THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER - Winter cycling tours in Croatia's warmer climate

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER – Winter cycling tours in Croatia’s warmer climate

As cold, damp winter sets on northern hemisphere, road cycling fans everywhere will welcome sunny dry conditions and gorgeous vistas that add enjoyment and pleasure to the experience of cycling.

For those who are ready to take a leap and spin the wheel abroad, Croatia offers exciting opportunities. Divided between alpine, continental and Mediterranean climates, Croatia’s cycling possibilities are plentiful, varied and can satisfy even the choosiest cycling club member. Crucially, the weather conditions are largely predictable, depending on which part of the country you’re in and the type of cycling experience you’re after.

For a much-needed D vitamin top up, a winter cycling training camp in Dalmatia is unsurpassed. Looking at a map, Dalmatia covers the largest part of what is fast becoming a familiar image of Croatia’s coastline, its islands and islets, ranges, reefs and bays.

We know that the road cycling experiences are at their best when partnered with quality food and wine, and both are plentiful on Pelješac peninsula, an exciting stop on our signature Dalmatia bike tour that comes right after Dubrovnik. Any visitor to Pelješac peninsula is sure to sample its most famous fare, oysters and mussels, freshly harvested from the crystal clear waters of the Mali Ston Bay. Although these are said to be at their best during winter months, they are of course available throughout the year.

The narrow bay, nesting between the mainland and Pelješac coastline and situated at the mouth of river Neretva is approximately 28km in length but due to its exceptional indentation the coastline actually covers the total area of around 100km.

A protected marine reserve since 1983, it is renowned for the freshest, plumpest oysters available and you can have yours at a classy restaurant such as Bota Šare, or on the shore opened by the hand of a fisherman who caught it. Either way, their unique nutritional mix is exceptionally high in protein, vitamins and minerals and is sure to give your body a welcome boost after the exertions you’ve put it through. Fittingly, Pelješac vineyards of the Dingač region produce some of Croatia’s finest wines and there are a number of wine tasting opportunities to be had along the main road through Pelješac – the wine cellars of Miloš, Grgić, Antunović and Špaleta are some of the better known and all offer a high quality red Plavac Mali or white Postup wines to be bought, sampled, or both.

So, treat your body and warm up your soul this autumn and winter in Croatia on a Dalmatia cycling training camp

So, treat your body and warm up your soul this autumn and winter in Croatia on a Dalmatia cycling training camp, safe in hands of our expert local tour leaders. For added benefits of even more sun and warmth repeat in spring, the season that presents the exhilarating white water rafting possibilities just a stone throw’s away from Pelješac on the emerald green river Neretva. This is something that we will definitely say more about in one of our next blogs and until then – keep cycling!