Self-Launched Croatia Coast Cycling: Split to Dubrovnik
8 days · Croatia
Nature Trips charges £1,850
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched cycling adventure down Croatia's Dalmatian coast — Split, Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik — following the same island-hopping route as Nature Trips' guided group tour but booked entirely by yourself. Pedal coastal roads, vineyards and olive groves, catch the public ferries and catamarans between islands, hire your own hybrid bike locally, and sleep in hostels, guesthouses and budget sobas. Roughly 205km of riding across 6 days. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Split Airport, settle into Kaštela
Kaštela / Kaštel Kambelovac
Land at Split Airport (SPU) and take the local airport bus (Plesoprijevoz line 37/38, ~£4) or a shared taxi to your base in Kaštel Kambelovac, 15 minutes away. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel room. Spend the afternoon resting on the pebble beach in front of the bay, or take an evening stroll and seafood dinner along the Kaštela riviera. Pick up or confirm your rental bike for tomorrow — local cycle shops in Split rent 24-speed hybrids for about £20-25/day (weekly rate usually discounts to ~£120-140 for the trip).
🚌Local airport bus (Plesoprijevoz) ~£4 or shared taxi ~£10 split between passengers
🛏Budget guesthouse/private room, Kaštel Kambelovac (~£20-30)
- →Beach time on the Kaštela riviera
- →Evening walk and dinner in Kaštel Kambelovac
- →Collect/confirm rental bike
Cycle to Split + Old Town walking tour
Kaštela to Split
Ride the coastal road north to Split (~32km, mostly flat with a few rolling sections). Lock the bike and join a pay-what-you-like or small-group walking tour of Diocletian's Palace and the Old Town (book via GetYourGuide, ~£15-20). See the Riva waterfront, Peristyle and Cellars. In the late afternoon, catch the public ferry to Hvar — Jadrolinija catamaran from Split to Stari Grad takes ~2 hours (~£12-18), then a short bus or ride to Jelsa. Check into a guesthouse in Jelsa.
🚌Own bike ride (32km); Jadrolinija catamaran Split–Stari Grad ~£15; local bus Stari Grad–Jelsa ~£3
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Jelsa, Hvar Island (~£25-35)
- →Coastal cycle Kaštela to Split (32km)
- →Old Town & Diocletian's Palace walking tour
- →Catamaran to Hvar, transfer to Jelsa
Vineyards, olive groves and Hvar Town
Jelsa / Hvar Island
Ride inland through vineyards and olive groves up to the abandoned hill village of Velo Grablje (~30km each way, with a worthwhile climb). Stop at roadside stalls for homemade lavender oil and honey. Descend to Hvar Town for a late lunch and a wander around the Venetian piazza, cathedral and fortress. Return to Jelsa via an alternate back road. Pack a picnic or budget ~£10 for lunch in Hvar Town.
🚌Own bike ride (~60km round trip)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Jelsa, Hvar Island (~£25-35)
- →Cycle to Velo Grablje through vineyards and olive groves
- →Hvar Town exploration and lunch
- →Lavender oil and local produce stops
Catamaran to Korčula, cycle to Lumbarda, winery visit
Jelsa to Lumbarda, Korčula
Take the morning catamaran from Hvar/Jelsa across to Korčula (~1.5 hours, ~£12-40 depending on route and season; Krilo or Jadrolinija). Ride the easy 13km from Korčula Old Town to the village of Lumbarda, famous for Grk white wine and sandy beaches. Book a tasting directly at a family winery (Bire, Popić or similar) — tastings with local produce run about £12-18. Check into a Lumbarda guesthouse for two nights.
🚌Catamaran Hvar–Korčula ~£12-40; own bike ride (13km)
🛏Guesthouse/soba in Lumbarda, Korčula (~£22-32)
- →Korčula Old Town wander
- →Cycle to Lumbarda (13km)
- →Family winery tasting (Grk wine and local products)
Full loop of Korčula Island
Lumbarda / Korčula Island
A big day — ride the full island loop through Čara, Zavalatica and Pupnat (~62-67km with rolling hills; very demanding). Break for lunch at a konoba in Zavalatica overlooking the bay (~£12). The route passes sleepy stone villages, hidden coves and Pelješac views. If 62km feels like too much, hire an e-bike locally for the day (~£25-35) or shorten the loop to the eastern half. Return to Lumbarda for the night.
🚌Own bike ride (~62km)
🛏Guesthouse/soba in Lumbarda, Korčula (~£22-32)
- →Full island cycling loop via Čara, Zavalatica, Pupnat
- →Lunch at a Zavalatica konoba
- →Optional e-bike hire
Ferry to Pelješac, ride the Plavac Mali vineyards, to Dubrovnik
Korčula to Dubrovnik
Ride the 7km to Korčula harbour and cross by ferry to Orebić on the Pelješac Peninsula (~15 min, ~£5-8). Cycle through the steep Plavac Mali vineyards and down to the bays around Žuljana (~27km with a serious climb — take it slow or flag a local bus if needed). Continue by intercity bus to Dubrovnik (Orebić/Ploče–Dubrovnik, ~2 hours, ~£10-14). In Dubrovnik, ride the cable car up Mount Srđ and visit the Homeland War Museum (~£15-18 return). Check into accommodation in the Lapad Bay area, cheaper and calmer than the Old Town.
🚌Own bike ride (7km harbour + 27km Pelješac); Orebić–Korčula ferry ~£6; intercity bus to Dubrovnik ~£12; Dubrovnik cable car ~£16
🛏Hostel or budget apartment, Lapad/Dubrovnik (~£30-45)
- →Ride to Korčula harbour and ferry to Orebić
- →Pelješac vineyard cycling via Žuljana Bay
- →Intercity bus to Dubrovnik
- →Mount Srđ cable car and Homeland War Museum
Cavtat cycle and Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik / Cavtat
Ride south through the Konavle Valley along the Ljuta river to Cavtat (~34km return), stopping at a village bar for a drink by the water. Lunch in Cavtat's harbour is a good shout (~£12). Return to Dubrovnik and spend the late afternoon walking the Old Town — Stradun, the City Walls promenade and the Church of St Blaise. A modest farewell dinner in the Old Town is easy to find for ~£18-25.
🚌Own bike ride (~34km)
🛏Hostel or budget apartment, Lapad/Dubrovnik (~£30-45)
- →Cycle to Cavtat via Konavle Valley and Ljuta river
- →Cavtat harbour walk and lunch
- →Dubrovnik Old Town, Stradun and City Walls
Depart Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Return the rental bike and head to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) — the Atlas airport bus runs from the bus station/Ploče every 30-60 minutes (~£6-8) and takes ~30 minutes. If you have time, add an extra night to explore the Old Town further or day-trip to Lokrum Island. Book flights and travel insurance separately — these are never included on guided tours either.
🚌Atlas airport shuttle or local bus to DBV ~£6-8
🛏None (departure)
- →Return rental bike
- →Airport transfer
- →Optional extra night or Lokrum Island trip
Self-launched vs. Nature Trips
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Nature Trips | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £1,850 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,345 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Nature Trips-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Croatia Coast Cycling: Split to Dubrovnik cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 8 days in Croatia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Nature Trips?+
Yes — Nature Trips charges around £1,850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £1,345 (73%) per person.
How long is the Croatia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Croatia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, backpacker trip through Croatia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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