Ston is a perfect spot to start your private wine and oysters tour
Ston’s natural lake-like bay has hosted mussel and oyster farms since Roman times and is a perfect spot to start your private wine and oysters tour in Croatia. After being tendered to shore after an early lunch onboard, you will be welcomed by your guide, who has your bikes all ready to go. One final group picture and then it is time to hop onto your bikes and embark on your journey, taking in the scenery of vineyards and olive groves as you pedal along the country roads.
Kuna Pelješka
You will pass Kuna Pelješka, a small village known for its historic wine cooperative and also for the works of the modern painter of early 1900s, Celestin Medović. Leaving Kuna Pelješka it is time for one of the most scenic parts of the route towards Trstenik, a picturesque village set in a quiet bay and home to the wine cellar of Mike Grgich. Of course there will be time to stop along the way to take in the amazing views!
Driving continues through the beautiful vineyard area of Pelješac until you will arrive at one of the wineries to hear the story of the local wines and the wine making process. Needless to say some local brands of wine will be sampled, so this is a good time to ask questions about which wines accompany oysters the best! If you would like to purchase some wine, your chief stewardess will make sure your favorite brands will be waiting for you in your cabin at the yacht.
Time to taste the oysters!
With some incredibly scenic views as backdrop, you will make your way back to the bay of Mali Ston to experience the final part of the tour, the oyster farm. The bay of Mali Ston has a unique mix of freshwater and seawater and this essential component makes these locally farmed oysters unique in the world. You will be able to visit a working boat for oysters extraction where you will learn all about the growing and harvesting process of oysters.
The Ston oysters are refreshing and are known for their calming effect. As the best way to serve oysters is directly from the sea, you will be invited to a unique oyster tasting, directly from the sea, with a dash of lemon and eaten by hand. Of course paired with some of the local wines you learned about earlier during your tour!
Journey continues!
After the oyster tasting, you and your loved ones will continue your journey on foot. Your guide will lead the way to the famous Ston Walls. These town walls are perhaps what this little town is best known for, and rightfully so. The walls are much longer than those of its more famous neighbor, Dubrovnik, at five kilometers in length. This makes them the longest defensive structure in Europe and they are sometimes referred to as the European Wall of China.
Built in the 14th and 15th centuries as an additional defense for Dubrovnik and to protect the lucrative salt pans in the area, the walls consist of three fortresses, Veliki Kastil, Korula and Prodzvizd Fort, and a number of towers. Famous architects, including Juraj Dalmatinac, were involved in the design and construction of Ston’s extraordinary defenses, which originally included 40 towers and five forts, and stretched for seven kilometers. Twenty towers and 5 kilometers of wall are still standing, arching far up the hill between Ston and Mali Ston. You can walk the Ston section in 15 minutes and if you feel like you are up for one final challenge today, you can continue up and over the hill to Mali Ston. Enjoy the panoramic views of the town and bay and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir or two!
Gastro mare Kobaš restaurant
After all this exercise and sightseeing it is time for dinner! Take advantage of all the fresh seafood and talk to your captain about docking at the Gastro mare Kobaš restaurant. This way, you will be able to freshen up in the privacy of your own luxurious cabin and have a cocktail onboard before walking over to the restaurant for dinner.
At this Croatian seafood restaurant with open kitchen, chef Toni prepares the food right in front of you. The restaurant is famous for its traditional dalmatian seafood with a modern touch and serves fresh seafood the staff catches daily. Fresh and local vegetables and homemade olive oil complete your culinary experience. The restaurant is popular because of its daily changing menu and carefully selected local wines. The dishes are plated in a chic and elegant way and the service is friendly and impeccable. If you are an avid fisherman and have caught some fish while enjoying your cocktail onboard, you can have them prepare that also for you!
Memories of peninsula of Pelješac will last forever
As you watch the sun set over the peninsula you fell in love with, you will find yourself making plans to come back to this magical place soon. When you get back to the yacht, you might want to talk to the crew about stopping by one of the remote, quiet beaches early the next morning, for some swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or windsurfing. With so many remote beaches you have to take advantage of being able to visit those on the yacht. Then it is time for one final drink onboard to relive all of today’s adventures with your friends and family on the peninsula of Pelješac!
