Croatia Bike & Boat: Split & the Dalmatian Islands, Aboard the Maritimo

All you have to do is get to the airport. On our Air Packages, we’ll take care of the rest, handling all the logistics, so you can travel with peace of mind. Spend your first night aloft and arrive refreshed for an unforgettable trip.

A VBT representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service brings you to your hotel in Split. So beautiful is its seaside setting that the 3rd-century Roman Emperor Diocletian chose this place as his retirement home; remarkably, his ancient palace still plays a central role in the city’s daily life, hosting shops and restaurants. There’ll be time to settle into your hotel before setting out for dinner on your own, wandering the labyrinthine warrens, passageways, and courtyards.

This morning, join a local guide for a private walking tour of Split. This fascinating modern city grew up around the ancient palace of Emperor Diocletian. Still today, locals live and play out their lives among its millennia-old walls and gleaming white stone quarried on the nearby island of Brač, which you will be visiting later. View its highlights and see the octagonal Cathedral of Domnius.

Enjoy a lunch on your own in one of Split’s excellent restaurants, then meet your VBT trip leaders in town, and walk together to the ship to check into your cabins and dress for biking. Following a safety and bike-fitting session, set out on a scenic warm-up ride loop in a quieter, green area of Split, lined with pine and cypress trees and surrounded by splendid vistas. Later, gather for a welcome cocktail and dinner on board. After dinner you may continue discovering the Old Town of Split, where your ship will be moored for the first night.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon Warm-up — 10 km (6 miles)

What to Expect: An easy loop ride in the heart of Split, along the famous “Riva” promenade towards a quiet park, following the coastline.

Cumulative Distance Range: 10 km (6 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Lift anchor early this morning and enjoy your first breakfast on board during a scenic coastal cruise to Vis, the farthest island from Croatia’s shore inhabited by locals. The fishing heritage is rich here as Vis has long been isolated from other sources of livelihood. Today, an active viniculture also thrives on this relaxed, low-key island. You arrive late this morning and pedal along on a beautiful seaside route to Milna, where you might dive into the Adriatic for a swim at one of the many long, sandy beaches for which Vis is celebrated. Later, ride to the island’s famed restaurant, Rokis, a casual eatery set in a traditional stone house typical of the Dalmatian Islands.

Later, cycle to the old fishing village of Komiža, set between dramatic green hills and the shimmering ocean. You visit the imposing St. George Fortress and the fishing museum for a glimpse of the region’s rich past and seafaring ways. After, ride back to your ship over scenic hills, taking in breathtaking Adriatic vistas. If you prefer, get a lift from the shuttle and explore the town of Vis, perhaps visiting the Notre Dame Church or strolling to admire Renaissance summer houses built by the nobility. This evening, enjoy dinner on board. You moor overnight in Vis.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Vis to Komiža — 28 km (17 miles)

Afternoon Komiža to Vis — 11 km (7 miles)

What to Expect: Ride quiet and fully paved country roads. The route features a couple of hills, especially during the afternoon ride. The support vehicle is available back to the ship if you prefer to pass on the afternoon ride.

Cumulative Distance Range: 28 – 39 km (17 – 24 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A three-hour sailing this morning delivers you to Vela Luka (meaning “big harbor”) on the splendid island of Korčula. Not only is this one of the most beautiful Dalmatian islands; it is also beloved for the golden-hued Grk wine produced at its vineyards. Your morning ride leads you into a stunning landscape of karst hills to one side and glittering Adriatic waters to the other. Some hill climbing brings you to spectacular lookout points. Your destination is a working olive farm, lush with gnarly olive trees that have grown here in the Adriatic sun for generations. Pause to visit with the owners and enjoy a tour of its ethnographic collection of olive presses, learning about the island’s long tradition of harvesting. Later, you stop for a traditional Croatian lunch at the family-owned Konopica restaurant. Sample the homemade Uštipci bread, sip a local Pošip wine, and enjoy a local peka, a traditional dish slow-cooked under a cast-iron dome-shaped baking lid.

