Motorbikes and yachts in one trip.

This 8-day private luxury experience strings together Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia with a sail-first mindset, then adds real overland adventure on premium bikes. You get to wake up on the water, swim when the coves look tempting, and still spend time on land exploring old towns, parks, and famous viewpoints.

I especially like the captain-and-chef setup. The captain handles the sailing, while the chef and hostess plan meals around your preferences, so you’re not stuck hunting for dinner after a long day. Second, I like the bike side of the trip: you ride modern BMW GS machines with local guidance, so the land days feel like an actual touring route, not just a transfer.

One consideration: it’s a full, active itinerary. Between curvy coastal roads, gravel/off-road moments, and plenty of swimming and walking, you’ll want solid stamina, and the whole plan depends on good weather for the sailing.

Key things that make this tour work

• Captain + chef + hostess: sailing comfort paired with planned meals
• Yacht as your hotel: no daily check-in and check-out grind
• Three countries, one route: Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia in 8 days
• Top-tier motorcycle touring: premium BMW GS bikes and guided riding
• Food is built in: daily dinner, plus lunch/breakfast on most days
• Big-park and big-view days: Krka, Mljet, Montenegro bays, and Blidinje Nature Park

Entering a new way to see Croatia: yacht living plus BMW bike days

This tour is built around an idea that feels simple but changes everything: instead of treating boats as a day trip, you use the yacht as your base. That means your best option on a beautiful coast is the one nobody wants to do at midnight—staying where the views are, and going to bed without dragging bags through terminals.

What makes it more than just comfort is the rhythm. You’ll spend the day mixing sailing time (often with swims and anchor stops) with motorcycle touring on land. Some days lean more nautical, some lean more road-and-view. Either way, you’re not just repeating the same scenery over and over.

And yes, you cross borders. You’ll ride in Montenegro and then continue into Bosnia and Herzegovina, which gives the trip a real “I moved through places” feeling instead of only island-hopping. That also helps you see how the Adriatic changes from country to country.

Price and value: why this is expensive, and what you’re paying for

At $10,909.64 per person, this is not the kind of trip you book because it’s cheap. You book it because you want the kind of private experience that normally costs a lot: a yacht setup with a captain and chef, plus a dedicated motorcycle operation with guiding.

Here’s the value side, based on what the plan includes:

• Private format (your group only), with pickup from your Split accommodation
• Yacht accommodation for most of the trip instead of hotel rooms
• Daily dinner and lunch and breakfast on most days, prepared onboard or at planned stops
• Guided motorcycle touring plus ferry connections and routing that would be hard to replicate solo
• Several ticketed experiences are included (for example Krka and Blue Lagoon, plus winery and viewpoints called out in the plan)

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to do everything yourself, this cost can feel hard to justify. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to spend your time riding, swimming, and eating well—without logistics stress—then the price starts to look more like a premium service bill than a “pay-to-have-fun” tax.

Day 1 from Desmo to Krka: waterfalls, Šibenik, and your yacht base

The day starts in Split at 9:00 am, with a team meet-up where you connect with the Desmo crew, see the motorbikes, and get settled into your yacht accommodation. Depending on your flight times, transportation is organized from Split airport (SPU) or another convenient location.

The first full sightseeing day is a strong sampler:

• A walk in Krka Waterfalls National Park, with an admission ticket included. If conditions allow, you’ll also swim under the waterfalls.
• Then time in old Šibenik, ending with your yacht waiting for you in Marina Mandalina (D-Marine).

Why I like Day 1: it sets the tone without starting too complicated. You get nature, then a real old-town feeling, then you sleep on the water like it’s normal. Also, having all your belongings already on the yacht helps your mental load disappear fast.

Day 2: sailing to Hvar with Blue Lagoon swims and Pakleni Islands cove time

After breakfast onboard, you leave Šibenik for Hvar. The journey is about five hours and includes sailing plus a swim stop at the Blue Lagoon / Krknjasi Bay on the way. Admission is included, and the timing is designed so you can actually enjoy the water instead of treating it like a quick photo break.

Later you anchor around the Pakleni Islands area for an eight-hour cove stay. This is where the trip turns into a classic Adriatic day: swim, relax on board, and then decide if you want to drift into nearby beach bars like Laganini Beach and cocktail bar, Hula-Hula, or Carpe Diem beach bar.

Optional old-town Hvar is offered at night. If you prefer low-key evenings, you can stay onboard and enjoy the slower side of the coast.

A practical consideration for this day: you’re doing a long water transfer plus two swim zones. Pack for quick on-and-off water time, and bring a plan for sun protection that you actually use.

