Sail & Cycle Croatia Holidays

Want to experience MORE of a country? Then get up close and personal with a Sail & Cycle Holiday around Croatia.

At Sail Croatia we believe it’s important to really get under the skin of a country while you are on holiday.

Travelling to a new island or port every day, this truly unique trip allows you to indulge your love of the freedom cycling brings, whilst exploring the best of Croatia effortlessly. If you are looking for 7 days of exploration and discovery then our Sail & Cycle trips are for you.

Enjoy

• Cycling around the stunning Croatian islands and coastline
• The chance to explore ancient ports and historic towns by evening
• An experienced local guide to maintain bikes and accompany you
• A hearty breakfast and dinner prepared for you each day
• Spring and autumn departures for the best activity weather
• En suite facilities, more spacious cabins
• Large sundecks and restaurant facilities for relaxing after an active day
• A full bar with imported and local drinks from just £2
• Excellent value, trips from just £61/day inc. breakfast and dinner

Routes & Itineraries

We have a choice of routes on our Sail & Cycle cruises - a Northern Route starting and finishing in Opatija, and a Coastal Route and Southern Route which both begin and end in Split.

Sail & Cycle Southern Cruise Itinerary - Departing/Returning to Split

Sail & Cycle Northern Cruise Itinerary - Departing/Returning to Opatija

Sail & Cycle

Appealing to those with a love of cycling, Croatia provides a striking backdrop to winding mountain and countryside trails. Our routes may challenge you physically but will always astound you visually.

When you step off the beaten track and make your way down these quiet lanes and trails, your senses will be tantalised by aromas that would completely pass you by if you followed these routes by car or bus. Fields of lavender and rosemary nestle up against olive groves and fragrant vineyards. Cool pine forests provide shade from the glittering sunshine and fig trees and orange groves create a patchwork of fields running down to the edge of the dazzling Adriatic.

The colours are so much more vivid when you can pause to absorb them. The mellow rusts and golds of ancient walls and historic churches set off the dramatic green of cypress groves and contrast brilliantly with the sparkling blue of quiet bays and shimmering lagoons.

Hearty breakfasts are freshly prepared for you by our on board chef each day setting you up perfectly for the challenges ahead. Take a break from your trek with your tour group and enjoy lunch at small tavernas and guest houses before returning to your boat at the end of the day for a delicious meal on board. Finally you will be free to head out for the evening and absorb the warmth, sights, aromas and vibe of a balmy Croatian evening.

Fitness and cycles

It is recommended you have a reasonable level of fitness to participate on each of the rides, although there is often a decent mixture of levels to ensure you do not ride alone. The trips are guided and depending on the group dynamics for each trip we will do our best to cater for everyone. If you don't feel up to riding or feel a particular day may be too strenuous you can always choose to sit back and spend the day swimming or relaxing on the boat.

Some days are longer than others and technically harder. However, the average cycling distance is around 20-25 miles per day across varied terrain including light off-road trails, gravel roads and asphalted routes.

Our experienced local guides will be on hand every step of the way leading throughout the trip to show you the best of the island treasures. They will also be on hand to maintain the bikes and to ensure the technical aspects are taken care of. The bikes themselves are all 24 speed mountain bikes around a year old. The manufacturer is Trek (www.trekbikes.com), a US brand or Author (http://www.author.cz/), a popular Czech brand. Helmets are also provided if you hire the bikes with us. If you would prefer to bring your own bike you are most welcome and the bike hire supplement would not apply.

Sail & Cycle Departures & Prices 2012

Our Sail & Cycle departures are limited to spring and autumn which is best suited for cycling on the islands. If you are a large group of experienced cyclists (22 or more) we can tailor trips throughout the season subject to availability of our boats.

Price Includes:

Groups of 10+ possible on request for all Saturday departures through to April - October.

Swimming breaks: Depending on the weather and time, we will have regular stops for swimming.

All boat routes and cycle routes are dependent on the weather and how fit the group is and therefore may be changed by the captain or tour guide.

Bike rental includes bikes equipped with bottle holder, small bag and helmet. Trek bikes are used on the Southern and Coastal Routes and Author bikes on the Northern Route.

Our Sail & Cycle cruises are suitable for all ages and are popular with mature travellers. For travellers aged 21-35, we also have our Navigator cruises and for young professionals and young at heart travellers, we have our Explorer cruises.

Boats

Ensuite Boats – All have Ensuite Cabins (Shower & Toilet), Bunk Beds & Doubles Beds on Request