Bike & Cruise to the pearls of the Adriatic in Apulia and Croatia
A successful concept at terranova for years: on this tour, your room travels with you! We have combined the sailing cruise on the stylish 5-star three-masted full-rigged ship SEA CLOUD SPIRIT and cycling with terranova to create an enjoyable cycling cruise for you. It is wonderful to return to your cozy cabin on board the ship after a cycling and hiking excursion. In the evening, it's not far to the ship's own restaurant, where you can relax and enjoy a delicious dinner.
To kick off the trip, we will show you the port of the Crusaders in Malta. Your terranova tour guide will take you through the baroque jewels of Sicily and Apulia in Lecce and Catania as well as to the places of origin of Croatian culture in Dubrovnik, Korcula and Hvar.
Highlights
- Valletta (Unesco World Heritage Site)
- Cycle route on the slopes of Mount Etna
- Byzantine-Oriental culture
- Original trulli architecture (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Overnight stays on the luxurious windjammer Sea Cloud Spirit
- Cycle routes through gentle, fertile landscapes
- Lecce - baroque jewel: for many the most beautiful town in Italy
- Korcula, Hvar, Rovinj and Dubrovnik are gems from Venice's most magnificent era!
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TRINACRIA
Since the Greeks, the island has been called 'Trinacria': 'Trinacria', a girl's head with wings and snakes, surrounded by three bent legs. Nothing expresses Sicily better than this symbol - literally translated: “the three promontories”. At the time, the island was thought to be a floating mountain range, which is expressed by the legs. The Sicilians love this symbol of their island and decorate all kinds of everyday objects with it. Perhaps you too will take a 'trinacria' home with you, as a symbol of the Sicilian sun!
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The port of the crusaders - Valletta on Malta
The strategically important location has always attracted foreign conquerors. Over 7000 years ago, there was already a civilization that left behind gigantic temples, which today, like proud Valletta, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jean Parisot de la Valette, Grand Master of the Order of St. John, founded a modern fortress city on a rock between the two magnificent natural harbors, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, in 1566: facades of golden yellow limestone blocks form long alignments on dead-straight streets. Magnificent Renaissance and Baroque buildings, such as the Grand Master's Palace and the impressive St. John's Co-Cathedral, bear witness to wealth and power.
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Valletta and embarkation
Individual arrival in Valletta in the morning. After a welcome at the airport, a transfer will take you from the airport to the old town. City tour & stay in Valletta until embarkation at 16:00. At 7 pm it's time to cast off. Start of the cruise with the Sea Cloud Spirit.
Day 2: Mount Etna - the roof of Sicily & magnificent Catania | 30 km
Mount Etna and its slopes dominate the first day of cycling! It is the highest volcano in Europe and its vent is never completely silent! Sicilians have a divided relationship with “their” volcano. They fear and appreciate it because of its fertile lava slopes. They have always been the reason for the dense population in this area. Numerous eruptions, even in recent times, bear witness to the activity of the restless volcano. Our bus climbs higher and higher on a winding road. The view of the coast and Catania far below us is fantastic!
At an altitude of almost 1,900 m, we hike along younger craters for a while before getting on our bikes. You walk on volcanic ash and can also see the lava flows from the last eruptions. You won't need to pedal very much today: From up there, you can comfortably roll down a well-maintained road on your bike, again crossing several lava flows. High up, the landscape is barren and rugged, but then chestnuts, flowers and vines grow on the slopes. You will be amazed at how fertile the black volcanic soil is! After a break in an old pine forest (weather permitting), you can choose to cycle another 10 km through the settlements that begin at the foot of Mount Etna. After dinner on board, our city guide will show you her city: Catania's center is a baroque gem and the old town is even a World Heritage Site! It has been restored to its former glory in recent years. On the Piazza del Duomo stands the city's landmark, the famous Fontana dell'Elefante (Elephant Fountain). The hustle and bustle of Catania's squares is hard to describe. Here, Sicilian life pulsates like a cliché: there is gesticulating trading and clandestine coupling, loud observing and proud flaunting. As soon as you stop and look, you will experience this theater on the stage of everyday life.
Day 3: A day under sails
Mooring, releasing ropes, setting sail - today is all about sailing. Time to sit back and relax in a deckchair and watch the crew doing real manual work.
