Join Sail Croatia's Hideout Festival Cruise next summer and experience the ultimate electronic summer party. With house and techno heavyweights providing some of the season's finest raves on the epic Zrce Beach, this is one festival not to be missed! Tickets have outstripped demand every year since the festival started, but when you book Sail Croatia's Hideout festival cruise, you are guaranteed a space at the hottest parties of the summer.   Thousands of festival goers are expected to descend onto Zrce beach to see some of the best electronic music talent from across the world - expect pool parties, secret beach parties plus headline evening performances on five beachfront stages. The 2024 line-up has not yet been announced, but with some of the biggest name in house and techno such as Folamour, East End Dubs and Kings Of The Rollers appearing in 2023, you can be sure next year's festival will live up to the hype.   The party starts when you join the small ship cruise in Split before heading to Hvar, Primosten and Sibenik then hitting party central on Zrce Beach. After two days of festival fun, the cruise continues south through Vodice, before ending in Split.   Aside from the festival, highlights of the cruise include swim stops in crystal clear coves, exploring the famous Krka waterfalls, experiencing Hvar's famous nightlife and discovering Diocletian's Palace in Split.   There are two ships to choose from, with prices for the seven-night cruise (Split to Split) from £959 per person (based on two sharing) for the departure on 22nd June 2024. The cost includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch daily, hideout festival tickets (plus festival transfers) and wifi.   The cruises are part of Sail Croatia's Navigator programme, offering the ultimate party at sea for 18-39 year olds, where guests hop along the Croatian coastline onboard some of the liveliest boats on the Adriatic.   Prices are based on two sharing, subject to availability and correct at time of issue. Flights are not included but offered by a choice of airlines from the UK.

  To celebrate the start of the cruising season and to encourage more travellers to experience the wonders of Spring in Croatia, Sail Croatia has announced 10% off selected dates in April and May 2023, for a limited time.   The Spring months signal the start of Croatia’s popular cruising season, as local businesses along the coast start to reopen, ready to welcome new travellers after the winter months. But not many know that these off-peak dates are also the best to explore the region for many reasons, and not just for the discounted prices!  

1. The flora and local produce are at their best

  When Spring arrives in Croatia, the country is bursting with colour. Croatian Lavender is prolific from May – the island hillsides come alive with rich purple lavender groves and the scent carries for miles. Elsewhere, wildflowers adorn the coastlines and fields, especially in Hvar where the locals use the leaves and flowers in their drinks, cooking and balms. You will also be able to savour the first batch of fresh crops – the Olive Trees are blossoming, and the vineyards open their doors for wine tasting… with a rich history and outstanding reputation for winemaking. Did you know Croatia is the ancestral home of Zinfandel?  

1. The weather is perfect for exploring

  April and May see the temperatures in Croatia rise into double digits – reaching daily highs of 22 degrees Celsius… and rainfall drops sharply. The sea temperatures rise to be warm enough for swimming in the crystal blue waters… and with 12 hours of sunshine a day, there’s plenty of daylight to explore the rich coastline and stunning islands. With so much to see and take in, it’s a much better time to explore than in the high heat of the Croatian summer, especially on a Hike or Cycle cruise.  

1. There is space to explore before the summer crowds

  It’s no secret that Croatia is featuring on more and more holiday plans, thanks to the success of Game of Thrones and the luxurious holiday shots from the Beckhams and Claudia Schiffer in 2022. However, the towns and villages can be small and roads narrow, so if the summertime crowds aren’t up your street, April and May will be the best time to visit – without all the hustle and bustle – giving you the delicious space and time to enjoy all the sights at your own pace.   The 10% off special is only available on selected Explorer, Navigator and Cycle Cruises between April 29th and May 6th, 2023. Travellers can head to the website to take advantage of the great prices and breath-taking sights and smells of Croatia in Spring.   SAMPLE SAILING Cruise: Navigator Yacht: Premier Ship Itinerary: Split Return South Cabin: Lower Deck Departure date: April 29, 2022 Duration: 7 nights Price: 

