More Sailing in Croatia: The dreamiest way to see Croatia
Come with me on one of the most relaxing adventures I’ve ever had.
I’ve just returned from an incredible trip sailing around Croatia with More Sailing about their White Ivy catamaran and honestly, it felt like stepping into a postcard. You know those holidays where every photo looks ridiculously beautiful and yet somehow the reality is even better? This was one of those trips.
I’ve travelled to Croatia several times over the years and it’s always been one of my favourite European destinations. The food is incredible, the coastline is stunning and those little stone villages look like they’ve barely changed for centuries. But seeing Croatia from the water gave me a completely different perspective.
This wasn’t a holiday filled with early alarms, packed itineraries or rushing from one attraction to the next. It was slow travel at its absolute best.
Every day followed the most wonderful rhythm. We’d wake up somewhere beautiful, enjoy breakfast on deck as the town slowly came to life around us, sail across sparkling blue water, swim in hidden coves and arrive somewhere new by evening.
It was adventure and relaxation rolled into one and I loved every minute of it.
Setting sail from Trogir
Our sailing adventure began in Trogir, a gorgeous historic town just a short drive from Split Airport. I arrived a day early so I had 24 hours to explore Split and then the next day I caught the bus to Trogir. More Sailing passengers are able to leave their luggage at the office so you can explore Trogir before the boat departs.
If you’ve never been to Trogir before, it’s worth arriving a little early to explore. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s exactly the kind of place I could happily wander around for hours. Think narrow cobbled streets, honey-coloured stone buildings and little cafés tucked away in tiny squares.
As I walked through the marina towards White Ivy, our home for a few days, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and nerves that comes before a new adventure.
There were eight guests on board our beautiful catamaran along with our skipper, Magnus, and host, Ronya, who would be looking after us throughout the week.
I always think one of the nicest things about trips like this is that everyone starts as strangers but quickly becomes friends. There’s something about travelling together that breaks down barriers very quickly.
Within a few hours we were chatting, laughing and settling into life on board. And what a lovely life it turned out to be.
Life aboard White Ivy
Before this trip, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from a sailing holiday.
Would there be enough space? Would I feel trapped? Would I get bored?
The answer to all of those questions was a very definite no.
White Ivy was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. There was plenty of room to spread out, whether that meant lounging on deck with a book, sitting in the shade chatting with new friends or stretching out at the front of the boat watching the sea glide by beneath us.
One of the highlights was having our wonderful host preparing fresh breakfasts, lunches, snacks, drinks and cakes throughout the trip.
Every morning we’d enjoy breakfast on deck while watching the world wake up around us.
Some mornings we’d be sitting in a bustling marina and one morning we’d dropped an anchor in a sheltered bay and we were surrounded by nothing but crystal-clear water and distant islands.
It’s a pretty spectacular way to start the day.
First stop: Maslinica on Solta Island
Our first destination was Maslinica, a tiny village on Solta Island. Honestly, it was exactly what I imagine when I think of idyllic Croatia.
The harbour was lined with beautiful stone buildings and waterfront restaurants, while small fishing boats bobbed gently in the marina. The sea was so clear that you could see right down to the bottom.
After we’d moored up, we wandered through the village, stopping for drinks and soaking up the atmosphere.
One of the things I loved most throughout this trip was how peaceful yet bustling everywhere felt.
These weren’t places packed with tour buses and souvenir shops. They were real villages where local people live, work and spend their evenings chatting by the waterfront. There were families and tourists and there was a bustling, excited energy but it was still calm and peaceful.
That evening we enjoyed dinner overlooking the harbour as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. It was one of those moments where I felt very lucky to be right here doing this.
The simple joy of sailing
One thing that surprised me was how much I enjoyed the actual sailing. I know that probably sounds ridiculous considering this was a sailing holiday, but I had genuinely been a little nervous.
Partly because I suffer quite badly from motion sickness. Yes, I know. A travel blogger who gets travel sick. It’s not exactly ideal.
Before the trip I had visions of spending the entire week feeling seasick and regretting my life choices. Thankfully, armed with a healthy supply of motion sickness tablets, I was absolutely fine. Even during a few hours when the sea became a little rougher, I felt surprisingly good.
Most of the time the sailing was incredibly smooth and I was able to sit on deck reading my book (something I can’t normally do without feeling sick), watching the coastline drift by and occasionally looking up to admire the endless shades of blue stretching out around us.
