Cycle spectacular coastal routes on the mainland and islands of Hvar and Korčula, ending in the historic town of Dubrovnik
Join us on a cycling adventure along the stunning Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, with much of the tour on the long, beautiful islands of Hvar and Korčula. It’s led by true cycling experts and there’s a support vehicle throughout, allowing you the peace of mind to focus on the dramatic vistas along the way. Better yet, it ends in Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, a medieval city with a UNESCO-protected old town and a celebrated seafood scene to rival any in Europe.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
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Itinerary
Split
Dubrovnik
Day
1
Adventure starts in Split • Ferry to Hvar
We start our Croatian adventure in Split, where we gather at the ferry port. Here, we catch the ferry (1hr 50min) to Stari Grad on Hvar island.
We then continue by road to our first hotel near Vrboska, where we spend the first two nights.
Please note: The ferry leaves at 2.30pm. The timings may be adjusted for logistical reasons.
Set out on our first cycling adventure. Riding from the hotel in the morning, we first follow the coastal road to the village of Jelsa. After, we challenge ourselves against a 5mi (8km) ascent as we ride to Stari Grad, where we take a break for lunch.
Then, continue to the town of Hvar, including a challenging hill to a viewpoint overlooking Brac island. In Hvar, we can wander around the narrow streets of this quintessential Dalmatian town. Rather like a mini-Venice, Hvar has marbled streets and there are elegant gothic palaces and cathedrals inside the city walls.
Finishing in Hvar, we catch a transfer back to our hotel.
Ride east along Hvar • Ferry via mainland to Korčula
We start with a transfer to Jelsa and 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 to get you warmed up; the support vehicle is available if you don’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.
From Sućuraj, we take a private boat to Korčula old town, the historic centre of Korčula island. It’s known for its seafaring, shipbuilding and stonemasonry heritage, and for being the birthplace of Marco Polo. Note: In bad weather, we take a ferry via the mainland.
Accommodation: Marko Polo/Port9/Liburna (or similar)
Free day in Lumbarda • Optional visit (with bikes) to picturesque island of Mljet
Enjoy a free day to relax in Lumbarda, go for a swim off the sandy beach on Przina or explore the charming town of Korčula at your own pace. There is an optional visit (with bikes) to the picturesque island of Mijet. Those choosing to explore Mljet and its national park take a boat to Pomena, which is also the entrance of Mljet National Park. Here, you can enjoy a scenic short ride around the two lakes.
Accommodation: Marko Polo/Port9/Liburna (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
5
Scenic ride on Korčula
After breakfast, we begin our ride on the forested island of Korčula. We start with a transfer to the port town of Vela Luka; from here, we ride east, passing through the village of Pupnat en route.
Today is a busy day and there are some hills, but we can use the support vehicle where necessary.
Accommodation: Marko Polo/Port9/Liburna (or similar)
Ride through the vineyards of the Peljesac Peninsula • To Dubrovnik
After a ferry ride (approximately 20 minutes) to the Peljesac Peninsula, we follow this narrow and rugged finger of land. The route passes through olive groves, quiet villages, and vineyards hugging steep slopes that descend to the clear waters of the Adriatic.
Finishing our ride, we take our support vehicle to Dubrovnik. En route, there is a short stop at the small settlement of Ston, a historic fortified town with Dubrovnik-style architecture.
We should arrive in Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. We spend two nights in a hotel that’s a 10-minute public bus ride (€2.50 per journey) from the Old Town. This evening, we have a guided tour of Dubrovnik Old Town.
Accommodation: Hotel Vis/Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Dubrovnik exudes old-world charm. Right on the Adriatic, it has fine religious buildings surrounded by heavily fortified walls and a jumble of red-tiled roofs. 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 rebuild 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 people take an early evening stroll along the Stradun, the main street, which is covered in smooth, shiny marble. Dubrovnik known for fine seafood, so what better way to end our Croatian adventure than splashing out on a feast of freshly grilled fish within Dubrovnik’s city walls?