After lunch, continue cycling to Grad Korčula, the island’s cultural center and alleged birthplace of Marco Polo. This fascinating town was laid out in a herringbone configuration on a scenic promontory. The resulting grid allows for easy air flow and protects its citizens from strong mistral winds in the warm summers. All its narrow streets are stepped, except the Street of Thoughts, so called because there’s no need to watch your footing as you stroll.

This evening, enjoy a wine- and olive-tasting on board, followed by a dinner on your own in town. You’re sure to find the ideal spot in Grad Korčula, affectionately called “mini Dubrovnik” for its authentic medieval atmosphere. Your ship docks in Grad Korčula tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Vela Luka to lunch — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon Lunch to Korčula — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Today all paved country roads with limited traffic. The VBT support vehicle is available.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 – 44 km (12 – 27 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Sail this morning to the mainland and the scenic Pelješac Peninsula. This finger of land pointing into the Adriatic has been compared to Tuscany for its wine production. Upon arrival, you join a shuttle to Donja Banda to begin a magnificent morning of cycling amid dramatic landscapes. You first stop in the village of Kuna at a donkey farm, the Antunović Family Farm. Meet the proprietors during your visit and learn about their breeding program and their surrounding vineyards – and of course, meet the long-eared residents!

Continue to the Matuško winery in the tiny village of Potomje. Tour this scenic spot overlooking the sea and perhaps sample some of its smooth olive oil and its renowned Dingac wine, made from Plavac mali grapes. After, you return to the ship and set out for Mljet Island, enjoying lunch on board.

Your focus this afternoon is the spectacular Mljet National Park, comprising all of the island’s northwestern region. Surrounded by turquoise waters and cloaked in forest and shrub, it is deserving of a closer look. You leave the bicycles on board and have the afternoon at leisure to swim, kayak, or hike along its pristine shores. This evening, join a cooking class on board to learn from the chef how to prepare a favorite Croatian dish that you savor for dinner. You moor tonight at Mljet

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Donja Banda to Trstenik — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Upon docking on the mainland, take a short van shuttle to skip the busy traffic and uphill climbs. The remainder of the ride follows mainly flat or downhill routes on quiet and paved country roads. There is no biking on Mljet Island in the afternoon.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 km (12 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Mljet this morning and sail toward the end of Korčula Island to Lumbarda. Back on this spectacular island, you disembark for a scenic ride along the breathtaking coastline. Your ride will finish in Račišće, a pretty fishing village, where there is time for a swim before you return to the ship.

Back on board, you cruise to Hvar. Celebrated as the most beautiful island in the world, it is a wonderland of lavender fields, fruit orchards, fragrant pine forests, and superb beaches. You’ll have the chance to take it all in when you cycle among its pristine vistas tomorrow. For now, you moor in one of the scenic bays outside Hvar Town and enjoy dinner onboard.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Lumbarda to Račišće — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect: Ride along well-paved country roads today. The area around Grad Korčula can be busy with traffic during the main tourist season, but most of your ride follows quiet and scenic roads along the seacoast. The support vehicle is available should you need assistance throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 km (15 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark after breakfast for a short walk in Hvar Town, a medieval Croatian settlement with a strong Venetian influence dating back to the 16th century. Take in the expanse of Saint Stephen’s Square, the largest Adriatic square after Saint Mark’s in Venice. And see the Arsenal, built in 1612 as Europe’s oldest and perhaps smallest municipal theater.

After, ride past Hvar’s stunning panoramas of fertile fields filled with flowers and herbs and dramatic, sparsely inhabited landscape crisscrossed by stone walls. You can admire views across the sea to neighboring islands and the mainland. The road into Stari Grad, a charming Dalmatian town situated at the end of a narrow bay, is a glorious four-mile (6.5 km) downhill coast. Originally founded in the fourth century BC, Stari Grad (literally “old town”) features a main square which offers a number of options for lunch on your own. Get acquainted with this gem of a town during an orientation walk. There’ll be free time to explore on your own.

