In 2023 this trip sails with Ponant and visits Montenegro and Venice, Italy. Request a Detailed Itinerary for more information about ports and activities.
Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour
Biking, Hiking & Cruising along the Adriatic Coast
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days 7 nights
Activity Level: 2-4
Small Luxury Ships
From: $8,599 - $14,599 pp dbl occ
La Serenissima. The most serene. An ancient title given to the bygone Republic of Venice, and how you'll feel as you explore its former territory. Discover the Istrian Peninsula. Cruise through Croatia from Korčula's stone palaces and vineyards to bustling Split and medieval Dubrovnik. Savor the history, scenery and sensations of a region that will surprise you at every turn. This sun-soaked land has a flavor all its own.
Croatia
Start Dubrovnik, Croatia / End Venice, Italy
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Island-hop the cities and archipelagos of the Adriatic Sea, which divides Italy from Croatia
- Cycle scenic island roads on Korčula and Hvar and sun-soaked wine routes in coastal Istria
- Delve into Dubrovnik, a World Heritage site beloved for its exquisite old town, and explore Split's unique core of lived-in Roman remains
- Traverse this utterly dynamic region on foot, by kayak and via cultural-insider encounters with our local friends
Itinerary
8 Days Small Luxury Ships
DAYS 1-2 Start in Dubrovnik, a World Heritage site and architectural masterpiece encircled by massive stone walls | A bike ride through the Konavle region provides plentiful views of mountains and the Adriatic coastline | Discover the medieval town of Korčula, a treasure trove of stone palaces and a rumored birthplace of Marco Polo | Awesome island views keep you pedaling along Korčula Island's hills past quaint villages and vineyards | Savor fresh regional specialties and sip the local lifeblood made from the vines that line our bike routes.
DAYS 3-4 Take to the turquoise island waters in sturdy sea kayaks | Drop anchor in lively Split, home to Roman emperor Diocletian's palace | Head to chic Hvar Island and hop on your bike to traverse a narrow ridge lined by lavender and heather | Take the plunge in refreshing waters off beautiful beaches.
DAYS 5-6 Come ashore in Zadar to check out the famous sea organ, a psychedelic sculpture which makes music from the tides | Hike and bike through the rugged Dalmatian hinterland of rocky gorges and pine forests | Try a taste of peka, Croatia's special slow-roast dish cooked in coals under an iron bell | Unwind and let yourself be surprised as every turn reveals cozy mountain huts and remote villages where time moves at a different pace.
DAYS 7-8 Pastoral countryside and traditional villages set the scene on the Istrian Peninsula, a pastiche of Slavic and Italian influences | Behold brilliant sunsets over the Adriatic in Rovinj | Arrive in Venice, a labyrinth of meandering canals and dazzling old-world monuments | Raise a glass to the grand finale of your two-country adventure.
These luxurious and sleek vessels have an intimate atmosphere and boast an open-air bar, two lounges and a team of master chefs crafting gourmet dishes. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Note: You may only reserve one Stateroom Category at this time. Your stateroom will be assigned based on availability. Please contact us if you are interested in booking multiple Stateroom Categories for your party, selecting a specific stateroom, or Single Supplement pricing.
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Activity Level:
2-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The Dalmatian Coast's landscape is characterized by constant rises and valleys, and the continuously rolling terrain (as well as summertime heat) can make routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.
Daily Route Options
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The Dalmatian Coast's landscape is characterized by constant rises and valleys, and the continuously rolling terrain (as well as summertime heat) can make routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Ships
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
Backroads Support On Board and On Shore
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
Backroads Cruising Life
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Although our average group size is larger than a typical Backroads tour, our ship-based trips feel smaller and much more intimate than a typical cruise.
Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. Although our time ashore may be shorter than an average Backroads Hotel trip, you still have the option to select a route that matches your pace. In larger cities, you can decide to shift gears and opt for less active sightseeing activities. It's important to note, our time ashore can be limited due to changes in the nautical schedule and ship tendering.
Being onboard a ship provides the benefit of being able to take advantage of ship amenities: the fitness room, spa, sauna and swimming pool. In addition, there is the opportunity to relax in the inviting common spaces or the privacy of your room, complete with balcony. Your Trip Leaders will have information on the array of options to choose from.
If having longer routes or more flexibility to explore is important for you, we recommend choosing one of our River Cruise or Hotel trips. If you love meeting new people and having more time to relax aboard the ship, and enjoy the ease of unpacking once, you'll love our approach to active ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
Meals
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
Stateroom Categories
In contrast to our Hotel trips, which typically have similar room categories, our ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories to choose from. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast, so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Although our average group size is larger than a typical Backroads tour, our ship-based trips feel smaller and much more intimate than a typical cruise.
Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. Although our time ashore may be shorter than an average Backroads Hotel trip, you still have the option to select a route that matches your pace. In larger cities, you can decide to shift gears and opt for less active sightseeing activities. It's important to note, our time ashore can be limited due to changes in the nautical schedule and ship tendering.
Being onboard a ship provides the benefit of being able to take advantage of ship amenities: the fitness room, spa, sauna and swimming pool. In addition, there is the opportunity to relax in the inviting common spaces or the privacy of your room, complete with balcony. Your Trip Leaders will have information on the array of options to choose from.
If having longer routes or more flexibility to explore is important for you, we recommend choosing one of our River Cruise or Hotel trips. If you love meeting new people and having more time to relax aboard the ship, and enjoy the ease of unpacking once, you'll love our approach to active ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
In contrast to our Hotel trips, which typically have similar room categories, our ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories to choose from. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast, so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
