One week, two ways to travel. It’s an easy mix of private sailing comfort and BMW motorbike roads across three countries from Split. I like the way this tour uses a yacht as your moving base, so you spend less time checking in and out, and more time swimming and eating well. You also get real off-the-beaten-path energy when the motorcycle part kicks in, including gravel and mountain riding. One thing to think about: this is active and scheduled, so if you want only slow sightseeing or you’d rather not ride a motorbike, it may feel like too much.

What makes it especially interesting is the balance. You get chef-prepared meals most days, then you switch gears to curvy coastal roads, islands, wine stops, oyster tastings, and mountain viewpoints. I also like that the team introduces you to the route and bike fleet right away—so you’re not guessing. You’ll likely feel well looked after by the captain and crew too, and even if you’re new to sailing, the vibe is built around learning as you go. The main drawback is the pace: you’ll be moving day after day, with long driving legs and early starts that match the sailing anchors and ferry crossings.

Key things I’d focus on before you book

• Yacht as your “hotel,” not just transportation: you sleep onboard for most nights, then you’re ready to swim and sail again the next day.
• BMW GS motorbikes plus real route variety: gravel segments, coastal roads, and hill riding, not just paved cruising.
• Chef-led meals on most days: dinner every day, plus breakfast and lunch on most days—built into the schedule, not tacked on.
• Three-country routing that doesn’t feel chaotic: Croatia to Montenegro, then into Bosnia for Mostar and the Neretva canyon area.
• Food stops are the theme, not an afterthought: wine and oysters show up again and again, including private tastings and tours.
• Sailing + bike combo creates a mental reset: road time to move the day forward, then deck time to slow down.

Split to Šibenik: pickup done right, then Krka waterfalls in the rhythm

Your day starts at 9:00 am with pickup from your Split accommodation area. After you meet the Desmo Adventure team, you’ll get a route briefing and meet the motorcycle fleet before you ever leave. That matters because your first day sets the tone: you want to feel confident both on the road and onboard.

From there, the tour heads toward Krka Waterfalls National Park and the old town of Šibenik. Krka is the kind of stop that’s simple to love: you get a walk in the park, famous waterfalls, and—if conditions allow—time to swim under the falls. Then the plan rolls onward to marina Mandalina (D-Marine) in Šibenik, where your yacht is waiting with your belongings.

Using the yacht as accommodation from Day 1 is a practical win. You skip daily check-in/check-out friction. Instead, you settle into a floating routine: swim when you want, eat when dinner happens, and let your “home base” move with the itinerary. That’s part of why this feels like a true luxury tour, not just a boat ride with a few excursions.

Hvar and Pakleni Islands: Blue Lagoon swims with beach-bar energy nearby

On Day 2, you sail from Šibenik to Hvar, about a five-hour journey with time for swimming. A highlight is a stop at Blue Lagoon on Mali Drvenik Island. This is your classic Adriatic reset: anchor, swim, and then keep going.

As you approach Hvar, you’re not just sightseeing—you’re living the sailing rhythm. The yacht crew and chef plan meals to match your preferences list, so the day doesn’t feel like a constant hunt for food. When you anchor in the Pakleni Islands cove, the setting does what good vacations should: it makes time slow down. You’ll be surrounded by famous beach bars and well-known hangout spots nearby, even though you’re tucked into a quieter anchorage.

In the late afternoon, you can swim, lounge, and then decide whether to add time for a walk in Hvar old town. That flexibility is a real value in a scheduled tour: you get structured days, but you still control how much “town time” you want.

One consideration: sailing days depend on conditions. If the weather isn’t right, the tour may change dates later. Since this is a private experience with a fixed itinerary style, you’ll want to be okay with that reality.

BMW GS on wine roads: Sveta Nedjelja, Ston oysters, and sailing into Korčula

Day 3 is where the tour’s two halves start to click together. You begin in old town Hvar, then your motorcycle ride includes off-road gravel leading to Sveta Nedjelja. The payoff here is a tour at Plenković winery, including its underwater wine cellar. It’s the kind of stop that’s memorable because it’s unusual, and it connects the riding day to a real local specialty.

