Cycle Croatia & the Balkans

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins in the coastal city of Split, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the ruins of Diocletian's Palace, explore the original basements under the city or simply unwind with a walk along the waterfront. After your meeting, maybe head out for dinner with your group or grab a drink at a bar on the Riva Promenade.

It’s an early start today as you catch the ferry from Split to Supetar on the island of Brac. There will be a bike fitting for the group followed by a short test ride to ensure everything is working properly. From here, begin your first - and possibly the hardest - ride in Croatia, cycling from Supetar along the coastal road to the seaside village of Pucisca. Along the way, take a short detour to the tiny village of Dol, passing vineyards, fig trees and olive groves. After a quick stop for refreshments in Pucisca, make your first real climb up to Praznica – it’s a pretty steep climb, but you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the Adriatic Sea. Have a rest at the top then cycle across the centre to the descent into the town of Bol. Bol is famous for the Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) – one of the Adriatic’s most beautiful beaches. Take a quick swim at the beach and maybe visit the famous Stina Winery for a tasting before seeking out some fresh seafood for dinner.

This morning, take a boat between islands to the small port of Jelsa. From here, start riding to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stari Grad Plain. Set in a protected bay, Stari Grad is one of Europe’s oldest towns, settled by Neolithic tribes as far back as 3500 BC. Today, the old stone houses, narrow streets and small squares still retain a deeply historic feel. Spend some time exploring Stari Grad at your own pace – maybe visit the Dominican Monastery or Tvrdalj Fortress. Then, continue along a less-trafficked old road to Hvar Island before descending through the old village of Brusje and down into Hvar Town. When you arrive, maybe stroll the pjaca (piazza), visit St Stephen’s Cathedral or take in the views of the palaces which surround the town.

This morning is free for you to explore Hvar at your own pace – maybe visit the Hvar Spanjola Fortress, go on a boat tour or hike to Velo Grablje village. This afternoon, catch a boat to Korcula – a Venetian Renaissance-inspired walled city of narrow streets, medieval towers and the reputed birthplace of Marco Polo. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner with your fellow travellers or find a bar with a view of the Adriatic.

Spend the morning on the road, as you drive through Korcula, past vineyards, olive groves and forests up to the hamlet of Pupnat. The position of Pupnat and steepness of the approach is no accident – it was designed to help keep the town safe from pirates through the ages. When you arrive, hop on your bike for the descent to Pupnatska Luka – a beautiful bay with a pebble beach. Follow the coastline through Smokvica and its vineyards before tackling the final climb to Blato and descending to the port town of Vela Luka. Here, you’ll have time to walk around and have a quick coffee before boarding a local bus for the journey back to Korcula Town. On the way, stop for dinner at a local restaurant. The rest of the evening is free to rest or explore.

After breakfast, take a boat to Orebic. Then, drive high above the small village of Postup to its panoramic viewpoint. Here, you’ll take to the coastal backroads and cycle through the hills of the Dingac before continuing to Zuljana and up to Putnikovic. When you arrive, stop for a group picnic and optional wine tasting before cycling across the island to Ston. After, drive to Dubrovnik where you'll join your leader for an orientation walk. Walk through the medieval city then carry on exploring at your own pace. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner to celebrate the last night of your cycling adventure.

Today is a free day for you to explore Dubrovnik at your own pace. Maybe visit the Church of St Blaise, take a cable car to Mount Srd or discover Game of Thrones filming locations. There will be another welcome meeting at your hotel at 6 pm this evening to meet your new leader and any new travellers joining you for the next part of your adventure. After, maybe head out for dinner with the group at a local restaurant and try some Dubrovnik cuisine like octopus salad or pasticada (slow-cooked beef stew).

This morning, take a private vehicle over the border to Herceg Novi. When you arrive, set off on your first ride of the trip. Cycle along the Bay of Kotor, passing rolling hills to the whitewashed port town of Kamenari. Then, take a short ferry ride across the azure waters between the headlands to Lepetane. Take in the coastal views before jumping back on your bike and continuing onto Kotor – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city on the shores of the Adriatic. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Kotor at your own pace. Maybe walk through the medieval Old Town and discover the historic buildings and buzzing nightlife.

Say goodbye to Kotor this morning as you drive north to Slano Lake. Today’s ride will start near the dam wall and take you along the old road (mixed asphalt and gravel surface) via the tiny hamlet of Kunak. Park the bikes on the main road and take a short taxi ride to Ostrog Monastery – a white-washed building built into a cliff. Then, jump back on the bikes and continue along the quiet roads to the tiny village of Stubica, before dropping back down to the Zeta River all the way to Niksic. Along the way, visit the Ramparts of Onogost – founded in the 4th century, Niksic is the country's second-largest city. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations.

Today, you'll cycle from Niksic to Pluzine – a small town on the shore of Lake Piva. Along the way, visit the 16th-century Piva Monastery and its museum that contains a psalm from the Crnojevici printing press – the first printing press in the Balkans. Then, stop for a picnic lunch at Lake Piva, before driving back to Niksic for a free evening.

This morning, travel to Zavala, where you’ll start your ride on an old, country road through half-abandoned hamlets. Join the Ciro Trail – a new traffic-free trail that follows an old Austro-Hungarian railway track running from Dubrovnik to Mostar. You’ll ride on the trail to the city of Capljina, passing old train stations that have been refurbished into guesthouses and the picturesque lake of Nature Park Hutovo Blato. There will be plenty of stops at viewpoints along the way like at the famous Vjetrenica Cave. Then, drive to Mostar – known for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), where locals dive into the River Neretva. This is a tradition for local boys, who are said to have a lifetime of bad luck if they don’t complete the jump to become a man. It's a beautiful spot to kick back by the river, have a Bosnian coffee and watch the divers.

Today you’ll ride along another section of the Ciro Trail. The trail follows the valley of the Neretva River downstream, surrounded on both sides by towering hills. You'll pass through farmland, small villages and ancient remains like Mogorjelo. After a quick coffee while the bikes are loaded onto the trailer, drive back to Mostar for the night, where you have free time to maybe explore the alleys, bars and restaurants.

This morning, drive north towards Sarajevo – the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and host of the 1984 Winter Olympics. You'll begin cycling from Jahorina – the site for several Olympic events including the female slalom. If the weather is clear, you’ll be treated to amazing views along your ride. After, load the bikes and drive into Sarajevo’s centre. The city often draws comparisons with Istanbul as a city that mixes east and west – dotted with minarets, mosques, bazaars and the aroma of coffee. When you arrive, take a guided tour for an insight into the history and culture of the city. Sarajevo is one of the few cities in the world that features an Orthodox church, a Catholic church and a mosque all within proximity. Tonight, maybe head out for an optional farewell dinner with your group and cheers to a trip well-travelled.

With no further activities planned, your cycling adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to extend your stay in Sarajevo, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.