• WAS: £669 per person
• NOW: £602 per person (-10% off) or £86 per person, per day

Departure and return port: Split, Croatia Calls at: Split, Hvar, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Mljet, Makarska, Split What's included: 7 nights' accommodation, daily buffet breakfast, daily 3-course lunch, Tour Manager, Wi-fi

  So, you're on the hunt for the best cycling destinations in Europe? Well… you've come to the right place. This guide runs through just seven of the most bike-friendly spots on the continent. It ranges from the dagger-like summits of the Italian Dolomites to the oleander-scented shores of the Croatian islands, the zigzagging roads of the Amalfi Coast to the hill towns of Catalonia, all in an effort to pick out the places that true two-wheeled adventurers should have on the radar in 2023. Let's begin...  

Girona, Spain

  Girona has been the undisputed kingpin of European cycling for some decades now. Over the years, it's figured as the stomping ground for countless riders of Olympic and Tour de France pedigree – Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, even Lance Armstrong. But it's also an amateur paradise, with trails big and small, hardcore and relatively easy.   The key thing to know is that Girona sits in the heart of the Catalonia region. It's got the rising Pyrenees to the north and the sun-splashed Spanish coast to the east and south. That's the backdrop for some of Europe's most iconic trails, from the notoriously thigh-busting climb up Mare de Déu del Mont to the salt-washed track to the Costa Brava out of Llagostera.   We should also say something of Girona itself. The town is a gorgeous piece of work, with more than 2,000 years of history and the Roman ruins to show for it. Straddling a bend in the Onyar River, it rises in handsome shows of Moorish and medieval architecture, which culminate at a jaw-dropping Catalan Gothic cathedral. Very nice indeed.    

Dolomites, Italy

  Prepare to be stunned by the Dolomites. This vast swathe of the eastern Italian Alps was once entirely underwater, which goes a long way to explaining the unique shape of its hoodoo-style peaks and twisted mountaintops. That was 175 million years back, though. Today, they rise to the glacier of Marmolada some 3,343 meters up, and splinter into iconic summits like the Langkofel and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.   Swirling around the jagged highlands are lush mountain pastures dotted with cattle, runs of pine and fir forest, and a hodgepodge of medieval South Tyrolean villages. They're all linked by hair pinning roads that are just about perfect for the budding two-wheeler.   Sadly, the Dolomites are no secret to cyclists. They now host two of the most prominent events in Italy: The Sellaronda Bike Day and the Maratona dles Dolomites race. Together they bring in nearly 30,000 riders, so it's better to come when they aren't on if you want the tracks to yourself.    

Hvar, Croatia

  Croatia is very firmly on the rise as a top cycle destination. It's now crossed by a number of long-distance velo routes that promise to whisk you all the way from the Slovenian border in the north to the glistening bays on the Montenegrin border in the south. Between those are oodles of mountain passes and islands that offer a whole medley of different sorts of adventures for a whole range of levels, two-wheel cruiser to seasoned pro.   Among it all is the island of Hvar. Just over 40 miles long from end to end, it's a dash of limestone that pokes out from the southern end of the Makarska Riviera. Most people know it for Hvar Town – a bumping party mecca come the summer months. But peel yourself away from the yachts and champagne bars and there's so much to see by bike…   Cue a whole backcountry of lavender-fringed roadways that weave and wind around low-rise peaks dressed in Aleppo pines. Our Cycle Croatia route will take you to the island's historic capital, Stari Grad, where you can see centuries-old farm plots still laid out as they were in the 1500s. Another links to Milna harbor, but first stops at deserted coves where you can cool off with a dip in the Adriatic.    

