Croatia

Great bike trip. The self-guided option was planned out perfectly. Andre was excellent and provided excellent care for us. Definitely glad I had an e-bike on this tour. Very very challenging mountains even on an electric bike 😊

This was our first VBT tour - the cycling, scenery and support from Andrej was excellent. Unfortunately, the value for the accommodations was lacking. Two out of three hotels were not what we would have expected for the cost. While we thoroughly enjoyed Croatia and the cycling, we will be looking for alternative tour operators in the future.

An Unforgettable Adventure: Croatia Bike & Boat with Peter, Julian, and Mateja From the moment we embarked on VBT’s Croatia: Split & the Dalmatian Islands tour, I knew this would be a journey to remember. Over eight days, this trip was perfectly balanced — challenging yet restorative, full of stunning scenery, delicious food, engaging culture, and truly excellent leadership. ⸻ What Made It Exceptional 1. Outstanding Leadership: Peter & Julian Peter and Julian didn’t just guide us; they inspired us. Their knowledge of the local history, geography, and customs brought each place to life — from Split’s ancient Roman walls to the whisper of olive groves on Brač, and the vineyards of Pelješac. They were always attentive, adaptive, and encouraging — whether we were tackling a steep climb or enjoying a coastal glide. Their sense of humour, kindness, and professionalism made even the hard biking days something to look forward to. 2. Flawless Bike Logistics & Fueling by Mateja Mateja’s role was crucial, and he delivered at every turn. Bike fittings were smooth, every ride began with clarity about what to expect, and he made sure our bikes were safe, well-maintained, and appropriate for the terrain. Equally important, the fueling stations — snacks, water, and rest stops — were always well-timed and thoughtfully arranged. At moments when energy lagged, Mateja’s preparation and organization made all the difference. 3. The Route, the Islands, and the Sights Cruising between islands, anchoring in secluded bays, taking swims in the clear Adriatic — these moments were magical. Cycling through olive and pine groves, tasting local olive oil, and stopping at a stonecutting school on Brač added texture and depth to the journey. The experiences on Pelješac — wine tasting, coastline riding — felt like a postcard come to life. Each day’s ride choices meant you could push yourself or opt for something gentler. 4. Meals, Accommodations & On-Ship Comfort We stayed aboard a deluxe private yacht, with top-tier accommodations, well-prepared meals, and spaces to relax after a day in the sun. The onboard chef’s cooking demonstration was not only fun but added a cultural taste of Croatia we’ll always remember. 5. Perfect Balance: Challenge & Relaxation The itinerary struck a wonderful balance — some legs were physically demanding, others more leisurely, and always with options. Afternoons or evenings gave space to unwind, swim, explore towns, or simply enjoy the sea. The blend of riding, sailing, history, natural beauty, and downtime was perfectly measured. ⸻ Final Assessment This tour was everything we hoped for — exhilarating days, awe-inspiring scenery, rich culture, and warmth from both our leaders and fellow travelers. Peter, Julian, and Mateja elevated the experience beyond expectations — thoughtful, encouraging, and reliable. If you’re contemplating a VBT bike & boat tour, this one should be at the top of your list. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Everything about this trip was great. The accommodations pre and post the bicycle trip were beautiful. The yacht was absolutely beautiful and clean. We really enjoyed the gormet meals served on the yacht, along with the hearty breakfasts. Although the ride was challenging, the leaders made it fun! Great personalitys who kept us going, even on, what seemed, the never ending hills. Croatia is beautiful and we are thrilled we experienced it by bicycle. The extra events; swimming in the Adriatic Sea, lunch at a local family's home, wine tasting, and more were all unexpectedly enjoyable. I highly recommend this trip to everyone.

Wowsa, what a wonderful adventure. We explored the Dalmatian Islands on beautiful scenic roads... and most importantly from the comfort of e-bikes, which made the "rolling hills" a little easier to ride. Our guides did an outstanding job from day one. Highly recommend this trip!

VBT Croatia was a fantastic experience. Our trip exceeded our expectations and my adult son said it was a “trip of a lifetime!” It was a perfect blend of guided and self guided. The guides had great personalities and created a great experience! I loved the variation of experiences, loved the food recommendations, loved the scenery and loved all the group interaction. I am ready for the next VBT trip! Amazing trip! Thank you.

I can't say enough good things about our recent trip to Slovenia/Croatia. We were Country Walkers "newbies", urged by friends to try it, and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. We were initially attracted to the location, as I have ancestors from the region, but we had no idea about the gorgeous landscape, mountains, and warm and friendly people (most all are English speakers, since it is their second language in grammar school.) Hotels were above expectations, comfortable, and have addicted me to eiderdowns. The food also was better than " tour quality" and even included a private dinner at Tito's mansion on Lake Bled one evening, overlooking the lake. Excursions to a winery and Roman ruins lent educational interest (especially due to excellent guide Nada in Pula), as did the truffle hunt (thoughtcrimes, sadly, our truffle hound was unsuccessful in his hunt the day.) I must give the most credit, however, to our 2 Country Walkers guides-Vida and Irena, both avid hikers and mountaineers (among other sports), friendly, organized, and careful with our wellbeing. All tours should be fortunate enough to have such leaders. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

This was a fantastic trip! As usual CW found terrific local guides - Irena & Matej, were wonderful - very organized, knowledgeable with great senses of humor. The interesting thing about this trip is being able to experience the Julian Alps and Istrian peninsula and compare the very different landscapes. While the length of the trip was perfect, I wouldn't have minded an extra day in each place! And I did appreciate that we didn't move around too much - we stayed in the same hotel for several nights in each area which allows you to settle in and relax. Another wonderful CW excursion!

We had an amazing time on this trip and could not have been happier with our decision to take our first ever group tour with Country Walkers. Everything about our trip was seamless. Our tour guides, Dani 1 and Dani 2, were knowledgeable, mature, funny and amiable, each in his own way, and added greatly to the trip/experience. Their local knowledge of culture, food, people, history was unmatchable. We had deep trust in them, and we knew that although everything seemed to go smoothly, they were constantly working behind the scenes to adjust plans due to weather, changes in schedule, etc. They made it look easy, but we knew it was not. Of course the hiking was nice, the views and location fantastic. The food was sumptuous and always different, so we sampled many things and felt we got exposed to all kinds of traditional Croation fare. The wine and grappa were always flowing generously. The eating locations themselves were unique. We heard rumors that this tour was being regrouped or cancelled and were quite surprised as everyone in our group seemed quite happy indeed. It would be a shame to lose these fantastic guides/guys.

We had a great trip thanks in a large part to our guides and our Croatian hosts! Dani and Dani were a great guiding team, who adapted the itinerary to meet our needs. They were thoughtful, informative and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip. You will learn so much about the wonderful and beautiful Dalmatian coast.