£ Skip to main content

Cycle Croatia 2024

Challenge level: 4 out of 5

  1. Home
  2. Challenges
  3. Cycle Croatia 2024
Book my place

Need a hand? Get in touch...

When can I go?

23 May - 27 May 2024 On Sale
26 September - 30 September 2024 On Sale
Duration 5 days

What does it cost?

Registration fee (payable today) Info £299
Remaining amount
Total commitment Info

Cycle Croatia 2024

Discover European Paradise on our literally breathtaking charity cycling challenge on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. This part of Croatia is famous for its beauty and we'll get the best experience as we conquer a roller coaster of a challenge exploring the islands along the coast.

We'll cycle over 190km in three days and tackle epic climbs for sublime views over the sparkling sea and tiny, medieval settlements that should be in a fairy tale.  

Kicking off in the beautiful Supetar, we'll cycle across Brac, Hvar, and Korčula before reaching our fantastic finish line at Dubrovnik's medieval fortress. Our Dream Challenge gives us the chance to ride through historic towns and to white-sand beaches, where we can take a refreshing dip after long days in the saddle.

This phenomenally popular charity challenge may seem like a dream, but we won't be sleeping by day, as we cycle up soaring mountains. We'll also get to ride through a canyon and of course, alongside the turquoise sea, with a boat ride to the historic Korčula City and a cycle through the fine, wine-growing region of Dingač.

The best part of our cycle in Croatia is that you can support the charity that means the most to you while having the experience of a lifetime and making a group of new friends.

Your itinerary

Day 1
UK – Split – Supetar (Island Brač) Croatia | Book your own flight

Our charity challenge begins at a hotel on the beautiful island of Brač, just off the east coast of Croatia. We have not included flights for this challenge to give you more flexibility. This gives you the opportunity to book your flights to and from your local airport and easily extend your stay before or after our cycle in the slice of paradise that is Croatia. We recommend booking a hotel in Split if you arrive early.

We meet for the first time at our first night’s hotel on the beautiful Island of Brač, so please take a ferry from Split to Supetar. Typically, the ferry crossing takes around 50 minutes, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the gorgeous sea views! Your ferry ticket is included in your challenge costs and we will email them to you as our cycling challenge draws closer, so you have them in time for your departure.

Our friendly local challenge guides will meet you at the ferry port in Supetar and transfer you to our nearby hotel. Our team of Dream Challenges staff will be at the hotel from 5pm. We will greet you upon arrival and help you with check-in and bike fitting. If you have any questions about the challenge this is a great time to ask them. Dinner is also available at the hotel between 7pm-9pm.

We unite as a group this evening for our first exciting challenge briefing. Then it’s time to get a good night’s sleep ahead of our mighty charity bike ride.

Day 2
Supetar – Bol | approx. 43.5 miles/70km (+1,439m)

Fueling up with a big breakfast, we hop on our bikes for our first – and most challenging – day of cycling along the stunning coast of Dalmatia. Today gives us the rare and wonderful opportunity to explore the biggest island on the Croatian coast, the island of Brač.

Mounting our saddles in Supetar on the north side of the island, we follow the coastline west towards the fishing village of Sutivan. From here, we head inland to get a taste of the island’s heart. We cycle past several small, picturesque villages, bursting with cultural charm. The route may be stunning, but it will also test us to the extreme, with steep ascents and exhilarating descents, just to go right back up! We start climbing from Lozisca and gain a height of around 1,000ft as we reach the ancient village of Splitska, humble in population but rich in natural beauty.

Once we reach Nerezisca, we are blessed with a descending road and a flat cycle towards the northern coast of the island. We pass through the charming harbour town of Postira and ride on to Pucisca, widely known as one of the most beautiful villages in Europe.

Now it’s time to climb again. We turn southwards and ascend around 1,400ft in total, as we cycle through the plateau Vidova, and finally, the day’s end is in sight. We descend to Bol, the home of one the famous Croatian beach “Zlatni rat”. This small city is a hot spot for tourists and there’s no question why. A famous spot for water sports, beautiful beaches, calm and clear, turquoise shores, Bol is a salty slice of heaven. Here, we find our hotel and settle down for our group dinner. Our challenge leader also gives us an exciting briefing ahead of our next day in the saddle.