Day 4: Otranto & Lecce | 28 km
Otranto is a finely spruced-up town with a beautiful waterfront promenade and a fortified old town on a peninsula. The cycle stage to Lecce starts right at the harbor and first runs through the lovely Salento hinterland. The route first leads through a nature reserve along the Alimini Piccolo & Alimini Grande lakes, which are rich in fish. At Torre dell'Orso (named after one of the old coastal watchtowers erected against Turkish pirates), we turn off with you onto the Adriatic coast. Our cycle route ends just a few kilometers before the gates of Lecce and we take you on a short transfer into the city. Lecce is a bustling metropolis with one of Italy's most beautiful “Centro Storico” in its center: a festive baroque ensemble in honey-colored tuff. “The Florence of the Baroque”, as Italians often call Lecce, is still a prosperous city and conveys that typical southern flair that we northern Europeans - not without envy - love to experience in Italy. In the afternoon, you will be guided through this architectural jewel by our city guide and you will have some time to stroll through the historic but very lively center on your own. A transfer will take you back to the Sea Cloud Spirit in Otranto in the early evening.
Day 5: Trulli in the “Valle d'Itria” | 47 km
A bus transfer (28 km) takes you to the lovely Itria Valley in the morning. Idyllic and lonely, our cycle path initially runs up and down along small walls of piled up field stones to Alberobello. Alberobello is the center of trulli architecture and its districts, which consist almost entirely of trulli, are a World Heritage Site. The town is often bustling with tourists, but don't let this spoil this unique place! After a tour, the cycle route continues towards Locorotondo. Scattered trulli, olive and almond trees and more and more vines accompany you on the way to our destination for the day, the Hotel Relais Il Palmento, which is located in a secluded village and is built like a complete trulli village! In the afternoon, you will arrive back in Monopoli, a picturesque town on Italy's Adriatic coast that enchants visitors with its historic charm and Mediterranean flair. The old town is home to ancient buildings, narrow alleyways and a picturesque harbor district. The city is not only known for its rich history, but also for its culinary delights.
Day 6: Sea day & evening in Dubrovnik
When Venice still ruled the Adriatic, Dubrovnik was an important maritime republic and the lagoon city's main rival. Dubrovnik proudly calls itself the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and has one of the best-preserved fortifications in Europe. You can walk around the old town on its imposing walls, overlooking two seas at once: the deep blue Adriatic and a sea of red roof shingles. The entire old town with its beautiful squares, magnificent promenades and narrow winding streets is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the fortress city on foot on an exclusive guided tour.
Day 7: Sea day through the Dalmatian islands to Korcula & evening in Korcula
The eponymous capital of the island of Korcula is protected by a city wall and is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean. Some of the buildings are reminiscent of the time when the naval power of Venice ruled here: Tintoretto immortalized himself in the cathedral and Marco Polo's birthplace is said to be located in a narrow alley. In the evening, you will have enough time to wander through the fantastic old town with its herringbone-like alleyways.
Day 8: Korcula - the beauty | 45 km
The Adriatic island of Korcula is considered one of the greenest in the region. Vineyards and olive groves stretch over rolling hills. Today you will discover the eastern half of the island, which is one of the most beautiful in Dalmatia, by e-bike. On the way, enjoy the view of Pupnat Bay, whose deep blue water is one of the favorite photo motifs.
Day 9: Lavender island of Hvar | 57 km
Early in the morning, the Sea Cloud Spirit reaches the port of Hvar on the island of the same name. The sophisticated town of Hvar stretches out its pretty old town to visitors as if on a platter: From the impressive Renaissance square, you can enjoy the view of the 16th century fortress Fortica Spanjola towering high above the town. The island of Hvar has been an important strategic and nautical location since ancient times. Today's cycle tour takes you from Hvar over the ridge of the island, past fragrant lavender fields to the picturesque towns of Vrboska and Jelsa. After a lunch break, you cycle relaxed through the famous Stari Grad field, which was parceled out by the ancient Greeks and is now under UNESCO protection, to the harbour town of Stari Grad, where you can enjoy an ice cream or coffee at the harbour before returning to Hvar and the Spirit on your e-bike in the late afternoon.
