Itinerary

Day 1 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Depart U.S. / Fly overnight to Dubrovnik

Depart from the U.S. for Croatia. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Arrive in Dubrovnik / Begin your Trip Extension in Dubrovnik

Upon arrival at the airport, a VBT representative meets you and helps you transfer to your centrally located hotel.

Once settled, you have the rest of the afternoon to explore Dubrovnik and its ancient walled city overlooking the Adriatic. This is an independent extension with no VBT Trip Leader.

VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes information and recommendations on what to see and do in Dubrovnik during your stay.

Day 3 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent Exploration of Dubrovnik

After breakfast, the day is yours to explore all that has made this city the new darling of southern Europe. Stroll Dubrovnik's Stradun (the Old City's main thoroughfare), take a guided walk atop the fortress wall, or enjoy a refreshing swim at the beach near your hotel. You may book an optional guided tour of the Old City at your own expense—you must reserve this optional tour with your VBT representative upon arrival.

Day 1 of AIR PACKAGE Depart U.S. / Fly overnight to Split

Depart from the U.S. for Croatia. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 4 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent Exploration of Dubrovnik

After breakfast at the hotel, explore more of this world-class city on your own. You may book an optional tour of Cavtat and Konavle Valley at your own expense—you must reserve this optional tour with your VBT representative upon arrival.

Day 2 of AIR PACKAGE Arrive in Split, Croatia / Transfer to Trogir

Upon arrival at the Split airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. Our local representative, who will be holding a VBT sign, meets you outside the customs area in your arrival terminal. Your minibus transfer (approximately 30 minutes) is provided by the Hotel Palace Trogir.

At the hotel, check in and spend the remainder of the day exploring Trogir. (If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 2 p.m. You can store your luggage at the Reception Desk.)

On a tiny island behind medieval walls lies the Old Town of Trogir – just steps away from your hotel. Its streets form a maze and a collection of Romanesque and Renaissance edifices wait around every corner. Masterful architecture and a magnificent cathedral have earned Trogir World Heritage status from UNESCO. Outside the walls of the Old Town you will find a seaside promenade lined with cafes and luxurious yachts in the summer.

VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes information and recommendations on what to see and do in Trogir during your stay.

Day 5 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Transfer to Trogir / Join VBT Air Package guests

This morning your VBT representative meets you and helps you transfer up the coast to Trogir. (You'll receive your transfer time upon arrival at your Dubrovnik hotel.) This journey by coach takes approximately four and a half hours. Ensure you have your passports available as you will cross into the neighboring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Meet Trip Leaders / Transfer from Trogir to the Island of Brac / Warm-up ride / Welcome Reception

VBT No-Air Package guests: Your VBT Trip Leaders and the rest of the group meet you at the Hotel Trogir Palace in Trogir at 9 a.m. (address: Put Gradine 8, 21 220 Trogir, Croatia; telephone: +385 (0) 21 685 555) If you are scheduled to arrive at the Hotel Trogir Palace later than 9 a.m. or if you are delayed, you must take a taxi, a ferry, and then another taxi at your own expense.

In the event of a late arrival you will need to travel on your own to Hotel Pastura in Postira on the island of Brac (approximate cost is 30 euros/$39 USD, travel time approximately 2 hours). Please contact Hotel Pastura (telephone: +385 (0) 21 740 000) to advise the staff of any travel delays or changes, and they will alert your VBT Trip Leaders.

VBT Air Package and Pre-Trip Extension guests: Meet your VBT Trip Leaders at 9 a.m. Your Trip Leaders will be wearing VBT staff garments. Please have your bags out for collection before 8 a.m. so they may be transferred to the ferry ahead of the group. The group will leave the hotel at 9:30 a.m. for the 45 minute drive to the Split pier for your ferry, which sails at 11 a.m. to the port of Supetar on the island of Brac.

Across from the ferry terminal in Split, you may purchase something to eat from one of several small restaurants or grocery stores to bring along during the one-hour journey to the island of Brac.

On arrival at the port of Supetar, minivans transfer the group to the village of Postira and to the Hotel Pastura, your home for the next three nights. This welcoming, 4-star hotel's location is convenient and quiet and features comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with balconies.