Continue biking a pleasant road into Jelsa, passing vineyards and olive groves. Your ship meets you in Jelsa at day’s end and will remain moored here tonight. Dinner is on your own; this charming, little town has lots of excellent restaurants to discover.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Hvar to Stari Grad — 22 km (14 miles)

Afternoon Stari Grad toJelsa — 13 km (8 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts with a steady climb of about four miles out of Hvar Town. Follow coastal roads to Stari Grad, where trip leaders escort you on a short orientation walk and point out choices for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, continue riding to Jelsa on mostly quieter country roads. Two moderate hills reward you with splendid views. The support vehicle is available should you need assistance throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 22 – 35 km (14 – 22 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

This morning, cruise into the beautiful bay of Pučišća. This tiny enclave on the island of Brač is considered one of the prettiest villages in Europe. Disembark here and visit one of the world’s few remaining stonecutting schools. The stone that is carved here, quarried from nearby Skrip, has been used to build 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.

After an enlightening visit, cycle the northern coast of the island to the 14th-century village of Postira, nestled between the ocean and hillsides. On the way, you pass centuries-old olive and pine groves. Continue to Supetar, the island’s main port, where you meet your ship for lunch on board. After lunch, you sail back to Split, where your trip began. This evening, join your VBT trip leaders for a special farewell dinner in a typical, local restaurant, recounting your favorite moments from your cycling adventure among the magnificent Dalmatian Islands.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Pučišća to Supetar — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts in Pučišća and follows the north coast of Brač to Postira and Supetar, passing ancient groves of olive and pine trees. Meet your ship in Supetar for lunch, then join the longer option for a moderate ride to Milna, following quieter country roads and climbing a few hills.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 km (15 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel by private motorcoach (approximately 4.5 hours) to our 5-star Dubrovnik hotel for a final overnight stay. You arrive at approximately 1:00 p.m. and have the rest of the day to relax at the hotel’s private beach or explore the historic Old Town of Dubrovnik on your own.

Upon your arrival, a VBT representative will be there to answer your questions. Optional walking tours of Dubrovnik will be offered. Check your VBT city information for all the options. If you have chosen the independent Post-Trip Extension to Dubrovnik, you’ll remain at this hotel for the next three nights.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, transportation to the Dubrovnik airport will be provided (approximately a 30-minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Meet your VBT trip leaders at the ship at 2:00 p.m. The Maritimo, will be moored at the St. Peter pier (gat. Sv. Petra), next to the Jadrolinija Ferry Port in Split. Please note that you cannot embark before this time, as the barge is being prepared for your arrival. If you prefer, you can meet your group at Cornaro Hotel and join a guided walking tour of Split. Your trip leaders will be wearing VBT staff garments.

After the walking tour and lunch on your own, meet your trip leaders again in town and walk together to the ship. Please contact the ship or the Hotel Cornaro in Split to advise of any travel delays or changes, and the staff will pass your message on to your VBT trip leaders.

After the embarkation, check into your cabins and dress for biking. Following a safety and bike-fitting session, set out on a scenic warm-up ride loop in a quieter, green area of Split, lined with pine and cypress trees and surrounded by splendid vistas. Later, gather for a welcome cocktail and dinner on board. After dinner you may continue discovering the Old Town of Split, where your ship will be moored for the first night.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon Warm-up — 10 km (6 miles)

What to Expect: An easy loop ride in the heart of Split, along the famous “Riva” promenade towards a quiet park, following the coastline.

Cumulative Distance Range: 10 km (6 miles)

Included Meals: Dinner

Lift anchor early this morning and enjoy your first breakfast on board during a scenic coastal cruise to Vis, the farthest island from Croatia’s shore inhabited by locals. The fishing heritage is rich here as Vis has long been isolated from other sources of livelihood. Today, an active viniculture also thrives on this relaxed, low-key island. You arrive late this morning and pedal along on a beautiful seaside route to Milna, where you might dive into the Adriatic for a swim at one of the many long, sandy beaches for which Vis is celebrated. Later, ride to the island’s famed restaurant, Rokis, a casual eatery set in a traditional stone house typical of the Dalmatian Islands.

