Croatia Multisport Adventure

DAY 1 – City of Split, Diocletian's Palace, Biking Marjan Hill

Our Zephyr guides will meet us on the first afternoon of the trip at our hotel in Split for a brief orientation. Our local guide — we have been working with the same local company since 2018 - will lead us on an historical walk to the ancient Diocletian’s Palace (you may have seen this fabulous place in the Game of Thrones).  From there, we'll continue our walk to pick up our bikes for an introductory ride up the gently sloped and historic Marjan Hill, an iconic city park that overlooks the city of Split and its nearby islands. Our goal for this afternoon is to get you comfortable on your bike. After our ride, we’ll return to the hotel before our festive family-style welcome dinner of seafood at a darling local "konoba" (restaurant), where you'll have the chance to try many things, including "black" (squid ink) risotto or one of the local fun dishes like peka - a one-pot dish of lamb, vegetables, and local herbs.

Hiking Distance: 2 KM
Biking Distance: 10 KM

DAY 2 – Ferry to and Cycling on Island of Brač

Our cycling route today takes us from charming seaside towns to the heart of the island Brač and its  timeless stone villages nestled in the island’s hills. After a short morning ferry ride, we start in the town of Supetar and pedal along the coast to Sutivan, a postcard-perfect harbor village with a laid-back vibe. From there, we climb toward the fairy-tale village of Ložišća, known for its picturesque bell tower and quiet stone alleys. Our ride continues inland to Nerežišća, once the island’s capital, surrounded by olive groves and karst landscapes. After a scenic descent through rolling hills, we finish in Postira, our coastal base for the next two nights. We'll check into our hotel in the middle of town and walk to dinner at a local restaurant.

Biking Distance: 30 - 45 KM

DAY 3 - Hiking on Vidova Gora, Island of Brač

This morning after a leisurely breakfast we will take a shuttle to the other side of the island and begin our hike up Vidova Gora – the highest peak on the Adriatic islands. The hike is a moderate hike on both dirt roads and single track hiking trails, all the time with views of the coast to the south. From the top we have breathtaking views stretching from Zlatni Rat beach below us to the distant islands of Hvar and Vis. After soaking in the panorama, we descend through pine-scented trails toward the mysterious Blaca Desert, a hidden monastic complex carved into the cliffs, once home to hermit monks who built an entire world in isolation. For those who don't want to do the entire hike, it is possible to hike to Blaca Desert and back and skip the summit.

Hiking Distance: 12 - 15 KM

DAY 4 - Ferry to and Cycling on the Island of Hvar

We’ll depart for the town of Bol on the southern part of the island where we will catch a private speedboat to the island of Hvar, rich in history and architecture. Our route will take us from the village of Vbroska (the "Venice" of Hvar because of its central canals) through a bunch of small towns including Jelsa, Selca, and Brusje, founded as a shepherd settlement in the 16th century and known for the production of lavender and rosemary essential oils. We'll enjoy coastal views along the route, including of Pakleni Otoci (“Hell islands”) in the distance. Those opting for the longer route (relatively easy on an e-bike) will also visit the town of Hvar (on the island of Hvar), where a 16th-century fortress dominates the city, residing high above the town on a large hill, and the small harbor is full of yachts.  You'll have time to explore town the town and have lunch. While Hvar is the major tourist town on the island and nice to visit, we prefer to continue on. We'll enjoy a long, long descent into the beautiful town of Stari Grad, the island’s oldest town with its 16th-century castle and busy port full of boats, population around 2,000. We'll check into our hotel and then dinner tonight will be at an organic eco-farm serving its own wines, olive oil, and specialties grown on the farm.

Biking Distance: Route options of 20 KM, 38 KM or 42 KM

DAY 5 – Catamaran to and Kayaking Near Island of Korčula

We take another short boat ride this morning to the town (and island) of Korčula, the supposed birthplace of Marco Polo. Korčula has beautifully preserved old city walls, narrow winding streets, great gastronomy, rich history, and much more. We explore Old Town, perhaps have a gelato, and have time for lunch on your own so you can choose one of the many quaint local restaurants. We'll stop off at our hotel to change before departing to Lumbarda beach to embark on a kayaking adventure. Our goal is to explore as many of the 18 little islands of the Korčula archipelago as time and energy will allow. In the evening we'll eat dinner at Aterina, a highly-rated local restaurant where wine lovers will want to try the local Korcula Grk wine, a dry white, high in acidity, with hints of pine.

Kayaking Distance: Will vary based on our interests

DAY 6 – Boat transfer to and Biking on the Peljesac Peninsula

Today will commence with a short ferry from Korcula to the town of Orebic on Peninsula Peljesac. We cycle southeast, to the famous vineyards and wineries of Potomje, the "Napa" of Croatia. After a beautiful optional tasting in a cool wine cellar, we will pass through a tunnel that will take us to the south shore, with steep hillside vineyards above us and below us all the way down to the sea.  This route offers another long descent and beautiful views of the Dingac vineyard area, also known as the best red wine of Croatia. Our ride will end with a dip in the sea at the beach in a tiny town called Trstenik, where we'll have an incredible late lunch of grilled fish. Those who want to can visit nearby Grgic Winery for a tasting afterward.  On our 90-minute shuttle to the gorgeous city of Dubrovnik we'll pass the historic town of Ston, with its massive hillside system of fortified walls (think the Great Wall of China on a bit smaller scale). Our final dinner and evening together in Croatia's most famous town will surprise you a bit, as we will eat food from nearby Bosnia!

Biking Distance: Route options of 25 KM or 37 KM

DAY 7 – Walking Dubrovnik's Ancient City Walls, Departure

After an early breakfast (to beat the hordes of tourists who arrive via cruise ships), we depart for a fantastic two-hour walk on top of the beautifully maintained medieval city walls of Dubrovnik before checking out of our hotel and saying our goodbyes. Those who need to depart early can skip the walk and head straight to the airport.

Walking Distance: 2 KM

*Note: This trip makes use of sea vessels for transportation. Seas are fickle and weather is unpredictable!  We prioritize safety above everything and reserve the right to change the itinerary as necessary based on weather conditions and forecast.