A charming and quiet village now, Postira has a history that dates to the 14th century. Located five miles from Supetar, Postira is nestled between ocean and hill, embraced by centuries-old olive fields and pine groves. One of this town's most famous sites is the remains of a basilica in Lovrecina, a bay with a very beautiful sandy beach.

In the afternoon, join your Trip Leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride along Postira's harbor and a loop to the picturesque village of Dol. In the early evening, we transfer by minivan back to Dol for a welcome cocktail reception on the quaint terrace of a typical small village restaurant, followed by a traditional Brac Island dinner. Your host for the evening will show you the old-world methods of cooking food under a metal bell. Later return to the hotel and fall asleep to the lapping sounds of waves outside your room.

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Cycle from Postira to Pucisca and Skrip / Visit stonecutters' school / Home-hosted dinner

We start our ride to Postira, following a quieter road along the scenic north coast and passing through simple villages bordered by fig and olive trees. You'll enjoy views of the mainland throughout our ride. Stop in the port town of Pucisca and visit the stonecutters' school here. Brac's world-renowned stone has been used in the construction of some the world's most famous buildings, including Diocletian's palace in Split and the White House in Washington, D.C. This is a unique opportunity to see students' work and learn about a near-forgotten craft at one of the world's few remaining stonecutting schools.

After lunch on your own, you may choose to shuttle back to the hotel or cycle back to Postira. Today's longer option is to continue past Postira to Skrip and back to Postira. Skrip is the oldest settlement on the island and the source of the stone we learned about earlier. Upon returning to the hotel, use your free time to relax or walk to the beach.

Just prior to dinner, your Trip Leaders give an introduction to the Croatian language. Use your newfound skills tonight as you share a simple but authentic Croatian dinner in a local home. We always connect with our hosts during this event, and it gives us a chance to witness daily life on this breathtaking island.

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Shuttle to Vidova Gora, the Summit of the Adriatic / Ride through rural villages / Visit Milna, the Bay of a Thousand Ships

After breakfast, we shuttle by coach to the highest point on the island, Vidova Gora. This lookout, known as the summit of the Adriatic, affords some breathtaking views. From here, enjoy more great scenery as we coast through the villages of Nerezisca and Lozisca.

From Lozisca, we will ride a nine-mile loop down to the port of Milna, the most beautiful marina on the island, where we stop and relax for an included lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we continue toward the port town of Sutivan and then along the coast back to our hotel in Postira via Supetar.

Tonight, you may explore the typical Croatian restaurants in town. Your Trip Leaders can make recommendations.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR Bike to Bol and Zlatni Rat Beach / Boat ride / Explore Hvar town and fortress

This morning, we say goodbye to our hosts and transfer by coach across the top of the island to the base of Vidova Gora. From here, we ride through easy terrain and the ancient medieval settlements of Praznica and Gornji Humac – real examples of how the island's towns and villages developed from separate homes, usually shepherd's houses.

Enjoy breathtaking views during the downhill roll to beach of Zlatni Rat (meaning “Golden Horn”), the most famous beach in all of Croatia, This spit of land reaches out into the water with a gently sloping beach. Here, you can swim in the Adriatic's crystal-clear water before lunch on your own in the adjacent town of Bol.

Just after lunch, embark a private boat to Jelsa on the island of Hvar. Then, we shuttle to our hotel in Hvar town. (In the event of inclement weather, this transfer operates as noted below.)

Nearly 42 miles long and 7 miles wide, and only 3 miles at its narrowest point, Hvar is the most famous and seductive Adriatic island. Along with Bali, Zanzibar, Mykonos and Capri, Hvar has been called “one of the most beautiful islands in the world” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Its permanent population of 12,000 people clusters on the west of the island, adjacent to the most fertile and protected land.

Your hotel's central location affords the perfect vantage point to explore Hvar town, a medieval Croatian town with a strong Venetian influence dating to the 16th century. Visit the Arsenal, built in 1612 as the first municipal theatre—Europe's oldest and, perhaps, its smallest. Its purpose was to bring the aristocratic and bourgeois classes together, and it stands as a symbol of reconciliation between social classes and of the abolition of privilege. Women were not admitted until the second half of the 19th century. Take in the expanse of Saint Stephen's Square, the largest square of the Adriatic after Saint Mark's Square in Venice.

Tonight, walk to a nearby home for a delicious dinner hosted by Margita and Boris. Together, learn how to prepare some of the best local dishes during a group cooking lesson. Dalmatia is known for its Prosek (sweet wine) and Plavac (local red wine); taste both over a festive dinner on a terrace that overlooks the Adriatic.