Later, cycle to the old fishing village of Komiža, set between dramatic green hills and the shimmering ocean. You visit the imposing St. George Fortress and the fishing museum for a glimpse of the region’s rich past and seafaring ways. After, ride back to your ship over scenic hills, taking in breathtaking Adriatic vistas. If you prefer, get a lift from the shuttle and explore the town of Vis, perhaps visiting the Notre Dame Church or strolling to admire Renaissance summer houses built by the nobility. This evening, enjoy dinner on board. You moor overnight in Vis.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Vis to Komiža — 28 km (17 miles)

Afternoon Komiža to Vis — 11 km (7 miles)

What to Expect: Ride quiet and fully paved country roads. The route features a couple of hills, especially during the afternoon ride. The support vehicle is available back to the ship if you prefer to pass on the afternoon ride.

Cumulative Distance Range: 28 – 39 km (17 – 24 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A three-hour sailing this morning delivers you to Vela Luka (meaning “big harbor”) on the splendid island of Korčula. Not only is this one of the most beautiful Dalmatian islands; it is also beloved for the golden-hued Grk wine produced at its vineyards. Your morning ride leads you into a stunning landscape of karst hills to one side and glittering Adriatic waters to the other. Some hill climbing brings you to spectacular lookout points. Your destination is a working olive farm, lush with gnarly olive trees that have grown here in the Adriatic sun for generations. Pause to visit with the owners and enjoy a tour of its ethnographic collection of olive presses, learning about the island’s long tradition of harvesting. Later, you stop for a traditional Croatian lunch at the family-owned Konopica restaurant. Sample the homemade Uštipci bread, sip a local Pošip wine, and enjoy a local peka, a traditional dish slow-cooked under a cast-iron dome-shaped baking lid.

After lunch, continue cycling to Grad Korčula, the island’s cultural center and alleged birthplace of Marco Polo. This fascinating town was laid out in a herringbone configuration on a scenic promontory. The resulting grid allows for easy air flow and protects its citizens from strong mistral winds in the warm summers. All its narrow streets are stepped, except the Street of Thoughts, so called because there’s no need to watch your footing as you stroll.

This evening, enjoy a wine- and olive-tasting on board, followed by a dinner on your own in town. You’re sure to find the ideal spot in Grad Korčula, affectionately called “mini Dubrovnik” for its authentic medieval atmosphere. Your ship docks in Grad Korčula tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Vela Luka to lunch — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon Lunch to Korčula — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Today all paved country roads with limited traffic. The VBT support vehicle is available.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 – 44 km (12 – 27 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Sail this morning to the mainland and the scenic Pelješac Peninsula. This finger of land pointing into the Adriatic has been compared to Tuscany for its wine production. Upon arrival, you join a shuttle to Donja Banda to begin a magnificent morning of cycling amid dramatic landscapes. You first stop in the village of Kuna at a donkey farm, the Antunović Family Farm. Meet the proprietors during your visit and learn about their breeding program and their surrounding vineyards – and of course, meet the long-eared residents!

Continue to the Matuško winery in the tiny village of Potomje. Tour this scenic spot overlooking the sea and perhaps sample some of its smooth olive oil and its renowned Dingac wine, made from Plavac mali grapes. After, you return to the ship and set out for Mljet Island, enjoying lunch on board.

Your focus this afternoon is the spectacular Mljet National Park, comprising all of the island’s northwestern region. Surrounded by turquoise waters and cloaked in forest and shrub, it is deserving of a closer look. You leave the bicycles on board and have the afternoon at leisure to swim, kayak, or hike along its pristine shores. This evening, join a cooking class on board to learn from the chef how to prepare a favorite Croatian dish that you savor for dinner. You moor tonight at Mljet

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Donja Banda to Trstenik — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Upon docking on the mainland, take a short van shuttle to skip the busy traffic and uphill climbs. The remainder of the ride follows mainly flat or downhill routes on quiet and paved country roads. There is no biking on Mljet Island in the afternoon.

