Zadar to Dubrovnik - Island hopping Croatia (8ZD2602)
Arriving and Reuniting At 4 p.m., the adventure officially begins. We meet for our Welcome Briefing and get our first glimpse of the exciting journey that lies ahead. It doesn’t take long to realise that we have a fantastic group. There are some familiar faces, including guests with many years of Edelweiss travel experience, as well as some new faces experiencing their very first Edelweiss trip. Right from the start, stories from previous adventures are shared, and one thing is clear: everyone is excited to add another chapter to their travel story. After the briefing, it’s time to head outside for the bike handover. Saddles are adjusted, bikes are taken for a quick test ride – and the excitement keeps growing. The real cycling adventure, however, will have to wait until tomorrow. Before we hit the road, we head out to explore the lively and beautiful city of Zadar on foot. Along the way to our restaurant, we discover some of the city’s highlights, including the famous Sea Organ, the fascinating Greeting to the Sun and the impressive Roman Forum – just a few of the many sights that make Zadar such a unique and diverse destination. Great people, perfect weather, a stunning setting and a tour that already feels like it belongs in a picture book – it sounds like the perfect recipe for a week filled with fun, laughter, adventure and unforgettable moments.
Today starts with a ferry ride. We cross over to Ugljan and then cycle leisurely south along the coast. The route takes us through small fishing villages – idyllic, peaceful, and exactly the kind of Croatia we had imagined for our tour. We continue across the bridge to the island of Pašman. There is plenty going on around us today: countless little boats are out on the water, making the most of the sunny Sunday. A beautiful sight – and a good reason for us to stop for a moment and take it all in. Of course, today comes with a little challenge as well. A small climb is waiting for us, leading up to Ćokovac Monastery. The effort is well worth it: from the top, we are rewarded with a beautiful panorama of the many surrounding islands and the deep blue sea. Then it’s back down the hill and onto another ferry. This one takes us back to the mainland and to Biograd, our destination for today.
Today our route took us across the Croatian mainland – and for good reason: Vransko Jezero Nature Park, home to Croatia’s largest lake, Vransko jezero, was waiting for us. This unique wetland is a true paradise for birdlife and is home to several hundred different bird species. Among them are Croatia’s only colony of purple herons and one of the most significant populations of pygmy cormorants. The beautiful nature park covers a total area of 57 square kilometres, around 30 square kilometres of which are occupied by the lake itself. It is an impressive and incredibly diverse landscape that surprised us time and again today: sometimes we followed gravel paths, sometimes we climbed uphill through the park’s fascinating flora and fauna – and in between, magnificent views kept opening up before us. The absolute highlight of the day was Kamenjak, the highest point in the nature park. The route climbed quite steeply for around 1 mile – but thanks to our electric assistance, it was no problem for our group. And the effort was definitely worth it: once we reached the top, a spectacular panoramic view over the lake and all the way to the Adriatic coast awaited us. Even the strong wind that accompanied us throughout the day could not dampen our spirits. Instead, we kept stopping to pause and humbly admire the beauty unfolding before us. At the viewpoint, we also visited the small chapel that was built as a memorial to the victims of the Second World War. After another coffee, it was time to get back on our bikes! Following well-maintained roads with moderate traffic, we continued on to Pirovac, where we recharged our batteries over a delicious group lunch. From there, it was another 15 kilometres to our destination for the day, Vodice. The wind remained our faithful companion – fortunately, so did our good mood. And so, one by one, we eventually arrived at our hotel, satisfied and visibly happy after such an eventful day. There, we immediately began our well-deserved relaxation programme: the pool, jacuzzi and, of course, the bar were all thoroughly enjoyed. 😉 Another fantastic day is now behind us – filled with wild nature, varied landscapes, spectacular views and countless little moments that make this journey so special.
Culture, Mountains and a Birthday Today has something for everyone: in the morning, the culture enthusiasts get their turn, while in the afternoon, it’s time for the cycling fans. Our birthday boy Rudi is highly motivated. He slips on the sweeper vest – and off we go! Our first stop is Šibenik. We make our way up through the pretty streets and countless steps to the impressive cathedral. Afterwards, we wander through the charming little lanes and enjoy the view of the picturesque harbour. Around lunchtime, Sarah treats us to a wonderful picnic right by the sea. Croatian delicacies, a beautiful view, and a little time to relax and enjoy the moment. In the afternoon, the cycling enthusiasts get their turn. Three climbs are waiting for us. Thanks to our e-bikes, we glide effortlessly uphill, enjoying the views along the way. Only once do we have to stop and change our route: a road is closed because of a cycling race. Kind of funny that we’re not taking part … 😄 After a stop in Trogir, we continue on to Split, where today’s adventure comes to an end. At dinner, we celebrate Rudi’s birthday together. Happy birthday, Rudi – lots of love from the whole group! 🥳
A well-deserved rest day! And where better to spend a day off than in Split? There really is something for everyone here – and so much to discover. Some of us follow in the footsteps of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. A walk through the old town feels almost like stepping back in time. Right in the heart of modern Split stand the impressive walls of the former Diocletian’s Palace. We explore the ancient cellars and the narrow little streets that have found their way through the old Roman walls over the centuries. What makes it particularly fascinating is that the palace isn’t simply a historic monument – people still live and work within these ancient walls today. Al and Celine, however, are such keen cyclists that even a rest day can’t pass without getting on the bikes. So we hop on our e-bikes and take a ride around the Marjan peninsula. Following the coastline, we cycle through shady pine forests, past little coves and to several fantastic viewpoints. Deep blue water, islands on the horizon and a gentle sea breeze – the perfect ingredients for our little bike ride. The evening is when Split becomes truly romantic. We wander aimlessly through the old town, discovering little corners, squares and ancient walls that constantly remind us of the city’s fascinating Roman past.
