If you wish to explore the Dalmatia Islands on your own self-guided tour rather than our guided bike and boat tour from Split to Dubrovnik then this is for certain a trip to consider. You shall travel by bike visiting the Islands of Brac, Hvar and Korcula before crossing to the Peljesac peninsular for your last bike ride to Ston. Lastly, we transfer you along the last section to the city of Dubrovnik where you can extend your stay as you wish. This tour shall give you a good image of the lifestyle of Croatia and its Mediterranean culture. For certain you shall be cycling passing wonderful scenic wonders and landscapes always with the Adriatic Sea not far away.
Split
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Cycling that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Today we suggest you fly into Split, the second-largest city in Croatia and transfer to your accommodation. Split is an ideal place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. Always buzzing, this exuberant city has just the right balance of tradition and modernity. For the history buff’s visit the inside of the Diocletian’s Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments). In the city, you’ll discover dozens of bars, restaurants and shops thriving amid the atmospheric old walls where Split life has been going on for thousands of years.
In the morning you will depart from Split ferry port to the island of Brač, the biggest island in Croatia. Brač also has the highest summit of all islands, St. Vid hill. You will discover some beautiful landscape today. The local stone from the island of Brač is representing the soul of the island. The most famous product built with the stone is UNESCO site, the Diocletian palace, or known as the White House in Washington or Pope’s alter in the Vatican. You can take lunch in some of the local restaurants, try the local food called “konoba”. In the afternoon you take the ferry back to Split.
The island of Hvar derives its name from the Greek. Hvar has also been under the influence of the Venetian’s during its history and that is seen in the picturesque architecture of Hvar town. Today you will bike from the town of Stari Grad and later finish riding day in Hvar town. On your trip, you will see many lavender farms as well as several olive plantations which are a typical landscape of Mediterranean islands. In the afternoon you can spend time in Hvar town and enjoy its beautiful promenade and restaurants.
In the morning you will take a speed boat from Hvar to Vela Luka at Korčula Island. You will then bike from west to east across the island (Vela Luka to Korčula). Passing many quaint villages set amongst wonderful vineyards and olive trees. This is the reason why Greeks in the 4th century named the island, Korkyra Melaina or Dark Korčula. Afternoon you can spend time in the town of Korčula.
After spending a night in the historic town of Korčula, today you will take a bike ride to see more of the magnificent landscapes of the island of Korčula. In Lumbarda, you will have the opportunity to try some of the best wines from the island in a local winery. After the tour, you will spend a night at the birthplace of the famous traveller Marco Polo where you can visit Marco Polo’s exhibition in the centre of town. Korčula is well known by the mock battle dance (Moreška) with each soldier holding two swords is traditionally performed on July 29 (St. Theodore’s Day) and weekly during the summer. The dance is performed only by males from Korčula town families.
Today you leave the town of Korčula and cross to the Pelješac peninsula. Then you cycle from Orebić towards Ston where you shall have some beautiful views over islands of Korčula and Mljet. With a long history of wine-producing, you will have the opportunity to taste some of the best Croatian wines such as Dingač and Postup during today. At the end of your ride, you will arrive at your destination the town of Ston, which is famous for its salt production during the Dubrovnik Republic. Ston, in the 14th century, built a 5 km long wall as part of the fortification of Dubrovnik Republic. Lastly from Ston, you will be transferred to Dubrovnik to your own booked accommodation.
