I only had to glance at the photos of the Dalmatian Coast to get excited when I was told my first trip with KE would be to Croatia!  With its beautiful beaches and spectacular landscape, it was with delight, some months later, that I packed my things and set off for Manchester Airport.

Needless to say, my expectations were entirely met. The tour began with a captivating hike up Mount Snjeznica, the highest peak in Southern Croatia.  At it's summit, a chapel dedicated to St Elijah (after whom the summit is named) is nestled in the rocky terrain.  Unlike anything I have seen on the tops of the Lake District's peaks, this provided a glimpse of the fantastical nature of the Dalmatian Coast which attracted the makers of 'Game of Thrones' to use Dubrovnik for filming the fictional 'King’s Landing'.

Ending this day at a small village in the Konavle valley, we were able to taste some local liqueurs and snacks and take a stroll along the mini canals before dinner. We certainly felt as though we had stumbled upon something very special, and something that we never would have discovered without a local guide.

The following day took us to the island of Lopud with a hike up to the ruins of a Spanish fort dating back to the 16th century.

Trekking through time is a theme that runs for the duration of the trip; next stop was Ston. Now a picturesque town, it was once a major fort of the Ragusan Republic. The most dominating reminder of this is its formidable city wall, a section of which was part of our walking route, and the provider of some excellent views across the Dalmatian archipelago. After a short ferry ride, this day ended on the island of Mljet at a hotel right by the water, overlooking a small harbour.

The following day we were off exploring Mljet National Park, which comprises a significant chunk of the island complete with gorgeous lakes. We walked along one such lakeshore and then up Montokuc peak. With our walking concluded by early afternoon, there was time for a swim before a drive back to the ferry terminal for our journey to the countryside surrounding Orebic.

The final day of walking took place in the hills nearby Orebic, taking in a 16th century church and monastery. We then took a quick water taxi to Korcula, and spent the afternoon exploring the town.

And so onto our final day, a drive to Dubrovnik punctuated by a stop at a winery. Dubrovnik’s beauty goes without saying. It is a spectacular city and an obvious treat for Game of Thrones fans, with costumed extras ambling around and parts of the city dressed with props.

As is the nature of an island hopping tour, each day brings with it a body of clear blue water to cross and little towns to explore. The sense of adventure is emphasised by the apparent lack of other tourists throughout the week. The other highlight for me was the fantastic food. Not necessarily best known for its cuisine, Croatia did not disappoint in this area.

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