We set sail from the port of Rab at 9.30 a.m. We sail by the northernmost cape of Pag Island, the small, macchia-covered islet Dolfin, the islet Trstenik, and Punta Križ on Cres Island. We reach Lošinj around 11.20 a.m. (if we encounter dolphins along the way, we stop to watch them for about 15 minutes), and we stop in Valdarka Cove, where we remain until 2.30 p.m.
In the meantime, lunch is served to guests who have paid for this service. After lunch, we sail for about 10 minutes to Veli Lošinj and dock in the centre of the town. We leave at 4 p.m. and, depending on the weather, we sail either to the islet Oruda or the Melna Cove on Cres Island, where we drop our anchor and let you enjoy a good swim.
Finally, we set sail for Rab, where we arrive around 6.15 – 6.30 p.m. Throughout the entire trip, our crew will provide you with a commentary on all sights in five languages.
Lunch: fish or meat, salad, bread
Price of excursion: 45 EUR
Price of lunch: 15 EUR
Sights to see
You can take a 15-minute walk from Valdarka Cove to Mali Lošinj. Along the way, stop at the Island Garden of Fine Scents, where you will find specimens of all types of plants growing in this region. This will also be an opportunity for you to taste unique beverages produced from aromatic herbs, sit on the terrace of an authentic island house and enjoy the view, browse the unique herbal products, and learn many interesting thing about these plants. This is where you can also meet Dragan the donkey. Once the main means of island transportation, donkeys are a rare sight today.
Today, Mali Lošinj is the largest island town of the Adriatic. Its beginnings date back to the 12th century, and the town experienced rapid development in the late 17th and the 18th century through shipping, shipbuilding and trade. In the early 20th century, it experienced a renaissance in the form of tourism, resulting in the construction of many villas and summer homes. Take a stroll through the town, enjoy its port and its many small churches, and see the bronze sculpture of the Greek athlete Apoxiomen. A decade ago, this 2,000-year-old sculpture was found in the sea near the islet of Oruda. After having been fully restored, it is now on display in all its splendour.
Veli Lošinj is the island’s oldest town and, in our opinion, the loveliest. Crowded with old seaside houses painted in bright colours, the picturesque, small port is dominated on its left by a large 17th century baroque church and a 15th century Venetian bell tower. Built on the foundations of a chapel from the 15th century, the church houses the richest collection of sacred paintings of any of the islands of the Kvarner Bay. If you’re interested in contemporary art, visit the gallery located in a four-century-old defence tower.
The Dolphin Research Institute “Plavi Svijet” is also located in Veli Lošinj. In the late 19th century, Archduke Charles Stephen had a castle, called Seewarte (Sea Watch), built on the slopes of the hill overlooking the port. Because of the island’s beneficial climate, the castle has been transformed into a hospital for allergy-based respiratory diseases. A stroll through this small town with its many beautiful vistas is sure to make a lasting impression!
