Our Croatia cycle tour is an adventurous journey on the Dalmatia Coast spanning 380km from Split in the north to Dubrovnik in the south. Our unique route has exhilarating mountain and coastal cycling on the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, and the Peljesac Peninsula. The total climbing is 6,600 meters.
The Dalmatian islands of Croatia make for an exhilarating cycle tour. And we all know that there are no exhilarating cycling experiences on flat land! Every island has a challenging hill (or two) opening up to incredible panoramic views in many cases and those glorious long descents into harbours. This is one of our tougher Active Tours but we've classified it as such because the distances together with what can be a challenging climb, still allow for more time in the afternoon and evening to enjoy a swim and relax into island life. Several of our Mallorca stalwart clients have been blown away with our routes on this tour and the quality of the cycling involved.
Dalmatia Cycle Tour Route Map (Split to Dubrovnik via the Islands)
Without busy mainland traffic the beautifully maintained tarmac roads of Dalmatia are a joy to ride with climbs that open up at every corner with a glorious vista. The clear water in all of the bays in Croatia viewed from on high are absolutely spectacular! We explore the southern Islands of Croatia’s extensive and world renowned archipelago staying in comfortable and convenient hotels many of which have pools. We spend two nights in the same hotel on Hvar and two nights in the same hotel on Korcula. There are 7 nights in total and 6 days of cycling. All hotels have pools.
Our Croatia cycle tour has been carefully designed for you with the right combination of holiday and fitness fun; enough cycling to feel a wonderful sense of achievement and the satisfaction of being able to see the islands from an eco-friendly vantage point!
We've worked hard to bring you the best possible combination of challenging cycle fun and a relaxing yet exciting holiday.
Croatia Cycle Tour - Distance and Climbing
Our journey from Split to Dubrovnik via the Croatian islands is suitable for our ACTIVE Riders. Find out if you are an AVID or ACTIVE style of rider here. It is approximately 60 km and 1,100 meters of climbing per day. There are long hills! But there are also glorious (and in some cases longer) descents.
Price
From £2,175 Per Person Sharing. Single Supplements are available for £500.
What is included in the tour
- Hotel Accommodation with Breakfast
- Between and On-Island transfers
- Advice on places to stop for your morning coffee
- Snacks to fuel your ride
- Support cyclist on all the routes with vehicle support on the final 3 days
- GPX route files
- Transfer to Dubrovnik Old Town or Airport (on Departure Day only)
What is NOT included in the tour
- Airport transfer to hotel on arrival day
- Lunch and Evening meals
- Optional trips / entry fees for any excursions you arrange independently
- Bike box or bag removal at start, secure storage and delivery to finish
- Insurance - you need to organise your own bike and travel insurance as required
- Gels, high energy bars, energy powder and shakes - bring your own as per what works best for you and your tummy!
- Flights to Split / from Dubrovnik
An email will be sent out prior to the tour with a link to order extras such as bike box storage, airport transfers and merchandise
1. The fishing village of Pucisca on Brac
2. The port of Hvar
3. View of Velo Grbalje on the Malo Grbalje Cycle Route
4. Korcula Old Town
5. Racisce Fishing Village, Brac
6. The climb to the Church of St Nicholas on the Peljsac Peninsula
7. The spectacular descent into the beautiful village of Trpanj
8. The unbeatable memory of the Dingac Tunnel descent into Trstenik to finish
Croatia Cycling Tour Itinerary
- Day One - Arrival Day in Split.
- Day Two - Brac Island 84 km 1,482 m
- Day Three - Hvar Island 68 km 1,235 m
- Day Four - Hvar Island 65 km 1,105 m
- Day Five - Korcula Island 36 km 644 m
- Day Six - Korcula Island 57 km 974 m
- Day Seven - Peljesac Peninsula 54 km 1,071 m
- Day Eight – Transfer to Dubrovnik Old Town or airport
Croatia Cycle Tour Route and GPX Files
All our cycle tours are supported with GPX files of the entire route. The GPX route files for your Croatian cycle tour will be sent well in advance for you to check uploading to your bike computer. Any prior known revisions will be resent. All routes are subject to change depending on weather and any other road conditions that would make a change necessary for the safety of participants.
