Cancelled Croatia Island Tour

This Ride has been Cancelled

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

CROATIA ISLAND TOUR

Here is your chance to see Venice (your cost) and enjoy Croatia, which has one of the most dramatic coastlines in the Mediterranean region. This trip features everything you could look for in a ride: quiet coastal roads, spectacular mountains, and an abundance of historical sites, nice hotels and restaurants to enjoy! Cycle through sleepy villages, along quiet coastal roads and over spectacular mountains of the peninsula of Istria.

Experience an abundance of historical sites like the Roman amphitheater and medieval churches. Then proceed exploring the stunning shorelines of the Dalmatian Coast.

Climb the ridges of the islands and visit charming ancient fishing villages. Explore beautifully preserved medieval cities and UNESCO world heritage sites. You will never forget wandering through Dubrovnik’s narrow and storied streets after 14 days of cycling and tasting great wines and eating delicious food.

The ride coordinator (RC) specifically worked with the commercial owner to design this ride to take advantage of all the possible rides on the Croatia’s islands.  He has ridden over 80% of the routes previously with the commercial owner.

The commercial owner (Alen) and his assistant both are Croatian and speak English. One of them will ride with us each day to guide us and to provide the history of the area. The RC on a previous Croatia ride used one of Sitnica’s rented bikes and was happy with the bike and was thankful for the low gearing!

Itinerary: 

Day 1 - September (6th) - Trieste, Italy - Happy Hour will be at 5:30 at the bar in our Hotel NH Trieste. Breakfast will be served on day 2 as well as the welcome dinner when the official commercial tour starts.

Day 2 – September (7th) The first day of the commercial ride. Transfer to the hotel Parenzana near Buje (~3 kms from the Slovenian border); put bikes together, sort out the rental bikes, and take a short ride into Buje to taste the wines and beer before our briefing & dinner. Transfer time from Trieste to Buje = 1 ½ hours. (No lunch)

Day 3 – September (8th) Route: Buje – Motovun (~31 miles, 2,559’) – We will ride thru good wine country, but also a few areas where the locals search for truffles. Taste these for lunch accompanied by a glass of the local ruby red colored Teran wine. We then cross rolling green landscapes that touch the Slovenian border before the days’ last ascent to the imposing hilltop town of Motovun. There is a lot of history in and around the old Motovan fortress. We will be staying in a former Venetian palace.

Day 4 – September (9th) Route: Motovun – Rabac (~47 miles, 3,116’) - A real Istria experience because of the backcountry scenery of olive orchards and vineyards. We’ll try the great Istrian Malvazija wine; pick some grapes or maybe a fig along the road. We’ll also ride along medieval towns on hilltops and through extensive forests while riding by massive stonewalls shaded by cypresses. There are also some lavender fields to admire today.

Day 5 – September (10th) Route: Rabac – Cres (~38 miles, 2,952’) – Today is our first breakout to the islands along the fantastic cliffs of the Eastern coastline of the peninsula of Istria and to the unspoiled scenery of Cres island, the 2nd largest island in Croatia. Everywhere there are wild herbs that give the local food its distinctive taste, wildflowers and thousands of very old olive trees. There is a good chance we will see one or more of the white-headed griffon vultures, which nest on rocks above the sea. Dinner and overnight in the town of Cres, which is located in a beautiful bay of the island.

Day 6 – September (11th) Route: Losinj - Cres (~35 miles, 2887’) - It would be a shame to be on Cres island without visiting its neighbor to the South, the subtropical island of Losinj. We will transfer to the neighboring island of Losinj in the morning. We will ride back to Cres while viewing beautiful bays along the vivacious coastline. There is the possibility to have a Croatian lunch with locals, which will include lamb on the menu.

Day 7 – September (12th) - A free day in Cres - Cres is a fortified town that was inhabited in prehistoric times. There are wonderful beaches around this settlement, and the dolphin population attests to the very clean seawater they inhabit. (No lunch)

Day 8 – September (13th) Route: Cres – Krk – Rab (~37 miles, 3,609’) - Our goal today is the beautiful island of Rab, which is a scenic island in Kvarner Bay. It is made of contrasts between sharp rock cliffs on the east coast and gentle pebbly beaches covered with macchia and forests of Mediterranean oak on the opposite coast. To reach that goal we’ll not only have to cycle but also spend some relaxing time on 2 different boats. In between we will cycle across the largest Croatian island, Krk, called the Golden Island since ancient times due to its mild climate, lush vegetation and favourable position in the Kvarner Bay. The island of Krk is the cradle of culture and literacy as visible by the many monuments, museums and sacral buildings. Our accommodations are located in one of the most beautiful Mediterranean places of the Adriatic.

