The greenest part of Croatia
Distance: 40-60 km average per day Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day. The daily tours will take us through hilly and mountainous terrain.
Embark on a journey through the spectacular Dalmation landscape by e-bike and on board a luxury ship. The famous national parks Krka and Kornati as well as the Telašcica Nature Park are just as much of a highlight of this tour as the beautiful medieval old towns of Šibenik, Zadar and Trogir.
This E-bike & Boat tour provides greatest possible comfort due to the offered space and a luxurious furnishing. With one of the first class ships you can experience the greenest part of Croatia with a visit to Dugi Otok – probably the most beautiful Central-Dalmatian Island. This central Dalmatian island is another highlight of the tour, offering incredible panoramic views over the sea and surroundings islands.
During this tour one of our elegant motor yachts, either Magellan or Yolo, will act as your floating home for the week. The cabins are wonderfully spacious and lovingly furnished, the private bathrooms have both shower and toilet. There are plenty of places to sit of lie back and relax on deck while the communal salon offers a stylish area indoors to unwind and enjoy a drink.
Individual arrival either by car to Trogir or by plane to Split Airport, located approximately 6km from Trogir Harbour. After checking in on the motor yacht between 2 and 2:30 pm in Trogir we head off on our first cruise at 3 pm to Rogoznica - a village on a small island that is connected to the mainland by a dam. In the late afternoon, we adjust the bikes ready for cycling the next day. Dinner and first night in Rogoznica.
In the morning, we sail to Vodice, a popular holiday resort. It is here that we begin our first cycling tour, crossing the bridge to the island of Murter before continuing on to the Slanica on the northwest of the island. Here we board the ship once more and sail towards Dugi Otok. On the way we pass through the Kornati National Park, an archipelago in crystal clear water, known for its rich marine life. Our destination is Telašćica Bay in the Telašćica Nature Park. In the late afternoon there is the opportunity to go for a short hike up to the impressive, white cliffs that fall steeply into the blue sea below. In the bay of Telascica we can spend the evening swimming from the boat and the night is spent in the peaceful setting of the Telascica Nature Park.
After breakfast we start our bike tour from the Telascica Nature Park, along the almost car-free island of Dugi Otok to the bay of Božava, surrounded by pine forests, agaves, and tamarisks. Along the way we can enjoy the spectacular panoramic views across the stunningly blue sea. We meet the ship in Božava and board for a crossing to Zadar, a city which for centuries was the political, cultural, and spiritual centre of Dalmatia. Once we arrive, there is the opportunity to take part in a walking tour during which you will find out all about this fascinating city while strolling through the winding alleys and the lively old town, characterised by 3,000 years of history. The night is spent in Zadar.
During breakfast we sail to Preko on the island of Ugljan. From here we cycle to Tkon on the island of Pašman, connected to Ugljan by a bridge. Today’s cycle leads along the east coast offering beautiful views of the sea and the mainland. We then board the ship once more and sail from Tkon to Vodice, the famous seaside resort on the Dalmatian mainland. Here we spend the night.
Today’s cycling tour leads along varied roads through remote villages in the Dalmatian inland to the beautiful port of Skradin, located at the foot of the Krka Canyon. In the afternoon, the guides organise a tasting of local Dalmatian specialities, of which there are plenty. The night is spent in Skradin.
After breakfast we take a small boat to the Krka National Park where have plenty of time to explore the unique and truly spectacular Krka Waterfalls by foot. Afterwards, we board the ship once more and sail to Šibenik, located at the mouth of the Krka River. Here we have time to explore the city, home to the Cathedral of St. Jacob, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the most beautiful sacral building on the Adriatic coast. The old town of Šibenik is also full of charm and is well worth exploring. In the late afternoon, we sail to Primošten where we spend the night.
In the morning we hop on our bikes for the final cycling tour of the week from Primošten to Trogir. The route leads inland through small villages and, towards the end, offers wonderful views of Trogir and the island Čiovo. In the afternoon, there is plenty of time to explore the medieval old town of Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, our last dinner gives us time to reminisce on the week that past and to say goodbye to fellow travellers, the crew, and tour guides.
After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am. Individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.
Cycling in Dalmatia
This cycle tour fit for both: hybrid and e-bikers. You have to decide beforehand, which bicycle you like to rent, if you decide to rent one. The cycle tours require a basic level of fitness from participants, which they should have acquired from steady cycling.
The riding pace is determined by the cyclists on e-bikes. Guests who are taking part on the tour on a regular bike, should have the necessary physical condition to keep up with this pace.
The tours will take us up to a height of 200 to 500 m above sea-level. The daily tours from 15 to 31 mi./25 to 50 km will take us through hilly and mountainous terrain and will be completed without any time-constraints. Participants will also need to master long and steep climbs, during which they are, however, also permitted to push their bicycles. We traverse mostly asphalted roads, which are rarely frequented outside the holiday seasons.
You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or to spend time on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.
This tour is primarily a guided group tour. Upon consultation with your tour guides, the possibility to cycle on your own along recommended, suitable routes, may present itself. Helmet use is mandatory on all cycle tours.
