Road Bike & Boat: Dalmatia

Would you like to indulge your passion for road cycling with like-minded people? Would you like to get fit for the start of the season? Would you like to improve your riding technique under professional guidance? Would you like to combine all this with exploring a beautiful part of Croatia and the luxury of a cozy cabin on a comfortable motor yacht that will accompany you from island to island and save you any luggage packing? Then this road bike training camp through Dalmatia is just the thing for you! Experience the charm of the Dalmatian islands with your boat as your floating accommodation and actively in the saddle of your racing bike. A varied mixture of mainland coast and dreamlike island world awaits you! Get a good workout during the day and enjoy the evenings in historic harbors. This road bike & boat tour starts on Sundays.

TOUR PROFILE: Moderate to challenging road bike tours through hilly to mountainous terrain with some steep climbs (30 - 105 km with 200 - 1,700 m of ascent per day). Helmets are compulsory on all bike tours. Please bring your own, well-fitting helmet. A limited number of helmets are available for hire (reservation required).

Individual arrival to Zadar and embarkation on board between 1:00 and 2:30 pm. At 3:00 pm we take a mini-cruise through the Zadar Channel to the nearby island of Ugljan. Once arriving at the port of Preko, it’s: ready, set, go! Our warm-up tour takes us along the east coast of the islands Ugljan and Pašman, which are connected by a bridge, to Tkon. Here the ship awaits us before crossing to Slanica on the island of Murter, where we spend the evening.

After an energizing breakfast on board, we cycle from Slanica across the island of Murter, which is connected to the mainland by a lift bridge at Tisno. Once on the other side, we continue our tour via Slanica to Skradin. Here we take a longer break to discover the breathtaking Krka National Park. Via excursion boat and on foot we explore the rushing waterfalls and cascades on display. Afterwards we cycle to Šibenik, where we explore one of the most beautiful churches in Dalmatia, the Cathedral of St. Jacob. Our ship waits for us in the port of Šibenik before transporting us to Primošten for an overnight stay.

Our tour today takes us from Primošten across the Dalmatian mainland. We cycle mainly close to the coast with spectacular views of the deep blue sea and the offshore islands from the UNESCO World Heritage City of Split. During a guided tour of this important port city, we have the opportunity to visit the former palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, into which the entire old town of Split is built. Afterwards you can enjoy a refreshing beverage at the famous Forum Square, while soaking in the unique atmosphere of Split. The fascinating city will entice you to take an extended evening stroll through its enchanting, historic streets. Overnight in Split.

In the morning we set sail for the island of Brač, famous for its brilliant white limestone which was used for the White House in Washington and the German Reichstag building in Berlin. Once on Brač, we start our bike tour in Supetar. As we climb the island, we are offered spectacular views of the Dalmatian coast and the famous Golden Horn near the island’s capital Bol. Our destination today is the port of Sumartin, where our ship will be waiting for us to continue our journey to the island of Korčula. Relax on board until our arrival in the picturesque island capital (of the same name), which competes with Venice for the honour of being the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. In the evening, take a guided walking tour of the herring-bone old town streets and listen to fascinating stories about the history of both the town and island. Overnight stay in Korčula town.

On our training ride today we explore almost the entire island of Korčula by bike. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful island in Dalmatia. A breathtaking landscape and a Mediterranean climate awaits you. Look forward to multiple panoramas and lush vegetation. Our ship will pick us up in Prigradica before we cross over to the neighbouring island of Hvar. We spend the night in the charming little port of Sućuraj on the easternmost tip of the island of Hvar.

According to the travel magazine TRAVELLER, the island of Hvar, known far beyond Croatia’s borders for its lavender products, is one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world! From Sućuraj we cycle through small villages and lavender fields over the island ridge to the picturesque harbor of Stari Grad. Once founded as a trading colony by the Greeks in the 4th century BC, under the name Faros, the town is an architectural gem and is located in a well-protected, fjord-like bay. In the afternoon you can enjoy the sea air on a long crossing to the mini-island of Žirje. This is a good chance to rest your tired legs before tomorrow’s final cycling stage. Overnight stay on Žirj.

Morning crossing to the island of Dugi Otok. The Spice Island is one of the scenic highlights of our trip and thus provides the perfect backdrop for our last bike ride. On a panoramic road, with almost no cars, we bike across the entire island with spectacular views of the surrounding islands and the deep blue sea. A detour to the lighthouse of Veli Rat is not to be missed before we end the tour in Božava. Here our ship awaits us, before our final crossing back to Zadar, a city with a rich cultural and historical heritage. A particularly memorable highlight is the famous sea organ and the "Greeting to the Sun", a light installation whose full effects can be witnessed at sunset. In Zadar our journey comes to an end with a cozy dinner and final evening on board. Overnight stay in Zadar.

Disembarkment until 9 am and individual departure or extended stay in Croatia.

We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements. Should it be the case for example that the harbours on the above mentioned tour sequence are overcrowded, the tour will be operated in reverse.

• 8- day trip on a motorized yacht with crew
• 7 nights in a twin cabin below deck with shower/toilet
• 7x half board
• Guided road bike tours as described in the itinerary
• bed linen and towels
• Overview maps for the daily cycling tours
• German- and English speaking tour guide

• Rental bike (Road bike Cube or Orbea) - € 180,-
• E- Road Bike (Orbea) - € 225,-
• Insurance against theft and damage of the rental bike (not insured: grossly negligent) - € 25,-
• GPS- data for free

Comfort Ship LINDA (all cabins with shower/toilet)

At 31 x 6 m, the Linda is a sleek wooden motor yacht rebuilt in 2006. There are 14 cosy guest cabins each with a private shower and WC. The spacious and tastefully furnished salon with its wooden tables and upholstered benches provides a welcoming atmosphere. The large sundeck and the two shaded decks at the stern have sun mats and comfortable lounge chairs at the guests’ disposal; the perfect place to unwind during the cruise.

Catering:

The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and the dinner. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. One meal a day is taken ashore and is not included in the tour price.

Arrival and Departure:

By plane: Airport Rijeka, Zadar
Airport transfers on request

Parking: Secure long-term parking: motorcycle: € 40,- /week; car up to 6 m long: € 70,-/week; vehicles over 6 m long: € 120,-/week (payable on site to the tour guide).

14 persons per date

Arrival possible on 07.04. and 14.04.2024