Day 9 – September (14th) Route: Krk - Rab – Pag (~44 miles, 2887’) - Three islands on our menu today. Also ferry crossings along the magnificent Adriatic coast. Rab is a scenic island in Kvarner Bay, which is a contrast between sharp rock cliffs on the east coast and gentle pebbly beaches covered with Macchia and forests of Mediterranean oak on the opposite coast. Pag is known for its lacework and sheep, and produces the best Croatian lamb meat. The Northern Bora (North Wind) has blown away all of the vegetation causing a very peculiar moonlike scenery. Dalmatian coast starts here with whitewashed limestone villages and sapphire waters. Spend a quiet night in the town of Pag.

Day 10 – September (15th) Route: Pag – Zadar (~41 miles, 1410’) – We cross the island Pag and afterwards to Zadar, which is one of the most famous towns of the Southern Adriatic region called Dalmatia. Before reaching today’s destination we will try to spend some time in Nin, which was an early Croatian royal town inhabited for 3000 years ago and is an important archaeological locality. Old town Zadar is beautiful. Don’t miss the old network of narrow and charming city streets as well as the Roman forum and the pre-Romanesque Church of Saint Donat dating back to the 9th century.

Day 11 – September (16th) spend a free day in Zadar with a great cultural old city center. (No lunch)

Day 12 – September (17th) Route: Zadar– Skradin (~44 miles, 1804’) - For the first time we will cycle across the region where The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995. Impressive traces still can be seen such as bullet-ridden houses and abandoned villages. The highlight today is Skradin, which is our final destination and entrance to the National Park along the Krka River. Skradin is an attractive tourist destination whose beauty is crowned by three attractive sites in the Krka National Park.

Day 13 – September (18th) Route: Skradin loop ride (~34 miles, 2789’) - Cycle around Krka National Park and explore all of its famous sites: Skradin Buk waterfalls, Roški waterfall with its ancient mills and the small Franciscan island of Visovac with a votive sanctuary, rich library and a cultural and artistic treasury.

Day 14 – September (19th) - Route: Skradin - Split (~50 miles, 2,953’)

Exciting day and not just because of the main goal: reaching the large but special main town of Dalmatia Split but also because we have to conquer a special region called "zagora" or "zagorje", which refers to an area "on the other side of a mountain or a hill". Throughout history, this term has been widely used to describe places physically detached from some other, economically or politically more prominent areas. We finish in Split with its Roman Diocletian Palace. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a luxurious palace was built around 300 AD. Nowadays it is one of Croatia’s most visited monuments.

Day 15 – September (20th) - Route: Split to Brac Island to Split – (~31 miles, 2952’) - An hour ferry to Brac island followed by a circular tour of the island and back to the ferry port with possible time for a visit to  downtown Split.

Day 16 - September (21st) - We take a morning ferry to the island of Korcula, and we'll have a free afternoon on in Vela Luka. (No lunch)

Day 17 - September (22nd) - Route: Vela Luka – Korcula – Orebic on Peljesac peninsula (~31 miles, 2789’). All the cycling happens on the island of Korcula. Its a beautiful ride with many ups and downs from East-to-West. Korcula is an island with a rich cultural history that started with Greek settlements in the 6th century BC. Today we will see breath taking coastal vineyards, olive groves, and small villages and hamlets. We'll pass the UNESCO town of Korcula, and where Marco Polo left for his world famous journey to China. We will then take a short ferry to cross over to the Peljesac peninsula and Orebic.

Day 18 - September (23rd) - Route: Peljesac peninsula Orebic - Ston (~37 miles, 3281’). Today is our last cycling day. We climb along some of the world's steepest vineyards, which produce some good wines such as DINGAC which are ‘born’ here. You may want to try a Peljesac wine on your way in anticipation of dinner. We’ll gaze down on the picturesque village of Trstenik and into Janjina while we have a picnic on a Boccia field. We finish in Ston, a small place with famous Ston Walls – 3.4 mile long wall in the shape of an irregular pentangle that was completed in the 15th century. These walls were meant to protect the precious salt that contributed to Dubrovnik’s wealth. Ston is also famous for their oysters.

