Featured Departure – Biking Croatia: For one glorious week, you will live like the jet set. With the immortal landscape of the Mediterranean always in view, we'll sleep on board the luxurious boat, Romantica, sailing quietly from Dubrovnik to Trogir, and points in between.
Starting in the historical city of Dubrovnik, you will slowly head north on your motor boat. You will pass by gorgeous, exotic cliffs; secluded beaches that rise dramatically from sea; towering forests of pine and beech; and vineyards and lighthouses that have stood the test of time.
Your vacation on board will be spent in a relaxed rhythm, and our captain delights in showing you the most beautiful and solitary bays, places most Croatian travelers will never discover. On the days you spent in the saddle, our knowledgeable tour guides will introduce you to the Adriatic’s diverse and memorable history: you will visit World Heritage Sites in the cities of Split (Diocletian Palace) and Dubrovnik, which is often called The Pearl of the Adriatic. Korcula is famous as Marco Polo’s home town, and it’s changed little in the intervening centuries. Hvar, with its impressive renaissance square, is one of Europe’s loveliest cities.
Our bike routes require a basic level of fitness. The routes reach a maximum height of 400 m. You set your own pace for the daily rides— average 30 km (18 miles). Some terrain is hilly, but time isn’t an issue. Most roads are paved and traffic is usually light. Of course, you can also choose to skip a bike-tour and spend the time sunbathing aboard ship instead.
Best of all, Croatia is a relative bargain, and you can live like a member of the jet set — without breaking your bank account. As with all our Featured Departures, our founder Dana Gallant will personally be conducting you through Croatia.
Biking Croatia: Day 1 Dubrovnik - Sipan (10 km; 6 mi)
We'll meet at the Excelsior Hotel mid-morning to transfer your luggage
to the boat while a local guide takes you on a tour of culturally-rich
Dubrovnik. At noon, a local bus will take you to the pier to board Romantica for the first time. We'll have lunch on the boat while it cruises toward
Sipan Island, where we'll spend the afternoon exploring island’s
forests and valleys on bike. We'll all enjoy dinner back aboard Romantica and spend a peaceful night in Sipan Harbour. You’ll be forgiven
for thinking that you could get use to living like this!
Day 2: Peljesac Peninsula (65 km; 40 mi)
After a short passage in the morning, we’ll reach the glorious Peljesac
Peninsula. From Prapratna Bay, you'll cycle first to Ston with its impressing
medieval fortification that reminds many of a (much shorter) Great Wall
of China. We'll all have lunch in Mali Ston, then we will lead you along
the winding roads to the southern part of the peninsula. We'll stop in
Potomje, home to Croatia's most famous wineries. When you think that Croatia
has a climate similar to Italy, this is a worthy destination. With each
passing year, the area’s wines get more impressive, as modern winemaking
techniques are allied with traditional practices. After a wine tasting,
you'll head back to the boat in Trstenik, where we will stay the night.
Day 3: Island Mljet (15 km/9 mi)
We'll spend the morning lounging on the Romantica's deck while we cross
to Mljet, known more evocatively as "Honey Island". In the 12th Century,
the Order of St. Benedict founded a monastery in this isolated fairyland,
a region thick with pine and oak forests. This island is utterly unique
in all of the Mediterranean, as you'll see when you cycle across it towards
the National Park, where a tasty picnic lunch awaits. Ulysses is said
to have spent seven years of his life here, and we could think of worse
fates. In the afternoon you will cross over to the town of Korcula
which, like Venice, claims to be Marco Polo's birthplace. For this tour,
our money is on Korcula!
Day 4: Island Korcula (43 km/27
mi.)
In the morning, you'll have a very easy and short ride to Kneza. From there
you'll walk another two kilometers to Pupnat, bringing your bike along
if you fancy an afternoon ride. In Pupnat we'll visit a tavern to sample
some local delicacies, including house-made cheese and bacon. After lunch
you can choose to either cycle across the island to Prigradica or to
return directly to Romantica, which will be waiting for you
in Racisce, a short distance away. After picking up the cyclists in Prigradica,
we’ll
have another fabulous dinner onboard as we make our way to Hvar.
Day 5: Island Hvar (40 km; 25
mi)
We'll spend the morning touring Hvar with a guide and visiting all the
sites, including the city square, replete with an historical cathedral,
Gothic architecture, and Europe's first public theatre, dating from 1612.
Afterwards you'll cycle pass the road to Stari Grad, site of one of
the Adriatic’s first human settlements. During the afternoon, we'll
view the harbours of Jelsa and Vrboska, which invite you to have an extended
break. After returning to Stari Grad you will have dinner on Romantica.
Day 6: Island Brac (20km, with a 20km
option/12mi +12mi)
In the morning, you’ll cross over to SupetarPuscica, one of the island’s
most famous quarries. There you'll have the opportunity to visit the local
stone mason school. After another hearty lunch onboard, you’ll start
a coastal ride to Supetar, followed by the ferry harbour of Brac. We will
have dinner aboard Romantica as we cruise into Split.
Day 7: Split - Trogir (15 km/9 mi)
After breakfast a guide will accompany you around Split while you explore
the Old Town— a UNESCO World Heritage Site— as well as the
palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Afterwards you will undertake
your last cycle tour to the Marjan mountain, a popular relaxation destination
for the denizens of Split. The last sail after lunch will bring you to
Trogir. In the late afternoon your tour guide will take you for a stroll
through the alleys of Trogir (another World Heritage Site) to learn about
the city’s rich culture and heritage. The captain’s dinner
on the boat will certainly be a night to remember.
Day 8: All Good Things Must Come to an
End
After a hearty breakfast, it will be time to leave Romantica. Perhaps you’ll
be returning to your home, or perhaps other points in Europe are beckoning.
As always, people who share the joys of the road will find the parting
bittersweet. We’ll be happy to have made new friends and renewed
old acquaintances, but sorry that our time together is ending. But if the
fates are kind — and they usually are near the Mediterranean — our
paths will surely meet again, with the wind at our backs.
Featured Departure: Croatia
2008 Season
One date only! September 13-20th.
Never mind, forget what we said just a second ago!
Due to popular demand, a second featured Croatia Romantica tour has been added, with one important difference: it will run in reverse direction, beginning in Trogir, and finishing in Dubrovnik! Call us for details! Sept 20 - 27!
Prices
Below-deck Room: €1695/person (€ is the Euros
symbol)
Above-deck Room: €1795/person
Port tax + Local charges: €20
Single Supplement: €500
Inclusions
• 7 nights' accommodation on the motorised boat in
a double cabin with private shower and commode
• 8-day cruise, 7 nights of full board on the
ship (all meals included)
• 7 days of guided bike tour as described
• Bike rentals
• maps for the daily routing
• Admission to Mljet National Park
• Please note: This tour is guided, but doesn't include van support
Not Included
Port tax and local charges (see above)
All drinks (on or off the boat)
You can find our Bike Tour of Croatia here.
