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Bicycling the Islands of the Dalmatian Coast

Bicycling the Islands of the Dalmatian Coast


Croatia's Dalmatian Coast has been a favorite seaside destination among central Europeans for over a century. Join us as we explore this spectacular limestone coastline by bicycle! We begin near Split where you'll see Diocletian's 3rd century palace still inhabited by descendants of the Romans who settled this area and where we'll visit the waterfalls of Krka National Park. On our ride we pedal two of the Mediterranean's most picturesque islands - Brač and Hvar - spending time in the beautiful rural areas, ports, fishing villages, and the Medieval and Renaissance cities that were so important to Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austrians, Hungarians, and Croats.

***If this sounds great but you'd like a longer tour, check out our Bicycling the Islands of Dalmatia Plus! the South Coast tour, which extends this itinerary by 4 days.***

Tour Dates & Prices

Date
Price
Private Room Fee
Note
Apr 16-23, 2023
USD$4695
USD$550
Departure confirmed to go!
Book It
May 7-14, 2023
USD$4695
USD$550
Departure confirmed to go!
Book It
May 28-Jun 4, 2023
USD$4695
USD$550
 
Book It
Sep 17-24, 2023
USD$4695
USD$550
Departure confirmed to go!
Book It
Oct 22-29, 2023
USD$4695
USD$550
 
Book It

* We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the private room charge. This charge will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available it will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.

** For information about what your tour status means please see our FAQ page.

Tour Style: Classic Hold A Space Request Private Departure Download Itinerary Tour Map
  • Trip At-A-Glance
  • Tour Summary
  • Daily Itinerary
  • Travel Information
  • Map
  • Reviews
  • Similar Tours
Trip At-A-Glance

Trip At-A-Glance

  • Length / 8 Days
  • Total Distance / 264 km (164 miles)
  • Avg. Distance / 44 km (27 miles) per riding day
  • Tour Level & Tour Style / 3.0 Classic
  • Countries / Croatia
  • Begin/End / Skradin or Trogir / Hvar
  • Price / From USD$4695
More Photos
Tour Summary

Tour Summary

  • Highlights
    Krka National Park, Island of Brač, The Dalmatian Coast, Medieval and Renaissance towns and villages Primosten, Trogir, Split, Škrip , Pučišća, Stari Grad, and Hvar, Island of Hvar

    Keep in Mind: We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

    On the final day, we will take a guided walk of Hvar town and offer an optional picnic before saying goodbye. Check the itinerary for the times and plan your departure accordingly if you'd like to join.
  • Includes
    8 days, 7 nights accommodation, meals as noted in itinerary, 1 wine tasting, guided visit of Hvar Town, pick up from Split, guided tour of Diocletian's palace, and the usual (see below)

    Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic Tour Style page.
  • Arrive / Depart
    Airport Split (SPU)
  • Overall Tour Level
    3.0 difficulty level 3.0

    Expect short steep hills

  • Daily Ride Summary

    Day

    Distance/Gain
    mi/ftkm/m

    Terrain

    Day Level

    Notes

    1
    Test ride
    2
    63km / 921m
    Rolling hills
    difficulty level 3.0
    3
    42km / 621m
    Hilly
    difficulty level 3.0
    4
    37km / 343m
    Mostly flat
    difficulty level 1.0
    5
    47km / 707m
    Very hilly
    difficulty level 3.5
    6
    39km / 754m
    Very hilly
    difficulty level 3.5
    7
    36km / 736m
    Very hilly
    difficulty level 3.5
    8
    Last day

Terrain Legend

Gentle Gentle

Rolling hills Rolling hills

Hilly Hilly

Very hilly Very hilly

Mountainous Mountainous

Daily Itinerary
Download Itinerary

DAY 1: Tour begins in Skradin, shuttle from the airport or pick up in Split

Highlights: Krka National Park, Skradinski Buk waterfalls, Dalmatian Karst topography

Arrive today in Skradin, a charming town on the edge of Krka National Park, home to the beautiful Skradinski Buk waterfalls. We'll offer a shuttle from the Split airport (close to the town of Trogir) or from the center of Split. We'll fit bicycles this afternoon and suggest a test ride into the interior. You can also enjoy a 4 km walk, or boat ride along the river into the national park to visit the seventeen falls where the Krka and Čikola Rivers flow out of the Dalmatian Karst (limestone). The rivers return to their journey underground, a typical "karst topography" phenomenon, below the falls. We'll have a special seafood dinner this evening.