Day 19 - September (24) - For bike safety, our last day will include a short transfer along the coastline to reach the great and famous Dubrovnik. We have a free afternoon to visit the town. The history of Dubrovnik goes back over a thousand years and is visible in every part of this city. The city has a living museum and a live stage, and has an ideal connection between its historical past and the modern day. It is surrounded by medieval walls, which are 1940 meters long, and preserved in their original form. The walls are open to visitors and are the city’s greatest attraction. Since 1979 the town has been under UNSECO protection. We will have a special farewell dinner in Dubrovnik. (No lunch) The ride is officially over after dinner.

Day 20 - September (25th) Departures – The Dubrovnik’s airport (DBV) is 13 miles from the hotel. Our hotel will be able to arrange transportation pickup for those needing transportation to the airport.

Ride Rating - This ride is a 3B. The average elevation gain is just 200 feet above the 2B rating (2,500’). Only day 8 exceeds the ride rating with an elevation gain of 3,609’. Croatia is not flat, and riders should be physically prepared. The climbs are usually short, but some are steep 10%+. There may be some riding on packed dirt, but most of the roads are paved with chip seal.

Weather – Riders must plan on cool to cold am & pm temperatures turning warm mid-day along with possible days of rain when traveling inland or along the coast. Temperatures can range from lows of 47F to 80F once we reach the islands. Bring your swimsuit!

Lodging will vary depending on the location from 3 to 4 star family and tourist hotels and guesthouses.

Food –19 Breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 18 dinners will be provided. Happy hours will vary on location.

Logistics – Riders have the option of arriving early and spending a few days in Venice, Italy (Marco Polo airport code VCE), and then catching one of 22 trains from Venice to Trieste (~1:30 hours). The train station (Trieste Centrale) is less than ½ mile from the NH hotel. The second option is flying to Trieste, Italy (airport code TRS), which is located 25 miles from Trieste, and requires a transfer to the hotel. Everyone will depart from Dubrovnik (airport code DBV). The closest train station is in Split, which is a 4-hour bus ride away. There are ferries to and from Dubrovnik. However there are no daily departures and many stop after September 1st. 

Bike boxes – For those bringing their own bikes, your bike boxes will be transported from the Hotel NH Trieste to our final hotel in Dubrovnik.

Luggage - Two pieces no larger than what you'd be able to carry on a plane, and not over 25 lbs each.

Van Support – There is no sag support. However, if a health issue arises, space can be made available for one rider in the van.

Bicycles – You may bring your own bicycle or rent one for €350 (hybrid only - no Ebikes are available for renting) from Sitnica with payment in Euros directly to them upon arrival.  For those who wish to rent a bike please get in touch with the ride leader. Croatia is not flat! Please bring your low gears and wider tires. The climbs are usually short, but some are steep 10%+.

COST & ADMINISTRATION: The cost estimate is $4,750 based on an exchange rate of $1.30 to the Euro. Included in price are 19 days lodging, all breakfasts, 18 dinners, 13 lunches, happy hours drinks, ferries, residence tax, maps and cue sheet, GPX files for downloading to your GPS devices. The initial deposit of $2,000 is due upon acceptance to the ride along with BAC’s $100 fee. The final payment of $2,750 is due on March 15, 2020. The final payment may be adjusted depending on currency fluctuations.

SINGLES & SOLOS:  Single and solo riders will be accepted. While we encourage singles to try to find their own roommate, we will assist singles who are looking for a roommate. If a roommate cannot be found by March 15, 2020, participants can cancel without penalty (except the BAC registration fee, credit card fees, and the cost for any maps already provided) or solos can pay by check the solo supplement of $780.00 (based on $1.30 to €1.00), sent to Bicycle Adventure Club, PO BOX 23998,  San Diego, CA 92193. Accommodations for single riders are limited.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant is not replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report is completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  Remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparations and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decision.

SIGN-UP:  To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee and tour deposit by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the participant list. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description, or call Warner at 775-843-3960.