Sailweek Ultra Route, a Day by Day Itinerary Breakdown from a Solo Female Traveler

I booked the Sailweek Ultra route as a solo female traveler, flew in from Salt Lake City, and spent a week sailing the Croatian islands before Ultra Europe. This is the honest, day-by-day version. What each stop was actually like, what I did, and what I'd do differently. If you want the big-picture take first, start with my full Sailweek Croatia review. Otherwise, let's sail.

Quick orientation. The Sailweek Ultra route runs out of Split and hits Supetar, Makarska, Bol, Vis, and Palmižana for Hvar, then loops back to Split for Ultra Europe. Your exact stops can shift with wind and the skipper's call, so treat this as the shape of the week, not a fixed script. The Ultra route is one of four Sailweek routes, so if you're still deciding, start with how to pick the right Sailweek route.

One thing up front, because it's the question I get most. I felt safe the entire time. Check-in solo was easy, I made friends within hours, and I never once felt like the odd one out for coming alone.

Day 1: Split, check-in, and the first night

I flew Salt Lake to London, spent a few days there, then London to Split. My boat ended up being all solo travelers, which was the best surprise of the week. Everyone had the same quiet ambition, book the thing, come alone, make friends anyway.

Check-in was simple. Taxi from the airport to the port, checked in around 10am, boarded around 4pm. The wait makes sense, they're turning over every boat from the week before. So use that window.

I only had one day in Split, which stung a little, but I knew I'd be back for Ultra with four more days. I had lunch at Restoran K.užina, a Michelin Bib Gourmand spot from chef Toni Boban. Honestly, just okay, I wouldn't rush back. The real win was a walk-up tiramisu to-go from Tiramisù Bar Split, in a little cup, about four dollars, so good. For coffee, go to kava², a women-owned specialty spot with one of the best vanilla lattes I've had, and a good excuse to wander Old Town.

That night we sailed across to our first anchorage near Supetar, grabbed burgers, and ended up dancing at what felt like a dive bar. Not fancy, exactly the icebreaker we needed.

A note on food, since people ask. We booked a package, so Sailweek pre-bought all our provisions in big boxes to cook onboard all week. Greek salad, pasta, risotto, tacos, burgers, stir fry, tons of eggs. We didn't finish it all, but it more than got us there. Drinks are a different story. Alcohol isn't included, so you buy your own on check-in day, and stock up then, it's cheaper than the islands.

Day 2: Supetar, the first swim raft, and Makarska

I woke up in Supetar to some of the prettiest water of the trip. Funny detail, a few skippers told me it's one of their least favorite stops because it's close to Split and not a big city. I loved it. I went for a run through town, flowers everywhere, clear water, cafes already open.

Then we sailed to our first swim spot and made one long line raft. You hop the barriers and cross from boat to boat, and it turns into a floating party. This might've been a highlight of the whole week, mostly because it was the first time everyone linked up. Loud music, people diving, Sailweek runs little games like floatie races and dive contests through the day.

We docked in Makarska that afternoon, and I had no expectations because I felt safe enough that I hadn't over-planned. Then, wow. Gorgeous marina, right next to one of those dreamy Euro beaches, umbrellas, blue water, cliffs. I had a Croatian wine at Drop, technically a cafe but the whole sundown crowd was there for the wine. I saw a flower-covered building so beautiful I genuinely debated whether the flowers were real.

That night was the Cave Club, a real cave on the shore, three minutes from the boat. Lights run up the back by the DJ and along the ceiling to the cave mouth. I never felt claustrophobic. Drinks were weak, the music was great, and free entry before 11pm meant we popped in right before and watched it fill.

My one regret here, I didn't make it to cliff jumping. It's one of my favorite things to do, and a lot of people called it their trip highlight.

Makarska marina and beach on the Sailweek Ultra route, Croatia

Day 3: Bol, the best sail of the week, and the 585 white party

We woke up and left early, stopped for another swim raft, then set off for Bol. This sail was a highlight for me. Once the day party wrapped, we caught real wind. Glossy, smooth water, twenty-something sailboats all whipping along at once. You could look off and see other boats' dance parties happening right beside you, and every time we passed one, everyone hyped each other up, dancing, pointing, laughing. I took so many photos. We were up on the bow, drinks in hand, a little in awe that this was our life.

Bol itself is stunning. I did a grocery run for shampoo, conditioner, and a jar of pickles, because the boat snacks skewed sweet and I wanted something vinegary. Then, the 585 white party. This was one of the best nights of the trip. Sailweek threw a private party just for us, around two hundred of us, everyone in white, and the place was packed because so many of us showed up. Three DJs, tiki vibes, strong drinks, plenty of room to move. There were people there who weren't with our group too, so it's easy to meet others.

Real talk on VIP, skip it. The bottle-service tables sit on the outskirts, away from the actual floor. Unless you're getting the true behind-the-stage VIP, just go, buy drinks at the bar, and if you're friendly you'll probably end up back there anyway. And there's a whole party train from the dock to the club. Fun in itself, just don't miss the last one home.

Day 4: Vis, the calm day I didn't know I needed

I went straight to Vis, and I'm so glad we did. This might be the most beautiful town I've ever seen. I walked up to the castle ruins at Fort George and found one of the prettiest cafe-restaurant venues I've come across, a lantern-hung cliffside overlook with sweeping Adriatic views and some absurdly expensive sailboats out in the distance. Fresh-squeezed lemonade, then I hitched a ride back down toward the boats.