DAY 2: Bike from Krka to Primošten

Highlights: Secluded villages of Dalmatia, beach resort hotel, Primošten

We head off through a remote area of Dalmatia to reach our hotel on the beach near Primošten. As you pedal, the landscape will change; olive groves, small family-owned vineyards, and rural villages give way to coastal landscapes and the island-town of Primošten where our hotel lies on the beach. We'll enjoy an informal grappa tasting and enjoy a traditional Croatian "peka" dinner tonight in a nearby ancient village.

  • Distance: 63km (39mi)
  • Gain: 921m (3021ft)
  • Terrain: Rolling hills
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.0
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 3: Ride from Primošten to Trogir

Highlights: Primošten, bicycle ride through vineyards and olive groves, famous town of Trogir

If the beach captivated you yesterday, make sure to wander through the island-village of Primošten this morning before heading off through vineyards and olive groves to the top of the plateau. We ride across beautiful barren land before dropping down to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Trogir where we spend the night. Trogir was a Greek colony in the 4th century BC and later a Roman municipality. Occupied by the Croatians after the 7th century, it became a key Medieval port city in the Adriatic. The present town sits on a Roman and Hellenistic street grid inside the 15th century Venetian wall.

  • Distance: 42km (26mi)
  • Gain: 621m (2037ft)
  • Terrain: Hilly
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.0
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Lodging:

DAY 4: Pedal from Trogir to Split, Ferry to Supetar

Highlights: Trogir, Split including a guided tour of Diocletian's Palace, Island of Brač

We bicycle along the coast today to Split, an ancient Roman city and site of Diocletian's famous palace. Occupying the space of nine football fields, the palace was built at the turn of the 3rd century A.D. and is still inhabited. Actually, the "palace" is really like a small, walled city within a city. We'll take a guide tour of the palace and enjoy an introductory walk of Split. You'll have time to explore further and have lunch before we catch the ferry to the island of Brač this afternoon. From there we pedal to our hotel in the small fishing port of Postira.

  • Distance: 37km (23mi)
  • Gain: 343m (1125ft)
  • Terrain: Mostly flat
  • Day Level: difficulty level 1.0
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 5: Loop ride from Postira

Highlights: Loop ride around the Island of Brač

You have a full day to explore Croatia's third largest island and one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic. What's your pleasure? A fifty kilometer loop ride through beautiful ancient villages? Or an easier ride up to the oldest town on the island? How about an easy walk to the town of Splitska for lunch? Perhaps you'll choose a lazy day at the nearby beach; or you might like to fill your whole day with a ride to some of the more remote villages on the island. Whatever your wish.

  • Distance: 47km (29mi)
  • Gain: 707m (2319ft)
  • Terrain: Very hilly
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.5
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 6: Postira to Bol

Highlights: Bol and its beautiful beach, Zlatni Rat

We'll set off along the coast again today, heading west to the town of Pučišća, which is famous for its white stone (used in the White House as well as elsewhere around the world!) Have a cup of coffee along the waterfront before climbing up and over the island of Brač to reach the town of Bol. Our hotel this evening is in the center of town. We'll meet in the late afternoon to visit the local vintner where you'll sample some wines from the island.

  • Distance: 39km (24mi)
  • Gain: 754m (2473ft)
  • Terrain: Very hilly
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.5
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 7: Ferry to the island of Hvar and ride to Hvar Town

Highlights: Jelsa, Stari Grad and Hvar Town

Today we have an early morning transfer by boat that takes us directly to Jelsa on the island of Hvar. Settled by colonists from the Greek island of Paros in the 4th century BC, Hvar Island was dominated for centuries by the Venetians. Visit the coastal villages of Vrboska and Stari Grad before riding to Hvar town through cultivated vineyards surrounded by stone walls and panoramic views of the coastline. Meander through the Medieval alleys of the old town or join the locals in one of the elegant cafés to watch the world go by. We have dinner together this evening and say goodbye to those taking off from here! Additional mileage available.

  • Distance: 36km (23mi)
  • Gain: 736m (2414ft)
  • Terrain: Very hilly
  • Day Level: difficulty level 3.5
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Lodging:

DAY 8: Farewell!

Highlights: Optional guided walk of Hvar Town, picnic lunch

Our tour ends this morning in Hvar. You are welcome to join our guided walk in Hvar Town (ending around noon) and picnic at the Hvar fortress (ending around 2 p.m.) before setting out on your own. Thanks for joining us, and enjoy the rest of your time in Europe!