There’s something incredibly calming about being out on the water.
No traffic.
No emails.
No endless to-do lists.
Just the sound of the waves and the wind filling the sails.
Swimming in hidden bays
One of the best parts of each day was when we’d stop in secluded bays along the way. Magnus would find a sheltered spot, drop anchor and suddenly we’d have our own little slice of paradise.
The water in Croatia is astonishingly clear. It’s like a travel brochure yet somehow it’s even more dazzling.The kind of water where you can see fish swimming beneath you and every detail of the seabed below.
Some people jumped straight in, others snorkelled, some stretched out on deck and soaked up the sunshine.
I alternated between swimming, reading and doing absolutely nothing at all.
At one point, a man arrived on a colourful little boat with his tunes blaring and offering to make an impressive array of cocktails! We had Cuba Libres all round and felt lucky to be alive as the rum (lots of rum!) hit our blood streams and we looked around at this incredible place.
Now I mean that in the best possible way….
I’m normally someone who likes to make the most of every minute when I travel. I love exploring and discovering new places. But this trip reminded me that sometimes doing less is actually the whole point.
Falling in love with Stari Grad
Our second evening brought us to Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. Now, most people immediately think of Hvar Town when they hear Hvar. And while Hvar Town is undoubtedly beautiful, I completely fell in love with Stari Grad.
It’s one of the oldest towns in Europe and has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
The waterfront is lined with palm trees, cafés and restaurants, while little streets disappear into a maze of stone houses and hidden courtyards.
It felt so authentic and while it was bustling and lively, it also felt unhurried and calm. The sort of place where you naturally slow down and start noticing small details.
We spent the evening wandering through the streets before settling down for dinner and a few glasses of wine.
As darkness fell, the harbour lights reflected on the water and the whole town seemed to glow.
It was absolutely magical.
The evening that felt like a secret
One of my favourite memories from the entire trip came a few days later when we moored in a small bay for the night. There wasn’t a village and there wasn’t a marina. Just a peaceful bay surrounded by nature and a restaurant tucked away along the shoreline.
To reach it, we climbed into the dinghy and headed ashore and I think that’s what made it feel so special. It felt like we’d discovered a secret place that only boaters knew about!
The restaurant overlooked the water and as the sun began to set, everything was bathed in golden light.
Dinner stretched on for hours as we chatted, laughed and watched the colours change across the bay.
By the time we returned to the boat, the stars were out and the water was perfectly still.
Moments like that are difficult to explain. They’re not necessarily the biggest or most dramatic moments of a trip, but somehow they become the memories that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
Why sailing feels so different
I’ve done plenty of road trips over the years. I’ve taken trains across countries, flown between islands and spent countless hours exploring destinations by car.
But sailing feels completely different.
When you’re travelling by boat, the journey becomes part of the experience rather than simply a way to get from A to B.
You’re not rushing. You’re not sitting in traffic. You’re not worrying about directions or parking. Instead, you’re enjoying every moment in between destinations.
Some of my favourite memories from this trip weren’t tied to any particular place. They were the moments spent stretched out on deck with the sunshine on my face. Jumping into the sea and chatting with new friends over lunch.
Those little moments became just as important as the destinations themselves.
The perfect holiday for people who struggle to switch off
I think one of the reasons I loved this trip so much is because it forced me to slow down.
Like many people, I’m not very good at doing nothing. I always feel like I should be exploring more, seeing more or ticking more things off my list. But sailing naturally creates space to relax and think or just read a book without feeling guilty.
For the first time in a long time, I found myself completely present.
I wasn’t worrying about work and definitely wasn’t checking my phone every five minutes. I was simply enjoying where I was. And that felt pretty wonderful.
Why choose More Sailing?
The simple answer is that More Sailing make sailing holidays incredibly easy and accessible, even if you’ve never set foot on a sailboat before.
More Sailing was founded in 2009 by Swedish couple Einar Halldin and Malin Stom after what was supposed to be a one-week sailing holiday in Croatia turned into a seven-week adventure. Inspired by the experience, they came home with a mission to make sailing available to everyone, not just experienced sailors.
Today, the company has grown into one of Scandinavia’s leading sailing holiday brands, operating a fleet of more than 60 boats across Croatia, Greece, Italy, the Caribbean and Sweden.