The move on Vis is a moped. Highly recommend it. Get up above the town and you see how sweeping the whole bay is. I did the full loop, vineyards, tiny towns, homes built into the rock, and Komiža on the far side. Hugo Spritz, then mopeded back.

Dinner was at Mama Mia 2, right on the water. I'm pescatarian, and eating onboard was tough for protein all week, so by then I was starving and ordered two entrees, a salmon and a whole pizza, and nearly finished both. Fun aside, Vis is where they filmed Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, standing in for the fictional island of Kalokairi.

If you don't want to party every single night, Vis is your day. My only regret, we didn't leave until later the next morning, and I skipped an early run into town because I'd finally gone to bed sober and rested. If you're up for it, do the run. That's the one I'd take back.

Day 5: Palmižana and Hvar

We didn't dock in Hvar town, we stayed at Palmižana across the bay, and it worked in our favor. We were on an actual dock instead of rafted up, so we could all get out and walk one central pier, boat-hopping from one to the next. One of the coolest setups of the week, so easy to find your friends and drift from party to party during the day.

There's a walkable beach here you reach through a tunnel of flowers and green, so pretty I stopped to film it. The beach itself is fine, a little rocky, clear water, beach bars along the way. The real luxury, though, free showers and genuinely spotless bathrooms. Toilet paper in every stall, nothing broken, nothing dirty. After a week of a shared boat bathroom, that's a gift.

We also docked next to the Yacht Week fleet here, which was interesting. Their side of the dock was quiet and kept to itself. Ours was loud and silly and social. I go deeper on that in my Sailweek vs Yacht Week comparison, but short version, I felt good about my choice.

The water taxi over to Hvar is gorgeous. I sat on the empty back of the boat and got one of my favorite videos of the trip. Once in town, we hit Hula Hula Beach Club, so iconic that people watching my Instagram stories told me to go. We stayed for sunset, then moved to Kiva, a bit of a dive but tucked into a narrow alley packed with bars, basically a street party with endless options. I stayed out until 3am and have zero regrets. Just catch the last water taxi back to port, it's the only ride home.

Photo tip, this was the day I decided I need a G7X. Someone offered to take my picture and it hit harder than anything I'd shot all week. If Hula Hula is too crowded, slip off to the rocks on the side for a little photoshoot.

Day 6: The last raft day

I woke around 6:30 and went to the little cafe that opened at 7. I worked for a couple of hours before we left, WiFi, plugs, a good cappuccino, a chocolate croissant, sailboats in the distance while everyone slowly woke up. A quiet morning I mostly had to myself.

Then we set out to our final raft spot, where we'd also sleep. It was supposed to be a big circle raft, but wind and conditions meant they couldn't set it up, which was a bummer since it was the one thing I'd wanted to film. We did two line rafts instead and swam between them, everyone diving in, big beach balls floating around. It was the longest, sunniest day of the week, and I used half of it to recover on a catamaran net.

Honest advice, pace yourself and know your limits. This can go sideways without the right resources. I wish I'd packed electrolytes, a friend lent me some. We had huge water jugs onboard, so I stayed focused on hydrating.

Here's the thing nobody warned me about, and I really wish they had. There's a real thing called the Sailweek cough. Almost everyone gets sick, me included, and I was wrecked for days after. A skipper told me it happens basically every week. So pack zinc, vitamin C, and electrolytes, bring your own towel while you're at it, and go easy on yourself. The full list is in what to pack for Sailweek.

Day 7: Back to Split, into Ultra

The last morning was a longer sail back to Split. We stopped for gas, packed up, said goodbye to the crew, and I left the boat to stay in the city.

A real tip, a lot of people make friends on the route and split an Airbnb or hotel for Ultra. Do it. Ultra is one of the busiest times in Split, and prices balloon. Watch out for this, I've heard of accommodations getting canceled because the hotel realizes it can charge more, so they cancel, raise the rate, and rebook. Apparently common. Split itself is easy, cute cafes everywhere and a gorgeous river walk.

Then Ultra. Book somewhere within walking distance, you really do walk there every day. There are multiple stages, and there's a designated Sailweek fan pit toward the front-left of the main stage, filled with the friends you made all week. Same people, new setting. One heads-up, Ultra runs late. The headliner doesn't come on until around 3am, so brace for it.

So, is the Sailweek Ultra route worth it?

For me, yes. I felt safe, I made real friends fast, and the sailing days, especially that downwind leg into Bol, were some of the most beautiful hours of my year.

I'll be honest about who it's for, though. This route is a party, most days, and the pace is real. If you don't drink at all, you might find some stretches slow, since a good chunk of each day is recovery. I'd have loved a little more of the quiet, connected, get-to-know-everyone energy, and days like Vis gave me exactly that. If that sounds more like you, Sailweek runs calmer routes too, and I break down which Sailweek route fits which traveler. For who thrives on this specific route, that's in my honest solo female review.

If this is going on your list, start planning early, come a little open, and let the calendar disappear for a week.

Want the rest of my Croatia planning, the exact packing list, the real cost, and how to do it solo? It's all in my newsletter, We're Going Places, sent every Tuesday.

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