Sail between Croatia's unspoilt islands

With more than 1000 lush islands bobbing in its translucent Adriatic Sea, Croatia was simply made for leisurely sailing holidays.

Whether you want to sample grilled John Dory in a fortified medieval city, hike mountainous outcrops, anchor in a tranquil cove and dive into warm turquoise sea or play Robinson Crusoe on a near-deserted islet, Croatia's unspoilt islands offer an idyllic Mediterranean vacation.

Even the increasing popularity of islands like Korcula and Hvar hasn't detracted from their laid-back ambiance and pristine beauty. Less-discovered islands such as Silba, Lastovo and Vis have precious little development and are perfect for those wanting to get away from it all.

The islands scattered along the Dalmatian Coast (on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea) are among the loveliest, taking in the likes of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis, Lastovo and Mljet. This stretch is also renown for its warm, clean water and consistent sailing winds.

Don't come to the Croatian islands expecting sweeping golden-sand beaches: most of the coastline here is rocky and many of the beaches consist of giant slabs of rock.

Croatia's 6,000 kilometres of coastline can be explored in a number of ways. Chartering a boat with a captain can be surprisingly inexpensive if you have a group of people willing to share the cost. Otherwise, in the high season (May to September) frequent ferry and hydrofoil services whiz between islands, transporting holidaymakers between idyllic green islets and medieval towns. Water taxis are a good option for getting away from the crowds and accessing some of the smaller outlying uninhabited islands.