Inclement Weather Itinerary:
If rough weather makes it impossible for our small chartered ferry to operate, guests travel between Brac and Hvar on the large car ferries that operate via Split. This creates a longer travel day. The two ferry rides are separated by a two-hour visit to Split, where you take a discovery walk and enjoy lunch on your own. Inclement weather may make the promoted activities impossible.

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Ride Hvar's dramatic wilderness / Explore Stari Grad

After a leisurely breakfast, we ride past fields of poppies, rosemary and lavender. The ride starts with a steady climb of about four miles to the village of Brusje and rewards you with a sparsely inhabited and dramatic landscape crisscrossed by a seemingly endless number of stone walls. Views stretch across the sea to neighboring islands and the mainland. If you prefer, start the ride in Brusje and pedal to Stari Grad, finishing with a four-mile downhill coast into this authentic Dalmatian town situated at the end of a narrow bay. Originally founded in the fourth century BC, the town's main square offers a number of options for lunch on your own.

For a greater challenge, continue past Stari Grad on one of two long-ride options. After lunch, you can continue biking to pass near Jelsa and climb toward Poljica into an even more remote environment, finishing with a two-mile downhill ride to Velika Stiniva (“Big Cliff”). Enjoy a swim, and later board our VBT van for the shuttle back to our hotel.

Back at the hotel spend the afternoon swimming, exploring more of Hvar town or swimming at a neighboring beach. Dinner is on your own.

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Ride through lavender fields / Explore Vrboska harbor

Today's ride, certain to be a highlight of your trip, is relatively flat. It carries us through verdant fields and quiet stone villages and alongside the narrow harbor between Vrboska and Jelsa.

Our first destination, Vrboska, an adorable small harbor, is famous for its fortified church. Unique in Croatia, the structure resulted from a strange but necessary alliance between the church and the secular need for fortification from invaders. From here, we ride the flat and scenic road on the edge of a fjord filled with small coves perfect for a cooling dip (don't forget your swimsuit!). We end the morning with a provided picnic in the old fishing port of Jelsa, where we see the well-maintained houses of local ship captains. Enjoy a refreshing dip here.

Then, we ride through the mountain village of Pitve. With its traditional stone houses, konobas (taverns) and terrace gardens, Pitve epitomizes the island towns of Croatia. Then, shuttle back to the hotel from Stari Grad in the late afternoon, or opt for a longer ride that brings you back through Brusje to Hvar.

Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner on the terrace of our hotel, overlooking Hvar harbor.

Day 7 of BIKE TOUR Transfer to Split / Free time / VBT No-Air Package ends

VBT No-Air Package guests: After breakfast, transfer back to the port of Split, arriving at approximately 1:15 p.m. (Important: Flight departures from Split airport prior to 4 p.m. are not recommended. If you depart earlier, you must make transfer arrangements from the last hotel at your own expense. Taxi cost from Split harbor to Split airport is approximately 300 Croatian Kuna /$60 USD; travel time is about 40 minutes.)

VBT Air Package guests: Transfer after breakfast by ferry and van to the Art Hotel in Split for your final overnight stay (travel time is approximately three hours). Arrive around 2 p.m., then spend the rest of the day shopping or relaxing in one of the city's outdoor cafes.

Day 8 of AIR PACKAGE Depart for U.S. or begin your optional extension in Split

VBT recommends you check the time of your transfer with your Trip Leaders during the week. The transfer is prearranged and prepaid.

* Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

** VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Day 1 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Split

If you have chosen the Post-Trip Extension, continue to explore Split on your own during your independent trip extension. VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes information and recommendations about what to see and do in Split during your stay.

Now a modern port city, Split's Old Town center remains charming. The center grew up around the Emperor Diocletian's vast Roman palace, which remains one of the largest and best-preserved from the Roman period. Visit the medieval Brace Radica Square in the southwest corner of the palace: Its tall Marina Tower is all that remains of the imposing castle, built by the Venetians in the second half of the 15th century. When you're ready for a rest, head to Split's Riva promenade to sip coffee, grab an ice cream and enjoy the view.

Day 2 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Split

Today is yours to further explore Split or take a day trip to explore one of the many other Dalmatian Islands such as Korcula – thought to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. You may also opt to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. The beauty of the National Park lies in its 16 lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland.