You can see our Day 2 GPX route here – but please note, this is subject to change.

Day 3
Bol – Stari Grad – Hvar | approx. 38.9 miles/62km (+1325m)

Our final day in the saddle begins with another approximately 1.5-hour speed boat transfer to Korčula City, a medieval town on Korčula Island. This is the island’s main city, Korčula City hosts an awesome stone fort with historic towers, standing right on the sea, with a maze of narrow streets with colourful galleries, cafes, hotels and restaurants.

We then take one more short boat transfer and hop back on our bikes in Orebic. Our first ten miles challenges us to the steepest climb of the day, as we cycle up from Stankovic and head east into the fine wine-growing region of Dingač, gaining a height of approx. 1,330ft!

From here, we catch our breath on a short descent and then tackle more undulations for the rest of the day. Our route may be murder for the thighs, but it’s heaven for the eyes, with views of lush vineyards and the Mljet island.

Eventually, we reach our finish line in the small village of Mali Ston. After toasting our achievement with a celebration drink at the finish line, we give our legs a good rest on a short transfer to our hotel in Dubrovnik.

Filled with an incredible sense of achievement, we freshen up and celebrate in this paradise setting with our final group dinner.

You can see our Day 3 GPX route here – but please note, this is subject to change.

Day 4
Hvar – Dubrovnik | approx. 112km

Our final day in the saddle begins with a speed boat transfer to Korčula City, a medieval town on Korčula Island.

This is the island’s main city and hosts an awesome stone fort with historic towers, standing right on the sea and a maze of narrow streets with colourful little galleries, cafes, hotels and restaurants.

We hop on our bikes here and ride through the vineyard-ridden wine growing region of Dingač. Our route rewards us with a constant view of the Elaphiti islands on our right-hand side and takes us to our finish line at our hotel in Dubrovnik.

Now it’s time to freshen up and celebrate in this paradise setting with our final group dinner.

Day 5
Dubrovnik

After breakfast at the hotel, we part ways. You’re now free to stay longer in Croatia or fly straight back to Home Sweet Home. Please remember you need to arrange your own flights to and from Croatia.

Book my place

Funding options

Self Funded

Pay the registration fee (£299) and challenge costs (£1,395).

£1,395

Pay the balance

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £299 when you book, which is used to administer the challenge in Croatia.
  • Pay the challenge cost of £1,395 yourself 12 weeks before the challenge starts.
  • The challenge costs cover bike hire, your food, accommodation, transfers and luggage transportation throughout the challenge, mechanical support, and full challenge support, including a team of outdoor-remote-first-aid trained challenge guides and a UK doctor with expedition medicine training.
  • Please also remember to budget for your flights to and from Croatia, which you arrange yourself.
  • Choose to fundraise as much as you can or make a personal donation to the charity, hospice or animal sanctuary of your choice.
Book my place

Sponsorship

Pay your registration fee (£249) and fundraise £2,790 or more for your chosen charity.

£2,790

Minimum sponsorship target

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £249 when you book, which is used to administer the challenge in Croatia.
  • Fundraise the minimum sponsorship target of £2,790 for a charity, hospice or animal sanctuary of your choice 12 weeks before the challenge starts.
  • Providing you have raised the funds, the charity you are supporting will pay the challenge costs of £1,395 on your behalf.
  • The challenge costs cover bike hire, your food, accommodation, transfers and luggage transportation throughout the challenge, mechanical support, and full challenge support, including a team of outdoor-remote-first-aid trained challenge guides and a UK doctor with expedition medicine training.
  • Please also remember to budget for your flights to and from Croatia, which you arrange yourself.
  • Please note that not all charities are happy to commit to the minimum sponsorship option. If you choose this option, we contact the charity you want to support on your behalf. If they are not happy with the minimum sponsorship option, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Book my place

FAQs
Cycle Croatia 2024

Our cycle in Croatia isn't designed for professional athletes — it is designed for people looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in our cycling challenge will have a low level of fitness when they sign up. 

Cycle Croatia 2024 is the perfect opportunity to get fit while exploring a beautiful part of the world and supporting the cause closest to your heart in a huge way. 

