VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com Croatia: Dalmatian Coast, Split to Dubrovnik Bike Vacation + Air Package Cycle Croatia’s stunning Dalmatian Islands, a richly layered canvas of emerald-green hills, soaring dolomite mountains and crystalline Adriatic waters. Our inn-to-inn itinerary leads you from the historic jewel of Split to the medieval burg of Dubrovnik. Along the way, take in breathtaking vistas as you island- hop by ferry and private boat, riding tranquil island routes to hidden coves, magnificent beaches and beloved UNESCO World Heritage sites. Pedal past the luminous white-stone walls and fragrant rosemary fields of Brač. Traverse the fertile Stari Grad Plain and legendary vineyards of Hvar. And spin along the mountainous spine of Korčula, with spectacular views all around. You’ll set your own pace on this Croatia bike tour, lingering as you wish over lunch in medieval towns and relaxing at waterfront hotels with front- row sunset views. Cultural Highlights 1 / 11 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com Ride inn to inn, assisted by ferry and private boat, soaking up the magnificence of the most stunning Dalmatian Islands – Brač, Hvar and Korčula Enjoy easy access to Zlatni Rat, Croatia’s most renowned beach, from seaside accommodations with spectacular views Cycle along numerous beautiful beaches and coves kissed by the crystalline waters of the Adriatic, stopping as you wish for a refreshing dip Pedal the scenic byways of Dalmatia’s famed ancient vineyards and olive groves and sample their wines and oils during delectable meals Bike through Hvar’s tranquil, UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, untouched since the days of ancient Greece, en route to historic Hvar Town Discover the birthplace of legendary traveler Marco Polo among the charming, medieval streets of Korčula’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site Explore Dubrovnik, an astonishingly preserved, red-roofed medieval treasure and UNESCO World Heritage site encircled by dramatic ramparts What to Expect This tour offers a combination of rolling terrain and moderate-to-challenging hills on mainly paved narrow country roads, with no dedicated bike paths. Most traffic is encountered while arriving and departing in port towns and at ferry docks. Please verify your bike selection for this tour as it is not always possible to change bikes once you arrive on tour. Travel with your friends and family—we can accommodate multiple guests on this self-guided vacation. Our 24/7 support system is available if needed. Tour Duration: 10 Days Average Daily Mileage: 10 - 40 Average Cycling Time: 01:15 - 04:00 Climate Information Average High/Low Temperature (°F) May 71º/56º, Jun 79º/63º, Jul 85º/67º, Aug 84º/67º, Sep 78º/61º, Oct 69º/54º Average Rainfall (in.) May 2.4, Jun 1.9, Jul 1.1, Aug 1.7, Sep 2.6, Oct 3.4 DAY 1: Depart home / Fly overnight to Split Depart home for Croatia. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary. 2 / 11 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com DAY 2: Arrive in Split Upon arrival at Split Airport (SPU), make your independent travel arrangements to your city center hotel. For details, refer to your VBT Handbook. Few other cities can claim Split’s bragging rights as the former retirement estate of a Roman emperor. In fact, the Emperor Diocletian’s palace remains the center of this fascinating city, with much of the residence assimilated into daily life here. It’s a remarkable blend of ancient and modern that you’ll want to explore once you settle in. VBT provides you with City Information that includes information and recommendations for what to see and do in Split. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or to begin exploring this beautiful city on your own. Accommodation: Cornaro Hotel, Split Included Meals: None DAY 3: VBT Self-Guided Bicycle Vacation Begins / Welcome orientation / Travel to island of Brač / Cycle Supetar to Bol Meet your VBT local host at 8:30 a.m., along with any other VBT guests departing on the same day, for your Welcome orientation in the lobby of the Cornaro Hotel (Sinjska ulica 6/Ulica kralja Tomislava 9, Split, Croatia, Tel + 385 21 644 200). Please be dressed and ready for cycling. Your local host will be carrying a VBT sign and/or wearing a VBT garment. The Welcome orientation with your VBT local host includes: • An overview of the itinerary • Bike fitting and equipment familiarization • Review of the Ride with GPS navigation app • Important contact information in case you need to reach your VBT local host • Safety briefing • Local suggestions (restaurants, things to do, etc.) Following the Welcome orientation, begin your