This all-new itinerary leaves from everyone’s favorite European embark port: Dubrovnik. Chronicled by Marco Polo, the walled capital of ancient Ragusa was, for a thousand years, “The Pearl of the Adriatic.”

Lost at the edge of the Austrian Empire, and then hidden behind the Iron Curtain, Dubrovnik emerged from the collapse of Yugoslavia to become a traveller’s vibrant gateway to the Middle Ages—and a videographer’s focal point for the filming of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Even if you’ve visited before, now that Dubrovnik hosts nonstop flights from the United States, it deserves another visit.

Dubrovnik is more than a cruise embarkation point—it’s your launchpad into paradise. Begin your journey where ancient meets elemental, and let our cruise pull you into the extraordinary.

We’ll host a 2+ night PreTour exploring this magnificent city—As many of Santana Adventures’ participants have learned, there’s plenty of benefits to arriving a few days early.

Day 2 — Our first day of cycling begins as we leave our yacht in Ortona. As the ship unties to race down Italy’s Adriatic Coast to the port of Termoli, you’ll roll past Ortona’s Castello Aragonese, its ancient walls catching the morning light like a lantern on the sea.

The road ahead unfurls like a secret, leading you gently south on the Trabocchi Coast, where cliffside bike paths gaze over the waves. You glide past rustic trabocchi, wooden fishing huts that teeter romantically over the Adriatic, stopping at San Vito Chietino for a perfectly pulled Italian espresso.

By late morning, you ascend ever so softly to the Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere, its Romanesque stone wrapped in cypress and mystery. Perched atop a hill like a guardian monk, the hush within its cloisters a welcome pause.

Come lunchtime, you’re deep in the green-gold vines outside Vasto, where a family-run vineyard has prepared a feast: roasted peppers, cured meats, a velvety Montepulciano, and a crusty bread dipped in golden oil.

And then, like a storybook closing, our ride ends when you descend into Termoli, where the Old Town rises like a crown from the sea. You explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Purificazione, its bell tower tolling softly as the sun begins to set. The sea glows amber as we reboard our yacht-size ship in the second port of the day. A perfect Italian day of mild coastal cycling.

Day 3 — Italy’s second most alluring province is Puglia, a region best explored by bicycle. You roll out from the port of Brindisi under a calm morning sky, chasing light and silence along olive-lined lanes. Within an hour, you stand before the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate, its Byzantine-meets-Romanesque veneer beckoning like a relic from a forgotten chapter.

The road opens toward the small city of Lecce, where limestone facades shimmer in the sun like polished honey. You enter via the grand Porta Napoli, the ceremonial archway that once welcomed kings and philosophers. Just beyond, the Roman Amphitheater lies sunken in the earth—a poetic echo of gladiators and civic pride. Your journey continues into the old city, where the dazzling intricacy of the Basilica di Santa Croce demands reverence, and the Piazza del Duomo invites a slow circuit of admiration.

For lunch, you head into the bustle of Mercato di Lecce, where you lunch al fresco on rustico leccese, a variety of cheeses, and a chilled caffè leccese that revives the spirit. The road east to San Cataldo is a cyclist’s dream: flat, with a soothing breeze that smells of the fresh ocean air.

Your return to Brindisi follows the wide Via del Mare as golden hour casts long shadows on the open road. After a day of excellent cycling, a cone of pistachio gelato is a well earned treat.

Day 4 — While the Christian Crusades were half the story, the other side of the coin was Muslim conquest, a centuries-wide wave which eventually reached Vienna. The sole holdout along the Adriatic’s east shore was Montenegro, a mountainous kingdom where the tallest natives in all of Europe successfully defended their Christian homeland. Montenegro’s thousand years of independence continued until 1918, when the citizens deposed their final king and merged with Yugoslavia. After 88 years of subjection, most of them behind the Iron Curtain, Montenegro reclaimed its sovereignty in 2006, and has resisted entreaties to join the EU.

This day of cycling and exploration starts at the modern promenade in the port of Bar, Montenegro’s cosmopolitan window to the sea, and stretches past beachfront resorts to reach the narrow alleyways of the older Castle-port of Ulcinj. One of the oldest architectural treasures on the Adriatic, this fortified castle with a sea-gate predates Athens’ Parthenon and is 500 years older than Rome’s Colosseum.

