walking in Dalmatia?

While you're in Korcula you should definitely do the walk up Sveti Ilija. It can be reached from Orebic, just across the channel from Korcula and connected by regular passenger boats in summer. The trail is well signposted from the Franciscan Monastery above Orebic. At 961m it's not quite as intimidating as Biokovo - which I've never tackled, there is something about that mountain that I find scary just to look at! But of course starting from sea level it's not to be taken lightly. There is a little bit of shade on parts of the trail, but as almost everywhere on the Croatian Adriatic coast, there are long sections very exposed to the sun (and to sun reflecting off the exposed limestone). Once you get to the top the views are truly awe-inspiring - because the Peljesac peninsula extends so far out from the mainland there is something interesting in every direction.

I don't know where else you are thinking of going in Dalmatia. The islands of Lopud and Sipan are good for gentler walking if you happen to be in that region, as is Mljet, which has more shade than almost any other island. There's also a good walk up Vidova Gora in Brac (although again quite exposed to the sun, but shorter so you could easily avoid the hottest hours), and some marked trails around Komiza on Vis Island.

If you can get hold of the Sunflower Guide to Croatia by Sandra Bardwell, it has some good suggestions for walks of various lengths.

Thanks, Alan! So the Sveti Ilija walk would be something like a 3/4 hour thing all together? We are thinking of 4 or 5 nights on Korcula, hopefully in an apartment, and then another couple on the mainland somewhere. So not sure how many other islands we might get to visit, as I think relaxing will be a major draw too!

Is there anywhere you can get up some way by public transport to cut down on the long slog up? Or anywhere you'd recommend as a place to stay should we go back from Korcula to Split by road?

Edited by: suiko

My guidebook gives a distance of 14.4km and estimated time of 5 hours 45 minutes for the return trip, I'm fairly sure it didn't take me that long, but it's probably best to allow that much to be on the safe side. I suppose you could take a taxi to the Franciscan Monastery or perhaps a little bit further on along a dirt road, which would save you maybe 150m of altitude gain. But from there onwards it's a narrow path without vehicle access.

Lopud and Sipan are accessible from Dubrovnik on local ferries so you could spend a half day walking on either if you are staying in Dubrovnik.

Edited by: alan1972

We won't be staying in Dubrovnik, I don't think. The idea is really to make trips from Korcula, so maybe a day trip to Dubrovnik if we feel like it. What's the terrain like on the Sveti Iliya walk?

I'd call it a fairly straightforward walk, it's a popular and well-trodden path in decent condition, obviously there is a fair bit of ascent and potentially a lot of heat, but apart from that it's not difficult - so long as you bring enough water!

There are also some walking possibilities in inland Korcula, I didn't get the chance to explore them much as I ran into some very wet weather last September. I did find a nice place called Kocje with strange rock outcrops surrounded by a mossy forest - very unusual vegetation for a Croatian island. It is near Zrnovo village but I wouldn't be able to give directions, you'd need to ask a tourist office.

A daytrip to Dubrovnik from Korcula would involve long hours on a bus or boat and probably is only possible on an organised excursion. Mljet Island is much closer and well worth visiting if there is an organised excursion to the National Park on the right day for you.

If you're interested I have some photos of Sveti Ilija and the other places I mentioned in this gallery.

[http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/151261/biokovo.html]

[http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/154432/sveti-ilija-st-elias-peljesac.html]

[http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/152906/mosor.html]

Thanks for all the great pictures! You certainly did have some dodgy weather last September.

It seems from the boat times that we'll have to go down the coast by bus and then across to Korcula, as the only ferry leaves Split much too early for the flight connection. Seems to work to go back to Split by ferry though. Where is nice to stay between Split and Orebic?

As for Biokovo, which option do you like best, Pszeker? It seems two days would be best, but I understand the refuge is only open at the weekend (just Saturday??), which could be tricky for us. Alternatively, are there any good shorter walks, maybe that don't go right up to the summit?

It seems from the boat times that we'll have to go down the coast by bus and then across to Korcula, as the only ferry leaves Split much too early for the flight connection. Seems to work to go back to Split by ferry though. Where is nice to stay between Split and Orebic?

Are you saying that you are flying into Split and need to get from there to Korcula? Doing this by bus could be a little awkward, as you need to somehow get onto the Peljesac peninsula in the first place. Maybe you could stay somewhere around Ston (a very nice place) and then pick up one of the rather infrequent buses between Dubrovnik and Orebic (probably about 3 per day, of which one continues to Korcula on the ferry). However this is not the shortest way, which would involve a short ferry ride to the northern end of Peljesac, the exact location has slipped my mind for the moment.

Have you checked ferries to Vela Luka at the other end of Korcula island (these are met by buses to Korcula)? This is a very pleasant way to get there as the ship passes close to Brac and Hvar. If the times don't suit maybe you could stay overnight in Split and get this ferry in the morning.

Yes, we'll be coming from Split. I checked the Jadrolinija site, and no results came up for Vela Luka. That would obviously be a useful option.