Croatia: The Dalmatian Islands

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

A VBT representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

After an included breakfast at the hotel, meet your readily identifiable VBT trip leaders in the lobby at 9:00 a.m. Please have your bags out for collection before 8:00 a.m., as they will be transported to the ferry ahead of the group. You will depart the hotel at 9:30 a.m. and walk to the Split pier for your 11:00 a.m. ferry to the port of Supetar on Brač Island.

Upon arrival in Supetar, minivans will transport your group to the village of Postira and the Hotel Pastura, your home for the next three nights. This welcoming 4-star hotel offers a quiet, convenient location and features comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with balconies.

Postira is a charming village dating to the 14th century. Nestled between the sea and hillside groves of olive and pine trees, it lies just five miles from Supetar. One of its notable sites is the remains of a basilica in Lovrečina Bay, home to a beautiful sandy beach.

After lunch on your own, join your trip leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride along Postira’s harbor and inland to the small village of Dol. In the early evening, travel to Dol for a welcome cocktail reception featuring homemade grappa on the restaurant’s terrace, followed by a traditional Croatian meal. Later, return to the hotel and fall asleep to the gentle sound of waves outside your room.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Postira Warm-Up Ride — 9.9 km (6 miles)

What to Expect:

Embark on a short warm-up ride along Postira’s harbor and inland to the village of Dol. This easy ride is designed to help you get comfortable on your VBT bike. It’s also a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with your route notes and test your RWGPS app. Your trip leaders will be available to assist with any questions about using the program.

Cumulative Distance Range: 9.9 km (6 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning’s ride brings you to Škrip, the oldest settlement on the island and the source of the stone used at the stonecutters’ school you’ll visit this afternoon. From there, continue along quieter roads that trace the scenic north coast, passing humble villages framed by fig and olive trees. Throughout the ride, enjoy sweeping views of the mainland across the water.

In the port town of Pučišća, visit the renowned stonecutters’ school. Brač’s world-famous stone has been used in the construction of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, including Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the White House in Washington, D.C. This is a rare opportunity to see the students’ work and learn about a nearly forgotten craft at one of the last remaining stonecutting schools in the world.

After an included lunch in Pučišća, you may choose to shuttle back to the hotel or cycle back to Postira, where you’ll have free time to relax or take a walk to the beach.

Before dinner, your trip leaders will offer a brief and engaging introduction to the Croatian language. Half the group will participate in the language class this evening, followed by a home-hosted dinner in a local residence—an authentic cultural experience and a meaningful opportunity to connect with island life. The other half of the group will enjoy a free evening and dinner on their own. The groups will switch tomorrow night, with a second language class and home-hosted dinner led by the other trip leader.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Postira to Škrip and Pučišća — 34 km (21 miles)

Afternoon: Pučišća to Postira — 16 km (10 miles)

What to Expect:

This morning’s ride begins with a gentle uphill pedal to the town of Škrip. After your visit, enjoy a downhill ride as you continue to Pučišća along a quiet road that traces the scenic north coast. This afternoon, you’ll follow the same picturesque coastal route back to the hotel.

Cumulative Distance Range: 34 – 50.2 km (21 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s journey offers some of the most spectacular views of your Croatia bike tour. After breakfast, shuttle to the highest point on the island—Vidova Gora, known as the summit of the Adriatic—for breathtaking panoramas. From here, enjoy more stunning scenery as you coast through the villages of Nerežišća and Ložišća.

From Ložišća, enjoy a nine-mile ride down to the port of Milna, home to the island’s most beautiful marina. Pause here to relax and enjoy lunch on your own. Afterward, continue riding along the coast back to your hotel in Postira via Supetar.

