Ready to visit a place where fantasy meets reality, where ancient architectural wonders meet pristine nature? A place where the epic Game of Thrones was shot? Welcome to Dalmatia, a part of the Croatian coastline famous for its countless islands, remote beaches, and untouched nature—just the perfect place for your sail-and-mountain-bike adventure. Come join this 8-day Game of Stones, a tour where you’ll tackle rocky trails, hilly singletracks, and flowy downhills. Each of the islands you’ll visit with your charter sailboat offers a whole new dimension to your trip: pedal through pine-scented woodlands and lavender fields, hop into the turquoise sea from your boat, or relish mouth-watering traditional dishes at local restaurants.
Enjoy warm azure sea, lush vegetation, traditional dry-stones, and unique panoramas
Discover Game of Thrones filming locations, including world-famous Dubrovnik
Tour is totally adaptable to the group, make it as easy or as difficult as you prefer
Set sail from the UNESCO city of Trogir and explore the sunny islands of Dalmatia (as well as Dubrovnik) over the course of 8 days. Over 1,000 islands spill out from the Adriatic to form the Croatian archipelago, and you’ll visit several of them—each one bringing its own blend of language and culture, food and flora. Brač, Hvar, Vis, Šipan, Mljet, Korčula, all of these are world-famous islands that were seemingly crafted for mountain biking. Embark on this sun-soaked holiday adventure and find the perfect mix of sport and relaxation in Croatia’s paradise on Earth.
Cycling distances and elevation changes are not strictly fixed. The tour is very flexible and daily routes can be adapted to the group. You will cycle anywhere between 15 and 45 km (9-28 miles), with 300-1,200 m (985-3,937 ft) of elevation gain per day.
Arrive in the captivating city of Trogir—a beautiful central Dalmatian city surrounded by historical UNESCO-protected buildings. Take a walk on your own and discover the charm of narrow cobblestone streets and historical stunning waterfront, and meet your guides and skipper around 5pm. Once you board the sailboat, treat yourself to a welcome drink and traditional Dalmatian and Slavionian delicacies. As the sun sets, get to know each other a bit and head to your first docking point, Milna, situated on the island of Brač. Dinner will be served in a charming local restaurant that perfectly complements the awe-inspiring surroundings.
Brač is an island boasting beautiful limestone landscapes featuring olive groves, cute paved roads, and incredible views (like the one from the highest point of the island!). This makes Brač a great cycling destination, with plenty of routes and options to choose from. Finish the day with a swim on one of the most spectacular beaches in the world: the Golden Horn, a sandy beach whose shape is continuously being changed by winds and currents. There’s also a possibility for local wine tasting later in the day.
Hvar is the king among the Dalmatian islands, and it’s been known since ancient times for its strategic and nautical importance. In our modern era, Hvar has ascended to claim its rightful place among the ten most stunning islands in the world, and the island with the most hours of sunshine in the entire Adriatic. You’ll find anything between party towns like Hvar (filled with boats and yachts) to more peaceful places like Stari Grad and Jelsa. With its rich history, sun-filled days, and spectacular mazes of dry stone, Hvar charms whoever sets foot on it. Bike among lavender fields and other Mediterranean vegetation, and once you’re done for the day, return to your boat.
Vis is the furthermost inhabited island from mainland Croatia. Its history goes 2,300 years back, when it was a Greek colony called Issa. Due to its strategic location, it was a military zone until 1995, prohibited for foreign tourists—but today, you have the opportunity to explore this lovely island by bike. You’ll find incredible coves, massive cliffs, lush forests, and small villages along the way. The plan today is to take it a bit easier and have a relaxed bike ride with local food and wine. You can also take a breather in the island’s small villages, and enjoy the food, views, and hospitality.
Korčula is a world-famous place, competing with Venice for the honor of being the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. The town itself features a fishbone-shaped old part of town, and it’s a great place to stroll through. Today you have a mix of nice gradual climbs combined with wonderful coastal roads and flowy downhills. Take a dip in the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea, and return to the boat.
Your last two islands of the trip are Mljet and Šipan, pristine islands covered in dense forests (Mljet is actually the most forested island in the Mediterranean region!). The importance of these islands dates back to antiquity, as even the legendary Greek poet Homer mentioned Mljet in his epic “Odyssey” poem. These islands feature nice paved roads with very light traffic and incredible landscapes. Anchor in Šipan overnight.