thrilling exploration of the magnificent Dalmatian Islands. You can ride or walk your bike the short distance to the Split ferry port (750 meters, just under .5 mile). Your local host will let you know the correct ferry to board and where to purchase your ticket. Your 50-minute scenic ferry delivers you to the town of Supetar on the island of Brač. Supetar is a vibrant little town on the north side of Brač, the third largest island of the Dalmatians 3 / 11 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com renowned for its wine and its luminous white stone that was used to construct not only Diocletian’s Palace in ancient times, but also the White House in Washington DC and the Reichstag in Berlin. You begin riding the moment you wheel off the ship, hugging the splendid northern coast and passing through the fishing village of Splitska, admiring its quaint harbor. The ride into Postira, a charming 14th-century seaside hamlet nestled between the Adriatic and emerald-green hills that host olive and pine groves. As you pass through, take time to admire the remains of the basilica in Lovrecina, a bay where you might be tempted to dig your toes into a beautiful sandy beach. As you approach the port town of Pucisca, you cycle inland and climb to the highest point of the day’s ride, the ancient medieval settlements of Praznica and Gornji Humac. These rustic island hamlets began small clusters of shepherds’ houses. Then, enjoy the reward for your uphill climb—an invigorating coast to the southern shores of Brač. Your destination is the town of Bol, conveniently (and happily!) located on the edge of Zlatni Rat (“Golden Horn”), a stunning beach along a gently sloping spit of land reaching into the Adriatic. A refreshing swim in crystalline waters might be in order once you’re checked into your beachfront hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening, perhaps a freshly prepared seafood dish. Today’s Rides: Supetar to Bol: 45 km (28 miles) Supetar to Bol via Dol: 51 km (32 miles) What to Expect: You depart the Supetar ferry and ride along the northern coast of Brač, right along the sea on some segments and just inland on others. You follow mainly flat or gently rolling roads for the first 10 km (6 miles). Just before the 10-kilometer point (6.2 miles), you can choose to do an out-and-back down a deep valley to the charming stone village of Dol. Returning here, the terrain becomes more rolling between 10 and 23 km (6 and 14 miles). Outside Pucisca, you turn south and inland at 23 km (14 miles) and start a sustained ascent for about 6 km (4 miles). You reach a plateau at Praznica and then reach the highest point just past Gornji Humac. You are rewarded with breathtaking views during your descent to the southern coast and the town of Bol and Zlatni Rat beach. Accommodation: Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa, Brač Included Meals: Breakfast DAY 4: Boat to Hvar Island / Ride from Jelsa port to Hvar Town / Move on Day Cycle from your hotel this morning in time to catch your private boat from Bol to the port of Jelsa on the 4 / 11 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com island of Hvar. (In the event of inclement weather, the private boat cannot run. If this is the case, your local host will explain how to take a ferry back to Split, then catch a public ferry from Split to Hvar. This change is rare and would result in a long travel day, but you can make up for it tomorrow with a loop ride on Hvar.) Long regaled as one of the world’s most beautiful islands, including by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Hvar seduces with its lavender fields and sleepy villages. This long, narrow island, 42 miles in length and just three miles wide at its narrowest point, is cloaked in pine forests, vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards and boasts a rich and fertile coastal plain. Historically, it played a central role in trade and in the rise of the Venetian Empire thanks to its central position in the Adriatic. From your landing port in the old fishing port of Jelsa—where you can pause to admire the well-preserved houses of local ship captains—you cycle along the northern coast, passing fields of poppies, rosemary and lavender that open up to sweeping views and an endless network of stone walls. This is the Stari Grad Plain, an agricultural landscape first cultivated by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. Today this UNESCO World Heritage site is sparsely populated and rich in dramatic vistas that stretch clear across the sea to neighboring islands and the mainland. At about 9 km (6 miles), you pedal into the town of Stari Grad, one of the oldest towns in Europe.