InLand to IsLands cycling | 5 days

Take a bike tour in Croatia and explore Dalmatian mountains, coastline and islands!

Price from: 1199

Toursummary

Tour Summary

Explore Dalmatian mountains, coastline and islands on this spectacular cycling tour in Croatia! Get to know Dalmatian rich history, culture and tradition while riding a bike. We will spice things up with amazing local gastronomy and wine.

Discover still undiscovered beautiful Dalmatian hinterland. Take a ride through especially beautiful Cetina valley, the Croatian version of Tuscany. This astonishing valley found its place between majestic mountains Kamešnica, Dinara and Svilaja. Thrilling Cetina canyon will leave you breathless with its famous canyon, cliffs and waterfalls.

Get to know the Split town, vibrant centre of the region and explore its old city and stunning Marjan hill. Being protected cultural landscape Marjan hill is a place of peace and relaxation. The islands Brac and Hvar are true cycling paradise. Narrow quiet roads are passing through gorgeous wine hills, olive tree farms and charming old villages. Each uphill conquered will reward with breathtaking views.

Traditionally prepared food with local ingredients will be on the menu during the tour. We handpicked family-run “konobas” and taverns which with a dedication prepare traditional Croatian dishes. Meals such as “peka”, grilled fish, “soparnik” are awaiting for you to enjoy on your cycling tours in Croatia …

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Cetina canyon
  • Mosor mountain
  • Town of Split
  • Brac island vineyards & wine-tasting
  • Town of Hvar

TOUR STYLE

Tour is taken care of to the smallest detail and is designed to be a hassle-free experience. Overnights are in hand-picked cosy guesthouses and hotels. Van support and luggage transfer are provided between accommodation. Our van during the tours is always nearby to jump in if needed our preparing small surprises at pit-stops.

Routes are specially designed using low traffic roads taking you out of the beaten paths and touristic crowds. Besides cycling, you will have optional activities such as short hikes, swimming in the crystal-clear sea, wine tastings and sightseeing of historical and cultural sites.

Road, hybrid or E-bikes are available for this tour. All bikes are regularly maintained and are in top condition!

English speaking local guides will be your trip leaders in this biking, historical and gastronomic experience!

 

Day 1(Bike fitting - Tour de Split town)

Upon landing, you will have an airport pickup to your accommodation with some free time to refresh and relax after the flight.

The afternoon is reserved for a tour briefing, bike fitting and short cycling. During the briefing, you will meet our team that will be with you during the tour. The tour guides will present you the itinerary and provide you with your bikes and equipment for the tour. Bike fitting will be done making sure your bikes fit you perfectly for the trip before we go for a short day bike tour.

In the evening we will have a welcome dinner to meet the group, relax and enjoy some of the local gastronomy of the area.

  • Distance biked: 0-25 km
  • Overnight: Split town

 

Day 2(Cetina valley)

After breakfast and transfer to Dalmatian Inland, you will hop on your bikes and cycle a beautiful fertile field of Cetina valley. The second day of your cycling holiday we will connect several amazing river sources. You will start with the biggest one Cetina river source.

Above the source is imposing church from 9th. Oldest Croatian built church Sv. Spas (St. Salvation) church.

100 km long river in its first part is unwinding through the fields and valley while in the second part is cutting through canyons and gorges, crossing over damns and under bridges and creating wonderful rapids and amazing views. Our way takes us along the Peruca lake to the Rumin spring with water mill, to reach it we need to pass the oldest bridge on Cetina river, Panj bride.

The road is taking us along the small villages of Cetina valley to Grab river spring. This lovely spring has well preserved and functional water mills and stone bridge surrounded with oak, willow and  Lombardy poplar tree. River flow gets stronger and creates a lake with a few small rapids.

During the day you will have a chance to try local doughnuts.

  • Distance biked: 35 – 60km
  • Total climb: 300 – 550 meters
  • Overnight: Split town
Day 3(Mosor mountain & Cetina Canyon)

 Today we cycle historical republic of Poljica that was founded in the lower part of the Cetina river during middle ages. Once a place with turbulent history was many battles were lead today presents a peaceful and quiet natural oasis.

