Croatia

Imagine Pompeii as a 21st-century town and you have a sense of the port of Split. At its heart is the palace of Roman emperor Diocletian, who retired here in 305 A.D. (for a bit of shuffleboard with the other former emperors). In the maze of surrounding streets you’ll find an incredible mix of historic sites and trendy cafés and bistros.

Bring your best pig (or we’ll get you one) to the annual truffle hunt at Buzet, in the wooded northern province of Istria. Then join past prizewinners as they feast on the world’s largest truffle omelet. At nearby Vrh Inn in Vrh (try saying that three times), they do an amazing pasta stuffed with truffles, mushrooms and asparagus. Topped off with mistletoe brandy, it’s the Istrian meal you’ve always dreamed about.

Of course you have to explore Brač, Miljet and the other spectacular islands off the Dalmatian Coast. We recommend a chartered yacht for doing it in style. Each day your captain can drop you, your bikes and your guide at one end of an island, then sail on to a secluded cove where you can meet for lunch.

On Korčula you can follow peaceful roads through pristine forest, sun-baked vineyards and groves of olive and fig trees. Then there’s Hvar, an off-the-radar St-Tropez (we’ll make sure you get VIP access to the best clubs and parties), but also an idyllic world of undulating hills  – not to mention sunbathers – that remain luxuriant despite being in the sunniest part of Croatia.

When not relaxing on your yacht, you can island-hop by kayak (accompanied by dolphins) from Lopud to other gems of the Elaphiti group – stopping to swim, snorkel and picnic on hidden beaches. And when you’ve finished your exploration of the Dalmatian Coast, how about a few days in a fully staffed house in the heart of old Dubrovnik?

Wherever we create your Croatian experience, count on an ideal blend of culture and nature in a place so confident of sunshine that boutique hotels actually lower their rates on cloudy days.