As with all days between Dubrovnik and Athens, a wide choice of cycling routes includes shorter and milder options. On our third full day of cycling, the longest and hilliest option enjoys expansive views after climbing through the defensive lines of a historic gorge.

Day 5 — While many of your cycling friends will have ridden through Italy, a much smaller number have enjoyed Croatia. Most Americans haven’t yet heard of Montenegro, and you’re certain to be the first of your friends to enjoy the amazing sights and cycling of Albania. A mysterious country that narrowly avoided Soviet dominion.

Sarandë is the jewel of the Albanian Riviera — caressed by the crystalline waters of the Ionian Sea, backed by lush green hills, and blessed with that intoxicating Mediterranean sunshine.

You begin your day as the morning sun warms the tiled rooftops of Sarandë. A gentle sea breeze whispers through your wheels for the ride toward Lekursi Castle, where the panorama unfolds — sea meeting sky, and a soft espresso fuels your next move. You coast downhill to Ksamil, where beaches sparkle like sapphires. Your small group of new friends pauses, some dipping toes in warm waters, others sipping fresh citrus juices from beachside cafes.

Then comes the crown jewel: Butrint Archaeological Park. You cross the stone threshold and step into ancient echoes. A venerable basilica, an amphitheater engulfed by the forest, regal gates, and moss-draped temples hum with untold stories — your tires resting as your mind travels.

After a short crossing on a cable-drawn ferry, the longer return routes meander inland over rolling hills to reach the peaceful Monastery of Saint Nicholas, where light pours in through Byzantine arches. You’ll glide home on silky roads, salt-kissed and sun-warmed, ready for an evening toast.

Day 6 — As the light crests above the Venetian rooftops on Greece’s fabled island of Corfu, your wheels begin to hum a low, contented tune. The morning light glimmers across the coast as you trace the quiet southern roads to Kanoni Peninsula, where the view of Pontikonisi, a pearl adrift on turquoise. Monastery bells ring faintly across the bay, echoing through the lemon-scented breeze.

Next, you’ll glide inland to Achilleion Palace, a marble-draped dream built for an Austrian empress obsessed with Homer’s Achilles. Wander the terraced gardens where myths come to life amongst the colonnades and statues, the air full of cypress and oleander.

Then it’s onward to Benitses, a fishing village made for long lunches gazing out at the Ionian Sea. Under olive trees, plates clatter with grilled sea bream, wild herbs, and tangy tzatziki. The ouzo? Sublime.

Afterward, the ride turns westward to Corfu’s Olive Oil Museum, where generations of know-how have been pressed into a form of liquid gold. You’ll savor the tastings, learn the secrets of stone milling, and maybe — just maybe — grab a bottle that one of our mechanics can transport back to the ship using one of our tour’s three accompanying SOS/treasure vans.
Corfu-19-scaled image

As the light spins to gold, the return ride offers one final gem: Mon Repos Estate, where neoclassical architecture nestles among pine trees and echoes of British royalty. The ride ends as it began — in Corfu Town, where the sun dips low and the sea becomes an amber mirror.

Day 7 — An overnight cruise on calm waters allows us to reach the island of Kefalonia, a getaway favored by cyclists. Your second day in Greece begins as the morning mist lifts gently from the mirror-still waters of Koutavos Lagoon, casting golden reflections beneath your wheels as you cross the elegant De Bosset Bridge. Flamingos stir in the reeds, and the rhythmic melody of your pedaling marks the start of an unforgettable loop.

As the road curves inland, a choice awaits: those craving a challenge ascend gently to the ruins of St. George’s Castle, where Venetian stones tell centuries-old stories against a backdrop of sweeping Ionian views. Those seeking an easier ride will glide onward, savoring the aroma of wild thyme and olive leaves on a gentler path.

Soon, all paths converge at the Agios Andreas Monastery Museum, a place of reverence and quiet discovery. Inside, painted icons, embroidered vestments, and whispered prayers share a glimpse into Kefalonia’s deep spiritual roots.