Day 10: Tito's Islands & Rovinj | 30 km
Just a few steps from our ship, a cycling and hiking trail begins along the coast, surrounded by fragrant myrtle, broom and magnolia bushes and shaded by Aleppo pines and deciduous trees, leading to Fazana, a small harbor town. Fazana is the ferry port for excursions to the offshore Brijuni Islands, which are now a national park. These islands were once the exclusive summer retreat of Tito and his guests. Crowned heads, heads of state and celebrities were invited here and spent a few days in seclusion at Villa Tito. Until the death of the Yugoslav head of state in 1980, the public had no access to the 14 islands. Today, you can cycle* through the park-like landscape and visit the villas and Roman ruins. The zoo with its exotic animals, all of which are gifts from foreign state visitors, is curious. You'll feel like you're in Africa as you drive past zebras and antelopes and enjoy sweeping views of the azure sea glistening in the sunlight. Back in Rovinj in the evening, our tour guides will take you for a stroll through the charming, winding old town of Rovinj.
Rovinj lies on the west coast of Istria. Built on a hill, the old town belonged to the Doge's Republic of Venice for over 500 years. The church of Sveta Eufemija towers majestically above the terracotta roofs. Its church tower has become the city's landmark. A stroll through the winding alleyways leads directly into the Mediterranean lifestyle and to the culinary delights of the region: Istrian wines are a gift of abundant sunshine, the precious white truffle hides in the oak forests and Istrian olive oils are among the finest in the world.
Day 11: Departure from Venice or extension in the lagoon city
The ship reaches Venice at 8 o'clock in the morning. This is where the cruise ends and you say goodbye to life on board the Windjammer. Transfer to the airport after breakfast or individual extension of the trip in Venice.
ROUTE ASSESSMENT: The total distance of the seven days of cycling and excursions is 237 km. You cycle and hike largely on level ground, on cycle and gravel paths, forest trails and side roads with little traffic.
*The planned route is always subject to change due to nautical, meteorological or organizational reasons. The captain may decide that the route must be changed for your safety in the event of a strong storm, for example. This is not a valid reason for canceling the trip free of charge.
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ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
We recommend that you travel by plane to Naples and back from Valetta. You can book the flight together with your travel registration with terranova.
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MEETING POINT
Your tour guide will be waiting for you at noon in the arrivals area of Naples airport for the joint transfer to the archaeological museum. Embarkation on the Sea Cloud SPIRIT in the port of Naples begins after the museum tour at around 17:00.
The name of the dock and the details of your terranova tour guide will be sent to you with the travel documents at least 2 weeks before the trip.
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PRE-NIGHT OR EXTENDED STAY
An extended stay in Valetta is highly recommended. The city offers a wealth of opportunities to fill several days with interesting programs. We are happy to book hotels for you in Valetta.
We can make extension reservations in our contract hotels (properties related to our trips) free of charge for you. For all other reservations, we charge EUR 10 for the first and EUR 5 for each additional booking (max EUR 25) to cover our communication costs (fax, telephone, postage, etc.). We appreciate your understanding!
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ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
During the day and cycling excursions, dress comfortably and casually. Rainwear is a "must" and should be included in your luggage as the temperature can change significantly within a day. The so-called "layering principle" of wearing layered sweaters and thin jackets has proven to be effective. If you wish to use a helmet, you can bring your own or reserve one of our helmets in sizes S/M/L (reservation required).
For evenings on board, you determine the style of your clothing, whether casual or summer-fine. Only during the traditional Captain's Dinner (twice per trip) is a bit more elegance a popular ritual.
Tour guide + ship's personnel: The onboard language is German, and the ship's personnel exclusively speak German as well. In addition to the ship's personnel, the familiar terranova tour guide will also be present, exclusively taking care of our guests. The reception on board is open continuously.
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*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, at times without prior notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary.
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In deviation from our general terms and conditions, the following payment and cancellation conditions apply to this trip:
Processing fee € 300 per person up to the 180th day before departure
20 % of the tour price 179th - 150th day before the start of the tour
35 % of the tour price 149th - 50th day before the start of the tour
50 % of the tour price 49th - 22nd day before the start of the tour
70 % of the tour price 21. - 15. day before the start of the tour
85 % of the tour price 14th - 1st day before the start of the tour
95 % of the tour price on the day of travel or in case of no-show
*When you receive our travel confirmation and the security certificate, a deposit per person of 25% of the tour price is due.
The minimum number of participants of the Sea Cloud Spirit bike cruise is 8 persons.