However, we strongly recommend you train for the challenge. We'll tackle a lot of hills in Croatia and face long hours of cycling.

Once you sign up for Cycle Croatia 2024, we'll send you a training plan, which builds up over time and will set you up for success. Remember, the more you train, the more you'll enjoy the real deal! We also recommend you check out our expert cycling tips here and our indoor training ideas here for the days when you don't want to face the weather.

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the camaraderie and friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Cycle Croatia 2024.

Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising.

You may also want to reach out to your fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

Everyone aged 18 or over is welcome to join us on this incredible overseas cycling challenge in Croatia. One of the amazing things about the challenge is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special for charity. 

16 and 17-year-olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) and we'll be happy to help.

Your non-refundable registration fee of £299 per person is used to administer the challenge.

Your challenge costs of £1,395 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:

  • Meals throughout the challenge (excluding dinner on Day 1, as well as your lunch and dinner on Day 5 for your free day in Dubrovnik)
  • Accommodation
  • Bike hire
  • Ferry and speed-boat transfer tickets in Croatia
  • A team of awesome, first-aid trained guides and Dream Challenges staff
  • Luggage transportation throughout the challenge
  • Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead-up to and during your challenge
  • Medical and mechanical support, including at least one UK doctor with expedition medicine training, who will accompany us throughout the challenge
  • Your Cycle Croatia 2024 medal

    *Please note, your flights to and from Croatia are not included in the challenge cost. You'll need to arrange and pay for these yourself.

In addition to paying your registration fee of £299 and either self-funding the challenge costs of £1,395 or raising the minimum sponsorship target of £2,790, you will need to budget for:

  • Your flights to and from Croatia, which you will need to arrange yourself
  • Your personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities and any personal expenses
  • Your dinner on Day 1, as well as your lunch and dinner on Day 5 for your free day in Dubrovnik

No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team.

Each participant, however, will organise their own flight to and from Croatia, so you'll be responsible for your own luggage on the plane.

We advise you to pack light. You will need a bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your camera, sun cream, tissues etc.

Any extra items you may need during the day can be carried on the support vehicle, which you will have access to at the snack stops and lunch.

A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a CamelBak-type hydration system.

Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go. Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear bikes and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on. You're also welcome to bring your own pedals.

We’re afraid we can’t allow for you to bring your own bike on this challenge, for logistical reasons. 

We provide very good hybrid bikes with water bottle holders for you at no extra cost, which will be ready and waiting for you in Croatia. Before we start the challenge, we have a bike fitting so that you'll be comfortable on it throughout the challenge.

Many of our participants like to bring their own saddles, gel covers and even their own pedals to make them feel more comfortable, which you are welcome to do. Please note, you do need to bring your own helmet. Helmets are mandatory and you won't be able to take part in the cycling challenge without one. Safety is always our priority. Some people also prefer to bring their own saddle so that they feel familiar on the bike. 

We’re afraid we can’t allow for you to bring your own bike on this challenge, for logistical reasons.

Yes of course! As you are responsible for organising your own flights to and from Croatia, it is completely up to you which dates you book them for (as long as they give enough time for you to take part in the full charity cycling challenge).

Please note that for our first night, we will stay in a hotel together and meet as a group for the first time at the hotel the next morning, so you do need to make sure you make the challenge briefing.

Travel Insurance
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise you to arrange your insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the cycling challenge in Croatia itself.

In your Welcome Pack, you will receive information about an insurance provider that specialises in our type of overseas challenges and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. You can, however, take arrange insurance with another provider, as long as it covers you for a charity bike ride in Croatia.

Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate coverage for your challenge.

Visa
Currently, UK citizens do not require a visa for Croatia, but we'll let you know if this changes before the challenge in 2024.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home

Answer not found? Get in touch
Trogir in Croatia
Makarska view of shore and cliffs
Dubrovnik Croatia lights at dusk
Makarska, bird's eye view of harbour, Croatia
Split, Croatia, Dalmatia coast
Hvar, Croatia
Dubrovnik cove and fort, Croatia

Sign up for our dream fuel

Get the Dream Challenges email newsletters

Please enter a valid email address.