For your last leg of the tour, set sail towards the epic Dubrovnik. After disembarking the boat, you will explore this UNESCO World Heritage City. Your guides will show you all the highlights of this incredible city that was once a city-state and an important Mediterranean sea power.
It’s time to disembark the boat and say goodbye to your team and your guides. If you need any recommendations, just ask your guides—they’ll be happy to help!
Please note that this itinerary is subject to change based on weather and other conditions. However, your guide will make sure to give you the best experience possible no matter what!
What you get on this adventure:
Private groups can upgrade their accommodation to Lagoon 46 catamaran.
What’s not included:
This mountain biking tour in Dalmatia is ideal for fit hikers who are capable of tackling anywhere between 15 and 45 km (9-28 miles), with 300-1,200 m (985-3,937 ft) of ascent per day. While the tour is beginner friendly, you still need to be fit enough for a week of mountain biking in the Dalmatian sun.
The terrain is varied, from asphalt roads to rocky terrain. The routes aren’t strictly fixed, meaning that day tours can easily be adapted to the group’s preferences. There will be no time constraints, and in case the trail is too challenging for you, you’re always permitted to push your bike.
An experienced guide (who knows these islands by heart) will let you explore and discover different types and levels of biking trails in the area. Keep in mind that you can always stay on the catamaran or go on another outdoor adventure like hiking or kayaking (not included in the cost of the trip) if you’d like to skip a day or two of biking.
Private tours will be customized to accommodate your preferences and fitness levels.
You’re a fan of this route, but would rather hike or cycle it? Check out our hiking and sailing tour of Croatia’s coastline and cycling and sailing tour along the Croatian coast.
It is preferable you have some basic mountain biking experience. However, if you know how to cycle and have an adventurous spirit, your guide will explain the different mountain bike techniques and body positions to get you feeling comfortable on the trail. Another option is that you simply spend the day on the boat or exploring the islands on foot on your own.
Private tours will be customized to accommodate your preferences and fitness levels.
Become part of the crew on a floating oasis of luxury built for Adriatic adventures. Depending on availability, you’ll either board the catamaran Lagoon 46 or Saba 50. These roomy modern yachts with en-suite bathrooms, wardrobes, and electricity are capable of accommodating your every need. Renting a charter boat means that you have the freedom to make your own schedule and go wherever the wind and desire takes you.
After a filling Croatian breakfast, relax and shoot the breeze on the wood-clad galley and lounge area, or cool off in your air-conditioned cabin. The spacious deck is ideal for sunbathing and stargazing under the boundless Mediterranean skies. Your guides and skipper will help you create an itinerary that suits your travel needs and wishes. They will handle the boat for you and recommend routes and places to visit. They know where you can anchor and get supplies, find privacy or enjoy the Croatian party scene.
Let us know which dates work best for you and we will give you an estimate of the prices and options for that period. Prior to payment, we will send you a charter agreement and corresponding invoice. The price includes a skipper, two guides, fuel, harbor fees, cleaning, sheets and towels, breakfasts, 4 warm meals, and fruit, water and snacks for daily outings. There will be a fridge onboard filled with food you’ll eat for breakfast.
The final price of the tour depends on the chosen dates, possible upgrades and add-ons. Invite your family and friends who also love boating and reduce the cost per person!
Fountaine Pajot Saba has 4 cabins, hosting 8 people total.
If you are traveling solo, you can rent a single cabin by paying an additional fee of 25% of cabin’s price (e.g. if price for a cabin is $6000, single cabin supplement is $1500 and your total is $4500).
Here’s what you’ll need:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Don’t worry about transporting your bikes to Croatia!
You can rent a Giant Trance 1.5 27,5” bike for an added fee of around $360 USD per week. A high-end carbon 29” enduro bike is also available upon request.
A Focus Sam² 6.8 29″ bike can be rented for around $560 USD per week. Premium e-bikes are available upon request. With an e-bike, you will be able to climb almost any hill with ease.
If you’re interested, please contact us.
Group sizes and prices:
Mountain biking in Dalmatia can be arranged for private groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the start of this tour, most people fly into Split Airport (SPU) and take a taxi or bus to Trogir about half an hour away.
Other options include Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) in Zagreb, about 6-7 hours from Trogir, and Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), about 3 hours away.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in Croatia, please refer to travel and health regulations in Croatia.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the 2024 dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Secure your early bird spot for 2025 with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
