The best cycling holidays in Europe.
Service Rating 4.7 from 898 reviews

Dalmatia National Parks PLUS Bike & Boat

4.5
(11 reviews)

A deluxe bike and boat cycling holiday through the National Parks and islands of central Dalmatia. Live aboard a deluxe motor yacht and hop from island to island, staying in different ports each night and enjoying leisurely cycle rides through beautiful scenery.

Cruise between the many islands of Kornati National Park, the most dense archipelago in the Mediterranean, marveling at the crystal clear waters, rich in marine life. Cycle the quiet lanes of sparsely populated islands, discovering secluded bays, sleepy villages and panoramic views of the surrounding islands.

The above video was shot in July 2017 and shows sights and scenes from the route.

Visit Šibenik at the mouth of the Krka river and venture upstream to the medieval, picturesque port of Skradin and marvel at the sublime Krka Falls.

Explore the serene islands of Ugljan and Pašman and lose yourself in the ancient and fascinating port town of Zadar with its 3000 years of history.

Besides the daily cycle rides there will be plenty of time to relax on board. Regular swim stops offer the unforgettable experience of swimming directly from the boat in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea.

The guided cycle rides cover between 10 and 34 miles along mostly asphalted quiet lanes and minor roads. The terrain is undulating and the daily rides will at times ascend to between 200 and 500 meters above sea level. E-bikes are a pre-bookable option on this very popular holiday.

Itinerary

The daily rides cover between 10 and 34 miles along mostly asphalted quiet lanes and minor roads. The terrain is undulating and the daily rides will at times ascend to between 200 and 500 meters above sea level. E-bikes are the most popular rental bike option on this holiday

The captain reserves the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind, tide and weather conditions, and where required by organizational necessities.

Fly to Split and then take a short taxi ride or public bus the 6 kms to Trogir where your ship awaits. Check in between 2pm and 2.30pm and then around 3pm we cast off and cruise down the coast to Rogoznica a small village just along the coast. On the way we'll moor up for our first swim stop of the holiday in the clear waters of the Adriatic. The boat then moors for the night in Rogoznica.

A breakfast cruise brings us further up the coast to Vodice where we start cycling west towards the island of Murter. A tiny bridge connects the island to the mainland and we follow a picturesque route to the town of Slanica at the northern end of the island. We then embark on a pleasant cruise to the island of Dugi Otok. On the way we will pass through the Kornati National Park, a dense archipelago of sparsely populated islands surrounded by incredibly clear waters rich in marine life. We disembark at the Telašćica Nature Park for a short stroll along the stunning cliff-tops to watch the sunset. We then spend the night moored in the peaceful tranquillity of the protected natural bay.

This morning’s ride along the length of quiet and serene Dugi Otok Island is a delight. Incredible sea views of the surrounding archipelago abound as we cycle along a quiet road through the spectacular scenery. Meet the boat for lunch at Božava and enjoy an afternoon cruise across to the historic and fascinating city of Zadar. A tour guide leads us on an informative and pleasant stroll through the narrow, atmospheric streets of this ancient fortified town. The boat remains moored in Zadar overnight.

This morning we enjoy a breakfast cruise to the village of Preko on the island of Ugljan. Our cycle route leads us along the length of the island before crossing a short bridge to neighbouring Pašman island which we also explore by bike. A coastal road delivers us to the port of Tkon where we reboard our boat for an afternoon cruise across to Vodice on the mainland. The boat moors in the bustling port of Vodice for the night.

Today our ride leads us inland, along quiet roads and through peaceful villages. We experience the real Dalmatian hinterland before arriving in the gorgeous town of Skradin on the Krka River where our boat is waiting for us. In the afternoon we take a small boat further up the river to the spectacular waterfalls. We then return to the picturesque port of Skardin where we overnight aboard the Magellan.

No cycling today. After breakfast we cruise downstream to the historic town of Šibenik . The town’s Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site, is situated in the town’s atmospheric old town. Here you can lose yourself in the winding, maze-like streets and peruse the many inviting bars, cafes and shops. A late afternoon cruise brings us to the beautiful little peninsula town of Primošten where we moor for the night.

We disembark in Primošten for your final ride and fittingly the last day in the saddle provides yet more memorable views of the beautiful Dalmatian coastline such as the island of Čiovo. We pass many rural villages towards our final destination of Trogir. Lose yourself in the maze-like alleys of the ancient port and enjoy an ice cream or cold drink at one of the many open air cafes. The farewell dinner on board with our fellow cyclists, the ship’s crew and tour guides is always a memorable occasion.

After breakfast it’s time to disembark, by 9am, and head for home or your next adventure.