Cumulative Distance Range: 20 km (12 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Mljet this morning and sail toward the end of Korčula Island to Lumbarda. Back on this spectacular island, you disembark for a scenic ride along the breathtaking coastline. Your ride will finish in Račišće, a pretty fishing village, where there is time for a swim before you return to the ship.

Back on board, you cruise to Hvar. Celebrated as the most beautiful island in the world, it is a wonderland of lavender fields, fruit orchards, fragrant pine forests, and superb beaches. You’ll have the chance to take it all in when you cycle among its pristine vistas tomorrow. For now, you moor in one of the scenic bays outside Hvar Town and enjoy dinner onboard.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Lumbarda to Račišće — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect: Ride along well-paved country roads today. The area around Grad Korčula can be busy with traffic during the main tourist season, but most of your ride follows quiet and scenic roads along the seacoast. The support vehicle is available should you need assistance throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 km (15 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark after breakfast for a short walk in Hvar Town, a medieval Croatian settlement with a strong Venetian influence dating back to the 16th century. Take in the expanse of Saint Stephen’s Square, the largest Adriatic square after Saint Mark’s in Venice. And see the Arsenal, built in 1612 as Europe’s oldest and perhaps smallest municipal theater.

After, ride past Hvar’s stunning panoramas of fertile fields filled with flowers and herbs and dramatic, sparsely inhabited landscape crisscrossed by stone walls. You can admire views across the sea to neighboring islands and the mainland. The road into Stari Grad, a charming Dalmatian town situated at the end of a narrow bay, is a glorious four-mile (6.5 km) downhill coast. Originally founded in the fourth century BC, Stari Grad (literally “old town”) features a main square which offers a number of options for lunch on your own. Get acquainted with this gem of a town during an orientation walk. There’ll be free time to explore on your own.

Continue biking a pleasant road into Jelsa, passing vineyards and olive groves. Your ship meets you in Jelsa at day’s end and will remain moored here tonight. Dinner is on your own; this charming, little town has lots of excellent restaurants to discover.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Hvar to Stari Grad — 22 km (14 miles)

Afternoon Stari Grad toJelsa — 13 km (8 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts with a steady climb of about four miles out of Hvar Town. Follow coastal roads to Stari Grad, where trip leaders escort you on a short orientation walk and point out choices for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, continue riding to Jelsa on mostly quieter country roads. Two moderate hills reward you with splendid views. The support vehicle is available should you need assistance throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 22 – 35 km (14 – 22 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

This morning, cruise into the beautiful bay of Pučišća. This tiny enclave on the island of Brač is considered one of the prettiest villages in Europe. Disembark here and visit one of the world’s few remaining stonecutting schools. The stone that is carved here, quarried from nearby Skrip, has been used to build 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.

After an enlightening visit, cycle the northern coast of the island to the 14th-century village of Postira, nestled between the ocean and hillsides. On the way, you pass centuries-old olive and pine groves. Continue to Supetar, the island’s main port, where you meet your ship for lunch on board. After lunch, you sail back to Split, where your trip began. This evening, join your VBT trip leaders for a special farewell dinner in a typical, local restaurant, recounting your favorite moments from your cycling adventure among the magnificent Dalmatian Islands.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Pučišća to Supetar — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts in Pučišća and follows the north coast of Brač to Postira and Supetar, passing ancient groves of olive and pine trees. Meet your ship in Supetar for lunch, then join the longer option for a moderate ride to Milna, following quieter country roads and climbing a few hills.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 km (15 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, your biking tour ends in Split. Our trip leaders will help you to arrange a taxi to the nearby airport or to continue with your own travel plans.

Included Meals: Breakfast