“Bike & Boat Croatia”
Discover Stunning Dubrovnik & Dalmatia


Just $1,849* per person trip alumni land package based on twin room

*Add $100 to above if first-time traveler with The Trip Chicks™
(Airfare extra; we can help you arrange airfare from any U.S. departure city)


Croatia! It’s a magical land of endless beaches, clear blue waters, Roman ruins, medieval castles, & a welcoming people. Journey to eye-popping Dubrovnik & the shimmering Dalmatian coast, cradle of a people traced back to Stone Age times. Join The Trip Chicks™ on our sun-inspired, small-group Europe getaway exploring a European jewel by bicycle & motor sailing yacht. Our bike & boat adventure is packed full of gorgeous scenery, delicious cuisine, fresh sea air, natural wonders, & travel surprises on Dalmatian islands with exotic names like Sipan, Korcula, Lastovo, Vis, Mljet, & Peljesac..


This relaxed, moderate-level cycling adventure in Croatia offers riding on mostly asphalted roads with hills, but no time constraints. Spend two pre-tour hotel nights in UNESCO World Heritage Dubrovnik. Then enjoy a week aboard our cozy two-mast ship. Each day we discover the cultural & historical charms of Croatia with a peek at places few American tourists know. Our daily excursions, led by our English-speaking professional guide/bike mechanic, highlight the scenery, great insider discoveries, & memorable blend of sun-washed, red-tiled roofs against a picture-perfect backdrop of the azure Adriatic Sea. All guided day rides, rental bikes, the Dubrovnik hotel overnights, & most meals are featured in our adventure. Savor a special slice of old-world Croatia! Sign up right away for “Bike & Boat Croatia.” Space is limited to just 16 travelers.

SEPTEMBER 3 - 13, 2009

TRIP INCLUDES:
*7 nights’ twin-bedded cabin on motor yacht with private facilities
*2 pre-tour hotel nights’ in 3-star centrally-located Dubrovnik hotel
*10 breakfasts (B), 7 lunches (L), & 7 dinners (D)
*Daily guided local sightseeing by bike & boat
*Orientation walking tour of Dubrovnik
*7 guided cycling tours
*Services of English-speaking European cycling guide/mechanic
*Use of 21-speed trekking bicycle with saddle bag
*Daily excursion maps
*Bed linens & towels in cabin


**Ask us about the mandatory travel accident/medical insurance, as well as the most economical Dubrovnik roundtrip airfare from your city.

**Remember that our cyclists must wear bike helmets during all rides.

**Please allot up to 160 Euros extra per traveler for transfers to the port & back, tips for crew, optional museum tickets, lunches/dinners in Dubrovnik, visitors’ tax, & any drinks on board. Tally sheet paid onboard final day.

Call The Trip Chicks™ at 770-454-7205 or 404-320-3033

ITINERARY


Days 1, 2, & 3 Depart USA for Croatia & relax two nights in our lodging close to Dubrovnik’s pedestrian-only Old Town. Later, stroll through the wonderfully-preserved city, brimming with history & 14th century ramparts. To bed early on the 1st night to rest up from the flights! The next morning, join a walking tour along the medieval walls. Wrapped around Old Town in a protective “embrace,” the ancient walls form an architectural frame of this historic city like none other. See the Dominican Monastery, tucked away in a narrow passageway behind the Sponza Palace, & the St. Luke & St. John fortresses. 2 B

Day 4 After breakfast at our hotel, catch a cab to the port. Board our sailing yacht in time for lunch. Then we enjoy a short cruise to the olive & orchard island of Sipan, the largest of the Elefitian Isles. Our afternoon bike ride takes us past luxury villas of Croatia’s “rich & famous”through green forests, valleys, & subtropical parks. Overnight on Sipan. Welcome dinner on board. B/L/D (10K)

Day 5 A two-hour boat ride brings us to Mljet, “honey island” known for its dense forests, limestone ridges, & unusual bay. From harbor town Sobra, cycle to Pomena, where our ship meets us in time for lunch on board. In his Odyssey, the great bard Homer glorified this small chunk of Dalmatian archipelago & the Greek hero Ulysses is said to have stayed here. Enjoy a short bike trip after lunch to Mljet National Park, with its 12th century Benedictine monastery. Then hop the boat to Korcula, arguably (along with Venice) a possible birthplace of Marco Polo. Climb 15th-century Revelin tower & walk through the 14th-century Land Gate to imagine what medieval life was like. B/L/D (15K)

Day 6 Today we cycle on the panoramic coastal road to the small wine-producing village of Pupnat. Continue along the scenic byway above the beautiful bay & take advantage of the many “Kodak moment” stops en route. Then pedal to Brna, a vineyard town. From the 19th century, Brna harbor became busy with the transport of wine to Adriatic & Mediterranean ports. Board the ship for Lastova, where we overnight. B/L/D (40K)

Day 7 This morning we explore Lastova, an island of fish, forests, olive groves, caves, & vineyards, which celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in the year 2000. Visit the 12th century Church of Saint Vlaho & the 700 year old Church of Sv Kuzma i Damjan. Enjoy scenic views on our cycling route before boarding our boat to cruise to Vis, Croatian island farthest from the mainland. B/L/D (30K)

Day 8 Start the day with spin around Vis, a Greek colony over two millenniums ago. Untouched by tourists until 1995, Vis offers secluded beaches rimmed by the blue crystal clear sea, 3rd century Roman burial mounds, Franciscan Monastery, Marshal Tito’s World War II hideout, & the spectacular Blue Grotto underwater sea cave. Later, sail to the island of Hvar, playground of celebrities who also relish its vineyards, sunshine, & lavender fields. . B/L/D (30K)

Day 9 The starting point for our tour today is the port of Vela Luka, back on the isle of Korcula but on the northern side. From here we cycle to Prigradica, rustic village of olives & wine. While we lunch on board, we makes our way to the town of Orebic on the Peljesac Peninsula. Strikingly beautiful even from a distance with its Sv. Ilja mountain range soaring 3,000 feet out of the deep blue sea, Orebic is the gateway to Dalmatia's most famous vinyards. Ride on to Trstenik, a tiny aouthern coast port & fishing village which is home to the much-loved Dingac wine. B/L/D (25 K)

Day 10 The last leg of our Croatia bike journey is to the town of Slano. We have two options for the day: either a beautiful but strenuous cycling tour along the scenic backroads or an easy ride with time for swimming & relaxing. After lunch, our boat heads back to in Dubrovnik, where the rest of the afternoon is free for more exploring. After our farewell dinner with the Captain , we bid “good bye” to our guide & crew. All good things must come to an end. B/L/D (25 K or 15 K)

Day 11 This morning, disembark after breakfast for Dubrovnik Airport & our flights home. B