Amalfi Coast, Italy

  The second of the best cycling destinations in Europe to hail in from the home of pizza and pasta comes in the form of the eye-wateringly gorgeous Amalfi Coast. Stretching for 34 miles along the shores of sunny Campania in the south of the country, this land of twisting roads and precipitous limestone cliffs is like something lifted from a James Bond film.   Yes, that likely means that you'll be sharing the asphalt with purring Alfa Romeos and Ferraris, but it's worth it. The iconic Strada Amalfitana – the main road that links the whole region – is a montage of cobalt-blue Mediterranean waters, pastel-painted villages, and soaring coast mountains.   When it's time to rest, pull up in gorgeous Positano to laze on sunbeds on the pebbly shoreline and guzzle limoncello into the balmy evening. Or, hop on a boat to the R&R haven of Capri. That island just off the Amalfi Coast was once the playground of the emperor Tiberius. Today, it's got Michelin eateries and boutique B&Bs.    

Majorca, Spain

  Ask any pro out there for their list of the top cycling hotspots on the continent and the isle of Majorca is likely to have a mention. The main reason? That backbone of rocky summits: The great Serra de Tramuntana range, which cuts from northeast to southwest along the northern side of the whole island, which also happens to be the largest in the Balearic chain.   Pump the pedals on the routes that weave into the peaks and you might just spot some familiar faces – major Olympic-level cycle teams now use the region as a training base in the winter. They tend to hit the harder paths, like the Tramuntana Coastal Road, a 110km section that lofts a whopping 2,500 meters to the tops of Puig Major (Majorca's highest) along its courses.   But it's not all for the Eddie Merckx's out there. The central part of the island is largely flat and covered in olive groves and orange orchards. Down there, you can whizz between traditional Balearic villages and market towns. Palma – the UNESCO capital – also has a charming promenade that's primed for chilled family cycles by the sea.    

The Algarve, Portugal

  The Algarve is certainly among the best cycling destinations in Europe for families and casual bikes. Largely flat compared to many of the other places on this list, it's a corner of Portugal that's primarily known for its fantastic weather. Mhmm…there's something ridiculous like 300 days of sunshine per year in this corner of Europe!   There are a few long-distance trails to get stuck into if you like. The Rota Vicentina connects up the wild western shore of the Algarve through pine forests, heaths, and remote river valleys, sometimes dropping down to blustery beaches that are pounded by waves. The Via Algarviana is its counterpart in the south, taking you through rustic olive groves and farmlands just back from the popular resorts.   More casual rides are open to fly-in holidaymakers in towns like Lagos, Tavira, and Albufeira. There are usually long, bending promenades for easy-going cruises near the beaches in those places, backed up by forest cycles as you edge further from the hotels.    

Wales, UK

  Wales might not have the weather but it does have the terrain. Yep, those looking to steer away from the tried-and-tested cycle hubs of Europe to somewhere a touch different will find this western nation of the UK perfectly primed for both road and off-road adventures, provided they don't mind a little rain in the process!   For the roadsters, there are epic loops that take in the mountains. In the south, that means the barren tops of the Brecon Beacons, where pitstops can be made at roaring waterfalls and quaint Welsh farming villages. In the north, it means Snowdonia National Park, a region beset by the tops of sleeping-giant peaks like Yr Wyddfa and Tryfan.   Wales also nails it when it comes to coastal cycling. Head to Pembrokeshire and you can cruise between surf beaches like Marloes Sands and Newgale. Go Anglesey way and there are ancient druid stones standing on tall cliffs above the Irish Sea as the backdrop to the trails.     This guide outlines just seven of the very best cycling destinations in Europe. There's some fantastic variety, from the rain-soaked peaks of South Wales to the balmy beaches of Portugal's Algarve to the spiked summits of the Dolomites.

 

There's no doubt about it – Croatia is a hiking mecca. The whole country is scored by the dramatic limestone ridges of the Dinaric Alps. Waterfalls crash through the peaks here, coastal trails weave by boat-bobbing fishing villages there. From the highest summit of Troglav to the pine-studded paths around Mljet's lovely lakes, there's oodles to get through when you pull on the boots in this part of Europe.

