EXPerience DALMATIAN COAST AND ISLANDS

MTB & boat South Dalmatia Standard
(8 days/7 nights, aprx. 110 mi/175 km (13,335 ft./3,150 m of elevation) by MTB; level 2 – 3; S0 – S3)

A bikers wildest dreams – from exciting trails to tranquil swim stops – are fulfilled by the combination of mountain bike and boat in South Dalmatia. A charming motor yacht with comfortable cabins and a selection of traditional cuisine is your floating home for the week – from now on, packing your bags and worrying about finding your next ferry connection are a thing of the past!

On our mountain bikes we explore the islands, to which the tour guides can all tell plenty of interesting stories about – the best way of getting to know the country and its people. 

Our aim is to stay off road. To save time and energy some ascends will take place on tar sealed roads which lead to rewarding trails, riddled with technical sections which lead down to the sea. Descents can be technical and require experience but will spread a smile across the faces of the participants. After a thorough ride there is no better reward than to unwind in a rustic café before the boat collects you and brings you to the next picturesque setting. Picture perfect harbour towns invite you to enjoy the evening strolling through the winding streets or sipping an aperitif in the atmosphere of a local bar. The boat is always open and welcomes you to enjoy the ambiance of a Mediterranean evening on board.

Mountain bike and trekking tours often operate parallel to each other in South Dalmatia with the experience and service of one guide per group. If your partner or friend prefers travelling by trekking bike, there is of course the possibility to experience the journey together with only the cycling taking place in different groups.

If you prefer to bike with a higher technical demand, our South Dalmatia MTB Special journey, where you will only find mountain bikers on the ship and where different difficulty levels are offered, is probably the right choice for you.

For more and updated info please visit www.inselhuepfen.com/en/dsm

1st Day Trogir (Embarkation) – Island Šolta
Individual arrival by car to Trogir or by plane to Split Airport, located about 3.5 mi./6 km away from the harbour of Trogir. After checking in on the motor yacht between 2 and 2:30 pm, the first cruise from Trogir to the island of Šolta begins at 3 pm. The first night is spent in a quiet harbour on the island of Šolta with the opportunity to take a swim after a day of travel.

2nd Day (Sat) Island Vis (aprx. 15 mi./25 km aprx. 2200ft. / 670 m elevation)

This morning we enjoy a cruise during breakfast to the Island of Vis. Vis is the furthermost inhabited island from mainland Croatia. A Greek colony called Issa inhabited the island 2,300 years ago. Due to its strategic location it was a military zone until 1995 and prohibited for foreign tourists. Today starts with one of the highlight rides of the week. Vis offers a great combination of off-road trails and historical sights and incredible ocean views along the way. We have plenty of time to enjoy the island and spend the night here.

3rd Day (Sun) Island Korčula: Vela Luka (aprx. 17 mi./28 km aprx. 1500 ft./450m of elevation)

In the morning we leave the island of Vis by boat and navigate to the harbor town of Vela Luka on the Island of Korcul. Along the way we throw the anchor for a refreshing swim stop. Korcula is regarded as one of the most scenic islands in the Adriatic, abundant in beautiful landscapes and quaint villages nestled in the green. Once we arrive in Vela Luka we can enjoy a round tour on our bikes following a combination of wide gravel paths and asphalt road along the northern coast of the island before looping back and enjoying a flow trail south of the harbor back down to boat . The night is spent in Vela Luka.

4th Day (Mon) Island Hvar: Hvar Town – Stari Grad – Jelsa – Stari Grad (aprx. 13 mi./21 km aprx. 1500ft./460m of elevation + aprx. 14 mi./23 km aprx. 590ft./180m of elevation)

The day starts with a relaxing cruise to Hvar town on Hvar Island. Make use of the time before the tour starts and go for a little stroll through the city. Standing on the magnificent Renaissance Square you can enjoy a view up to the Spanish fortress towering high above the city. The first of two tours today takes us from the city of Hvar along a combination of natural paths, gravel and paved roads through small villages and lavender fields to Stari Grad on the opposite side of the island. After a lunch break we continue on a second bike tour through the flatter side of the

island to the seaside town of Jelsa. After a break for coffee and ice cream, we continue the round trip back through the historical Stari Grad Planes to Stari Grad where we spend the night.

5th Day (Tue) Brač Island: Milna – Postira (aprx. 21 mi./34 km aprx. 2329ft./710m of elevation)

In the morning we cruise to the port of Milna on the island of Brač. Once we arrive on Brač, we start our bike tour from Milna, starting on the road and later turning off onto gravel tracks. Enjoy exceptional views and interesting visitations of scenic sites and villages along the tour. Towards the end we enjoy a nice trail section before joining the road again down to the harbor town of Postira. On arrival in Postira there are many ways in which to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. The night is spent in the quiet harbor of Postira.