Tonight, the groups will switch: those who dined on their own last night will first participate in a brief Croatian language class before enjoying a home-hosted meal featuring local specialties. Those who attended the home-hosted dinner last night will have the evening free to explore and dine on their own.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Vidova Gora to Milna — 29.2 km (18 miles)

Afternoon: Milna to Supetar – Milna to Postira — 28.7 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

After a short shuttle, enjoy beautiful scenery as you ride through quaint Croatian villages. This route offers a mix of gentle terrain and a few hills, providing a rewarding experience for cyclists of all levels. If needed, the support vehicle will be available, ensuring you can take a break from the saddle at any time. From the charming village of Ložišća, you’ll ride nine miles down to the picturesque port of Milna, a town renowned for its serene harbor and traditional architecture. The afternoon ride also includes scenic stretches along the coast, offering breathtaking views of the shimmering Adriatic Sea.

Cumulative Distance Range: 29.2 – 58.3 km (18 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Bid farewell to your hotel on Brač and travel by coach across the island to the base of Vidova Gora. Enjoy breathtaking views en route to Zlatni Rat (meaning “Golden Horn”), Croatia’s most famous beach. This distinctive spit of land gently slopes into the Adriatic, where you can take a swim in crystal-clear waters before enjoying lunch on your own in the nearby town of Bol.

After lunch, board a private boat to Jelsa on the island of Hvar. From there, shuttle to the fortress overlooking Hvar town for a visit before walking downhill (0.8 km) to your hotel. In the event of inclement weather, transportation will follow the alternate itinerary noted below.

Stretching nearly 42 miles (67.5 km) in length and just three miles (5 km) at its narrowest, Hvar is the most famous and seductive of the Adriatic islands. Alongside Bali, Zanzibar, Mykonos, and Capri, Hvar has been named “one of the most beautiful islands in the world” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Its 12,000 permanent residents are primarily concentrated in the island’s western region, where the land is most fertile and sheltered.

Your centrally located hotel provides the perfect base for exploring Hvar town, a medieval Croatian settlement marked by strong Venetian influence dating to the 16th century. Don’t miss the Arsenal, built in 1612 as Europe’s oldest—perhaps smallest—municipal theater. It was designed to unite the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, symbolizing the reconciliation of social classes and the abolition of privilege. (Note: women were not admitted until the second half of the 19th century.) Also be sure to admire Saint Stephen’s Square—the largest Adriatic square after Saint Mark’s in Venice.

Tonight is free for you to explore Hvar town at your leisure. Your leaders will be happy to offer dining suggestions.

Inclement Weather Itinerary:
If rough seas prevent our private ferry from operating, travel between Brač and Hvar will be rerouted via large car ferries operating through Split. This alternate plan results in a longer travel day and includes a two-hour visit to Split, where you’ll have time for a walk and lunch on your own.

What to Expect:

Non-Biking Day

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today’s ride—sure to be a highlight of your Croatian bike tour—is relatively flat. After breakfast, take a private shuttle to the town of Stari Grad, where you begin a scenic loop ride through verdant fields, quiet stone villages, and along the narrow harbor to Jelsa. From Jelsa, you’ll skirt the fjord on a flat and picturesque road, perhaps stopping for a cooling dip at Mina Beach—don’t forget your swimsuit!

Your next destination is Vrboska, an adorable harbor town known for its unique fortified church. Uncommon in Croatia, this structure arose from the need for both church and secular citizens to unite in defending the village from invaders. Finish your morning ride back in Stari Grad, a charming Dalmatian town tucked at the end of a narrow bay. Originally founded in the 4th century BCE, Stari Grad (literally “old town”) features a classic main square and timeless character.

Continue your ride to Restaurant Alavia, perched atop the island, for a cooking class and lunch. After the meal, shuttle back to Hvar town.

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

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Stari Grad to Jelsa Loop and Restaurant Alavia Short Option — 30.6 km (19 miles) OR Stari Grad to Jelsa Loop and Restaurant Alavia Long Option — 40.5 km (25.2 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s morning ride is relatively flat, taking you through verdant fields, quiet stone villages, and along the narrow harbor between Vrboska and Jelsa. Upon your return to Stari Grad, enjoy scenic views of the town’s bay from your bike saddle, before continuing your ride to Restaurant Alavia.