Dalmatian Cycling Terrain and Bike Suitability
The tour is mostly on quiet island roads with a small number of joining sections on busier roads. Some cycling in towns and cities is necessary. Roads are generally well surfaced and suitable for road bike tires of 25 mm or more. We recommend a good quality and well-fitted road bike with dropped handlebars. If bringing your bike in a box, we can remove it and return it to you at the end of the tour.
Accommodation
On this trip accommodation is in 5 hotels: One night in Split, One night in Bol on Brac, Two nights in Vrboska in Hvar, Two nights in Lumbarda in Korcula and one night in Dubrovnik. All hotels have pools.
Lunch, Snacks and Refreshments
Snacks to fuel your ride will be provided for you to take with you each morning such as fruit, nuts and bars.
For coffee and lunch stops we will recommend places where you may wish to stop for a break. There are many and stopping in certain places are only recommendations. You are of course free to eat where you wish whilst out on the ride and in the evening. We will highlight any areas where there are a lack of options also. On the final three days vehicle support will carry additional water and snacks.
Arriving for Your Croatia Cycle Tour
Transfers can be arranged for you and your bike from Split Airport, Croatia. We then prepare our bikes and spend the night in Split. This first night is included in the price of the tour. You may wish to arrive a day or so earlier to explore this beautiful town if you have not visited before.
We sail to Brac Island early in the morning and begin cycling.
Please contact us if you have other travel requirements you wish to discuss and we will do our best to assist!
Departure Planning
The tour finishes with a stunning ride on the Peljesac peninsula down to the beautiful, quiet Trstenik harbour.
We have lunch here and take a minibus transfer to our hotel in Dubrovnik. This, and an onward transfer the following morning is included in the Tour Price
This ends our wonderful tour and you will then travel on as per your own arrangements.
We do recommend an overnight stay in Dubrovnik to fully appreciate this highly acclaimed World Heritage Site.
Do please bear in mind that accommodation in the old town is not suitable for bikes in boxes!
What to Expect on Your Croatia Cycle Tour
Weather
The weather can vary. Our trip dates are selected to make the most of the sunshine without frying or severely de-hydrating our clients! Generally temperatures will be around 20 oC with occasional days of light rain showers. Bring clothing to cope with a range of conditions. Sun-screen will be required and insect repellent is highly recommended.
Group Size and Tour Leaders
A maximum of 12 people will be on this tour with two tour leaders who will provide cycle support. Both leaders have previous tour support experience and are themselves cyclists who fully appreciate just how it feels however your day pans out. The tour leaders will cycle each day and carry extra provisions and basic first aid.
At the initial briefing all cyclists are provided with the tour leader and assistant’s number, as well as that of the emergency services which they are instructed to use in the event of an emergency.
English is fairly widely spoken in the larger towns on the Croatian islands.
Camaraderie
Camaraderie forms a big part of the whole experience our tours provide and our tours are priced and catered for such that a single cyclist can feel comfortable making a booking and opt to share a twin room with someone they don’t know.
People tend to settle into their own way of cycling throughout the day and groups can vary from day to day and evening to evening. You can cycle at your own pace for a solitary cycle or join others.
Navigating the Croatia Cycle Route
We recommend you bring a bike computer onto which you can upload the GPX files of the route. GPX files of the Croatia route will be emailed to you before the start of the tour. It is essential that you have a reliable means of navigating the routes that are provided.
Bike Maintenance & Protection
With regards to mechanical issues it’s helpful if everyone knows how to repair a puncture or replace a tube. However, we are on call if you need help re-seating a stiff tyre on the rim. Minor mechanicals can be dealt with roadside and where more specialist help is required we can transport you and your bike to a local bike shop to carry out repairs. Hotels provide secure storage for bicycles each night.
Daily Routine
Every day starts with a breakfast and a briefing.
We’ll advise of a suitable morning coffee stop for ‘second breakfast’ and we’ll also specify a lunch stop on the 3 days with vehicle support where you'll be able to access a day pack. Sometimes there will be a choice of restaurant but in remote areas there may only be one suitable.
Every evening you will be able to avail yourself of the local culinary offerings and soak up the atmosphere and sea air in the harbour cafes and bars.
