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The Island of the Sun ..
Hvar, interestingly the ancient Persian word for "Sun-God", is rated amongst the 10 most beautiful and sun-drenched islands in the world, and it is one of the richest historically and culturally. Its earliest inhabitants date back to pre-historic times, and it is the center of early Croatian literature, architecture, sculpture, painting and music, second only to Dubrovnik.
Hvar has 299 square kilometers of rocky, pebble and sandy beaches. Legend has it that Venice was built by the time the Venetians reached Hvar, which is why it remains Dalmatia's greenest island. Hvar is surrounded by brush and pine forest, aromatic medicinal herbs such as lavender, sage and rosemary, and is rich with Mediterranean vegetation and exotic wildlife.
With its crystal clear sea, fresh lavender breezes, sleepy ancient villages, and majestic, sun-bleached towns; Hvar is the ideal place - for a magical journey to ancient roots that lay within the land and the very seed of your soul.
travel guide - what to pack |
Spectacular Hvar
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"My sojourn
at Suncokret was the highlight of my trip in Croatia. Evening drove me to her little haven called Suncokret. It
was right in the middle of Hvar in a village called Dol. The drive around
the island through fields of lavender and olive trees felt like I was
on the last few laps of my journey. The air was infused with the sweet
smell of lavender and the salty presence of the sea. The sound of the waves was like symphony
to the soul. There were no emails, no telephones, no outside influence
of any sort, the soul was cleansed and then nourished." - Karen, UK
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Flying to Croatia
There are direct flights to Split from many European destinations. The range increases continually so please check the full route network from the Split Airport website:
Airlines that fly to Croatia:
- Easyjet from London Gatwick
- Wizz from London Luton
- Austrian from Vienna
- Germanwings from Berlin Schonefeld, Cologne, Bonn, Hamburg and Stuttgart
- Lufthansa from Frankfurt/Main International
- SNBrussels Airlines from Brussels
- Norwegian Air from Oslo
- SkyEurope from Bratislava, Prague, Budapest and Kracow
- Croatia Airlines flies from London Gatwick, Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Vienna, Zagreb, Berlin Schonefeld, Dusseldorf, Hannover, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Rome, Athens.
You can also fly to Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Zagreb. From these places, you can easily travel to Split by bus, train or car-rental.
There are also charter flights to Split from UK regional airports like Bristol, Norwich, Birmingham, Southampton, Luton and Manchester.
Busses and Trains
Transport Options from Split Airport to Port
A bus operated by Croatia Airlines departs from just outside the terminal door. You buy the ticket from the driver (Kuna 30). It takes about 30 minutes to get to the city centre.
There is also a local bus that goes to the bus station in Split to and from Trogir every 20 minutes from a stop on the road in front of the Airport Terminal.
A taxi to Split costs about Kuna 250.
The airport bus stop is just outside the old town, at the east end of the Riva. From there you can see the ferry, a short walk away. Next to the bus stop is a ticket booth for Jadrolinija, the ferry company, where you can buy your ferry tickets (Kuna 36 per person, car (Kuna 240 one way).
Alternatively, you can buy them at the ferry terminal itself. There is a left luggage facility opposite the ferries if you want to leave your luggage while you explore Split (Kuna 15 per piece).
Ferry Collection & Drop-Off Service
Complimentary ferry transfer from/to Stari Grad and Jelsa ports is offered on Sundays, as follows:
- Sunday departures from Dol at 10.30 a.m. to Stari Grad port
- Sunday arrivals from Stari Grad port at 16.30, from Stari Grad town at 16.45 and from Jelsa port at 17.30.
*Those traveling outside these hours are kindly asked to hire a taxi to/from the retreat to the port, and to notify us in advance of your travel plans.
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Ferry & Other Travel Options
 To Hvar from Split
The most direct and easy route to get to the island is to fly to Split and get the ferry from there direct to Stari Grad.
These large ferries take cars and foot passengers, and run from Split to Stari Grad, mooring just outside the town, three or four times a day. The journey lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
Tickets are available in Split from booths alongside the ferry and alongside the airport bus stop, and on the Jadrolinija website. This journey is straightforward and offers the chance to enjoy Split, a beautiful town steeped in dramatic history, en route to Hvar.
There are also ferries from Split to Jelsa town on Hvar Island that travels via Bol on nearby Brac Island, which is a short taxi or bus-ride away from Dol or Stari Grad.
