Croatia: Bike and Boat - Bike Tour

Croatia Bike & Boat Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: We check in by 12:30 p.m. onboard our private yacht, the MS Melody, docked in the small town of Trogir, Croatia. If you arrive early, take some time to explore this charming historic town. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trogir is easily visited on foot. You can discover the 9th-century church or the 13th-century fortress or purchase anything you’ve forgotten in the open-air market.

Our home for the week, the premium plus class Melody, has 18 cabins, each with its own bathroom. Some of the rooms are above deck and have a porthole and a door that opens to the outside. Other rooms are below deck with a door that opens into a center hallway and a porthole to the outside. These rooms are quieter, darker, and tend to sway less, even though our boat generally experiences minimal rocking. The Melody also features a dining room, sunbathing deck, and hot tub.

We’ll have a short orientation and introductions and then enjoy our first lunch together as we cruise to the island of Solta. Once on the island, we’ll be fitted to our rental bikes and then begin our first bike ride. We’ll pedal through olive and fig groves and fields of lavender and rosemary, so be sure to stop and smell the wonderful aromas. After our ride, we’ll enjoy our first dinner together on our boat. 12 miles, ±688'.

DAY 2: In the morning, we’ll enjoy breakfast on the boat and sail to the island of Hvar, which is said to be the sunniest in the Adriatic.   We’ll dock in the town of Stari Grad, which means “old town.” It is one of the oldest cities in Croatia, first named by Greek settlers in 384 BC. We will ride to the harbor towns of Jelsa and Vrboska, enjoy an ice cream break, and then return to Stari Grad for lunch.

After lunch on the boat and our first swim of the week, we’ll get back on our bikes to head to the town of Hvar. Once an important seaport, today Hvar is a popular stop for the rich and famous. You can’t miss the site of the huge yachts docked nearby. If you have the energy, climb to the top of the largest hill in town to explore the 16th century fortress and enjoy a stunning view of the bustling town below with the glistening blue water beyond. You can try one of the many cute restaurants tonight, as dinner is on your own. 30 miles ±1935’.

DAY 3: As we enjoy breakfast, we’ll head toward the island of Vis. It is the furthest island from the mainland, and its surrounding sea is rich with fish. The island’s inhabitants consider themselves to be the best fishermen in the world. After our bike ride, we’ll have both lunch and dinner on the boat as we cruise to the island of Korčula, with a possible stop for swimming. We’ll dock here for the night. 21 miles, ±2099’.

DAY 4: We spend the day exploring Korčula, considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Croatian islands. We’ll cross the entire island on our bicycles and be treated to gorgeous views of the coast as we ride through lavender and cypress trees.

Once in the town of Korčula, we'll have a guided walking tour and learn that it is believed to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. Its streets were built more than 1000 years ago to maximize the cool breezes coming off the ocean. Dinner is on your own tonight, so you can enjoy a little shopping or dining al fresco. 36 miles, ±2427'.

DAY 5: We return to the island of Hvar this morning for a bike ride on the quieter side of the island. We’ll cycle along the island’s backbone with views of the sea on both sides of us. There is little traffic, so you can enjoy the sound of birds singing and the sweet scent of oleander and jasmine.

After our ride, we’ll motor to the island of Brač. Along the way, you’ll see one of the island’s limestone quarries and learn where much of the stone that built these beautiful Croatian towns has come from. We’ll dock in the village of Bol where you can make your own picnic on the Zlatni Rat beach if you’d like. 32 miles ±1837’.

DAY 6: We cross the island of Brač by bike this morning, meeting our boat at the end of our ride. Then we’ll enjoy lunch as we sail to Split, the largest city on the Croatian coast.

In the afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to raft Class II rapids on the Cetina River. Your expert guides will be national rafting team veterans. If rafting is not your thing, then you can hike with us through Marjan Hill, a rare expanse of green forest with stunning viewpoints of the sea and town below. Or you can wander through Split on your own. 18 miles, +1312’/-564’.

DAY 7: After breakfast, we’ll have a guided walking tour of Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace in the center of town. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was first constructed in the 3^rd century and has been transformed over the centuries to accommodate the needs of the time. It is still being used today and is a beautiful and captivating place.

During our sail back to Trogir, we’ll anchor for a couple of hours for one last open-water swim in the Adriatic Sea. Then, we’ll celebrate the end of our wonderful week together with a Captain’s Dinner in the evening. 0 miles.

Day 8: We’ll say our goodbyes after breakfast this morning. You are free to travel to the Split airport on your own for your return home. 0 miles.