National Parks of Dalmatia

Croatia Bike + Boat Tour

National Parks and Islands of Central Dalmatia

Croatia has a beautiful, well-kept coasts with thousands of islands, reefs and bays. Numerous Roman ruins, charming hills and breathtaking beauty awaits you here.  Situated along the Adriatc Sea , Croatia stretches from the slopes of the alps, deep into the Pannonian Valley, to the banks of the Danube and Drava Rivers.

Come and spend a week on a ship cruising between the mainland and the sea. Regional cuisine and an exceptional crew with knowledgeable tour guides await. You will visit two national parks as well as the islands of Central Dalmatia, starting at Trogir. Highlights include the UNESCO-protected old town of Trogir, Primosten, Sibenik (with its famous cathedral), Zadar (pictured below), the National Park, Krka waterfalls and the Kornati Islands.

Trogir can easily be reached via Split Airport. Spend your days cycling, and your nights  aboard a romantic motor yacht, your floating accommodation. You will discover the charm of the Adriatic in a very unique way. After a hearty breakfast, you cycle through history and culture and at midday meet the ship at a harbor for lunch. In the evening the ship will be waiting in the next harbor for you to dine as the sun sets, followed by a stroll through the historic harbor towns..

You will be enchanted with Croatia, land of a thousand islands!

Tour Dates

• Comfort Plus: (Romantica): April 21, May 5, May 19, June 16, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 18, September 1, September 15, September 29 and October 13, 2012.
• Comfort Plus: (San Snova): June 30, 2012
• Comfort: (Kapetan Jure): April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9, August 25, September 8, September 22, October 6 and October 20, 2012.

Skill Level

Moderate. Approx. 275 km / 170 miles of cycling total for this tour. The bike routes require a basic level of fitness, ideally acquired by occasional or daily cycling. The routes can reach an altitude of 100 – 300 meters. The daily routes, of 30-50 km (18-30 mi.), cover hilly terrain. You will also come across some rather steep climbs, where walking your bike is of course permitted. The roads are mostly asphalted and there is little traffic outside of holiday-periods. You can decide every day for yourself, whether you would like to cycle individually, using the maps provided, or join one of the tour guides (or individual participants).

Where You’ll Stay

Ships used for this tour can vary and are found on on this page. They vary from the Kapetan Jure, the San Snova, and the Romantica.

What’s Included

• 8-day trip on a motor yacht with a crew of four
• 7 nights on board in a double cabin with shower/toilet
• 7x full board (breakfasts, lunches, dinners)
• English-speaking tour guide
• 21-speed trekking bike with bicycle bag
• 7 guided cycling tours as described in itinerary
• Bed linen & towels
• Entrance fees for National Parks
• Maps of the single cycling trips

What’s Not Included

• Visitor’s tax & local charges, 20 Euro (paid to captain)
• Drinks on board (tally sheet)
• Tips for crew & tour-guide (optional)
• Individual arrival to ship
• Bicycle Protection (€10 to €20/bike)

Tour Boats

• Kapetan Jure
• Romantica
• San Snova

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Trogir – Rogoznica, 3 - 11mi /7 - 17 km 
2.   Rogoznica – Primošten – Šibenik – Vodice, 9 mi/15 km 
3.  Vodice – Murter – Telašćica, 17 mi/27 km 
4.  Island of Dugi Otok, 19 - 38 mi/30 - 65 km
5. Island Pašman and Ugljan – Skradin, 22/35 km
6. National Park of Krka – Island Zlarin, 19/31 km 
7.  Island of Solta (approx. 15 or 40 km by bicycle)
8. Departure.

 *All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

DAY 1: Trogir – Rogoznica,   3 - 11 mi. (7 - 17 km)                               
Individual arrival to the picturesque port of Trogir. Check-in on the motor yacht starts at 11 am followed by lunch. Your first cruise will be to Rogoznica. Covered with pine forests that reach the sea, this island is a paradise.  You will also have opportunity for cycling along the wide bay and visit the the village of Rogoznica, a small fishermen's village, hidden in a deep bay well protected from the waves and open sea.