Next comes the logistics that keep the day flowing: you reach Surčuraj, take a 45-minute ferry to the Croatian mainland, then continue by curvy coastal roads toward Ston and Orebić. You’ll then jump back onto the yacht with a short sail to Korčula. Dinner is served onboard, and after that you can explore Korčula old town, linked to Marco Polo’s birthplace.

The food theme stays strong with private oyster time in Mali Ston. You’ll get a private oyster tour and tasting, and even a boat ride connected to the oyster farm. This isn’t a quick “try one bite” moment. It’s built as a learning-and-tasting block, and it gives you context for why these places have such a reputation.

From a value standpoint, this day works because it layers experiences instead of repeating the same type of stop. You get gravel and mountain-adjacent roads, then a coastal hop by ferry, then a historic old town evening.

Mljet by bike or hike, then Chef Antonio Bjelko’s seven-course dinner

Day 4 starts easy in the best way: morning swim and breakfast, then a two-hour sail to Mljet. Mljet National Park is the outdoors part of the itinerary, with an option to explore by bicycle or on a small hike. You’ll see two salt lakes and take a kayak ride to an ancient monastery.

This is where the tour’s design really makes sense. After motorcycle days, you get water-based, low-key motion. After pure sailing days, you get a park visit that doesn’t feel like a crowded bus stop.

In the afternoon, you sail to Kobaš Bay on the Pelješac Peninsula and moor near Gastro Mare Restaurant. Here’s the big dinner moment: a seven-course menu prepared by chef Antonio Bjelko. The emphasis is fresh organic ingredients and seafood caught from the sea. If you’re the type who cares about meals more than photo stops, this day is a major reason to pick this tour.

You also get an evening reset onboard at the bay—swim, relax, and enjoy the yacht without the stress of a separate restaurant plan.

Dubrovnik with Srđ views: Ston walls, oyster learning, and nightlife on Stradun

Day 5 turns up the historic sights. Breakfast happens at Gastro Mare, then you head toward Dubrovnik. En route, you stop in Ston, including the famous wall (often described as the second-longest man-made wall after the Great Wall of China). It’s one of those places where you can feel the strategic planning behind the coastline.

You’ll also do another oyster-focused block: a private tour of an oyster farm with tasting. This is consistent with what the tour does best—pairing food with a real sense of how it’s made.

Wine shows up again too with a stop at Miloš Winery for a short wine tour and tasting. Then, before Dubrovnik, you climb Mount Srđ for views over Dubrovnik and surrounding islands.

Arriving in Dubrovnik around mid-afternoon means you can actually enjoy the old town. You’ll leave your motorcycles at ACI marina Dubrovnik, then board the yacht for a short sail right in front of the city walls. Dinner is served in that dramatic setting, and later you can walk Stradun and check out bars in the old town.

Day 6 is the Montenegro pivot, but it begins with another Dubrovnik viewpoint. Breakfast is onboard under the city walls, and you’ll ride up again toward Srđ before crossing into Montenegro.

From there, you’ll ride the Boka Kotorska Bay, stop in Tivat for coffee at Porto Montenegro, and walk Kotor old town. You’ll also ride the hills in the area. Then you visit Budva and the beaches. On the return, you stop in Cavtat, where the yacht waits for your evening. Cavtat is a quieter coastal base, popular with larger yachts, and it’s a good fit for winding down after a big sightseeing day.

Mostar and the Bosnia side: Neretva River bridge history and mountain road energy

Day 7 is your last night on the yacht. After breakfast onboard and a morning swim, the motorcycle portion pushes toward Mostar before noon. A useful detail here: your belongings and suitcases are returned to your starting destination as you continue the motorcycle trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You travel through several smaller stops on the way to Mostar: Trebinje, Stolac, Blagaj, and the Blidinje nature area. Then you arrive in Mostar to spend the night.

Mostar is all about contrast—built around the Neretva River and shaped by different communities on each side. You’ll walk the old town and see the Old Bridge, which was destroyed during the civil war in the 1990s. If you want your trip to include more than views and food, this stop adds a grounded sense of place and memory.

