Mountain Biking In Croatia

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 10 reviews.

Giles Bradford

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written July 2012
Not enough off road, some long end of day road sections, but all in all a lovely way to see western Croatia, and some spectacular riding with a great guide, support and group.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Sunset over the Adriatic from the mountain lodge at the end of day 2... all that climbing was indeed worth it... and surely the next day would all be downhill!
What did you think of your group leader?
Vlado is an olympic athlete through and through. Despite driving us hard for the first four days, hindsight made us realise that this was all for the right reasons. Very attentive, and hard to fault, but don't expect too much praise!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This is graded challenging due to the MASSIVE distances involved. The off road is all on double track (barring about half a mile!) and not technically tricky. But the distances and huge climbs (day 2 is about 2500m up!), especially in the mid-summer heat are tough. Fitness is definitely more of a pre-requisite than mountain biking prowess. The trip notes suggest that the route is 25% road, 75% off-road. Reverse this and you're probably about right. The off road is good when it's off road though.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Great trip. Great crowd. 4 very tough first days for the two of us who are used to a couple of hours of intense mountain biking in the UK as opposed to mountain bike touring which is really what this trip is all about. Two gripes then - first is explained above with regard to the lack of off road and rather a lot of on road distance (although we were always grateful for up on tarmac!). The other was that for two of the nights, the hotels were really uninspiring. Comfortable yes. But really, after a long day's ride ON HOLIDAY, the hotels need to be somewhere inspiring - whether that's in a cultural centre, panoramic location or so on. Day 2's mountain hut was absolutely spot on, as was Novum Castrum in Novigrad which is in a spectacular location on the coast for nights 4,5, and 6. Plitvice well worth a visit, and both the lake ride and trip through Pag unexpectedly lovely rides...
Stuart Norris

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written July 2012
I would thoroughly recommend this holiday as a fantastic way to visit a beautiful country in a very different way. To get the most benefit from it you definitely need to be fit and to expect some long days in the saddle but the rewards make it very worthwhile.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The long climb through the Velebit National Park up to the mountain hut at the top of the Zavizan Mountain was a real challenge, but the camaraderie of the group and support of our tour leader kept everyone going to the summit where the breathtaking views over the mountains and coastline together with a hearty meal and a cold beer as the sun set made it worth the effort.
What did you think of your group leader?
Vlado was a brilliant tour leader, keeping a close eye on the welfare of everyone in the group whilst maintaining control with a dry sense of humour. Seemingly carved from Croatian rock and super-fit (as you might expect from a fifteen-times national sprint-cycling champion), Vlado and our van driver Pjer made a great double act and nothing was ever too much for them in their desire to ensure that we got the most out of our holiday and the Croatian countryside. Their knowledge of the country’s history, economy and culture brought a lot to the enjoyment of our time in Croatia.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be cycling-fit, happy to enjoy the inevitable challenging ascents that are followed by long, exhilarating descents on both off-road trails and quiet tarmac roads and you will absolutely love this holiday. We went in July and temperatures were in the thirties, not the twenties indicated in the trip notes, so be prepared for temperatures to be higher than expected. Camelbacks proved to be unnecessary as the van carried a constant supply of water and this saved us carrying a lot of extra weight whilst cycling in the heat of the sun. Mountain bikers and road cyclists should enjoy this holiday in equal measure and the bikes have front suspension, hydraulic brakes and are very well maintained.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Croatia is a beautiful country and the locals are very welcoming. We cycled through fields of colourful wild flowers and clouds of butterflies, up winding mountains tracks and through sun-dappled woodland, and sped down long gravel trails and deserted tarmac mountain roads. We saw unbelievably crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, sparkling rivers and sensational sunsets, and cooled off in the Adriatic. Our tour group gelled from the start and there was always laughter and chat from morning to night. We were very sorry when the time came to leave. What a great holiday and what a fantastic way to enjoy this lovely country!
Wendy Duxbury

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written June 2012
This was an excellent epic mountain biking holiday riding through beautiful national parks on tracks and mainly very quiet roads in unspoilt Croatia. The guides were great - they couldn't do enough for us and gave sensible advice. The accommodation was suitable and the hotel at the end where we stayed for 3 nights was just perfect - a gorgeous location, friendly and family run, right on the coast.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The most inspirational moment was on the second day - we had to do a long steady climb after putting in considerable mileage earlier that day and the day before - the long steady climb seemed to take for ever, but it was probably only a couple of hours - with the mountain refuge as a goal, drinks having been lined up outside and superb views towards the nearby coast, islands of the Adriatic and the Italian coast way in the distance.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader Vlado was great. He had competed in the Montreal Olympics and didn't seem to have turned his training down much since then....! He and the driver of the van really did everything they could to ensure the trip was a success, we all enjoyed it and we all had fun (which we did) and that everyone was okay in all respects. The hire bikes were much better quality than I'd expected but if anything needed adjusting Vlado was there to do it straightaway.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
My advice is definitely to go on this trip, having done some training...! I had done no mountain biking to speak of before and was fine although there were some fairly hair raising long descents which were exhilarating - but not for the timid. That said, I have done a fair amount of road biking - say 3 times a week over the past 6 months and felt I just got by in terms of the amount of preparation I'd done. Anyone who is an experienced mountain biker and reasonably fit would be fine.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Croatia is a beautiful country. When I went (early June 2012) it was very lush and not burned up by the sun at all; there were lots of wild flowers; the rivers were crysal clear and the lakes were a lovely blue/green colour. There were waterfalls, karst limestone mountain ranges, coastal islands and the sea was as clean and clear as you can possibly imagine, and there were not many tourists at all. Mountain biking is a great way to see the country.
Roger Carradus