DAY 2:  Rogoznica – Primošten – Šibenik – Vodice, 9 mi./15 km
In the morning, you  will cycle to Primošten. Embarking again, the boat will motor through a narrow passage to Šibenik. Sibenik is less known to tourism than Dubrovnik and Split, although it has it's own personality and some great things to see and enjoy. The atmosphere in Sibenik is youthful and lively. Little streets lead to attractive squares where modern shop windows actually compliment the architecture of the vanished centuries. You will visit the famous cathedral Sveti Jakov,    located just underneath the fortress walls of the old town. This Cathedral of St James is the largest and most beautiful building of the transitional Gothic-Renaissance period in Dalmatia. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the Cathedral reflects influences of Northern Italy, Tuscany and  Dalmatia and is built entirely of the stone from Brac. No bricks or timber were used in the church's construction. Embarking again, the ship will set sail for Vodice to harbor for the night.

DAY 3: Vodice – Island of Murter - Telăscica Nature Park, 17 mi. /27 km
In the morning you cycle from Vodice to the island of Murter, which is connected with the mainland by a lift bridge. The afternoon entails a cruise through the national park of the Kornati islands, an archipelago of crystal clear waters known for its diverse flora and fauna. In the peaceful atmosphere of the Telašćica nature park, you can walk along the impressing cliffs of the island. In the evening, the ship will be waiting in a romantic quiet harbor for dinner.

DAY 4:  Island of Dugi Otok, 19 - 41 mi./30 - 65 km
Your bike tour begins in Telašćica Nature Park along a virtually traffic-free road. Along this panoramic road, you traverse the entire island, with countless unforgettable vistas of the islands and the deep blue of the sea. The ship awaits in the harbor of Savar for lunch. Once again on board, the tour continues to Zadar, which, for centuries, was the political, cultural and spiritual center of Dalmatia. The tour guide will direct on an extensive walk through the lanes of the lively old center. 3000 years of history have left their imprint on the character of this town and there are many things to be admired: the mighty fortified walls with their bastions, the loggia but also the early Romanesque St. Donatus basilica. Overnight will be spent in the harbor of Zadar.  

DAY 5: Zadar - Island of Uglijan - Island of Pašman - Krka National Park (Skradin), 22mi./35km
During breakfast, the boat will cross over to Uglijan Island situated on the channel of Zadar. This day provides lots of cycling time to discover the two islands, now connected by a bridge. Beautiful views of the sea and the opposite mainland will be enjoyed while cycling along the east coast. The boat will pass Sibenik via the lower course of the Krka River and wind along until Skradin.

DAY 6: National Park of Krka - Island of Zlarin 18 mi. (30 km)
Today you cycle and explore the Krka National Park. Through wooded valleys the ride continues to Lake Visovac. On an island in the lake is the Visovac Monastery. It was settled by Augustinian monks, who established a small monastery and church dedicated to the Apostle Paul in the 14th century. After a swimming break, back on the cycle, on to Skradin through quiet villages. In the late afternoon, you sail to the coral island of Zlarin. Known as the "golden island" for its unspoiled beauty, it is an island of pines, sandy beaches and idyllic coves. Zlarin is most famous for its unique culture based upon harvesting coral and turning it into jewelry and ornaments. The inhabitants of Zlarin have been fishermen and sailors from time immemorial and were the first coral fishermen on the Adriatic. In the peaceful atmosphere of the island you will enjoy a relaxing evening.

DAY 7: Island of Solta, 9 or 25 mi./15 or 40 km
In the morning, your motor yacht will take you to the island of Solta. Olive, fig trees and farmland surround the streets. The sweet smell of lavender and rosemary will follow you throughout the day's ride around this tranquil island until the village of Grohote. On this last bike tour you will visit small villages in the hinterland, biking on roads with little traffic until you reach Trogir. The final descent will offer you a grand view of the coastline of Split. In the afternoon you can stroll through the narrow alleys of the Old town, protected as a World Heritage Site, and devote your attention to the cultural side of the trip. Trogir is an ancient island settlement dating back to the Hellenistic period and has been embellished by successive rulers with many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.

DAY 8: Departure from Trogir.
Check-out is after breakfast at 9 am.

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