Blidinje Nature Park and Jablanica war museum: canyon roads back to Split

Day 8 starts early with a ride from Mostar to Blidinje Nature Park. You follow the Neretva River canyon, then climb up toward Čvrsnica Mountain. The route passes villages impacted by conflict in the 1990s, which adds a sober layer to the scenery.

You’ll also visit a museum of war in Jablanica and learn about war times in the Balkans. After that, you reach Blidinje for an authentic lunch at Hajdučke vrleti, with Bosnian specialties prepared to traditional recipe style.

Then you ride back toward Split, with about 2.5 hours to finish and wrap up. Your belongings are waiting at the Desmo Adventure office, where transport is arranged to the airport or a nearby hotel.

Price and what you truly get for around $10,909 per person

At $10,909.64 per person, this isn’t a budget trip. You’re paying for a private setup with a luxury yacht, a crew and onboard team, motorbike rental, and meals worked into the schedule.

Here’s the value math that matters:

• Private yacht experience: you’re not sharing the best parts with random schedules. The captain and crew run the sailing and keep the day flowing.
• Chef-driven meals: dinner every day, plus breakfast most days and lunch most days, with food prepared onboard or at partner restaurants depending on the day.
• Motorbike fleet included: the experience is built around riding, not just optional sightseeing. BMW GS 1250 models have been part of the bike fleet in past trips, and the whole day is structured around that ride rhythm.
• Multi-country access: Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia are handled without you coordinating borders and separate transport.
• Sightseeing that ties to local food: wine stops, oysters, and farm tastings aren’t tacked on as extra charges in your head.

What isn’t included is simple: personal spending money. If you prefer to spend freely on drinks, shopping, or extra attractions, you’ll want to budget that separately.

Also keep expectations realistic. This price buys you structure, comfort, and experience design. It doesn’t buy you a slow travel pace. If you want long afternoons with nothing scheduled, this will feel busy.

Who should book, and who should think twice

This tour fits you if you:

• love motorbikes and want more than short highway cruising
• want a sailing holiday where swimming and onboard meals are part of the plan
• like the idea of pairing wine, oysters, and scenic road stops
• enjoy the mix of old towns and viewpoints, from Hvar to Korčula to Dubrovnik to Mostar

Think twice if you:

• don’t want to ride a motorbike or prefer an all-guided walking tour style
• get worn out by back-to-back travel days and early starts
• want a mostly sedentary trip with minimal hiking or kayaking

One practical note: this itinerary includes swimming, kayaking, and park walking/hiking options, plus gravel riding segments. Pack for water time and road time, and set yourself up for comfortable long days.

Should you book this ride-and-sail tour?

If your dream trip includes both Adriatic sailing life and the freedom of motorbike roads, I’d say yes. The strongest reason is the balance: you get relaxing deck time and serious meal planning, then you switch to roads that actually change the scenery every day.

If you’re a first-time sailor or new to motorbike touring, the structure helps. You start with introductions and route briefing, and the team approach is built around keeping you comfortable and informed rather than throwing you into chaos.

My advice before you commit: be honest about your riding comfort, since the schedule is built around it. If that’s a match, this is one of the more satisfying ways to see the Adriatic—by sea when you want to unwind, and by land when you want to feel the place move under you.

FAQ

What time does the tour start in Split?

The experience starts at 9:00 am.

Is pickup from Split accommodations included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from your accommodation in Split.

Does the tour include meals?

Dinner is included every day, and lunch and breakfast are included on most days. The tour uses chef/hostess preparation and meals are planned according to your preferences list.

Do you ride a motorcycle as part of the tour?

Yes. You ride motorcycles for multiple days, including riding through Montenegro and continuing toward Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Where do you sail and stay onboard?

You sail along the Croatian coast and spend the yacht nights in multiple anchorages, with your yacht waiting in marinas such as Mandalina (D-Marine) in Šibenik and at other coastal stops later in the trip.

What happens if weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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