport from London Heathrow, London Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh with Jet2, British Airways, Croatia Airlines and Wizz Air.