***If this sounds great but you'd like a longer tour, check out our Bicycling the Islands of Dalmatia Plus! the South Coast tour, which extends this itinerary by 4 days.***

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel Information

Travel Information

Day 1: Arrival Information

Tour begins in Skradin, shuttle from the airport or pick up in Split

Note:

As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are - in rare cases - subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.

The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.

We recommend flying into the Split Airport (SPU).

We offer two complimentary ExperiencePlus! shuttle options on Day 1 of the tour. Reservations required. Please make your shuttle reservation by emailing us no later than 30 days prior to your tour start date:

  • Option A: 8:30 a.m. shuttle from the Meeting Hotel in Split, the Hotel Peristil
  • Option B: 9:10 a.m. shuttle from the Split airport

If you can’t meet the shuttle on Day 1, a taxi to Skradin will take about an hour. The current fare estimate is around EUR 130.


We will be glad to arrange your pre- and post-tour stay at the Hotel Peristil for you upon request. Note that we will not sleep there as a group and the stay there is not included in the tour price.

How to get to the Hotel Peristil:

  • Taxi, available outside the airport or call +385-(0)21-895-237 (30 min, estimate around EUR 40)
  • Buses, available shortly after the arrival of incoming flights, organized by the Pleso prijevoz bus company in cooperation with Croatia Air (45 min, EUR 6)
  • Note: The Hotel Peristil is located in the old city, which is inaccessible to vehicle traffic. Taxis and buses will drop you outside the city walls. View map

For more travel planning tips, including our packing lists, visit our Travel Planning Pages.

Day 8: Departure Information

Farewell!

Our tour ends this morning in Hvar. You are welcome to join our guided walk in Hvar Town (ending around noon) and picnic at the Hvar fortress (ending around 2 p.m.)

The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.

Below, we are laying out some options on how to depart from the tour end for Split or Dubrovnik.

Getting from Hvar to Split by morning catamaran:

Direct connection from Hvar town to Split, departures 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. (1 hour, EUR 6-9). Tickets should be purchased 4-5 days prior and Tour Leaders can assist on tour.

Getting from Hvar via Stari Grad to Split by ferry:

The town of Stari Grad offers more daily ferry departures to Split than Hvar.

  1. Taxi from Hvar to Stari Grad (20-25 min, EUR 20-30)
  2. Ferry From Stari Grad to Split. Three departures daily (Jadrolinija.hr) (2 hours, EUR 7). Tour Leaders can assist with ferry ticket arrangement.

Getting from Hvar to Dubrovnik by ferry:

High-speed ferry departures in the morning, arrival in Dubrovnik at noon (times and fares vary). Tickets should be purchased 4-5 days prior and Tour Leaders can assist on tour.

Keep in Mind

We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

On the final day, we will take a guided walk of Hvar town and offer an optional picnic before saying goodbye. Check the itinerary for the times and plan your departure accordingly if you'd like to join.

Pre-Trip Planning Checklist

To do right after you booked!

6 to 3 Months Prior to Tour Start Date

  • Refer to your Tour Packet/Itinerary to see step-by-step arrival and departure information for your tour, meeting place and time, if a reservation on a complimentary ExperiencePlus! Shuttle (if applicable) is required, and other important information to help you plan your arrival and departure.
  • Reserve your flights after you know you have a confirmed tour departure. Please check with our office if you do not know if your trip is confirmed.
  • Book your pre and post-tour hotel nights.
  • Begin your chosen training program.
  • Final payment is due 90 days (120 days for Bike &Barge/Boat tours) prior to the tour start. Please refer to your Invoice and the Final Payment Reminder e-mail we send 10 days prior to the due date for detailed instructions.

6 to 2 Weeks Prior to Tour Start Date

  • Start reading one of the books or watching one of the movies from our Reading and Movie Lists: https://www.experienceplus.com/blog/travel-planning/
  • Plan what you are going to pack and start packing! Refer to the Packing Lists on our website at https://www.experienceplus.com/blog/travel-planning/packing/.
  • We'll email you your access code to Digital Daysheets, Hotel Itinerary, Participant Roster, names and contact information of your Tour Leaders, emergency phone numbers, and other important departure information about 2 weeks prior to your tour start date. All this will be provided to you via a feature called Experiences via the RideWithGPS App (tracks available but not necessary for navigation on Classic, Expedition and Bike & Boat tours).

Day of Your Flight

Get as much sleep on the plane as you can. Pack your one day of cycling gear in your carry-on. See you soon!