From mid May to mid September, there is a fast catamaran service, taking about an hour, from Hvar Town to Split. It is foot passengers only. A bus to Stari Grad leaves from Hvar at 17.10 (queue early to get a seat on board) and arrives at the port at 17.35, where we can collect you on Sundays with advanced notice.
Queues for the car ferry build up fast in the summer, so it is advisable to book ahead if you are taking a car. Foot passengers need not book tickets in advance.
If you arrive in Stari Grad port prior to pick up time, you can take a bus from the port to Stari Grad or Hvar towns to enjoy sightseeing for the day prior to scheduled pick up for Suncokret at the noted times.
Ferry Timetable that Coordinates with Ours
For your convenience, here are some of the most common ferry connections that coordinate well with the retreat arrivals/departures schedule:
To Hvar Island from 1 June -30 September:
- Split - Stari Grad: 14.30, 17.00 (2 hour trip)
- Split - Jelsa: 16.00 (1.5 hour trip)
- Dubrovnik - Stari Grad: Sundays 7.00 (6 hours)
- Rijeka - Stari Grad: Friday 20.00 (arriving Saturday 8.00) - spend a day/night in Split or Stari Grad before check-in on Sunday
From Hvar Island, from 1 June -30 September:
- Stari Grad - Split: 11.30 (2 hour trip)
- Rijeka - Stari Grad: Sunday 17.00 (arriving Monday 7.00)
Many more options available... More info can be found on the Jadrolinija Website
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Overnight in Split
You could take a ferry direct to Stari Grad, but an overnight stay in Split is an enjoyable experience. The attractions and shops stay open until 8pm, so there is time to explore the city even if you get a morning flight to Split. You can then take the ferry to Stari Grad the next day. Here are a variety of places to stay:
- Split Apartments Provide clean but tiny rooms in the old town, just up the hill from Bellevue hotel.
- Bellevue A pleasant overnight stay in the town center.
- Peristil Hotel 3 star, new and just inside the walls of Diocletian's Palace, next to the cathedral.
- Palace Vestibul This is a new, elite boutique hotel in the old town center.
Car Rental
 What to Pack
To ensure your maximum comfort, we recommend that you bring the following:
- Comfortable yoga & safari clothes
- Clothes for various kinds of weather
- Comfortable walking/hiking shoes
- Waterproof beach shoes (for rocky sea bottom)
- 2 or more swimming suits
- Beach towel/sarong
- Mosquito repellant
- Refillable water bottle
- Travel journal
- Ear plugs (if you are sensitive to the sounds of nature)
- Flashlight (for moonlight strolls in Dol)
Yoga mat & protective foam mat are provided to guests free of charge, under the condition that the mat is kept in good condition and you agree to wash it down prior to departure.
Tips on traveling responsibly
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Ferries from Other Croatian Ports
If you are traveling to Hvar from other destinations in Croatia, you may also catch a ferry from Croatian port towns of Split, Dubrovnik (via Mljet), and Rijeka, as well as the neighboring islands of Brac, Vis, and Kortula. More info can be found on the Jadrolinija Website
Traveling Via Dubrovnik
Another good travel option is to fly into Dubrovnik, and travel to the island via direct ferry line, bus to Split and ferry to Stari Grad, or rent a car.
Many airlines (like British Airways and Germanwings) serve both Dubrovnik airports and you can also rent a car to enjoy a drive up the coast. (One option is to pick up your car from Dubrovnik Airport and drop it off at Split Airport, or take it onto the island via ferry.) Dubrovnik is about 200 km down the coast from Split.
Alternatively, you can ferry to the island from Dubrovnik on Sunday at 7 am, and arriving in Stari Grad at 16.30.
You could go get onto the island via the short ferry crossing from Drvenik, about 110km up the coast from Dubrovnik, to beautiful Sucuraj on the eastern end of Hvar Island, from where it is an adventurous and scenic drive to Stari Grad. Public transport is not good, however, so it is a difficult option without a car.
Or, you could take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split and get the ferry from there.
Traveling via Italy
You could combine a visit to Venice or Trieste in Italy, both of which are served by a variety of low cost airlines.
Ryanair flies to Ancona From Italy you can also take the ferry from Ancona or Pescara direct to Stari Grad or Split. More info can be found on these two websites: BlueLine & Snav.
EasyJet flies from London Stanstead to Venice, where you could then catch a bus to Rijeka and take the Jadrolinija ferry overnight down the coast to Stari Grad (via Split).
Further south, you can go from Bari to Dubrovnik via Jadrolinija and either travel up the coast by bus to Split or take the ferry from Dubrovnik to Stari Grad on Sunday morning.
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