For full tour overview please visit Croatia & West Balkans 5-Day Gentle Bike Tour

Distance: 108 kms (67 miles) / Elevation Gain: 808 m (2,652 feet) / Daily Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Set out on a delightful 5-day cycling adventure through Croatia and the Western Balkans, beginning and ending in Dubrovnik. Explore the medieval walled city before pedaling inland toward Trebinje, a riverside town shaded by plane trees and dotted with Ottoman bridges. Follow quiet country roads to the hamlet of Zavala, joining the historic Ćiro Trail through valleys and stone tunnels. Continue west to Ston, a coastal town famous for its colossal medieval walls and salt pans, as well as its oysters and seafood traditions. Each day blends gentle riding with cultural discovery and scenic variety, offering a perfect short escape filled with Adriatic charm and Balkan character.

Welcome to Dubrovnik, the shimmering “Pearl of the Adriatic” and one of the most celebrated cities in Europe. Enclosed by its iconic medieval walls, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a maze of marble streets, baroque churches, and terracotta rooftops set against the deep blue sea. Despite earthquakes and centuries of conflict, Dubrovnik’s Old Town stands proudly preserved, with landmarks like the Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace, and the grand Onofrio Fountain greeting visitors at every turn.

Stroll the Stradun, the city’s elegant main promenade, where history and culture blend with lively cafés and gelato shops. For panoramic views, climb the ancient ramparts or take the cable car up Mount Srđ, where the setting sun casts a golden glow over the Adriatic and the Elaphiti Islands beyond. Dubrovnik is the perfect prologue to your cycling adventure, offering both old-world charm and breathtaking coastal beauty.

Distance: 26 kms (16 miles) / Elevation Gain: 268 m (885 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-3.5 hours

Today’s ride takes you inland from the Adriatic coast to the welcoming town of Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The route begins with a steady climb out of Dubrovnik, where each turn rewards you with wider views of the coastline and the Elaphiti Islands behind. Crossing the border, the scenery shifts to quiet valleys and rolling hills, with far less traffic and a slower pace.

Arriving in Trebinje, you’ll find a charming riverside town shaded by ancient plane trees and dotted with Ottoman bridges and monasteries. The gentle ride and relaxed atmosphere make this a perfect introduction to the inland landscapes of the Balkans.

Distance: 45 kms (28 miles) / Elevation Gain: 50 m (166 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Leaving Trebinje, today’s ride follows a quieter inland route through rolling countryside and fertile valleys. You’ll soon join a section of the historic Ćiro Trail, once an Austro-Hungarian railway line and now a peaceful cycling path with gentle gradients, stone tunnels, and wide-open views.

The ride ends in Zavala, a small hamlet near Ravno where limestone hills and vineyards create a tranquil, unspoiled setting. With little traffic and plenty of space to breathe, this stage offers a calm and rewarding day in the saddle.

Distance: 37 kms (23 miles) / Elevation Gain: 490 m (1617 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-3.5 hours

From the quiet hills of Zavala, today’s ride rolls westward, following peaceful backroads across the border and gradually returning toward the Adriatic. It’s a stretch of road where the solitude and wide horizons make for perfect, meditative riding.

As the landscape shifts, the coast comes back into view, and with it a thrilling descent toward the Pelješac Peninsula. Your day finishes in Ston, a medieval town famed for its massive stone walls. They are among the longest in Europe and its centuries-old salt pans also. With fresh oysters and seafood on hand, Ston offers the perfect recovery reward after a full day in the saddle.

This morning, we have arranged a two-hour transfer back to Dubrovnik, watching the Adriatic and its scattered islands slip by as you return to where your adventure began.

After days of coastal climbs, sweeping descents, and hidden valleys, take a moment to reflect on the journey. You’ve cycled across borders, cultures, and landscapes, experiencing the very best of the Adriatic and the Balkans.