From Split to Korčula and Orebić Our day started at a relaxed pace. After enjoying another fantastic breakfast at our hotel, we didn’t off for the harbour until 10:00 am. At 10:45 am, we left Split by ferry, heading for Vela Luka on the island of Korčula – known as “the Black Island” and famous, among other things, for its excellent white wines. During the three-hour ferry crossing, we enjoyed stunning views of the Dalmatian coastline before finally getting back on our bikes. The route was wonderfully varied, taking us through vineyards and olive groves, with plenty of climbs and descents and spectacular views along the way. The roads were smooth and easy to ride, and quite often it felt as though we had the entire road to ourselves. Only a few cars passed us, usually giving us a friendly toot of the horn to make sure everyone stayed safe – as you do! Despite the many climbs, we kept up a good pace. Of course, there were plenty of photo stops along the way – after all, the breathtaking beauty of this landscape simply had to be captured. Our support van also kept us very well supplied with snacks and plenty of water throughout the day. The penultimate stop on today’s tour was the town of Korčula itself, where, according to local tradition, the famous explorer Marco Polo was born. From there, a short 25-minute ferry ride took us to our final destination of the day: Orebić. By then, the moon was almost full and lit up the night sky as we crossed the water. As we finally arrived in Orebić, tired legs were more than compensated for by the incredible experiences of the da. From the spectacular coastline and winding roads to the vineyards, olive groves and crystal\-clear Adriatic, every kilometre offered something special. Another day full of adventure, laughter, breathtaking scenery and great company was now behind us – and it was safe to say that we were already looking forward to whatever tomorrow would bring.
The night before, we tasted them – the wines of the Pelješac Peninsula. Today, we get to experience first-hand where and how they are produced. From Orebić, our route takes us through this famous wine region. We ride through the Dingač Tunnel and past seemingly endless vineyards stretching along the steep hillsides above the sea. An impressive landscape and a completely different perspective on the wines we enjoyed in our glasses the night before. Our next stop is Ston. The impressive town walls, winding across the hills, catch our attention from afar. But Ston has another local specialty to offer: oysters. For some of us, the initial enthusiasm is a little limited. But curiosity wins in the end, and even the more hesitant among us take the opportunity to give an oyster a try. Courage is rewarded! Afterwards, we continue south towards our destination for the day: Slano. Sarah is already waiting for us there – with a cold beer right on the beach. A perfect and well-deserved ending to our Queen Stage.
With one eye filled with a little sadness and the other with a smile, we set off on our final stage. At just around 44 km and 730 metres of elevation gain, it was a relatively short day on the bike – but once again, it had some truly breathtaking views in store for us. Under a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine, we climbed back into the saddle in high spirits, heading south all the way to Dubrovnik. Our plan was to reach the famous Game of Thrones city between 2 and 3 pm, with a relaxed lunch stop just before the finish. The first few kilometres took us uphill once again, with the road offering spectacular views of the sparkling Adriatic and the islands along the way. Needless to say, we were more than happy to stop every now and then for a photo – there were simply too many beautiful views to resist! Our coffee break was enjoyed in true Croatian pomalo style: slowly, leisurely and with absolutely no need to rush. Everyone was smiling almost as brightly as the sun, and once again, the atmosphere within the group was fantastic. And how could it be any different with scenery like this? It was a day straight out of a picture book! Around 2:30 pm, we finally reached our hotel. And with that came a very special moment: we had completed the entire tour without a single accident. Grateful for all the incredible experiences of the past few days, we made the most of the rest of the afternoon. Some of the group headed into Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, which was easily accessible by bus directly from the hotel. Others chose to relax by the pool, enjoy the wellness facilities or simply take in the spectacular views of the sea. And then came our farewell evening – a beautiful way to round off an unforgettable adventure, once again with one eye filled with a little sadness and the other with a smile. Sad to say goodbye, but already looking forward to the next adventure – and deeply grateful for all the wonderful moments, shared experiences and memories we created together along the way.