Cumulative Distance Range: 30.6 – 40.5 km (19 – 25.2 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, begin a steady four-mile (6.5 km) climb past fields of poppies, rosemary, and lavender to the village of Brusje. This challenging ascent rewards you with sweeping views of a sparsely inhabited landscape crisscrossed by ancient stone walls. Continue downhill to the familiar town of Stari Grad, then ride on—surrounded by lavender fields and olive groves—to the village of Vrbanj. Here, you’ll pass the parish church dedicated to the Holy Spirit before descending to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stari Grad Plain. Dating to the 4th century BCE, this remarkable landscape reflects a system of land use and agricultural colonization introduced by the Greeks that has remained largely unchanged for more than 2,000 years.

Meet your trip leaders in front of Tvrdalj Castle for a 30-minute visit, followed by free time to explore Stari Grad.

Afterward, ride to a scenic picnic setting, where you’ll enjoy a leisurely outdoor lunch featuring local delicacies. Continue from there to beautiful Soline Beach, where you can relax, take a swim, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings at the water’s edge.

Later, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle you back to the hotel, where your trip leaders will be happy to suggest ways to enjoy your final afternoon on Hvar.

This evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner on your hotel’s terrace, overlooking the city and the Adriatic Sea.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Hvar to Stari Grad and Soline Beach — 33.6 km (21 miles)

What to Expect:

Begin your ride with a steady climb to the pinnacle of the island, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding islands of Brač and Vis. Soak in the beauty of Hvar’s lavender fields as you ride. As the terrain flattens, explore Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the island’s oldest agricultural landscape. Your ride ends at Soline Beach, where you can relax and enjoy the sea.

Cumulative Distance Range: 33.6 km (21 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel to the port of Dubrovnik, arriving at approximately 12:15 p.m. (total travel time is about three hours). Upon arrival at Dubrovnik’s port, you will shuttle with your VBT representative to our post-tour hotel, Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, where your tour concludes.

Spend the rest of the day soaking up the magic of Dubrovnik—wander through its charming Old Town, browse local shops, or unwind at a scenic outdoor café. VBT provides you with curated city information, including top recommendations on what to see, taste, and experience during your stay.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to Dubrovnik Airport will be provided (approximately a 30-minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Meet your VBT trip leaders and the rest of the group at our pre-tour hotel, Hotel Park Split, at 8:30 a.m. At that time, your baggage will be loaded into the VBT support vehicle for transport to the ferry, ensuring a place in line for our vehicle.

You will depart the hotel at 9:30 a.m. and walk to the Split pier for your 11:00 a.m. ferry to the port of Supetar on Brač Island.

Upon arrival in Supetar, minivans will transport your group to the village of Postira and the Hotel Pastura, your home for the next three nights. This welcoming 4-star hotel offers a quiet, convenient location and features comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with balconies.

Postira is a charming village dating to the 14th century. Nestled between the sea and hillside groves of olive and pine trees, it lies just five miles from Supetar. One of its notable sites is the remains of a basilica in Lovrečina Bay, home to a beautiful sandy beach.

After lunch on your own, join your trip leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride along Postira’s harbor and inland to the small village of Dol. In the early evening, travel to Dol for a welcome cocktail reception featuring homemade grappa on the restaurant’s terrace, followed by a traditional Croatian meal. Later, return to the hotel and fall asleep to the gentle sound of waves outside your room.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Postira Warm-Up Ride — 9.9 km (6 miles)

What to Expect:

This easy ride is designed to help you get comfortable on your VBT bike. It’s also a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with your route notes and test your RWGPS app. Your trip leaders will be available to assist with any questions about using the program.

Cumulative Distance Range: 9.9 km (6 miles)

Included Meals: Dinner

This morning’s ride brings you to Škrip, the oldest settlement on the island and the source of the stone used at the stonecutters’ school you’ll visit this afternoon. From there, continue along quieter roads that trace the scenic north coast, passing humble villages framed by fig and olive trees. Throughout the ride, enjoy sweeping views of the mainland across the water.

In the port town of Pučišća, visit the renowned stonecutters’ school. Brač’s world-famous stone has been used in the construction of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, including Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the White House in Washington, D.C. This is a rare opportunity to see the students’ work and learn about a nearly forgotten craft at one of the last remaining stonecutting schools in the world.