What appealed to me most was how straightforward the whole experience felt. You don’t need any sailing experience whatsoever. Every trip includes a professional skipper and host who take care of the navigation, safety and day-to-day running of the boat. If you’d like to get involved and learn about sailing, you can. If you’d rather stretch out on deck with a book and a glass of wine, that’s perfectly acceptable too.
Another huge plus is that almost everything is organised for you. Flights, transfers, accommodation on board, meals, equipment and the sailing itself can all be arranged as part of the experience. It takes away so much of the planning that normally comes with an island-hopping holiday.
I also loved the social aspect. Because you can book individual cabins, it’s a fantastic option for couples, groups of friends and solo travellers. Our boat had a lovely mix of people and after a few days it felt like we’d all known each other much longer than a few days.
More Sailing owns both its fleet and its home marinas in Croatia and Greece, which means they have a high level of control over the quality of the experience. The company has built a strong reputation over the past 15 years and currently holds an impressive 4.9-star rating on Google Reviews.
The age of the guests aboard More Sailing trips was also appealing to me! There are other sailing companies in Croatia offering a more 18-30s style holiday and there’s a real party boat vibe onboard. Which I would have loved in my 20s but I’m too old for that! More Sailing is for guests who are a little more mature.
Another thing worth mentioning is the sustainability aspect. Sailing is naturally one of the lower-impact ways to travel, with much of the journey powered by wind rather than engines. Combined with small group sizes and a focus on local suppliers and restaurants, it feels like a much more thoughtful way to explore a destination.
What stood out to me most, though, was the atmosphere. There was a genuine focus on making sure everyone felt relaxed, comfortable and looked after. More Sailing’s philosophy is summed up by co-founder Einar Halldin’s simple belief: “If we’re happy, the guests are happy.”
After sailing around Croatia with them, I’d say that’s a philosophy they’re getting very right.
More Sailing for solo travellers and couples
One of the things I love about More Sailing is that you can book individual spaces on the boat rather than hiring the whole boat. That makes it a fantastic option for couples, friends or even solo travellers looking to join a group adventure for an affordable price. This feels like such a luxurious, millionaire-style holiday but, realistically, it’s a similar cost to an all inclusive hotel.
One thing you do need to be aware of though is that it’s only double beds. There are no twin rooms (or there weren’t on White Ivy anyway) so
The atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming and incredibly easy-going.
By the end of our trip it genuinely felt like we’d known each other for much longer than a few days.
Final thoughts
Croatia is already one of the most beautiful countries in Europe but seeing it from the water takes the experience to another level.
The hidden bays.
The tiny harbours.
The sleepy fishing villages.
The endless swimming stops.
The sunsets.
The feeling of waking up somewhere new every morning.
It all combines to create a type of holiday that’s difficult to compare to anything else. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of holiday (that I’m secretly hoping I can do more than once!)
What I loved most was the balance.
It was adventurous enough to feel exciting and memorable, yet relaxing enough that I returned home feeling genuinely refreshed.
For someone who normally struggles to sit still on holiday, that’s saying something.
If you’re looking for a different way to experience Croatia, I’d wholeheartedly recommend a sailing trip.
It’s one of those rare holidays that manages to slow time down.
And honestly, I can’t think of many better ways to spend a week than sailing between beautiful Croatian islands, swimming in turquoise water and ending each day with good food, good wine and spectacular sunsets.
Practical details
I sailed with More Sailing on board the White Ivy catamaran as part of a island-hopping itinerary from Trogir. It would normally be an 8-day trip (Saturday to Saturday) but this was a media trip and it was shortened to 4 days.
The price includes breakfast, lunches, drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks), snacks and cakes! You eat out for dinner each evening, either as a group or individually.
The route included beautiful destinations such as Solta Island and Hvar, along with plenty of hidden bays and swimming stops along the way. A typical route in Croatia would be Trogir ? Šolta ? Bra? ? Hvar ? Vis ? Pakleni Islands ? Trogir. A classic route combining lively harbour towns, secluded bays, world-famous Hvar nightlife, and the unspoiled island of Vis.
One of the best things about More Sailing is that you can book individual cabins, making it an easy option whether you’re travelling as a couple, with friends or on your own.
You can find more information about their Croatia sailing holidays here.
Trust me, if you’ve ever dreamed of sailing around Croatia, this is a pretty dreamy way to do it.
