Island Hopping
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ESCAPE THE ORDINARY Island hopping 7 days If you want to ride your bike through amazing routes, swim in the refreshing, crystal clear sea, taste the Mediterranean cuisine and experience the relaxed island atmosphere – this tour is for you! With this seven-day trip to the Dalmatian islands, you will get to know the hidden European bike destination that offers enchanting history and natural beauties. The tour begins in Split, a city in the center of which is more than 1700 years old Diocletian's Palace – part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Discover life within its walls and visit markets before heading to the islands. The first destination is the island of Brač, which has a strong tradition of stonemasonry, sheep breeding, wine growing, olive cultivation, and shipbuilding. Then there is Vis where you will spend two nights. Besides historic sites, excellent cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere, you will be enchanted by its charming vineyards and many hidden coves ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding. Then you will have a private boat transfer to the island of Hvar which offers many activities to choose from. On the way to Hvar, it is possible to stop at the Pakleni islands – a well-known tourist destination that contains about twenty small islands and cliffs. After spending two days in Hvar, it's time to return to Split and end this Island hopping adventure. DAY 1 DAY 1 City of Split The first day begins in our Split, the most beautiful city in the world according to local people. At the appointed hour we will have a meeting where we will briefly explain the tour and give you all the information and materials you need – maps, lists of restaurants, wineries, museums, ferry schedules, and similar. Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and the administrative center of the southern coast. We recommend a ride along the beautiful Marjan Park Forest, which is also the main recreation area for the citizens of Split. Marjan has always been a symbol of Split – close to the waterfront and densely populated downtown, and on the other side peninsula of beautiful nature and fresh air. You can climb to its top from where you can enjoy a unique view of Split and surrounded islands. In the evening explore the city center, which is swirling with narrow stone streets, ancient monuments, and medieval buildings. Walk through the streets, feel the magnificent history, but see that the city still lives a full life. DAY 1 Distance covered: 0-20 km, test ride (optional extra ride 60 km) Overnight: Split Highlights: Split, Marjan DAY 2 DAY 2 Brač island After a relaxed ferry ride, you arrive at the largest island of central Dalmatia and the third largest in Croatia – Brač. The island is rich with historic sites dating back to Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages. The ferry stops at Supetar, a small town on the island where the bike ride goes from. You ride to Sutivan, a typical fishing village on the island. After Sutivan, you will continue to Ložišće from where you can continue driving further to the settlements inland, which are older, much richer in historical finds than the coastal ones. There you can find much older places as well. The reason for this was the constant pirate attacks on the coast, which resulted in the withdrawal of the population inland. If you are interested in architecture or art, there are several galleries in Donji Humac, Supetar, as well as the Museum of the Island of Brač in Škrip. We definitely recommend a visit to the Olive Oil Museum in Škrip, which is located right next to the route from Donji Humac to Split Bay. At the end of the island ride, you can relax on the beach before departure of the ferry and returning to Split. DAY 2 Distance covered: 0-36 km, test ride (optional 40 km) Overnight: Split Highlights: the island of Brač, Supetar, driving around the coast and through places on the island, wine cellars, art galleries and museums DAY 3 DAY 3 Vis island Today you sail to Vis – an island ideal for enjoying the untouched natural beauty, hidden coves, and cliffs. This is also an island of rich history, the island of Illyria, Greeks, and Romans where naval battles were fought in history. Vis was crucial in controlling the waterways along the Adriatic and served as a base for the Yugoslavian Navy. Because of that, during Yugoslavia Vis was closed to foreigners, thanks to what it kept wonderful, untouched natural beauty, but also the specific spirit of its inhabitants and the authentic way of island life. That way Vis has still maintained a dose of mystery. You will cycle along the eastern side of the island and discover the beautiful pebble beaches, olive groves and vineyards to which the entire history of Vis is related, and even today wine production is one of the main economic branches of the island. You can try them in the evening, at the many restaurants and taverns of the island, or stroll along the waterfront, and the beautiful streets. Vis will enchant you with its preserved original Mediterranean architecture and hospitable islanders. DAY 3 Distance covered: 20-30 km Overnight: Vis Highlights: the town of Vis, Milna, Stončica DAY 4 DAY 4 Authentic town of Komiža Today you can choose between a round trip on the island of Vis and a visit to the Blue Cave on the small island of Biševo or you can go on a SUP tour to the Green Cave, to swim and snorkel on the east side of the island. One of the biggest attractions on the island is the Military Tour, within which you can see rocket bases, Tito's caves, command center, and kilometers of underground tunnels built by the army, and to this day have remained in their original condition. We also recommend a bike tour to Komiža, which is known as the authentic fisherman village in the southwest of the island. In some places during the tour, it will be possible to buy fresh fish directly from Komiža fishermen. Komiža is a typical Mediterranean town with narrow streets, houses cramped to the harbor, numerous beaches and a mild Mediterranean climate. Cycling to the place itself you will enjoy a panoramic ride along the Vis fields covered with vineyards of the Vugava sort, and at the same time, you can explore the beautiful bays and pebble beaches that run along the entire eastern coast of the Komiža Bay. DAY 4 Distance covered: 36 km (optional extra 20 km) Overnight: Vis Highlights: Komiža, bays and beaches around Vis, Vugava vineyards @petarfadic / IG DAY 5 DAY 5 Hvar island The adventure continues on one of the most popular and most beautiful islands in the world – the island of Hvar where you arrive by private boat from Vis. Since Hvar offers many attractions, it is up to you to choose the activity that suits you best. One of the options is to cycle through the surrounding hills or take a kayak or speedboat to the Pakleni Islands, an archipelago of unique natural beauty and numerous crystal clear bays and beaches. Many cultural and historical sites can be found in the town of Hvar, including the oldest theater in Europe, and it is also attractive for its numerous narrow stone streets, so you certainly won't make a mistake if you just stay in the city, take a walk, have coffee in the main square and feel the island atmosphere. DAY 5 Distance covered: 20 km Overnight: Hvar Highlights: Hvar, Pakleni Islands, transfer by boat, sea kayaking, trekking, clubbing DAY 6 DAY 6 Lavender and olive fields on Hvar Today's ride begins with a climb above Hvar, with a very interesting route along with abandoned villages and lavender fields. You will enjoy the magnificent view since Hvar is surrounded by many small islands, cliffs, bays, and beaches. When you reach the top of the island, you will see many stone piles, made by people to reach the fertile land so they can plant lavender, olives, and vines. You will pass through the fields of lavender, which is one of the most beautiful scenes on Hvar. At one time, Hvar was the eighth largest lavender producer in the world – everything was under lavender. There is no such amount of it today, but in some parts of the island, people are still growing lavender. Once you pass the fields and hills, you will reach the field of Stari Grad and then the road is mostly straight without major climbs. Due to its exceptional archaeological value and parcellation, preserved since ancient times, the field has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the old town of Stari Grad (the name literally means Old Town). Passing through the fields, you will come to the coastal villages of Jelsa and Vrboska. This part of the island is known for the variety of crops grown by the inhabitants: agave, myrtle, rosemary, pines and, like the rest of the island, lavender, olives, and vineyards. In the late afternoon, the ferry leaves for Split. DAY 6 Distance covered: 20-45 km Overnight: Split Highlights: cycling around Hvar, UNESCO protected area of the field of Stari Grad, the old town of Stari Grad, Split DAY 7 DAY 7 Split It is the end of your cycling adventure that ends in Split, where we started. Depending on the flight or the continuation of your trip, you can spend the day in Split or continue on through Dalmatia.