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written June 2012
For a fantastic all-round summer holiday with a difference choose Croatia, but to really appreciate the place you need to be a cyclist or mountain biker. I strongly recommend this holiday to both cyclists and mountain bikers because the venue has so much to offer that is so different to other places. The guides were very professional and helpful and the accommodation comfortable.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I am a seasoned mountain biker, so my best moments were the long gravel downhills. However, you need to make up your mind if you are going to enjoy the scenery or the downhill experience. You cannot do both! Of course there were also some challenging and rewarding climbs. I loved the Plitvice Lakes and the end of day chill out at the hotels watching the sunset against the sea and some odd cloud formations. Day and late night swimming in the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ex- Olympic track sprinter Vlado? He is the man! He is still in peak physical condition. And he takes his job of looking after you and ensuring you enjoy your holiday very seriously. He is not a bad downhiller either! Van sleeper (I mean driver and keen cyclist) Pjer provided evening entertainment and support for all mechanical problems. Puncture? 10 second wheel swap. Job done.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The countryside and coast is beautiful and worth the visit for this reason alone.
Reasonably fit cyclists will be ok on this holiday, but there are some gravelly stretches that take the uninitiated by surprise. If you can ride your gravel driveway you will be ok, but I recommend a little off road practice before you go.
Sun cream. Keep plenty with you. Even in June you can get sun burned. I only found this a problem on the exposed road stretches. I covered myself in sun cream, but missed a bit.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This venue is great for both mountain bikers and cyclists and gives a really good rounded feel to a summer holiday.
For the road-cyclists out there I can add that the roads were brilliant and mostly traffic free. I felt far safer on the long main roads there than I could ever feel in the UK. I also enjoyed the quiet windy country roads through isolated villages connecting up the off-road trails.
Tony Robinson Robinson

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written June 2012
Croatia is stunning and to fully appreciate the scenery, you'll need to love to be on two wheels. This is a hard trip for something listed as 'Moderate to Challenging'
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery and the decents are out of this world. A truly amazing place.
What did you think of your group leader?
This trip is run by a cycling legend who loves his country. Great sense of humour when they get to know you, this trip duo are a tough act to beat.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
With serious mountain ascents and long distances, mainly off road - this isn't a moderate by any stretch of the imagination.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It may be well worth updating the trip details as these were not up to date. This is a challenging trip - no moderate about it.
Simon Baxter

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written October 2011
A great trip seeing Croatia at close quarters and getting to parts not normally seen as a tourist.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Arriving at a mountain pass, a view of the mountains just traversed behind us and a view over the many islands and the Croatian coastline nestled into the blue Adriatic sea in front of us.
What did you think of your group leader?
A knowledgeable guy with a great sense of humour but also very consious of his responsibilities of a leader to his charges.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just enjoy!
Hilary Fox

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CROATIA

Written July 2011
A memorable holiday; long, hard and rewarding days cycling in breathtaking mountains and forests with the last two days being contrasting rides out from a luxurious family run hotel right on the beach.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many inspirational moments.The mountain hut was stunning; whilst not the most comfortable accommodation we stayed in, the views were endless and watching the sun go down over the mountains, sea and islands, was memorable.
The cycling itself was the highlight.The route is well planned, varied and interesting, starting in the mountains and forest, and ending on the coast; with some lengthy hard climbs, rewarded by exhilarating long downhill trails . The first day seemed quite challenging at the time, although with the benefit of hindsight, it was the easy day that we were promised. The scenery is spectacular, wonderful forests full of wildlife, flowers and butterflies. Plitvice lakes are stunningly beautiful, and the natural music from the sea organ at Zadar is haunting and memorable.
Our group chose an optional ride on the last day; a short bus transfer followed by a ride with a steep climb to the most spectacular view of the holiday, over sea , lake and islands.
What did you think of your group leader?
Vladimir was a good leader and amazing cyclist who supported the weaker cyclists whilst allowing the faster ones to go at their own speed . We were very well looked after, no injuries and no mechanical problems being a tribute to the great care that was taken. Vladimir is very knowledgeable about the countryside, the history and the various places we visited . The ride was extremely well supported, with a support vehicle following , giving confidence to attempt daunting climbs safe in the knowledge that a bailout was available if required. Retiring exhausted to the after-party in the van with Pjer was fun.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Being used to off-road cycling and having a good level of fitness will greatly add to the enjoyment of this trip, but the support is excellent so the long distances and climbs need not be problematic.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a fabulous opportunity to see some of the less travelled Croatia on a bike.