Firstly we will cycle Mosor mountain slopes and admire its high peaks. Cycling quiet paved road we will reach Gata from where is stunning view stretching on Omiš and Cetina river that carved its path to the sea between two mountains. We will find there and Mila Gojsalic statue that is watching over her valley, the lady that by legend gave her life to save the republic from Ottoman invaders.

We continue along with old and peaceful villages of Zvečanje and Smolonje with an exceptional and turbulent history, with low traffic road till downhill to Cetina river and 110 years old Pavica bridge which is the only connection of two riversides in this part of the river.

This beautiful part of Cetina with its exciting canyon, waterfalls, rapids and forest was a set up for famous tv series “some of the best places for rafting, canyoning, zip-lining, and rock climbing is placed. We will cycle up and down along beautiful hilly roads reaching small villages and eventually descending to the river.  During summertime swimming in the refreshing river is a must.

The day finishes in the pirate town of Omiš. Here is where the Cetina river touches the Adriatic sea. This small town with significant sights and ancient and medieval history has become a home base for many adventurer lovers.

One of the breaks will be used to taste famous delicates of the area Soparnik, a pastry filled with chard and onion.

  • Distance biked: 45km
  • Total climb:  600 meters
  • Overnight: Split town
Day 4(Brac island)

The bike tour starts from Split, taking an early morning ferry to the town of Supetar on the island Brac. After a short visit to the centre and the surrounding buildings like Leroj (bell-tower with the watch) you will start your biking adventure following the coastline westwards. Along the way, you will be enjoying the typical landscape of olive tree farms and vineyards from one and sea on the other side. Endless “suhozid” walls made by peasants through the centuries will follow you on the way with frequent “bunje” shelters, stony field- houses of round ground-plan with doom as the roof.

After passing by the town of Sutivan, you will reach the small village of Lozisca. With a population of only 139, it is a rare example of rural Mediterranean architecture absolutely untouched by modern life and in a spectacular setting.

From Lozisca, you will continue your trip up to the central part of the island cycling through the village of Nerezisce with its famous pine tree on the roof of St. Peter’s church.

The highest village on Brač, Gornji Humac is a collection of stone houses with large yards fenced by dry stone walls, for centuries a centre of stock breeding on the island.

And now the fun starts – 10 kilometres of pure downhill, cycling down the curvy road, with amazing view on the island Brac and our today’s final destination, town of Bol!

Bol is Brač’s oldest coastal settlement and the only one of any size on the island’s southern coast. A genteel life grew up over the centuries, and Brac boasts some fine mansions and palaces, most notably the 17th-century renaissance-baroque palace, 18th century Lode Palace, the Loggia, a collection of fisherman’s cottages, an 18th-century windmill… There’s even a curiosity called “Kuca u kuci” or “The house within a house”, an illustration of what can happen when a dispute over a piece of land gets out of hand…

For relaxing end of the day, you can cycle or walk to the most famous Adriatic beach: Zlatni rat(“the Golden Cape”), it’s a triangle of shingle that changes shape with the winds and tides and juts out into a perfect azure sea. A pine forest grows along the spine of the cape providing an oasis of scented shade.

  • Distance biked: 50 km
  • Total climb:  900 meters
  • Overnight: Bol town

 

Day 5(Hvar Island)

The day will start with private boat transfer to island Hvar. Exploration of Europe’s sunniest island will start at the same place where its ancient history starts: in Stari Grad plain. Greek colonized this area in the 4th century B.C due to its high agricultural value, focusing mainly on grapes and olives. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters that remained intact over 24 centuries.

The first „urban stop“ will be Vrboska, Hvar’s smallest town and often called „Little Venice“ as two shores of its narrow bay with a little island in the middle are connected with several bridges. The most outstanding object of the architectural heritage in Vrboska is the 16th-century  church (fortress) of St. Mary of Grace, built by the local people for the defence against the Turks. Fisherman’s museum is also worth of visit for a mid-day break, where you can learn about the local fishing tradition and way of life.

From Vrboska you will proceed toward Jelsa using a beautiful 5-kilometre ride under the shade of a dense pine tree forest. Jelsa is a great stop for wine lovers, with well-known wineries of Dubokovic and Tomic family where you can try some of the best local wines made of wine sorts Plavac and Bogdanusa.