Bikes

On this tour you can choose to rent either a gravel bike or an e-bike. Unless you are a regular cyclist, used to taking on regular climbs, we highly recommend opting for the e-bike which is the most popular option.

If the bike has a rack then panniers are included.

We suggest you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons. A very limited number of helmets are available on board and must be pre-booked at the time of booking. It is mandatory to wear a helmet.

Accommodation

Princeza Diana (superior plus)

The Princeza Diana was launched in 2011 and offers guests a very high standard of comfort and facilities.She has 16 spacious guest cabins, 9 upper deck cabins and 7 lower deck cabins. On the upper deck there is five twin cabins with single beds and four triple cabins with a small double bed and an additonal single bed (either separate or bunk). On the lower deck all cabins feature a small double bed plus a variety of configurations to add one or two more beds to make triple or quad cabins. All cabins feature en-suite shower/wc and air conditioning.

On the upper deck there is a light and airy saloon as well as a canopied quarterdeck with upholstered seating – great for al-fresco dining. On the wide sun deck, chairs and mats provide complete comfort for sunbathing and a swimming platform at the stern ensures everyone can enjoy a refreshing dip in the Adriatic.

Meals: A buffet breakfast and one or two warm meals are provided daily. The meals are prepared by the on-board cook who uses locally sourced fresh ingredients. The catering consists of 2 days of full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and 5 days of half board (breakfast and lunch or dinner).

Dietary requirements: If you have special dietary requirements, it is important you indicate this when you book or enquire about it before you book. Vegetarian meals are available, but we need to know in advance. In all other cases we will need to check if it is possible. In most cases a fee for preparing special meals will be charged. This mainly applies to lactose, gluten-free or vegan meals and is €70 and is to be paid when you board. The kitchen galley space is compact and so it cannot accommodate coeliacs.

On-board payments: Cash only, no debit/credit cards.

The captain reserves the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind, tide and weather conditions, and where required by organizational necessities.

Magellan (superior plus)

The Magellan is a very stylish motor yacht with modern, elegant cabins and public areas.

She has 19 spacious guest cabins, 11 above deck cabins and 8 lower deck cabins. Both decks features twin cabins, with separate single beds, and double cabins with a small double bed. All cabins are equipped with en-suite shower/wc and air conditioning. Above deck cabins feature a small window and the door opens out to the fresh air while the below deck cabins open to the inner galley and have a small porthole.

On the main deck there is an elegant dining/saloon area with bar as well as a covered quarterdeck. The spacious sun deck is the perfect spot from which to watch the gorgeous scenery drift by.

Meals

A buffet breakfast and one or two warm meals are provided daily. The meals are prepared by the on-board cook who uses locally sourced fresh ingredients. The catering consists of 2 days of full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and 5 days of half board (breakfast and lunch or dinner).

Dietary requirements: If you have special dietary requirements, it is important you indicate this when you book or enquire about it before you book. Vegetarian meals are available, but we need to know in advance. In all other cases we will need to check if it is possible. In most cases a fee for preparing special meals will be charged. This mainly applies to lactose, gluten-free or vegan meals and is €70 and is to be paid when you board. The kitchen galley space is compact and so it cannot accommodate coeliacs.

On-board payments: Cash only, no debit/credit cards.

The captain reserves the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind, tide and weather conditions, and where required by organizational necessities.

Getting There

Fly to Split airport and then transfer by taxi or public bus to Trogir, 6 kms away.

Research flights from the UK here.