What to Expect on Tour

Classic Tour Style

Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic page.

Map

Map

Reviews

Reviews

  • Amazing--stunningly beautiful country with an interesting mix of cultures and riding terrain. The cycling is challenging enough to keep experienced cyclists interested, but not so challenging that less experienced cyclists get discouraged. However, my time with EP exceeded every expectation.

    Kem M., Madison, WI - September 2018

  • Beautiful countryside, lovely people, probably the friendliest country in Europe and the perfect amount of cycling every day.

    Jean V., Boulder, CO - May 2018

  • What was your favorite experience on this trip? Really hard to parse out one thing--there were so many, rides were wonderful, the weather was spectacular, the food/drink was superb. But, really the one aspect that was outstanding was the tour leaders--they made everything better. Thanks so much for another wonderful trip.

    Leslie H., Hanover, NH - October 2017

  • How would you describe this tour to a friend? Best Tour Ever

    Leonard M., Sunnyvale, CA

  • My favorite experiences were of sharing wonderful meals in quaint locations with people I enjoyed, after a great day of cycling. It doesn''t get any better for me than that! I hope to join you on another tour someday and, for now, I have run out of superlatives!

    Steve M., Occidental, CA

  • This was our fifth trip with ExperiencePlus!, and I hope it won''t be our last.

    Amy N., Madison, WI

  • Magnificent scenery, excellent support from the staff.

    Jerry N., Madison, WI

  • An amazing cultural and culinary experience wrapped into a beautiful bike trip.

    Jimmy S., Steamboat Springs, CO

  • Amazing, awesome...should be on your bucket list. I love you guys!

    Toni H., Steamboat Springs, CO

  • Beautiful and fantastic food! The tour guides were great and it was a rewarding experience. Thank you for another wonderful biking tour!

    Lou G., Ft Collins, CO

  • Do you have any ideas for how the trip could be improved? A time machine so it could go on forever? Outfitting me with another stomach so I could eat more? No, I have no useful suggestions. I was thrilled at every turn and now understand why ExperiencePlus! has so many rabid fans. It''s a "you have to experience it for yourself to understand how brilliant it is" biking adventure.

    Lulu W., Ft Collins, CO

  • Trip of a lifetime (so far). I will be trying to encourage several select sets of friends to take a tour with us in the future. Enjoying the scenery on a fantastic bike, fueled by espresso and pastry, all topped off with a dip in the Adriatic Sea.The individuals leaders on this tour were first-rate. Leaving them made me cry a little.

    Rob W., Ft Collins, CO

  • We had the most wonderful time, with great weather, fabulous food, good friends, and outstanding guides!

    Beth & Gaines M., Great Falls, MT

  • This was a first class tour in every way. You guys do a terrific job.

    Tyler L., Louisville, CO

  • One day we rode 3 legs and had 2 ferry rides - all beautiful. The people on this tour were particularly fun to be around. The dinner that was cooked outside near Postira was very wonderful!

    Jack I., Boulder, CO

  • What was my favorite experience on this trip? Must I only name one? NO... Not changing hotels each night; Hvar, Hvar... the ride there and the town itself; The entire island of Brac... all the rides; all the towns; and the picnic & stonecutting school; our dinners in the Konobas... they weren't fancy but felt like a homecooked meal.

    Terre L., Louisville, CO

  • It was such a great mix......the ferry rides added a neat element of variety, the various islands all had their own contributions, unbeatable scenery, fascinating cultural variations. After Krka National Park [first day], some of us wondered how they were going to top that...it was wonderful. But down the road were many equally wonderful experiences.

    Jan B., Salem, SC

  • Among my favorite things: the local knowledge of out tour leaders which added pleasure and excitement; fabulous cycling; great views; great food.

    Irwin F., Toronto, Canada

  • I just wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed my biking experience in Croatia---the scenery was breathtaking, the country was absolutely delightful, and the people so friendly. Much of the credit for the great trip goes to our tour leaders---they were exceptional!! They planned so many fun excursions for us, and both were so very knowledgable when discussing different aspects of the country. I'll look forward to future trips with you.

    Linda S., Springfield, MO

  • I found that biking through Croatia was the best way to explore the country. The little villages, the Adriatic Sea, the smells, the sights and sounds were all fabulous.

    Verena F.
    Morro Bay, CA

  • I loved the first island we visited, and the trip around that island, and then the visit to the winery that evening, topped off by a really fun meal at a restaurant up the street!

    Carol H.
    Sun Valley, ID
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