  Cue this guide. It's a 101 to everything you need to know about hiking in Croatia. There's info on the bucket-list trails, the best national park routes, and the finest seasons to take to the backcountry. Let's get going…  

The top hiking trails in Croatia

  There are more hiking routes in Croatia than you could possibly hope to get through in a single vacation. That's why we usually recommend picking out the very best, which would surely include:  

Mount Srd

  Cap off a trip to the walled city of Dubrovnik with a trek up Mount Srd. It looms some 412 meters above the town of Game of Thrones fame. A trailhead begins on Jadranska Cesta Street and then twists around ancient donkey paths to the very top. Cheaters can use the Dubrovnik Cable Car instead.  

Vosac Peak Hike

  If you can pull yourself away from the bath-warm waters of the Adriatic for a day, one of the most challenging day treks in the country is ready to reward with equally as superlative panoramas from the top of Mount Vosac. It's a hardcore altitude gain of over 1,000 meters after leaving the town of Makar, over exposed alpine terrain that culminates in a rustic rifugio surrounded by thistles and pines. The views are jaw dropping, sweeping right out to the Dalmatian isles across the strait.  

Plitvice Lakes Trail C

  This is a 5-mile (8km) loop that's perhaps the most comprehensive around the legendary Plitvice Lakes. It takes in the Lower Lakes, which are famed for their gnarled limestone geology and wispy waterfalls. Later, the path creeps skywards to the Upper Lakes, where you traverse banks clad in thick beech forests.    

The best national park hikes in Croatia

  There are eight national parks in Croatia in all. They run the gamut from wild highland reserves that drape over the tops of the coastal mountains to lush forests that have waterfalls, the likes of which you've never seen before. Most have marked trails to conquer, the best of which include:  

Velika Paklenica, Paklenica National Park

  Velika Paklenica is the widest of the two canyons that carve through the ridges of the Dinaric Alps in the Paklenica National Park of central-coastal Croatia. Ranging 8 miles (14km) from start to finish, it's an all-day adventure that offers panoramic lookouts on boulders that soar above the canyon rim, but also technical walking amid massive rocks at the base of the gorge. A harder hike is open to more experienced walkers in next-door Mala Paklenica – the narrower canyon.  

Zavizan, Northern Velebit National Park

  There's a symphony of summits to choose from within the UNESCO-tagged Northern Velebit National Park. If you've not got the time to hit the multi-day VPP (more on that later) or the Via Dinarica White Trail, you can pick out Veliki Zavizan as a good up-and-back option. It's the dominant summit in the reserve, topping out at 1,678 meters. A relatively easy ascent leaves from the mountain hut just below the main ridge, but there are also challenging, 5-mile traverses that take in Veliki Pivcevac and other surrounding peaks.  

Skradinski Buk Trail, Krka National Park

  It might be a mere 1.2 miles long but the Skradinski Buk Trail contains the impressive cataract of Skradinski Buk itself. That's the highest fall in the Krka National Park and a veritable natural wonder of Croatia. You'll start by walking through a traditional Slavic village and then move onto suspended boardwalks above steps of travertine with the water gushing below your feet. The highlight is the broadside view of the falls, which gurgle over terraces of moss-caked rock into pools of perfect emerald green.    

The best multi-day hikes in Croatia

  Croatia has emerged as a pretty fantastic place for multi-day trekking. The most dedicated ramblers out there will lick their lips at the prospect of a country that's over 1,000 miles long and totally covered by the Dinaric Alps chain. Today, the routes are very well maintained and always growing, with hiking societies adding evermore wondrous segments and loops to their network. Let's take a look at the bucket-list treks that are on the menu:  

Velebit Hiking Trail (VPP)

  There's surely no more iconic multi-day path in the country than the 9-section Velebit Hiking Trail. It strings through a dramatic section of the Dinaric Alps that bend along the shores north of Zagreb. It's kinda' where Croatia does its best impression of the Pacific Crest, what with spear-like pines rising against the trail and multiple summits – Vaganski Vrh, Gromovaca – that come one after the other. Most walk north to south, finishing near the wooded massifs of the Paklenica National Park.  

