Itinerary

Day One: Split
Your guides will meet you in Split and transfer you to the city’s top hotel nestled in the traffic-free heart of the old city. Toast your arrival with a welcome drink and a healthy dose of Croatian hospitality to prepare for an unforgettable week of luxurious adventure. After a bike fitting, our first ride will be a peaceful spin along the quiet coastal road out of town where you will begin your acquaintance with the beautiful Adriatic.  Returning to town, you will have time to explore Split’s unique cityscape molded by centuries of diverse rulers, from the Romans and Byzantines to the Venetians and Austrians.  Later in the evening we will regroup at the hotel for an aperitif before following the guides to our hidden gem of a restaurant for a true Croatian feast.

Meal: Light Lunch / Dinner
Destinations visited: Split, Marjan Hill
Distance cycled: 15km / 9.32 miles

Day Two: Split to Hvar Island
This morning we will step back in time during an exclusive guided walking tour of Diocletian’s palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of ancient Split.  The story behind this site is a classic example of a local boy making good.  Around the year 244, the Roman Emperor Diocletian was born in the region to slave parents.  Working his way through the ranks of the Roman Army, he seized control of the Empire in 284 and is largely credited with restoring order after a long period of chaos.  The magnificent palace he built here near his birthplace has been well-preserved and offers a fascinating glimpse into this epoch of local history.

Following the tour, we will set out for a two hour ferry ride from Split to the Island of Hvar. Upon arrival in Stari Grad (literally the Old Town) take the opportunity to pop into a local café for lunch before setting off on your first bike ride in the islands, cycling through lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards.  Looping back to Stari Grad you can choose to either bike or shuttle over the pass to Hvar Town. Hvar has a rich cultural heritage.  Surrounded by 7th century walls, the historic center contains Venetian loggia, old piazzas and the oldest municipal theater in Europe. Recently, it has become an increasingly popular tourist destination (sometimes called the new Ibiza) – and our hotel, a “Leading Small Hotel of the World” is a wonderful example of Hvar’s newfound prosperity.

After being pampered in the hotel’s spa and enjoying the stunning views of the old town, we will regroup for dinner at Konoba, a family-owned restaurant, where you will taste our host's own wine and eat the chef's specialty made daily with the local catch of the day.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Split, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska, Svrice, Vrbanj, Hvar town
Distance cycled: 25 - 30km / 15 - 20 miles

Day Three: Hvar - Paklinski Otoci
After a relaxing breakfast in Hvar town, you can choose to either bike or venture out on a sea kayak trip to the nearby islands of Paklinski Otoci. Or, if you’d like, take the day off to relax at the hotel’s spa or drink a coffee on the beautiful Venetian piazza and watch the world go by. If you decide to bike, a challenging yet beautiful ride through lavender fields awaits. Lavender was once the main source of income for the inhabitants of Hvar; in fact, sailors used to say that they could smell the lavender oil on the sea breeze before they could see the island. If you are paddling a kayak, you will explore the Paklinski islands, with their numerous small bays and hidden beaches. The name comes from the word "paklina" - melted pine resin - which was manufactured in some of these bays and was used for coating ships. Dinner tonight will be overlooking the sea in one of these beautiful bays!

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Hvar, Paklinski Otoci - optional sea kayak trip
Distance cycled: 35 km / 22 miles Longer Option 80km/ 50 miles

Day Four: Korcula
Today our private boat takes us across the blue waters to the island of Korcula, an ancient Greek colony dating back to the 4th century BC. The island is famous for its white wines, beautiful old towns and dark pine forests.  Landing in the town of Vela Luka on the west coast, you will cycle across the island to Korcula Town. Along the way we will pass through miles of vineyards and even stop to taste some of the famed local whites and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. Arriving in Korcula Town, you will find this fortified Venetian town is just as irresistible to today's visitor as it was to medieval travel writers like Marco Polo, who began his life 's journey here. At our hotel, named after Korcula’s most famous son, feel free to spend the afternoon soaking up the sun on one of the Adriatic’s best beaches. The night is yours to explore the old town. No cars will disturb your romantic evening on these pedestrian-only streets, so ask your guide for a recommendation or just poke your head into one of the bustling restaurants or fish tavernas for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch
Destinations visited: Vela Luka, Korcula
Distance cycled: 46 km / 29 miles

Day Five: Loop Ride around Korcula
Wake up to watch the sun rise over the Adriatic, or sleep in before settling down to an island breakfast.   We’ll start our day with a loop ride to Pupnat, one of the oldest settlements on the island of Korcula and home to our friends, the Farac family.  They will welcome us with a sample of some of their homemade products including: lavender sorbet, eggplant pate, and wild asparagus and prosciutto omelets. Perhaps you'd even like to sample some sage juice, as well. In the afternoon you will pedal back to Korcula town and have the option to continue on a flat ride to the nearby fishing village of Lumbarda.  This is your chance to taste Grk, an autochthonous dry white wine native to the area.  If you are interested in heading to the beach, there are two right next door: sandy and pebbly - your choice. Tonight we will meet up for our final dinner in Korcula town.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Pupnat, Korcula town, Lumbarda
Distance cycled: 38 km / 24 miles

Day Six: Korcula - Dubrovnik
On your way to Dubrovnik today you will discover some of the secrets of the Peljesac peninsula - home to Croatia's best known red wines: Dingac and Postup - made from the Plavac Mali grape, a close cousin to both the Zinfandel of California, and the Primitivo from Calabria. Along the way, we will stop to taste some ultra-fresh oysters. Due to the extremely clean water between the Peljesac peninsula and the coast, shellfish grow here in abundance and are of very high quality. Our last stop before Dubrovnik will be Ston - well known for having the longest fortified city wall in Europe, as well as ancient salt works. After a brief lunch in Mali Ston we will shuttle to the thick stone walls of Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic and one of the world's most beautifully preserved medieval cities. Due to its strategic coastal position, this city has been an important power since the 13th century, and its long and storied history is told in its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains.
If you are staying in Dubrovnik for a few more days, enjoy the rest of your stay. If not, have a safe trip home or on to your next destination.

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations visited: Peljesac, Ston, Mali Ston, Dubrovnik
Distance cycled: no cycling today

Accomplished: Total Satisfaction!

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