Boat and bike Croatia | Video
My name is Ilka Lange and I am now in my 12th year with Rückenwind Reisen, working in customer service and reservations. After I successfully completed my training at Rückenwind Reisen, I travelled through Canada for a few months and visited New York.
Back in Germany I worked for a coach tour operator and for the city marketing in Wilhelmshaven. When Rückenwind Reisen asked me again, I quickly decided to move back to Oldenburg. It was a good fit and I started again in customer service.
For many years I worked for the section "Bike and Ship". I still like this section very much. Now, however, I have changed my target area and work on the "Elbe Cycle Route". This leaves me more time for my activities as office manager.
In September 2021, I was travelling with my boyfriend on the MS Aneta in southern Dalmatia. Due to Corona, we postponed the trip for a year and were now looking forward to our time in Croatia all the more.
The combination of island hopping by sailing ship, exploring the islands by bike and the many nice swimming breaks was decisive for our choice.
As northerners from Oldenburg, we opted for e-bikes, after all, the tour is advertised as sporty with steep climbs and kilometre-long gradients, which we are not used to at all from home.
Knowing that we can enjoy the cycling tours despite the hilly landscape, the decision for the region of southern Dalmatia was made quickly.
How was the itinerary?
The journey began with our flight to Split and a short bus ride to neighbouring Trogir, the starting point of our tour.
After welcoming the crew and settling into our cabin, we set off on our first boat trip to Brac. The island is famous for its white limestone, which was also used to build the White House and the Reichstag, for example.
We got to know our e-bikes on a short cycle tour of around 25 km and quickly realised that we had made the right decision.
We immediately liked our fellow travellers and crew members and enjoyed an impressive dinner on board together, prepared by our cook Slavica.
The next day we set sail for Korcula. After lunch on board and a nice cycling stage, we still had enough time for a swimming break and the MS Aneta anchored in a small secluded bay. The water was wonderfully warm, turquoise-coloured and crystal clear.
In Korcula, we chose a nice restaurant right next to the town wall in the evening.
On the third day, the island of Mljet awaited us, which we found to be the most beautiful island of the entire trip. Perhaps because it was the smallest, greenest and loneliest island.
Halfway along the route, we had about 3 hours to stop for a swim at a bay on the other side of the island. There were hardly any holidaymakers there, just cyclists from our group who had already got to know each other well.
The rest of the journey took us via Sipan on day 4 to the next highlight - the city of Dubrovnik.
After a guided tour by bus and on foot, we explored the old town and the narrow streets on our own.
Again and again we met familiar faces from on board and quickly exchanged tips for the next ice cream parlour or a nice bar.
In the next two days we visited the Peljesac peninsula and the island of Hvar. Here we cycled through lavender fields, vineyards and olive groves. For quite a distance, we could also cycle on a small coastal road directly by the sea.
On one side the turquoise sea and on the other the green hilly landscape.
In Solta, the last island on our trip, we visited an olive farmer who showed us how olive oil is made. After a tasting with different flavours, no saddle bag remained empty.
Everyone wanted to take a bottle home as a holiday souvenir.
On the 7th day, melancholy slowly spread, Trogir was approached and we reached our starting point.
A last dinner in a large group, a toast to our great time as well as fireworks directly at the harbour, made the end simply perfect.
After breakfast the next day, we took a detour to the city of Split, said goodbye to the summer temperatures and flew back to the far north.
