The Dalmatian Coast Classic Croatia Bike Tour (6 Days – 5 Nights)

DAY 1. Split and Diocletian´s Palace

The tour starts in Split in the early afternoon hours, with bike fitting and exploring Split on bikes. Both the locals and visitors to Split find themselves inexorably drawn to spending most of their time within the 1,700-year-old Diocletian’s Palace, one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. One of the greatest things about the palace is that there are still some real homes within the old walls and you can see the old ladies stringing their laundry at places where once state affairs of the entire Roman Empire were discussed. Split is a pulsating urban oasis with a myriad of sights, sounds and scents – all thriving inside these almost two-millennia-old walls. You will enjoy the rolling coastal ride before an easy climb to the top of the Park Wood Marjan, with breath-taking views of the city and all the islands that you will be biking through during the next few days. In the evening we will have an introductory meeting and a dinner.

Distance Biked: 15 – 20 km.

Overnight Stay: Hotel Slavija 3*, Split.

Highlights: The city of Split, Diocletian´s Palace, Marjan Hall.

Meals: Dinner.

DAY 2. Exploring the Island of Brač

Brač is one of the largest islands in Croatia, situated just off the mainland, so you will enjoy a pleasant 50-minute ferry ride from Split. As such, it offers various riding options and distances, from easy 25 km to the big 80+ km loop rides. We will show you coastal and inland roads and beautiful sights along the way. Brač is famous for its tradition of stone cutting and carving and some significant world buildings, such as the White House in Washington D.C., The Hungarian Parliament Building and the Diocletian’s Palace, were built from its stone. You will have the chance to visit one of the most famous art galleries run by a local stone carver, fashion designer and art painter. The gallery exhibits one-off furniture made from Brač stone, sculptures, paintings, fashion and jewellery that are for sale. In the late afternoon we will take the ferry back to Split.

Distance Biked: 35 km, Extra Ride 40 KM

Overnight Stay: Hotel Slavija 3*, Split.

Highlights: The Island of Brač, stone sculptures, art gallery, coastal and inland towns

Meals: Breakfast.

DAY 3. Lavender road and UNESCO sites of the Island of Hvar

Welcome to the island of Hvar – one of the world’s Top 10 destinations! We will start the day with an easy ride around the UNESCO’s site of Stari Grad, an ancient Greek colony dating back to 400 BC. Besides famous historical sites you will also discover quiet and charming towns while biking along the roads surrounded by olive groves, vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards. The afternoon bike ride will take you down the most beautiful road passing through lavender fields and finally reaching the splendid town of Hvar. While descending to Hvar town, you will enjoy the amazing views of the surrounding islands.

The afternoon in Hvar is planned to be spent by visiting its main attractions – the old town walls, Venetian loggia and streets, the Fortica fortress, the oldest municipal theatre in Europe, the cathedral of Hvar and its many museums, galleries and palaces. If you really want to feel the Hvar atmosphere, the best thing is to find a place on the main square, one of the most beautiful squares of the Mediterranean, and relax with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Later in the evening, we will have a dinner together – a taste of ancient Hvar flavours mixed with innovative cuisine.

Distance Biked: 25 – 50 km

Overnight Stay: Hotel Park, 4*, the city of Hvar

Highlights: Lavender fields, coastal rides, inland rural villages, the town of Hvar with its sights

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 4. The Island of Korčula – Marco Polo’s home

From Hvar, the boat will take us to an ancient Greek colony dating back to the 4th century BC – the island of Korčula. It is famous for its white wines – Pošip, Rukatac and Grk – and beautiful old towns, villages and dark pine forests that cover the island whose quality wood was used for shipbuilding. You will be biking through charming old towns, unique small villages and discovering the island’s hidden coves. This day is planned for exploring the whole of island of Korčula and getting into the sleepy, easy-going lifestyle of charming insular villages.

Distance Biked: 45 km

Overnight Stay: Hotel Marco Polo, 4*, the city of Korčula.

Highlights: : ancient towns and villages, quiet roads, the city of Korčula and its sights.

Meals: Breakfast.

DAY 5. Discovering the Island of Korčula

Today you will have an option to do a loop ride on the island or just relax and do some sightseeing in the town of Korčula – a Venetian fortified town that is just as irresistible and impressive to today’s visitor as it was to medieval travel writers like Marco Polo, who began his life journey in this town. Today’s experience ranges from riding along coastal roads leading to secluded beaches to biking through the vineyards surrounding small, picturesque towns. The afternoon is planned to be spent in the city of Korčula, followed by a dinner in an authentic wine cellar with tasting some of the best Korčula wines, served with homemade organic food such as goat cheese, prosciutto, macaroni and traditional cakes

Distance Biked: 0-60 km

Overnight Stay: Hotel Marco Polo, 4*, the city of Korčula.

Highlights: The city of Korčula, wine tasting and dinner, coastal rides, vineyards, laid back villages and amazing views

Meals: Breakfast, wine tasting with Dinner

DAY 6. Wine roads of Pelješac peninsula and the city of Dubrovnik

Our bike ride today takes us across the Pelješac peninsula – home of the Croatian best-known red wines Dingač and Postup, made from the Plavac Mali wines, a close cousin to Californian Zinfandel. Pelješac will offer you great views – on the right you will see the islands of Mljet and Korčula, and the mainland coastal line on your left. Today’s ride takes us up the hills, along the coast and through huge vineyard areas. The ride destination is Ston – a salt producing village built in the 14th century, famous for the longest (5,5 km) fortified walls in Europe. Ston was an important town in the period of the Dubrovnik Republic, being the most powerful and prosperous city in the 14th century. An organized transfer from Ston will take us to Dubrovnik – the pearl of the Adriatic – where we will have a farewell dinner.

Distance Biked: 20 – 60 km

Overnight Stay: Hotel Aquarius, 3*, the city of Dubrovnik.

Highlights: Pelješac peninsula and wine areas, Mali Ston, coastal ride to Dubrovnik and the city of Dubrovnik