Cycle the Dalmatian Coast

Arrive in the seaside town Kastel Kambelovac, 10 kilometres from Split. Our seafront hotel is ideally located with great views over the bay and is easy to reach from the airport as well as Split town and Trogir. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there'll be the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Kastel Kambelovac at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Split Airport (SPU), which is around a 15-minute drive from Kastel Kambelovac. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to check in to the hotel and then head to the nearby medieval harbour town of Trogir, wander the cobbled streets and visit Saint Lawrence Cathedral. Alternatively, you may wish to take advantage of the beach in front of the hotel - the restaurant there serves up tasty traditional dishes.

After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we'll start today with a 16 kilometre/9.9 mile cycle ride to Split. Lying on the eastern shores of the Adriatic, Split's historic heart is centred around the ancient Roman Palace of Diocletian, which dates back to the early years of the 4th century AD. After spending the morning exploring this beautiful World Heritage-listed town and stopping for lunch (not included), we'll head for the port. A two-hour ferry journey takes us to Stari Grad on the beautiful island of Hvar, arriving in time to enjoy a late afternoon cycle to the picturesque harbour town of Jelsa, where we'll spend the next two nights. Before dinner, depending on availability, we'll have an optional wine tasting at Caric winery in Vrboska village. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 32 kilometres/19.9 miles with 300 metres/990 feet total accumulated ascent.

Today we'll have a full day to explore more of this beautiful island by bike. Our day starts with a lengthy ascent up to the highest point of the island, cycling past the lavender fields that were once the workplace of all of Hvar's inhabitants. Tourism is the main source of employment now and it's easy to see why the island attracts so many visitors as we finish our climb and enjoy sweeping views across the island. Our descent then takes us through the village of Brusje to the charming town of Hvar where we'll have lunch (not included) and free time to explore the historic old streets of this Venetian town - there'll even be the chance to take a dip in the crystal-clear water. In the afternoon, we'll drive back to Jesla. If you'd like more time in the saddle there's the option to cycle back to Jesla along a different route on a quiet paved road through the villages of Malo Grabjle and Veliko Graglje, encountering one short, steep climb and beautiful scenery. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 32 kilometres/19.9 miles with 480 metres/1,575 feet total accumulated ascent. If you choose to cycle back from Hvar, there'll be an additional 32 kilometres/19.9 miles and 450 metres/1,575 feet ascent. It's worth noting that there's one big hill to take on today but the support bus is with us should you wish to sit it out.

This morning, we'll drive to Stari Grad for the ferry or to Hvar for the catamaran heading to the historical and fertile island of Korcula, famed for its quality wine and age-old traditions. A gorgeous blend of red terracotta roofs, stone cathedrals, and marble streets; the old Venetian town of Korcula is a photographer's dream. There'll be some free time in Korcula to explore the historic streets on foot and a chance to sample local cuisine at a Dalmatian-style 'Konoba' restaurant (not included). From here, we'll take a leisurely cycle along the coast to the village of Racisce, which is approximately 12 kilometres/7.4 miles from Korcula. We'll make a stop there for a coffee break and a short rest before cycling back to Lumbarda via Korcula. Lombarda, our home for the next two nights, is famed for its sandy beaches, dramatic coastal views and vineyards and an early finish provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy these luxuries. There'll be the chance to swim and take part in a wine tasting at a local winery, which is notorious for Grk, a white variety indigenous to Korcula that pairs well with sun and cycling. The total cycling distance for the day is 31 kilometres/19.2 miles with an ascent and descent of 380 metres/1,250 feet.

Today, we'll have a full day's cycling tour, allowing us to experience the charm of rural Korcula, as we slowly make our way across the island to the small town of Cara, one of the oldest settlements on the island. This involves a climb of 16 kilometres/10 miles but, if you prefer, you can ride in the support vehicle and start at the top of the hill. We'll then head downhill to the pretty coastal village of Zavalatica, where the old traditions of fishing and farming are still very much alive. Here we can swim, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant (not included) and take in the spectacular views across the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea (on a clear day, you might even be able to spot Italy's Monte Gargano). After lunch, we'll cycle through the fertile landscape, past vineyards with sweeping coastal views, via the tiny village of Pupnat before joining the road that takes us back to Lumbarda. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 62 kilometres/38.4 miles with a total accumulated ascent of 1,150 metres/3,770 feet.

We'll depart Lumbarda after breakfast this morning, for a short drive to Korcula harbour. We'll cross over to the Dalmatian mainland, to the Peljesac Peninsula where we'll hop on our bikes and start our cycling from Postup. A route along the coast allows us to cycle through a landscape blanketed in rich vineyards of Plavac Mali grapes - a local speciality. We'll reach the end of our ride at the little-visited, beautiful bay of Zuljana. We'll then make our way to our hotel in Dubrovnik by road. Higher up you should be able to see Mount Srd and the Imperial fort which you might like to visit in your free time. Well known for its crucial role in the Siege of Dubrovnik, when a handful of Croatian soldiers successfully defended the fort and kept the vital high ground, it's now a fascinating photographic war museum (optional visit) that gives us a vivid account of the war. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 27 kilometres/16.7 miles with 230 metres/755 feet total accumulated ascent. Our hotel is in the lively Lapad Bay area, close to many restaurants and a public beach. Dubrovnik Old Town can be reached in 20 minutes by public bus.

This morning we enjoy a final ride through the beautiful Dalmatian countryside. We head out towards Cavtat to start the ride with a gradual ascent along a tarmac road with panoramic views over the Konvale Valley, through olive groves dotted with occasional cypress trees. After breaking for a drink in an idyllic village on the banks of the river Ljuta, we'll make our way back through the valley to Cavtat where we'll finish and have lunch (not included) before driving back to Dubrovnik for the afternoon. Returning to Dubrovnik, the afternoon is then free to enjoy the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' was once described by George Bernard Shaw as paradise on earth. The old medieval town of Dubrovnik still retains a unique atmosphere and charm, with its wealth of monasteries, museums, and medieval buildings. A walk around the entire circumference of the city walls offers some great views out over the rooftops and alleyways of the old city and the tranquil waters of the Adriatic. Our total optional cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres/21 miles with 390 metres/1,280 feet total accumulated ascent.

Our tour ends this morning at our hotel in Dubrovnik. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Dubrovnik at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) which is a 40-minute drive from Dubrovnik. We suggest adding an additional night if you wish to further explore the ancient city of Dubrovnik, UNESCO World Heritage Site.