Reviews

Anonymous - July, 09 Jul 2019
Service
5
Ally is my contact there and she’s very helpful and always deals with my queries quickly and professionally. The boat and bike holiday on the Dalmatian Coast was wonderful from start to finish.
Andy - September, 04 Sep 2019
We really appreciate the lovely feedback - thanks.
Service
5
Great guides, wonderful scenery, beautiful boat, high quality bikes
Andy - September, 04 Sep 2019
Thanks - we're so glad you enjoyed it!
Carole Davis - August, 23 Aug 2017
Service
4
The pre tour was great good information and quick response, I changed to an E-bike and it was taken care of instantly.
Service
4
I loved the Boat great facilities, clean great staff just stunning. The meals I would prefer 2 / 3 nights off ship to eat dinner also maybe 1 or 2 lunches off the boat as well. Food is not expensive off shore but the meals became a little boring. I would suggest simple Gelato instead of big cream cakes for dessert everynight. I missed fruit salad instead of cakes. Maybe one buffet for lunch with big salads, I found the meals big and heavy and sweet cream desserts, not enough real salads, I bought my own in the markets and made a real salad as they were serving only green leaf salad no tomatoes onions carrot so I bought from markets to add to my meals and most of the people at my table agreed. The bikes were fantastic. Some of the riding was just to ride from one side of the island to the other on busy roads, that I would definitley change one day someone is going to get hurt. Too busy and trying to keep groups together was an issue. I would recommend this to my friends and have but I have made the suggestions to them, next trip my husband & I would just go off ship at night a little more and look at cycling roads instead have the day on ship until get to the next port and then go for a bike ride. The guides were also fantastic, we will return. Thanks again for a fantastic holiday. Carole & Rob Davis
Andy - September, 06 Sep 2017
Really appreciate your constructive feedback Carole. A couple of other customers have made similar comments about the food so we'll discuss this with the operator for next season. Ally and I actually did the same trip the week after you and only recall a couple of sections on busy roads, the rest were pretty quiet - maybe some weeks are slightly busier than others.
Anonymous - August, 22 Aug 2017
Service
4
Good knowledge of the tours offered and the boats
Service
3
Boat was nice - just had an issue with air conditioning in the cabin which took some time to resolve. Lunches on the boat were on the whole too heavy, we only had a salad type buffet on one day, the rest of the catered days we had cooked three course meals for both lunch and dinner. Some of the roads were busier than I would have liked. I would have preferred the tour to be more self guided or at least to have had the option. When booking the tour it stated it was guided/self guided which did not indicate to me that it would be as inflexible as it was.
Andy - September, 06 Sep 2017
Thanks for taking the time to provide this useful feedback. It is possible to self-guide the daily routes on this trip and the on-board guides should provide maps to assist with this. Please contact us if this was not the case.
Anonymous - August, 02 Aug 2017
Service
5
They were quick to respond to booking and when the supplier withdrew the holiday we had booked arranged a better alternative at same price
Service
4
Would highly recommend this to anyone would have enough superb if they could have arranged for change in wind direction on one day 😊
Andy - August, 03 Aug 2017
Even we can't control the elements I'm afraid and anyway,  headwinds make you stronger! Thanks for a lovely review.
Martin Cheetham - November, 08 Nov 2016
Service
5
We received lots of targeted support in selecting, tailoring and booking the trip.
Service
4
Andy - April, 25 Apr 2017
Glad you were happy with the service and enjoyed your trip Martin.
Anonymous - October, 29 Oct 2016
Service
4
..
Service
5
Excellent trip. Great boat and the tour guide was one of the best we've aver had. His name is Marin.
Andy - November, 07 Nov 2016
Glad you enjoyed this holiday which is one of our personal favourites too!
Fiona - September, 25 Sep 2016
Service
5
Very informative and stressless
Service
5
From the moment we arrived at the boat,which was earlier than check in time, everyone could not have been more helpful. We had a lovely boat,the princess Diane,very spacious and clean. The staff were delightful and informative,the cycling was do able but challenging at times. But by the end of the week we had seen a huge variety of islands,places to see and met some interesting people too. Fantastic holiday,we are now hooked on this type of holiday,no going back to beach ones!!
Andy - September, 29 Sep 2016
Lovely feedback - thanks Fiona. We're so glad you are now bike and boat holiday converts!
Huw - August, 27 Aug 2016
Service
4
Alyson was extremely helpful.
Service
5
Anonymous - June, 25 Jun 2016
Service
4
Good to talk to someone who knows the area and the boats
Service
5
Very good trip overall **
Andy - July, 05 Jul 2016
We're so glad you enjoyed your bike and boat holiday in Croatia.
Brenda - June, 02 Jun 2016
Service
4
Good service, easy to contact if you have a question,had a problem with my credit card and they held my room while it was sorted(past the payment date), Would recommend this company.
Service
4
Enjoyed this trip.......boat staff were very good.........bike guides were great. A very good time was had by all!!
Andy - June, 06 Jun 2016
Many thanks for positive review Brenda. We're really pleased you had such a great time.
Pamela Shadwell - December, 09 Dec 2015
Service
5
The documentation we received was excellent and covered everything we wanted to know and it all arrived in a timely manner.
Ally - December, 10 Dec 2015
Dear Pamela, Thank you for the lovely reply and the detailed feedback on your Croatian cycle trip, as we really appreciate your comments. If you are thinking of another cycle trip then maybe you could consider anther bike and boat trip in a different part of Croatia and try one of the sister boats, which are equally great! Our email address is info@flexitreks.com if you need any assistance with this. Many thanks again, the Flexitreks team.
Service
5
We couldn't have asked for better. The boat accommodation and food was all good quality, the staff were excellent and the bikes very good. The cycling routes were challenging and I can't speak highly enough of Marco and Ivana our tour guides, they were outstanding. We would love to do another cycling holiday with them as our guides. The only downside was that we couldn't stay longer!!