Please note: departure is on Friday
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 20,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Flat rate for bottled water, visitor’s tax and local charges: € 25,- for adults or € 15,- for children up to age 16 (to be paid to the captain)
14 April
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.490,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.090,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.740,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.290,-
28 April & 06 October
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.590,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.190,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.840,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.390,-
12 + 26 May & 07 + 21 + 28 July
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.690,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.290,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.940,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.490,-
09 + 23 June & 25 August & 08 +22 September
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.790,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.390,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 2.040,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.590,-
19 May
Lower deck: twin cabin € 2.290,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.990,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 2.590,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.190,-
16 June
Lower deck: twin cabin € 2.390,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 3.090,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 2.690,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.290,-
13 October
Lower deck: twin cabin € 2.190,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.890,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 2.490,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.090,-
Extra options:
Rental bike per week € 80,-
E-bike per week € 180,- (private e-bikes are not allowed on board)
Bike insurance € 10,-/ E-bike insurance € 20,-
Embarkation takes place between 2 and 2:30 PM. The boat leaves Trogir harbor at 3 PM for Rogoznica. The mooring place of the boat is in the harbor along the Obala Bana Berislavica in Trogir.
For all tours starting in Trogir the nearest airport is Split (SPU), situated at a distance of 25/ 16 miles from Trogir. The harbor can easily be reached by taxi. That takes about 15 minutes and costs about € 20,-. Or you can prebook an exclusive airport transfer from Split airport to Trogir harbor, price on request.
If you travel by car we advise to plan your route on www.viamichelin.com. Please keep in mind that you have to buy a toll sticker for passage through Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland. To avoid delays you can buy those stickers in advance. There is a parking next to the port. The use of this parking costs € 60,- for a week and must be paid upon arrival to the tour guide. If you car is longer than 6 m, then these costs are € 120,-.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
For the duration of the tour we supply you with a waterproof pannier by Ortlieb, a practical way of carrying drinks, bathing gear, camera etc
By this tours you can rent the following bikes:
Our hybrid bikes are equipped with 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture proof touring tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
Our hybrid bikes are equipped with 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture proof touring tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
An e-bike powered mainly by a Bosch motor capable of covering long distances. Standard components in varying frame sizes include, 28 inch rims with puncture proof tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (German/English).
The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering consist of 2 x full board and 5 x half board and starts with dinner on embarkation day and ends with breakfast on disembarkation day. Lunch could be packed or a picnic as well. The food served on board is traditional and characteristic for the country. Higher nutritional demands of bikers are taken into account. Breakfast on board generally includes at least bread, butter, cheese, ham, coffee and tea. For lunch/dinner the chef generally serves light fish or meat dishes or vegetarian meals.The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.
If you wish to eat vegetarian food or have distinctly different eating habits please inform us in time before your arrival. Please keep in mind that special food requirements cannot always be met in all details. If you have extensive food allergies we ask you to give us a list of the food that you can eat. This should be done before your arrival so that the cook can be instructed to plan and shop accordingly.
If you need gluten free meals then please note that due to the small size of the kitchen and the available equipment on board, we cannot guarantee that your food will not come into contact with kitchen utensils in which gluten-containing foods have already been processed.
So if you have a serious celiac disease, where the food must not come into contact with utensils in which food containing gluten was prepared, then we would recommend not to participate in the trip as the risk of an allergic shock would be too high. If it is a (mild) gluten intolerance it is not a problem.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time!
E-Bike Level 1 / Hybrid Bike Level 2
Our cycle tours fit for both: hybrid and e-bikers. You have to decide beforehand, which bicycle you like to rent, if you decide to rent one. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or to spend time on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.
Requirements for hybrid bikers (level 2): When riding on a hybrid bike this tour requires a basic level of fitness from participants, which they should have acquired from steady cycling. The tours take you up to a height of between 200 and 500 m above sea-level. The daily tours from 15 to 31 mi./25 to 50 km lead you through hilly and mountainous terrain and will be completed without any time-constraints. Participants also need to master long and steep climbs, during which they are, however, also permitted to push their bicycles. Streets are mostly asphalted and less traffic occurs during the off seasons.
Requirements for e-bikers (level 1): When riding on an E-bike this tour is suitable for people with a good basic level of fitness. The tours and the elevation meters are very manageable with an e-bike (30-60km and 400-700 elevation meters per day).
Guided group pace:
This is a tour specially designed as an E-bike tour. The riding pace is determined by the cyclists on e-bikes. Guests who are taking part on these tours on a regular bicycle should have the necessary physical condition to keep up with this pace. We thank you for your understanding.
Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmet use is mandatory on this tour. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own (well-fitted) helmet. Rental helmets are available in limited numbers (reservation required).
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and France. The common language on board is English.
Specialised cycle clothing may be handy but not strictly necessary. What you do need (among other things) is the following:
• shorts/ long trousers/ track suit/ legging
• shirts/ sweater/ rain clothing
• gloves (in case you travel in April or October. It can be chilly in the morning)
• good solid shoes/ sneakers
• sunglasses/ cap/ swimming costume
• personal care and beauty items
• hair dryer (220V; available on the barges Zwaan, Sailing Home and Provence)
• insect repellent
• sunscreen
Your travel documents include the final packing list we suggest for your booked tour.
The ages vary between 35 and 75, but of course we have younger (even babies and kids) and older guests. In particular it is quite possible during the school holidays that children might be booked on your tour.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (and that is almost never the case!), The guide organizes an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route that the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.
