Cycling the Dalmatian Coast

Typical holiday itinerary

Day 1: Visit Split and head to Hvar

Fly to Split; after a look around the old quarters of the city and a visit to the UNESCO Diocletian Palace, we have dinner then transfer to the port to take an evening ferry to Starigrad on the island of Hvar. We then continue by road to Jelsa where we spend the first two nights.

Day 2: Explore Hvar

Our first cycle is a circular ride exploring the island of Hvar. We head first to Stari Grad following the old Roman road, a route with quite a tough climb but with lovely views of the old villages of Hvar. Here we take a break from cycling and transfer by vehicle to the town of Hvar where we will have a chance to wander around the narrow streets of this quintessential Dalmatian town. Rather like a mini Venice, the streets of Hvar are marbled and there are elegant gothic palaces and cathedrals inside the city walls. There will be some free time to explore Hvar before we cycle up a challenging hill to a viewpoint overlooking the island of Brac. We will have lunch here whilst taking in the breathtaking views. After lunch there is a sweeping descent all the way back to Stari Grad. From here we continue along an old Roman road to Vrbovska and then follow the coastal road back towards Jelsa.

Day 3: Sucuraj to Korcula

Today we ride east along the narrow part of the island with views of both coasts as we head to the port of Sucuraj. The road is generally quiet and there are a couple of challenging climbs today to get you warmed up, however the support vehicle will be available for anyone who doesn’t want to cycle up the hills. Heading east, we have wonderful views of the mountainous mainland and the turquoise waters and we pass small villages, olive groves and tiny vineyards on our way to Sucuraj. From Sucuraj we take a ferry to Drevnik on the mainland, transfer by bus to Orebic, then catch another ferry to Korcula which is the historic centre of the island and in a lovely setting on the Peljesac Channel. It is also known for its outstanding cultural and historical heritage with a long tradition of seafaring, shipbuilding and stone-masonry, as well as being the birthplace of the adventurer and traveller Marco Polo. Once on Korcula we have a short 15min transfer to the small town of Lumbarda which will be our base for the next three nights. From June to September a ferry runs from Ploce to Trpanj, and from here we will take the bus to Orebic and then the ferry to Korcula. This shortens the time spent in the bus travelling from Drvenik to Orebic and makes the journey a bit more fun and picturesque.

Day 4: Lumbarda and Mljet (optional)

Today we have a free day to relax in Lumbarda, go for a swim at the sandy beach on Przina or explore the charming town of Korcula at your own pace. There is an optional visit (with bikes) to the picturesque island of Mijet. Those choosing to explore Mljet and its famous national park will take a boat ride to Pomena, which is also the entrance for the Mljet National Park. Here you can enjoy a very scenic but short ride around the two lakes.

Day 5: Korcula circular ride

After breakfast we will start our circular ride on the forested island of Korcula. We start with a transfer to Vela Luka and from here we ride to the pretty village of Smokvica before transferring to Pupnat where we will have lunch. From here we get back on the bikes and cycle all the way back to Lumbarda after a great exploration of the island. Today is a busy day and there are some hills, but we will use the support vehicle where necessary.

Day 6: Peljesac Peninsula to Dubrovnik

After a short ferry ride (approx 20 minutes) to the Peljesac Peninsula we follow this narrow and rugged finger of land. The route passes through olive groves, quiet villages and the famous vineyards hugging the steep slopes descending to the clear waters of the Adriatic. We complete our ride along an easy unpaved track to the tiny cove at Zuljana. From here the traffic levels increase so we take our support vehicle to Dubrovnik. En route there is a short stop at the small historic settlement of Ston, a beautiful example of a fortified town and Dubrovnik-style architecture. We should arrive in Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. We spend two nights in a lovely hotel which is a 10-minute public bus ride from the old town of Dubrovnik.

Day 7: Free day to explore Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik exudes old-world charm. Located right on the Adriatic, the fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and the jumble of red-tiled roofs make this a truly enchanting place. The shelling of Dubrovnik by Serb troops in 1991 and 1992 outraged the world. Fortunately over the last 15 years great care has been taken to re-build the damaged parts of Dubrovnik and the city has now returned to its former glory. The old town, or Stari Grad, is filled with cobblestone streets, fountains, churches, palaces and museums — all built from the same light coloured stone. There are no motor vehicles in the quiet city, but at night the streets come alive as locals and visitors take an early evening stroll along the Stradun, the main street, covered in smooth shiny marble. Dubrovnik is famous for its fine seafood, and what better way to end our Croatian experience than splashing out on a feast of freshly grilled fish within Dubrovnik's city walls.

Day 8: Leave Dubrovnik

This tour is classified Road: activity level 3 (Moderate)

4 days cycling (plus one optional days ride) with an average distance of 45km per day with full vehicle support.

The rides mainly follow tarmac roads, but where possible on the islands we will use the quieter older roads that tend to be hard gravel. The roads are quiet and there is less traffic on the islands than the mainland.

The route will be generally undulating but there are a few challenging hills that can be tough in the warm weather. The trip is vehicle supported so it is possible to miss some of these harder sections if you prefer.

At times the route will follow roads or tracks with a steep down slope to one side. Certain sections will not have a barrier. This tour is classified Road: activity level 3 (Moderate) 4 days cycling (plus one optional days ride) with an average distance of 45km per day with full vehicle support. The rides mainly follow tarmac roads, but where possible on the islands we will use the quieter older roads that tend to be hard gravel. The roads are quiet and there is less traffic on the islands than the mainland.

The route will be generally undulating but there are a few challenging hills that can be tough in the warm weather. The trip is vehicle supported so it is possible to miss some of these harder sections if you prefer. At times the route will follow roads or tracks with a steep down slope to one side. Certain sections will not have a barrier. No specific cycling experience required but you should be comfortable on a bike and have a reasonable level of fitness.