Adriatic Riviera Tour

Bela Krajina takes its name from the endless stands of birch trees. Riding here is pure joy. Our destination for today is Plitvice National Park, the most popular Croatian national park, which is listed in the UNESCO Register of World Natural Heritage sites. Sixteen little lakes interconnected with waterfalls created by deposits of travertine, a special kind of limestone, constitute the main attraction of this unique park. We'll spend the afternoon strolling wooden footbridges that follow the lakes and streams over, under and across the rumbling water for an exhilaratingly damp 18km.

In the afternoon, we'll reach the city among the vineyards, Mostar. The city was founded by the Turks in the 15th century at a strategic river crossing. There they built a stone bridge which is today one of the most famously photographed World Heritage-listed sites. That night, before dinner, stroll the Old Ottoman quarter, on either side of the bridge, and meet its artists and craftsmen.

The typical Bosnian landscape makes for a nice stop for lunch to taste the most popular Bosnian dishes, before we continue the ride to Dubrovnik. The city is situated in Southern Dalmatia, the most beautiful part of the Adriatic coast. Rich vegetation, beautiful lakes, rare islands, white pebble beaches and the crystal clean sea, all make this region an unforgettable experience for every visitor.

Also very interesting is a full day boat trip to Mljet island, which of all the Adriatic islands may be the most seductive. The highlight of the island is a lake with an islet on which there is a Benedictine monastery. If you feel like riding, Montenegro is within easy reach. So whether you stay around town for the whole day or you just have dinner in one of the excellent restaurants, remember, you are in Dubrovnik!

A short ferry will get us to Hvar Island, where we'll ride the twistiest road of the whole trip. Called the "Croatian Medeira", Hvar receives more sunshine each year than any other place in the country. Yet the island is luxuriantly green, with brilliant patches of lavender, rosemary and heather. Hvar town with its marble streets and beautifully ornamented buildings, mostly built under Venetian rule, is full of restaurants and taverns that offer excellent fish specialties, with exquisite local wines.

Passing the scenic islands of Brac and Solta, we'll get to Split, famous for its Diocletian's Palace. On the way further north you can stop in the historical towns of Trogir, Primosten or Sibenik. Finally, we reach the ancient city of Zadar. Once the center of Dalmatia, today Zadar is a preserved monument of various historical times and cultures.

The scenery here is truly remarkable when you have the Adriatic Sea on one hand and the steep hillsides of the Velebit mountain range on the other. Winding through the pristine forests of Lika we'll ride back to Slovenia and reach Ljubljana in the afternoon. There you will spend your last night to muse and remember all that you've witnessed on the adventure.

Depending on the time of the flight back home, you may have time to climb up the staircase to the 16th century fortification of Ljubljana Castle that dominates the town before heading out to the airport.