After an included lunch in Pučišća, you may choose to shuttle back to the hotel or cycle back to Postira, where you’ll have free time to relax or take a walk to the beach.

Before dinner, your trip leaders will offer a brief and engaging introduction to the Croatian language. Half the group will participate in the language class this evening, followed by a home-hosted dinner in a local residence—an authentic cultural experience and a meaningful opportunity to connect with island life. The other half of the group will enjoy a free evening and dinner on their own. The groups will switch tomorrow night, with a second language class and home-hosted dinner led by the other trip leader.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Postira to Škrip and Pučišća — 34 km (21 miles)

Afternoon: Pučišća to Postira — 16 km (10 miles)

What to Expect:

This morning’s ride begins with a gentle uphill pedal to the town of Škrip. After your visit, enjoy a downhill ride as you continue to Pučišća along a quiet road that traces the scenic north coast. This afternoon, you’ll follow the same picturesque coastal route back to the hotel.

Cumulative Distance Range: 34 – 50.2 km (21 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s journey offers some of the most spectacular views of your Croatia bike tour. After breakfast, shuttle to the highest point on the island—Vidova Gora, known as the summit of the Adriatic—for breathtaking panoramas. From here, enjoy more stunning scenery as you coast through the villages of Nerežišća and Ložišća.

From Ložišća, enjoy a nine-mile ride down to the port of Milna, home to the island’s most beautiful marina. Pause here to relax and enjoy lunch on your own. Afterward, continue riding along the coast back to your hotel in Postira via Supetar.

Tonight, the groups will switch: those who dined on their own last night will first participate in a brief Croatian language class before enjoying a home-hosted meal featuring local specialties. Those who attended the home-hosted dinner last night will have the evening free to explore and dine on their own.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Vidova Gora to Milna — 29.2 km (18 miles)

Afternoon: Milna to Supetar – Milna to Postira — 28.7 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

After a short shuttle, enjoy beautiful scenery as you ride through quaint Croatian villages. This route offers a mix of gentle terrain and a few hills, providing a rewarding experience for cyclists of all levels. If needed, the support vehicle will be available, ensuring you can take a break from the saddle at any time. From the charming village of Ložišća, you’ll ride nine miles down to the picturesque port of Milna, a town renowned for its serene harbor and traditional architecture. The afternoon ride also includes scenic stretches along the coast, offering breathtaking views of the shimmering Adriatic Sea.

Cumulative Distance Range: 29.2 – 58.3 km (18 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Bid farewell to your hotel on Brač and travel by coach across the island to the base of Vidova Gora. Enjoy breathtaking views en route to Zlatni Rat (meaning “Golden Horn”), Croatia’s most famous beach. This distinctive spit of land gently slopes into the Adriatic, where you can take a swim in crystal-clear waters before enjoying lunch on your own in the nearby town of Bol.

After lunch, board a private boat to Jelsa on the island of Hvar. From there, shuttle to the fortress overlooking Hvar town for a visit before walking downhill (0.8 km) to your hotel. In the event of inclement weather, transportation will follow the alternate itinerary noted below.

Stretching nearly 42 miles (67.5 km) in length and just three miles (5 km) at its narrowest, Hvar is the most famous and seductive of the Adriatic islands. Alongside Bali, Zanzibar, Mykonos, and Capri, Hvar has been named “one of the most beautiful islands in the world” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Its 12,000 permanent residents are primarily concentrated in the island’s western region, where the land is most fertile and sheltered.

Your centrally located hotel provides the perfect base for exploring Hvar town, a medieval Croatian settlement marked by strong Venetian influence dating to the 16th century. Don’t miss the Arsenal, built in 1612 as Europe’s oldest—perhaps smallest—municipal theater. It was designed to unite the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, symbolizing the reconciliation of social classes and the abolition of privilege. (Note: women were not admitted until the second half of the 19th century.) Also be sure to admire Saint Stephen’s Square—the largest Adriatic square after Saint Mark’s in Venice.

