Arrive independently at our pre-booked hotel in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, which is easily reached by air from the major European airports. Enjoy the vibrant café’ culture of this lively small city before meeting up for drinks and dinner later tonight. We stay the night in the stylish Hotel Hemera (or similar) Overnight Podgorica. Hotel and dinner included.

We transfer 20 minutes outside of town this morning for a bike fitting and safety talk before heading out on our first ride down to beautiful Skadar Lake. From there a challenging climb takes you up to the limestone massif of the Lovcen National Park, followed by a dizzying descent down to the shores of glittering Kotor Bay. The town of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its spectacular position along the bay and the ingenious way in which its architecture and fortifications fit in with the terraced slopes and rocky hills that surround it. You’ll love the old-world charm of the city center, where Venetian and Austrio-Hungarian buildings sit side-by-side with modern cafes, restaurants, and galleries. Our hotel, the Hotel Vardar (or similar) is in a renovated noble residence in the heart of the old town. Overnight Kotor. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Bike out of Kotor this morning and follow the dramatic coastal road west. At the end of the bay, a 10-minute ferry ride whisks you to the other side, where you continue your ride across the Croatian border and through the verdant Konavle valley, which makes a lovely contrast to the bustling coastal towns we’ll be seeing. Breathe in the scent of pine and cypress trees and cycle past tiny stone hamlets that punctuate the fields of olives, vines, and fruit trees. Stop for a delicious lunch of local specialties then continue your ride to the colorful port town of Cavtat. Known for its beaches, it also has a lively historic city center and a variety of ruins from ancient settlements: you’ll find Illyrian, Greek, and Roman walls, fortifications, and burial sites scattered throughout the city. Archaeological findings like amphorae, fallen columns, friezes, mosaics, headstones, jewelry, and coins bear witness the wealth and beauty of the ancient presence here. We stay the night at a charming small hotel, the Hotel Supetar (or similar) located in the old town right along the waterfront. Overnight Cavtat. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We have a special ride this morning through a stretch of neighboring Bosnia to avoid the bustling traffic of Dubrovnik. Bosnian authorities have recently transformed an old stretch of railway line from the Austrian Hapsburg era into a fabulous series of bike trails, and the part we need just happens to be paved and flat! Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch at the end of the trail and then drop back down into Croatia for a gorgeous ride into Mali Ston, which, along with neighouring Ston, protected two narrow inlets that link the Pelješac Peninsula with the mainland. The two towns are connected by the second longest protective wall in the world behind the Great Wall of China (admittedly, it’s a distant second!). The massive wall was commissioned by the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1333 in an attempt to protect the salt beds that brought the city much wealth (some claim they’re the oldest continuously operating in Europe, going back 4,000 years!). Originally 7 kms of wall were built along with 3 fortresses, 41 towers, 7 bastions, and a system of moats. After checking into our hotel, the charming family-run Ostrea Hotel (or similar) we can actually walk the 3 km stretch of wall that links Ston with Mali Ston. Overnight Mali Ston. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Hop aboard another ferry this morning for a short trip over to the pristine and densely forested island of Mljet, most of which is protected park land. It was already mentioned in 4^th century BC Greek texts, and the numerous Greek shipwrecks found along the coast bear witness to the presence of these ancient mariners. You’ll also find several villages, two salt-water lakes, and a Benedictine monastery, plus Illyrian fortifications and tombs and the remains of a Roman palace. The island is also ringed with gorgeous beaches, so bike as much or as little as you want today and take some time to cool off in the refreshing crystalline waters of the Mediterranean. Return to Mali Ston this afternoon and dig into a fabulous fresh seafood dinner – this region is said to produce the best oysters in the world! Overnight Mali Ston. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Today’s ride takes us north along the coast and into the famous wine region along the Pelješac Peninsula. Croatia has become quite famous in recent decades for its seafood, truffles, delicious cheeses and prosciutto, but especially for its powerful wines. The most famous in this area are grown in Dingač, a 7 km stretch of coastline with ideal conditions for producing wine, in this case using the native “Plavac Mali” grape. We’ll be sure to include a wine tasting as part of our day’s activities! We end our ride with a quick ferry trip over to the island of Korčula, whose main town (of the same name) has one of the best-preserved medieval centres in the Adriatic. Our hotel, the elegant Tara's Lodge (or similar) is a short distance outside of town and located on its own little beach, so relax this afternoon with a swim in the sea or just hang out by the pool. Overnight near Korčula. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Our final ride takes us through lush stands of pine trees, past olive groves and vineyards to charming hamlets scattered around the island. Ancient Greek settlers called the island “Korkyra Melaina” (Black Corfu), and we’ll explore the island’s rich history, which includes being the home of Marco Polo, whose family lived here while the region was under Venetian occupation in the 13^th century. Overnight near Korčula. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Morning goodbyes and 2-hour shuttle back to Dubrovnik. Or, take a ferry and make your way independently to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Split. There are frequent connections from both cities to European hubs. Breakfast and one group transfer included.