Day 3 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Split Extension concludes / Depart for home

After breakfast*, transfer to the Split airport for your departing flight**.

Please note: Ensure that you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.
VBT recommends you check the time of your transfer with your Trip Leaders during the week. The transfer is prearranged and prepaid.

* Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

** VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Croatia: The Dalmatian Islands 2012

Pre and Post Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension

Dubrovnik 2012 - 3 nights for only $495

Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities, high on the list of serious travelers. With its strategic coastal position, the city has been an important power since the 13th century. Beautiful Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains reveal Dubrovnik’s long, storied history. In the medieval, pedestrian-only Stari Grad (Old City), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, explore the Sponza Palace, Cathedral, Church of St. Blaise, domed Onofrio’s Great Fountain, and Franciscan monastery. Browse the paintings, furniture and artifact collections at the 15th-century Rector’s Palace. Encounter the biodiversity of the Adriatic at the Aquarium. And get your first taste of Croatian fare in the city’s many restaurants, pubs and cafés.

Only available with the Air Inclusive Package.

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $345.

Post-Trip Extension

Split 2012 - 2 nights for only $245

Now a modern port city, Split's Old Town center remains charming. The center grew up around the Emperor Diocletian's vast Roman palace, which remains one of the largest and best-preserved from the Roman period. Visit the medieval Brace Radica Square in the southwest corner of the palace: Its tall Marina Tower is all that remains of the imposing castle, built by the Venetians in the second half of the 15th century. When you're ready for a rest, head to Split's Riva promenade to sip coffee, grab an ice cream and enjoy the view.

Or you may decide to take advantage of Split’s central location and plan a day trip to one of the many other Dalmatian Islands such as Korcula – thought to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. You may also opt to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. The beauty of the National Park lies in its 16 lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland.

Only available with the Air Inclusive Package.

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $145.

Accommodations

Hotel Bellevue

Perched on a living rock, 30 meters above Miramare Bay and just walking distance to the Old Town, the luxurious 5-star Hotel Bellevue is a veritable sanctuary for people who seek to relax their spirit, awaken their senses, and escape from the haste of everyday life. It truly is as a unique hotel for discerning individuals with an appreciation of luxury, superb service and attention to detail.

Hotel Palace Trogir

Trogir Palace Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Trogir with excellent service in a comfortable atmosphere. It is only 200 meters from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trogir. All rooms have air conditioning, a bathroom with tub, minibar, direct-dial telephone, internet connection, safe, LCD TV with satellite and radio programs, as well as laptops if requested. Restaurant "Antonio" serves a rich variety of specialty selected dishes that recall the taste of authentic Croatian culinary tradition.

Hotel Pastura

This four-star hotel has 31 rooms and is located right on Postira’s beach. Hotel facilities include a fresh water swimming pool, a full-service restaurant ‘Pastura’, a bar ‘Par’ plus a café bar ‘Tamaris’, as well as an internet desk, a fitness center, sauna, Jacuzzi, and massage. Rooms feature a balcony, air-conditioning, satellite television, safe and minibar.

Hotel Park Hvar

The Park Hotel Hvar is situated in the heart of Hvar town and once was the palace of the great Ivanić family in the 16th century. It was recently restored and opened to the public in 2006. The hotel is centrally located between the former Rector’s Palace and St. Mark’s church. The boutique hotel consists of only 14 suites and most offer limited views of the spectacular Hvar harbor. All accommodations offer top quality facilities with air conditioning, floor heating, minibar, safes, LCD satellite TV and WiFi internet access.

Art Hotel

The Art Hotel is a small, in-town hotel, located just outside the walled historic center of Split. It’s a 15-minute walk to the main cultural locations, cafés and restaurants in the Old Town. The Art Hotel has 36 rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned and have a direct telephone line, minibar, safe, plasma TV with satellite, fire-protection system, SOS system, Internet connection, and a laptop on guest’s demand. The hotel is modern in style, with bright décor, contemporary bathrooms, and the features you’d expect in a new hotel (the hotel opened on June 1, 2005). There is a bar and restaurant on site.

Rating Level

Moderate

This tour offers a combination of rolling terrain and moderate hills. Our VBT support van is always available for those who need assistance. Ideal for energetic beginners to experienced cyclists.