Accommodation: Hotel Vis/Hotel Komodor (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Transfer to airport; fly to London
Bus transfer to Dubrovnik airport. Fly to London.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
8
Adventure ends in Dubrovnik
Enjoy your final breakfast of the trip this morning; an excellent chance to reminisce about the many adventures you’ve just enjoyed. If you’ve still got a little appetite for adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Dubrovnik. Or if you’re ready to put up your feet, now’s the time to start your journey home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Cycling days: Four, plus one optional day ride
Average distance: 28mi (45km) per day with full vehicle support
Route: We mainly follow paved roads; where possible, we use the older roads on the islands, which tend to be quieter and made of hard gravel. The route is generally rolling but there are a few challenging hills that can be tough in the warm weather. At times, we follow roads or tracks with a steep downslope to one side. Certain sections do not have a barrier.
Support: A support vehicle follows us, so it is possible to miss some of these harder sections if you prefer.
Experience: No specific cycling experience is required but you should be comfortable on a bike and have a good level of fitness.
Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
The start hotel is on Hvar island. You have two options for this journey:
Take our group transfer
We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. This is the easiest option. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Meet at the ferry port
The ferry port is small, so it’s easy to find the group. From Split airport, take a shuttle bus to the main bus station in Split, which is opposite the ferry port. You should be there by 1.30pm, and the ferry leaves 2.30pm. You should meet by the quay to Stari Grad, Hvar – the central quay. It is roughly across the road from the FlixBus sign and quite near the restaurant on the quay. The guide will have our apparel on. Please look out for the white sign to Stari Grad. Should you need any assistance finding the group, please make use of the local contact numbers provided on your Final Joining Instructions document.
Please let us know which option is most suitable for you as we need to inform our tour leader where and when they can expect you. If you decide to make own way, you need to get from Split airport to the ferry port and onwards from there. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s one group transfer to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Split Location end: Dubrovnik
Vaccinations and Health
Croatia
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
Croatia
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Croatia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
All breakfasts are included throughout. For breakfast, expect a continental buffet with a wide selection of food from cold meats, cheeses, bread, and eggs to pastries, yoghurts, jams, and fruit as well as tea and coffee.
Croatian cuisine is a mixture of fine seafood, grilled lamb, pizza, pasta and salads, with influences from central Europe, Italy, and other parts of the Balkans. A popular optional lunch spot in Pupnat (Korčula) is Mate restaurant. Lunch here is often a highlight of the trip. A selection of homemade produce is on offer with a drink and comes to around 155 kune (€20.50). Credit cards are not accepted. Another highlight in Korčula is an optional dinner on Day 5 at an agrotourism. Dinner here is around 200 kune (€26.50) for their set menu. Credit cards are not accepted.
Weather
Croatia has one of the sunniest climates in Europe, and some regions are well known to be free from rain. Our trips run from March to October, so you should expect some variation in temperature and possibly some rainfall. Temperatures can be high, particularly on the July departures when average temperatures are around 29C (84F). Temperatures in March, April and October are typically cooler.
Hotels in Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik
We have a trio of bases for this cycling adventure in Croatia: the islands of Hvar and Korčula, plus the seaside city of Dubrovnik. In each, we have chosen hotels that are close to the beach and are ideally placed for our cycling.
Below are the hotels we typically use:
Hvar, near Vrboska: Aminess Younique Senses Resort (nights 1-2)
Spend our first two nights at Aminess Younique Senses Resort, just 165ft (50m) from the sea. It’s an excellent spot to ease ourselves into the trip, with a sunbathing terrace, reading corner and mini gym/fitness room. Most of your free time, however, will likely be spent either on the hotel beach (where there are deckchairs) or the pool.
Korčula: Marko Polo/Port9/Liburna (nights 3-5)
In Korčula, we use a selection of accommodations from the Aminess group, including the Marko Polo, Liburna and Port9 (above) hotels. Expect a comfortable stay with plenty of amenities and options for exploration nearby.
Dubrovnik: Hotel Vis/Hotel Komodor (nights 6-7)
Our final nights are spent at either Hotel Vis (above) or Hotel Komodor, both three-star beachside properties. The 151-room Vis hotel, sandwiched between pine trees and the Adriatic, has a rooftop terrace, bar, and a seaside restaurant serving local and international cuisines. The Komodor has 113 rooms, which are split between the main building and an annex. The seaside promenade is just a five-minute walk away and there’s a pool at the hotel.
Worth knowing
During the low season, some hotels close their pools. However, the sea is never far away when you would like a swim.
Some hotels we use don’t have lifts.
If you opt for the single supplement, please note that in some hotels, this may mean having a single bed, rather than double. If you would like to upgrade to a double-bedded room this is subject to availability at an extra charge.
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