6th Day (Wed) Day (Wed) City of Split (possible rafting in Omis) (aprx. 12 mi./20 km aprx. 1000ft./300m of elevation)

During breakfast the boat brings us to the city of Split. The old town of Split, built adjoining the famous palace of the Roman Caesar Diocletian, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Today we have the choice either to take a bus transfer to go rafting through the Cetina Canyon (not included in the tour price) or to explore the wonderful Marjan forest Park in the heart of Split. The rafting group will be picked up from the boat by a bus and are taken to Omis for the excursion. From here they will follow the river downstream in the rafts gaining a unique perspective of the canyon and its flora and fauna. Participants of the rafting trip are brought back to the boat in the bus after the activity. Bikers will enjoy a short but scenic ride including some nice trails through the green heart of Split accompanied by an extensive swim break at a local beach. In the afternoon we can explore the bustling city of Split again together as one group. Overnight stay in Split.

7th Day (Thu) Island Šolta – Trogir (aprx. 10 mi./16 km, aprx. 985 ft./300 m of elevation)

In the morning, we once more cruise to the island of Šolta, where there will be the opportunity to take part in a fun ride with a visitation to the local beekeeper Goran. Goran has a true passion for bees and has worked with them his whole life. He teaches about the importance of bees allows all his guests to try the delicious bee products. Our trails are linned with dry stone walls , numerous olive groves, locust bean, and fig trees. The scent of rosemary accompanies us along our tour around the island. After our bike ride, we return to the ship to enjoy our last crossing, past the cliffs of Čiovo Island and back to Trogir. Once we arrive, there will be plenty of time to visit the Old Town of Trogir, listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The last evening aboard is celebrated in traditional fashion in the company of our fellow travellers and guides

8th Day Trogir (Disembarkation)
After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home or extended stay in Dalmatia/Croatia. Would you like to see more of Croatia than Dalmatia? Then we recommend our extension program at Plitvice Lakes in combination with Zagreb (please see extended stay).

GOOD TO KNOW

Itinerary changes
We reserve the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind and weather conditions, and where required by organizational necessities. Our tours are dependent on weather conditions and the final decision is that of the captain. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend time on board the boat, instead of taking a planned bike-tour.

MTB level 2 – 3
Daily tours in hilly terrain at distances of 28 – 63 km and 400 to 1.200 meters of elevation. The terrain in this region is very diverse and changes from island to island: technical and demanding single trails alternate with wide gravel 4×4 roads and sometimes also quiet asphalt stretches; there are very few unrideable points. Various sections in the tour are offered at a higher or lower technical degree, leaving you to make the final decision. The daily program depends on the weather and the captain’s orders. You are free to set aside a half or full day to spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned bike-tour.

Riding in a group
On a guided MTB tour the speed of the group is determined by the mountain bikers on regular bikes. If you have hired an e-MTB, we ask you to respect those in the group who are riding without electric support. Those on regular bikes require more time and recovery when biking up hill. We thank you for your understanding.

Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmets are mandatory on our bike tours. It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required). Furthermore, we recommend riders to carry arm and leg protectors during the bike tours.

Single-Trail Classification
So that you are well prepared for your bike tour at Islandhopping, and that you know which technicality grade you should await to be confronted by, we have have comprised a classification for all single trails which you will ride. The difficulty levels included in our classification coincide with the Singeltrail-Skala found at (http://www.singletrail-skala.de/).

Blue (easy, S0 – S1): small obstacles such as small roots, small stones, small gully erosion, gradients of up to 40 %, loose surfaces, tight corners but no hairpins, skilful braking and weight shift required, riding while standing, obstacles can be rolled over.

Red (medium, S2): loose surfaces, larger stones and roots, steps and shallow stairs, gradients of up to 70 %, light hairpins, permanent braking readiness, displacement of centre of mass to overcome obstacles, accurate braking, permanent body tension.

Black (heavy, S3 – S5): blocked single trails, many large boulders and roots, smooth/slippery surfaces, loose scree slopes, large steps/drops, extremely steep gradients of over 70 %, tight hairpins, expert level of bike control/handling.

Catering
The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. A packed lunch instead of lunch on board is possible as well on our mountain bike tour. The catering consist of 2 x full board and 5 x half board and starts with dinner on embarkation day and ends with breakfast on disembarkation day.

Language
Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.

Premium Ship San Snova (shower/toilet in each cabin)

The wooden motor sailor San Snova, 31 x 8 m in size, took to the water in 2009. This magnificent construction took shape over the course of three years and sets a milestone in the boat building scene in Croatia as it is the last wooden boat of its kind to be built.

The 14 guest’s cabins are welcoming and equipped with air conditioning and a private shower/WC. The salon and its wooden finish provides a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, supported by the many seating arrangements on deck as well as the possibility to lie comfortably on the sun deck.

The crew on board pay special attention to cleanliness and maintenance on board and radiate a friendly and inviting atmosphere to the guests on board.

For more detailed information about the San Snova please visit: https://www.inselhuepfen.com/en/san-snova/

If you would like to book this trip directly, please follow this booking link:

Direct booking of our MTB & Boat South Dalmatia Standard tour

If you have any questions about this trip before booking, please contact us by email at:
info@islandhopping.com