The Kapela Trail (KPP)

  The Kapela Trail, or the KPP for short, conquers the less-visited highlands of northern Croatia. It links the ski station at Mrkopalj with the salt-washed sea coves of Klenovica, covering 132 miles of terrain as the crow flies. You don't walk the KPP in a straight line, though – you'll summit Matić Poljana, walk through the bucolic Duliba valley, and gain your first site of the Adriatic from the pass high on Cerni Vrh along the way. You'll need at least 5 days to complete this one.  

Via Dinarica Green Trail

  There's hardly a more comprehensive inland hiking route in the whole of Croatia than the epic Via Dinarica Green Trail. Just one segment of the even-larger Via Dinarica, which runs from Slovakia all the way to Albania, it clocks up 143 miles as it crosses the heart of the eastern mountains. It's so named because it swaps out the rugged peaks and rocky summits of the coastal ranges for lush valleys filled with conifer forests and wildflower meadows. It's also set up for two-wheeled adventurers if you're bringing the bike, but lots of pre-planning will be needed.    

The best island hikes in Croatia

  Anyone who's ever hiked Croatia will tell you that the walking doesn't stop at the coast. This nation boasts a whopping 700+ isles, many of which are actually geological extensions of the Dinaric Alps that poke high above the glistening waters of the Adriatic. We even have a dedicated Hike Croatia Cruise that's all about hiking the Croatian islands. Here are some of the best routes that pop up along the way…  

Vidova Gora, Brac

  A 3-mile up and back that lofts trekkers more than 700 meters above sea level to survey the cobalt Adriatic Sea around Brac Island, the Vidova Gora Trail is a hefty challenge. Bring stacks of water because there's hardly any shade. The reward is a continuous montage of dancing wildflower meadows and a sighting of the iconic Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn Beach) from above.  

The Mljet Lakes, Mljet

  The whole western end of the island of Mljet is dominated by a national reserve that's filled with forests of aromatic Aleppo pines. It's also where you'll find the lovely Mljet lakes. There are two of them, both brackish since they were connected to the open Adriatic by local monks back in the Middle Ages. A walking-cycling combo path encircles the lot, taking around two or three hours to finish depending on how many times you decide to stop for a cooling dip.  

Blaca Hermitage, Brac

  One of the main alternatives to the much-trodden trail up Vidova Gora on the island of Brac is the route to the Blaca Hermitage, a gravity-defying monastery that was built literally on the cliff face way back in the 15th century. It's a 2.5-mile (4km) up-and-back route that's steeped in religious history. You'll also get to wonder at twisted limestone bluffs and walk through ancient olive groves. We complete this on the Split Return South route of our Hike Croatia Cruise.    

The best coastal hikes in Croatia

  You don't have to scramble up to the rock-ribbed tops of the Biokovo Mountain or the Dinaric Alps to experience the crème-de-la-crème of hiking in Croatia. Here are some coastal routes that come with swimming coves and pretty marina villages aplenty…  

Hvar-Milna Coast Walk, Hvar

  We'd put Hvar up there among the top three Croatian islands for hiking. It's home to oodles of routes (not least of all the path through the ancient farm plots around Stari Grad). However, it's this 8.6-mile romp along the south coast that steals the show. It runs from the champagne-swilling bars of Hvar Town to the sleepy marina of Milna, through a patchwork of pine woods, vineyards, and rosy garlic flowers that bloom in spring. In shoulder seasons, you might even get the trail to yourself!  

The Cape Kamenjak, Istria

  The Cape Kamenjak caps off the southern end of the olive tree-dotted Istrian Peninsula. It's a place where the hills fragment into countless headlands and fingers of rock, with secluded coves and occasional sand beaches like Plovanije interspersed in between. You can hike the whole thing from top to bottom in a single day, provided you don't get distracted with the sunbathing and snorkeling!  

Baska-Vela Luka Bay, Krk

  The island of Krk has a bit of everything – sun-kissed beaches with sunbeds, bustling harbor towns with beer bars, and high cliffs that brave locals often fling themselves off. But the untamed southeastern corner of the rock is a lunar-like landscape of dusty hills and broad inlets. That's where you'll find Vela Luka Bay, a snorkel mecca that's basically never got crowds. Reach it on this 4-hour hike over the headlands from the port town of Baska.    