And then—ah the final triumph! Returning to Argostolion, your day concludes with a spoonful of bliss: Mondolato gelato. Creamy, nougaty, and brimming with tradition, it’s the taste of the island itself—sweet, sunlit, and unforgettable.

Day 8 — Our final day of cycling features the narrowest segment of Greece’s Peloponnesian Peninsula. Our routes begin with the early light shimmering over the gulf as your bespoke peloton rolls out from Corinth Port. You pedal westward, coasting through quiet streets until the columns of the Temple of Apollo rise like a mirage from the pase. The morning glow warms its weathered stones, and your thoughts drift back a millennia.

With hearts full and legs fresh, stronger riders will make the quick climb to Acrocorinth—the last challenge in this chapter of your odyssey. You don’t need to conquer the fortress to feel its majesty—standing at the base, you’re already part of the legend. The breeze carries stories, and your shadow stretches over the valleys below.

You descend with joy, following your wheels to Kechries Beach, where the ruins of an ancient port lie hidden beneath the sandy beach. You unclip for a refreshing walk along the shoreline, and maybe a crisp iced coffee under the shade of a tamarisk tree.

Refueled by serenity, you roll onward to Lechaion, where nature reclaims the old port in quiet elegance—you’ll have the chance to dip your feet in the Ionian and Aegean seas during a single day of cycling. Next we’ll stop at the Corinth Canal Viewpoint—a tantalizing glimpse into history and this evening’s adventure. The first attempt at this short canal that would remove 300 miles of sea travel was abandoned in the 7th Century BC. The third major attempt was successful, and the canal was finally opened to small ships in 1893. Closed in 2021 for a rebuild that took the better part of four years, the canal was reopened on March 4, 2025. The final highlight of today’s cycling is crossing the Corinth Canal by bike, where we’ll gaze down at the water 200 feet below.

After finishing our ride and reboarding our petite cruise ship in Corinth Port, we’ll untie and watch as a long string of ships emerge from the canal. As the afternoon wanes, we’ll re-pack our bikes on the sun-deck as we join a parade of small ships that will sail in our direction. Far too narrow for a “normal” cruise ship, the Corinth Canal opens like a portal, and as our yacht slides between its towering limestone walls, your adventure becomes legend.

Day 9 — Our 5-country odyssey comes to an end as we disembark in Piraeus, the ancient port of Athens. Athens’ ATH Airport hosts numerous midday flights back to the states.

Airport shuttle times will be included in our flight update a year prior to the cruise. A second set of included shuttles will head off into Athens for a few fun-filled days exploring the Greek Capital with our Athens PostTour.

^{Please Note: All itineraries are provisional.}

We’ve chartered La Belle de l’Adriatique for Santana’s 2026 Dubrovnik to Athens itinerary. A 110-meter (yacht-dimension) vessel outfitted with with advanced stabilization, ultra-green power plants, and Z-drive propulsion which enables it to pirouette within the small harbors that larger cruise ships can’t access.

Participants of Santana’s numerous charters of La Belle witnessed first-hand the distinctive capabilities of this specialized cruise ship, which made nearly half of the unique ports on our hand-tailored cycling itinerary possible.

Commissioned by CroisiEurope in 2007, this unique Belgian-flagged cruiser has just fewer than 100 soundproofed staterooms in five categories.

All have private bathrooms, spacious floor plans, king-width beds that can convert into separate full-width twins, individually-controlled A/C, and large view windows.

The floor plans of the A, B, C, & D Categories are identical, the only differences are the windows and which deck they are located on. A & B Staterooms have two large rectangular windows and are located on the top two decks. C & D Staterooms have two large portholes.

The cuisine is exceptional. Breakfast includes bountiful buffets created by our 5-star chef. Each evening your waiter will present a new five course menu—listing an array of choices for you to select from.

Is beer & wine included with dinner? Of course!

The Lounge has seating for all our guests and is a great place to relax, mingle with your fellow cyclists, catch up on emails, or read a nice book.

The bar, located on the Sun Deck, enjoys breathtaking 360-degree views.

Onboard Wi-Fi is included, as is expert wash-and-fold laundering of your valuable cycling wear.