From Dubrovnik to Split or v.v.
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.
f you would like to experience the region of South Dalmatia thoroughly, not wanting to do without Dubrovnik and its amazing city walls, this sail and cycle trip is an excellent choice. Accompanied by our charming motor yacht, we get to know this sparsely populated part of Croatia. Breathtaking scenic experiences and cultural highlights await you.
The highlights of the trip are the town centre of Dubrovnik and Split which are listed as UNESCO’s world heritage sites. We cycle the islands of Mljet, Lastovo, Korčula, Hvar and Brač and experience the interaction of sea and land, culture and nature close up and personally.
Our proud motor yacht Romantica is your home for an amazing week. The direction of this tour alternates each week.
Individual journey to Dubrovnik. Check-in on board starts between 2 and 2.30 pm at Gruž, the town port. At about 4.30 pm, a guided tour through Dubrovnik is offered, where we hear some interesting details of the town’s history and visit the most impressive sites. The boat will spend the night in Gruž providing the opportunity to experience Dubrovnik’s nightlife.
In the morning we cross over to the nearby island of Šipan. Šipan is the largest of the Elaphiti Islands, yet still humble in size. A great place for our first bike tour and to get used to riding in a group. After our first tour we board the boat and enjoy a cruise to the green island of Mljet. Green because 70 % of its landmass is covered by woodland making it the most forested island in the Mediterranean region. Homer mentioned this lovely island in his epic poem “Odyssey”. He made it a home for the Nymph Calypso and the legendary Greek king Odysseus, who could not resist Calypso and stayed on Mljet for seven years. We arrive in the harbor of Pomena and enjoy a round tour on our bikes through the Mljet National Park. The night is spent in the harbor of Pomena.
In the morning our ship takes us to the Island of Lastovo. The island is one of the smaller inhabited islands in the Adriatic Sea. The Emperor Augustus appreciated the mild climate, and in Roman times it was even named “Augusta Insula” after him. Today’s cycle tour takes us across this beautiful island. The gold-coloured white wine “Marastina”, known even beyond Croatia’s borders, is grown here. Back at the boat it’s time to cast off! A crossing takes us over to the island of Korčula, regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in Dalmatia. The Picturesque town of Korčula with it’s fishbone alleyways competes with Venice for the honor of being the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. It is here that we spend the night and enjoy a guided city tour packed with fascinating anecdotes concerning the history of the city and the island.
Today’s cycle tour leads us across the charming island of Korčula. A mild Mediterranean climate and a broad variety of different landscapes accompany us on the tour today. Take your time, and remember to take a break to enjoy the view over the deep blue sea and neighboring islands. Dinner is served on board to replenish our strength after an active day. Overnight stay in the sheltered by of Vela Luka.
The day starts with a relaxing cruise to Hvar town on Hvar Island. Make use of the time before the cycle tour starts and go for a little stroll through the city. Standing on the magnificent Renaissance Square you can enjoy a view up to the Spanish fortress towering high above the city. Today's bike tour takes us from the city of Hvar through small villages and lavender fields to Stari Grad on the opposite side of the island. The descent to Stari Grad offers breathtaking views and we board the boat for lunch. The afternoon can be used to explore the artistic seaside town and to visit the local galleries or museums. The night is spent in Stari Grad.
In the morning we start on a scenic bike tour from Stari Grad to the harbor of Jelsa and back. Jelsa is the perfect place for some ice cream and a coffee and on the way back to the boat we pass through the picturesque town of Vrboska and cycle through the ancient Greek plains which are now a protected UNESCO heritage site. On arrival in Stari Grad we board the boat for lunch and cruise to the island of Brač. The Island is famous for its radiant, precious limestone that was, among others, used for the White House in Washington and in the construction of the German Reichstag building in Berlin. During the cruise we can stop for a refreshing swim stop directly from the boat before arriving in the harbor town of Milna. We will spend the afternoon and evening here.
Today’s bike tour leads us along the northern coastline of Brač from Milna to Postira with beautiful views across the Dalmatian Islands and across to the mainland. Then, for the last time in an eventful week, we enjoy the cruise to the UNESCO world heritage city of Split. A guided city tour offers us the chance to see inside the former Palace of Emperor Diocletian and to learn about its transformation into the city which it has become. A cheerful evening meal on board the boat gives you time to celebrate the success of the week with fellow travelers and tour guides.
After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am. Individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.
Cycling in Dalmatia
The cycle tours require an advanced level of fitness. The tours will take us up to a height of 200 - 500 m above sea-level. The day-tours up to 37 mi./60 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. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend time on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle-tour. Helmet use is mandatory on all cycle tours. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own (well-fitted) helmet.
Rental helmets are available in limited numbers (reservation requested).
Please note: departure is on Friday
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Flat rate for bottled water, visitor’s tax and local charges: € 60,- for adults or € 30,- for children up to age 16 (to be paid to the captain)
April 18 & 25, July 18 & 25, August 1 & 8, October 24
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.499,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.249,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.749,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.624,-
May 2, 9, 16 & 23, July 11, August 15, October 3, 10 & 17
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.749,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.624,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.999,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 2.999,-
May 30, June 6, 13, 20 & 27, July 4, August 22 & 29, 5, 12, 19 & 26
Lower deck: twin/ double cabin € 1.999,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.999,-
Upper deck: twin/ double cabin € 2.249,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.374,-
Bike rental:
E-bike per week € 245,- (private e-bikes are not allowed on board)
Bike insurance € 30,- (optional)
Included
Additional optional services (on request)
Not included in the basic tour price
Special details
Info
Embarkation takes place between 2 and 2:30 PM. The boat stays in the harbor. This tour takes place in two directions, either from Dubrovnik to Split or from Split to Dubrovnik. In the schedule above the dates of both directions are listed. The detailed itinerary of the Split - Dubrovnik tour can be sent on request.Please check if your tour starts in Dubrovnik or Split.
Airport
The Airport of Dubrovnik (DBV) is situated about 15 km from the port of Dubrovnik. If your port of embarkation is Dubrovnik, please ensure that your flight arrives no later than 2:30 PM if you wish to join the guided Dubrovnik tour.
You can take a taxi from the airport of Dubrovnik to the harbour or from the harbour to the airport (if your tour ends in Dubrovnik). Costs are approx. € 40,- one-way.
The airport of Split (SPU) is situated about 23 km from the port of Split. You can take a taxi from the airport to the harbour of Split or from the harbour to the airport if your tour ends in Split. Costs are approx. € 20,- one-way.
Car
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 public guarded parking in Dubrovnik, prices displayed on site.
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:
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 2
Our cycle tours are suited for e-bikers. 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 e-bikers (level 2): 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
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).