From here, a smooth uphill will take you to picturesque villages of Pitve, Vrbanj, Svirće and Vrisnik. While today most of the population living next to the sea, back in the past inhabitant’s preferred safety of higher areas closer to the fertile lands. The villages are surrounded by endless vineyards, olive tree farms, fig trees and pine tree forest with little roads curving around them making it perfect for cycling.

The ancient town of Stari Grad, island’s oldest town is also on our way. Here you will have some time off and chance to explore 16th-century Hektorovicev Tvrdalj, Dominican monastery, the town museum and St. Nicholas church.

After a nice break follows a nine-kilometre long uphill. When on the top it will reward you with an amazing view on the open sea, Paklinski island archipelago and island of Vis in the distance. A pleasant and refreshing downhill will take you through the villages of Velo Grablje and Malo Grablje with only 14 people living in both at the moment.

And then the grand finale, unbelievable downhill ride to the majestic town of Hvar.

This gorgeous coastal town through the years has become the biggest success of Croatian tourism. It attracts many people because of its bohemian and relaxed energy combined with vibrant and energetic nightlife.  A mix of cultural significates with its natural beauty leaves no one indifferent.

Our program ends in Hvar town. Here we say good-bye to each other and share one last

  • Distance biked: 40 km
  • Total climb: 600 meters
  • Overnight: /

NOTE: Our program finishes in Hvar town around 4 pm. Our team can help you in organizing accommodation in the vibrant town of Hvar or a laidback town of Stari grad. In case you would like to end a day on the main-land we can organise a transfer to Split or Dubrovnik and book you accommodation according to your preference.

The tour runs all year round, but the best weather conditions can be expected in April, May, June and September, October.

Departures are available on request on any day suiting you best. Below prices are per person and applicable for groups of 4 and more:

Accom./Month Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Standard 1199 1199 1299 1450 1450 1299 1199
Superior 1250 1250 1449 1599 1599 1449 1250
Deluxe 1599 1599 1799 1999 1999 1799 1599

 

 

Price includes:

  • Airport pick up
  • 4 overnights with breakfast
  • 4 dinners (drinks excluded)
  • 5 lunch picnics
  • 1 vine tasting
  • All van and ferry transfers from the program
  • Private boat transfer from Brac to Hvar
  • Support van
  • Luggage transfers
  • Guides
  • High-quality road or hybrid bike with helmet

MEALS

During this cycling tour, we take you through the different regions of Croatia and in the same way we lead you through the different styles of local cuisine.  Combining mountains, coast and islands you will taste different dishes which blends the Mediterranean cuisine with lots of vegetables with fish and meat dishes, such as wild game meat, Peka (food baked under the metal lid) or grilled meat. Lots of tasty dishes are waiting for you on this cycling tour. Get to know Croatia through your taste buds too!

Healthy breakfasts are served in your accommodation at reasonable hours. It generally includes eggs, cheese, ham, cereals, bread spreads, milk, coffee, tea and lots of fruits!

Each day during the lunch breaks our guide will offer you snacks such as sandwiches, pastries, fruits or energy bars.

Dinners are in local taverns where food is prepared in the traditional way. Our goal is to present you the way our ancestors prepared food and you to eat healthy locally grown food.

A special part of the Croatian gastronomy is wine. As a region with lots of premium quality wine, we will make sure you try a good one each day during dinner time. During the tour, we will have a wine tasting where you will be able to taste some of the best wine in Dalmatia.

 

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation packages are divided into three categories. Below you can find out which one suits you the best. In case you need more information, please let us know:

STANDARD                        

These accommodations are comfortable and will meet all of your basic needs. It refers to 3-star apartments and guesthouses where you will have a room with private bathroom.

SUPERIOR                           

For superior experience and comfortable stay, we choose fine hotels, stylish apartments and luxurious B&B’s. Many are renowned for their excellent cuisine and all offer a warm reception, traditional hospitality and an authentic experience. Each unit is handpicked taking in consideration added-value elements such as central location, beach proximity, a great view or a swimming pool.

DELUXE                               

This category, simply said, covers the best accommodations available in town: Carefully chosen luxury and boutique hotels (4-star and 5-star), private villas or exclusive apartments. Staying „in style“ with the highest level of hospitality and service.

As the tour is designed to use the paved roads only we can offer you our high-quality road and hybrid bikes.

We also have available e-bikes in case you need assistance during your ride.