Tonight is free for you to explore Hvar town at your leisure. Your leaders will be happy to offer dining suggestions.

Inclement Weather Itinerary:
If rough seas prevent our private ferry from operating, travel between Brač and Hvar will be rerouted via large car ferries operating through Split. This alternate plan results in a longer travel day and includes a two-hour visit to Split, where you’ll have time for a walk and lunch on your own.

What to Expect:

Non-Biking Day

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today’s ride—sure to be a highlight of your Croatian bike tour—is relatively flat. After breakfast, take a private shuttle to the town of Stari Grad, where you begin a scenic loop ride through verdant fields, quiet stone villages, and along the narrow harbor to Jelsa. From Jelsa, you’ll skirt the fjord on a flat and picturesque road, perhaps stopping for a cooling dip at Mina Beach—don’t forget your swimsuit!

Your next destination is Vrboska, an adorable harbor town known for its unique fortified church. Uncommon in Croatia, this structure arose from the need for both church and secular citizens to unite in defending the village from invaders. Finish your morning ride back in Stari Grad, a charming Dalmatian town tucked at the end of a narrow bay. Originally founded in the 4th century BCE, Stari Grad (literally “old town”) features a classic main square and timeless character.

Continue your ride to Restaurant Alavia, perched atop the island, for a cooking class and lunch. After the meal, shuttle back to Hvar town.

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

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Stari Grad to Jelsa Loop and Restaurant Alavia Short Option — 30.6 km (19 miles) OR Stari Grad to Jelsa Loop and Restaurant Alavia Long Option — 40.5 km (25.2 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s morning ride is relatively flat, taking you through verdant fields, quiet stone villages, and along the narrow harbor between Vrboska and Jelsa. Upon your return to Stari Grad, enjoy scenic views of the town’s bay from your bike saddle, before continuing your ride to Restaurant Alavia.

Cumulative Distance Range: 30.6 – 40.5 km (19 – 25.2 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, begin a steady four-mile (6.5 km) climb past fields of poppies, rosemary, and lavender to the village of Brusje. This challenging ascent rewards you with sweeping views of a sparsely inhabited landscape crisscrossed by ancient stone walls. Continue downhill to the familiar town of Stari Grad, then ride on—surrounded by lavender fields and olive groves—to the village of Vrbanj. Here, you’ll pass the parish church dedicated to the Holy Spirit before descending to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stari Grad Plain. Dating to the 4th century BCE, this remarkable landscape reflects a system of land use and agricultural colonization introduced by the Greeks that has remained largely unchanged for more than 2,000 years.

Meet your trip leaders in front of Tvrdalj Castle for a 30-minute visit, followed by free time to explore Stari Grad.

Afterward, ride to a scenic picnic setting, where you’ll enjoy a leisurely outdoor lunch featuring local delicacies. Continue from there to beautiful Soline Beach, where you can relax, take a swim, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings at the water’s edge.

Later, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle you back to the hotel, where your trip leaders will be happy to suggest ways to enjoy your final afternoon on Hvar.

This evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner on your hotel’s terrace, overlooking the city and the Adriatic Sea.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Hvar to Stari Grad and Soline Beach — 33.6 km (21 miles)

What to Expect:

Begin your ride with a steady climb to the pinnacle of the island, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding islands of Brač and Vis. Soak in the beauty of Hvar’s lavender fields as you ride. As the terrain flattens, explore Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the island’s oldest agricultural landscape. Your ride ends at Soline Beach, where you can relax and enjoy the sea.

Cumulative Distance Range: 33.6 km (21 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel to the port of Dubrovnik, arriving at approximately 12:15 p.m. (total travel time is about three hours). Upon arrival at Dubrovnik’s port, you will shuttle with your VBT representative to our post-tour hotel, Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, where your tour concludes.

Important: Flight departures from Dubrovnik Airport prior to 4:00 p.m. are not recommended. If you have an earlier flight, you must arrange transportation from the final hotel at your own expense.

Please note: You are responsible for your luggage at the tour end. Your luggage cannot be stored at a hotel where you do not have a reservation.

Included Meals: Breakfast