Kolocep

Holidays to Kolocep deposit you on one of Croatia’s most arresting islands, where the relaxed pace of life, the serene beaches, and the hidden ruins are just some of the highlights.

Koločep

Book a cruise getaway to the beautiful Elaphiti Island of Koločep and you can expect warm weather, quiet beaches and traditional fishing villages that transport you to another time. Cruise & Stay holidays to Croatia don’t get better than this.

A jewel off the coast of Dubrovnik

Croatia has become a popular destination over the years, with tourists flocking to the famous walled city of Dubrovnik as one of their main ports of call there. However, by boasting terracotta roofs and Medieval architecture, Koločep has much of the charm of its neighbouring city — and it’s that bit more untouched. This car-free island has a small population and, with its clean air and peaceful evenings, Koločep provides a welcome escape from the modern world.

Charming twin villages

Life on Koločep is centred around two settlements – quiet Gornje Čelo and livelier Donje Čelo, both of which have excellent beaches. The villages are clustered around small bays and are linked by walkways that cut through the centre of the island, passing smaller resort areas. Small villages aside, this island belongs to nature. The coastline of tiny coves, and rolling hills of olive groves and pine trees, make Koločep a wonderful holiday spot for nature lovers.

Exploring the sights

One of the most striking things about this unassuming little island is the surprising number of historic sites and ruins you’ll see here. Several pre-Romanesque churches can be found on Koločep, with the oldest dating back to the 9th century. The island is also home to the atmospheric Blue Cave, which you can access by boat and is a nice place to take a quick dip — just remember to bring an underwater camera if you have one.

Visiting Dubrovnik

From Donje Čelo, you can hop on a ferry and be at Dubrovnik within an hour. Walk along the historic walls, wander through the Lovrijenac fortress and take a cable car up Mount Srđ — if you get your timings right and you could watch the sun go down over the Adriatic. After that, wind your way back to the city centre for a conventional Dalmatian dinner before you hop on the last ferry back to Koločep.