Backroads | Dalmatian Coast Family Multisport

Dalmatian Coast Family Multisport

Reclaiming its reputation as a premiere destination, Croatia's Dalmatian Coast is renowned for its warm waters, wooded islands and ancient sites steeped in history. The most intriguing stretch of the coast - the island-rich waters between Dubrovnik and Split - is the setting for our new family multisport adventure. Island-hop by boat, bike over hills for views of the sapphire Adriatic Sea, paddle in kayaks to relax on a secluded beach, and explore medieval towns on foot. Nights are spent in sun-splashed villages brimming with history. It's sure to be an unforgettable vacation for the entire family.

Day 1 Dubrovnik

Meet in the ancient city of Dubrovnik, a World Heritage site Take a guided walk on the 82-foot-high fortified wall encircling Old Town.

Day 2 Mljet National Park

Sail to the tranquil forested island of Mljet Bike through the national park and around its two saltwater lakes Hilly terrain provides stellar views of the sparkling Adriatic Hit the lake for a refreshing dip or a fun canoe ride before dinner.

Days 3-4 brna

A scenic boat ride brings you to Korčula Island Hike up to the island ridgeline for stellar views of the peninsula Pedal through the hills past vineyards and groves of olive and almond trees to Brna Explore the walled medieval town of Korčulaa treasure trove of stone palaces and arched bridges Gain insight into Croatian culture and history during a Q&A session with a local A beautiful coastal ride starts the day off right Sail to the sunny isle of Hvar.

Days 5-7 hvar town

Admire Croatia's most impressive collection of Venetian Renaissance architecture in Hvar Town Kayak to small nearby islands and go ashore to hike or relax on a quiet beach Continue exploring Hvar by bicycle Ride past fields of fragrant lavender and dense pine woods to the harbor town of Jelsa Return to the mainland and Split, home of the famous Roman Diocletian Palace.

COASTAL DELIGHTS: Casual Inns

Imperial Hilton (1 night): Enjoy exceptional service, spacious guest rooms and amenities, such as a fitness center and pool, at this hotel located within walking distance of Old Town.

Hotel Odisej (1 night): This quiet simple hotel sits above a beach in the heart of Mljet National Park.

Hotel Feral (1 night): Set against the Bay of Brna and surrounded by thick pines, this hotel offers a swimming pool and rocky beach.

Hotel Podstine (3 nights): This beautifully restored hotel is nestled amid palms, pines and citress trees and features a private beach and tennis courts.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1

Level 1 1 Route Option Available
Walking 1.5 hours
0 - 500 feet elevation gain

Day 2

Level 1 1 Route Option Available
Biking 11 miles
0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Swimming or canoeing (Kids)

Day 3

Level 1 1 Route Option Available
Hiking 4.3 miles
500 - 1000 feet elevation gain

Day 4

Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
Biking 16, 24 miles
1000 - 2500 feet elevation gain

Day 5

Levels 1 1 Route Option Available
Sea Kayaking 2 - 4 hours
Hiking 2.4 miles
0 - 500 feet elevation gain

Day 6

Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
Biking 14, 18, 26, 40 miles
0 - 4000 feet elevation gain

Day 7

Conclusion of Trip

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with some climbs. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level	Average Time	Average Distance
		Biking	Walking & Hiking
Level 1	2-3 hours	10-20 mile	2-5 miles
Level 2	2-4 hours	21-30 miles	5-7 miles
Level 3	3-5 hours	31-40 miles	7-9 miles
Level 4	4-6 hours	41-55 miles	9-11 miles
Level 5	5-7+ hours	56-75+ miles	11-13+ miles

2009 DATES

FAMILY TRIPS

Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years

Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years

No Burleys or Piccolos available on this trip

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
9+ difficulty of activities and route
6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

Guest Trip Reviews

The Dalmatian Coast was gorgeous, the Croatian Riviera. I don't think most people realize that it's so tropical and a sailor's delight. The people are very friendly and helpful, and English was spoken everywhere we went. Dubrovnik is a very unique and fascinating city. I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. As usual we put our faith in Backroads in traveling to an exotic location and were not disappointed.

Carla Cobk - Billings, MT

Of the four absolutely awesome Backroads trips I've taken, this has been the best. Croatia is heavenly and the Bozidar experience was what made it for my family. Diving off the boat into the Adriatic was spectacular, and Stipe and crew were fabulous--what great food and kindness!

Patty Oey Sunnyvale, CA