Where to stay before or after your Croatia hike

  Those doing day hikes and coastal hikes in Croatia are in luck – many of the top trailheads in the country are easy to access by car from the main coastal resorts and highways. That means you can usually bed down in one of the umpteen resort hotels that string up the sides of the Dubrovnik coast or the Makarska Riviera and detour into the hills when the time comes.   The same goes on the islands, although you might not even need a car. For example, you can make use of all the five-star boutique hotels that Hvar Town has to offer and then simply stroll to the south end of the marina to join the path to Milna. The same goes for Mljet, where the port of Pomena is the main gateway to the national park routes. In Brac, the town of Bol offers oodles of charming B&Bs under the famous Vidova Gora.   There is another option here, too: a Yacht Charter. Croatia is almost unique in Europe in that it can offer hiking by day and boating by night. It's a great way to experience a whole medley of different walks, from pine-fringed coast paths in Dalmatia to soaring mountaintops on the mainland, sleeping in a luxury boat as you move from trailhead to trailhead.   Those on long-distance trails like the VPP will likely need to book mountain rifugios ahead of time.    

What to bring on your hike in Croatia

  What to pack for hiking in Croatia depends a whole load on what sort of hikes you're planning on doing and when you're planning on doing them. The highland terrain of the Biokovo Mountain and the Dinaric Alps is pretty tough stuff. It requires much the same gear as you'd take hiking in the more central Alps – sturdy boots or trail runners, sweat-licking outer layers, and specialized equipment if you're taking on the more technical routes.   What can set hiking in Croatia apart is the heat. The peak seasons of spring to autumn can see thermometers soar to over 30 C in the daytime without problem. What's more, many of the top trails lack thick vegetation and water outlets, meaning you'll often be exposed to the sun for large portions of the day. So, always bring along plenty of H2O, strong sun cream, sunglasses, and a hat. In the winter, conditions can flip to subzero very fast on the higher climbs, so thermals, thick socks, and even spikes for the boots might be necessary.    

When to go hiking in Croatia

  Croatia is a year-round hiking destination. Seriously – there's never really a bad time to hit the paths here. However, we think that there are three seasons that really stand out from the crowd as the finest for walkers:  

Spring

  Temperatures begin creeping past the 15 C mark in southern Croatia by the start of April. Rainfall also slows down, leaving almost 50% of days filled with sun. That balance of relative coolness and dryness makes spring just about perfect for exploring the island hiking paths in places like Hvar and Mljet, with May probably being the peak of the lot. There's a trump card here, too: Wildflowers. The Dalmatian islands and the lower slopes of the Dinaric Alps are a symphony of blooming garlic, rose, and daisies when spring swings around. Lovely.  

Summer

  Summer is the peak hiking season in Croatia, there's no doubt about that. It's definitely the best time to embark on multi-day treks like the VPP or the KPP, largely because you can rest assured that any lingering snowfall in the higher Velebit and Dinaric ranges will be gone by June. Lower down on the coastal hikes and in the non-mountainous national parks (Krka, Plitvice), the weather is likely to be at its Balkan summer best – think regular days when thermometers read 30+ and minimal rainfall bar the odd thunderstorm crossing the peaks. Actually, the heat is likely to be the biggest enemy of hikers in the summer. Take plenty of water and try to leave early and finish early, before the afternoon scorchers set in. Expect the most famous trails to be crowded at this time of the year.  

Autumn

  Hit the Croatian hiking trails in autumn and you'll be rewarded with temperatures that linger nicely in the high 20s, backed up by around 23-25 days of sunshine per month (decreasing from September through to October). Hiking crowds have dispersed a lot by the start of September, too, so trails should be all but empty. What's more, the colors of the forests can look downright beautiful, as the hemlocks and oaks turn auburn and ochre amid the blush-green Aleppo pines. You might need to pack a touch more thermal gear towards the end of the season.