Day 3: BMW GS off-road moments, Plenković underwater wine, and Korčula at dinner

Day 3 is your first big motorcycle day. You start in the old town of Hvar with the bike waiting for you. The route includes a gravel segment toward Sveta Nedjelja, plus off-road-style riding that’s part of the fun—if your riding comfort matches that style.

In Sveta Nedjelja, you visit Plenković winery, including its underwater wine cellar. That alone is a very “this only happens here” stop, and it’s the kind of brief detour that feels memorable because it’s unusual.

You continue to Surčuraj and take a ferry ride back to the mainland, then ride through curvy coastal roads toward Ston and Orebić, where the yacht and crew are waiting again. Then there’s a short sail to the old town of Korčula, with dinner served onboard.

Also built into this day is a private-style tasting and oyster experience tied to Mali Ston and the Ston area. You’ll have an oyster tour and tasting that’s meant to connect wine-country cruising with sea-food culture.

If you’re worried about mixing first-time sailing vibes with first-time motorcycle vibes: one tip from previous guests is to do the motorcycle portion first and then settle into sailing. It’s an easy way to avoid feeling like you’re learning everything at once.

Day 4 Mljet’s salt lakes and monastery kayaking, then a seven-course chef dinner at Kobaš Bay

This is one of those days that feels like it was designed for people who want both scenery and activity.

After a morning swim and breakfast onboard, you sail to Mljet for a two-hour visit to the national park. You can explore by bicycle or by a short hike. Inside the park you’ll see two salt lakes, and you’ll do a kayak ride to the ancient monastery.

Then you shift from park calm to coastal pleasure. The afternoon sail takes you to Kobaš Bay on the Pelješac Peninsula. You moor near Gastro mare, where you enjoy a planned seven-course menu prepared by chef Antonio Bjelko. The plan notes organic ingredients and seafood caught from the sea.

Why this day is such good value: the activities are “paid once, enjoyed a lot.” You’re not just seeing a park from a distance, and you’re not just having a dinner that happens to be nearby. The food is integrated into the stop, and the national park time is built as an experience rather than a checkbox.

Day 5 Dubrovnik day: Ston walls, oysters, Miloš winery, and Mount Srđ views

Day 5 starts with breakfast at Gastro mare and then a route toward Dubrovnik. Before you reach the famous city, you stop in Ston to see the town and Ston’s walls, described as the second-longest man-made wall after the Great Wall of China.

Then you head into food territory again with a private oyster farm tour and tasting of Ston oysters. The plan also includes a wine stop in Pelješac at Miloš winery (30 minutes, admission ticket included).

Back on the motorcycle, you ride to Dubrovnik and then park the bikes at ACI Marina Dubrovnik. From there, you board the yacht for a short sail with views right in front of the city walls. Dinner is served in front of the walls, and later you can walk Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street.

You also have a viewpoint add-on: Mount Srđ is included with admission ticket and about an hour there. It’s the kind of stop that helps you orient yourself once you’re actually inside Dubrovnik.

The drawback to plan for: Dubrovnik is famous for a reason, which means you’ll want to move with purpose. You’ll be fitting in walking time on top of riding and sailing, so pick comfortable shoes and don’t schedule anything extra that day.

Day 6 into Montenegro: Boka Kotorska Bay, Tivat coffee at Porto Montenegro, Kotor streets, and Budva

After breakfast onboard under Dubrovnik’s walls, you start the journey toward Montenegro. You climb Srđ hill again for views, then cross the Croatian border after about an hour.

Once you’re in Montenegro, you ride around Boka Kotorska Bay and visit Tivat and Kotor. In Tivat you stop for coffee at Porto Montenegro, the well-known marina setting. In Kotor you walk the old town streets and enjoy the bay setting, then you keep riding the hills around Boka Kotorska.

Budva is part of the plan too, described as a famous beach town. Even if you only get limited time there, the shift from Dubrovnik region to Montenegro’s coast feels like a real change of pace.

You end the day back with the yacht: you stop in Cavtat, where the yacht is waiting for the night. Dinner and an evening swim follow. Cavtat is described as a small picturesque town and an anchorage for mega-yachts, which matches the vibe of stepping into a quieter version of “big-boat travel.”

Day 7 Mostar overnight: morning swim, Bosnia roads, Trebinje and Blagaj stops, and the bridge story

Day 7 is when the sailing part slows and the land part takes over. You’ll have breakfast on the yacht and a morning swim. Before noon you ride toward Mostar, and your belongings and suitcases are returned to the starting destination (Desmo office) as the motorcycle ride continues through Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the way you visit smaller towns like Trebinje, Stolac, Blagaj, and the Blidinje park of nature. That’s a lot of names, but the important point is the route is intentionally routed through places that feel more local than the big coastal magnets.

Mostar is the overnight finish. You learn about its history and war times in the 1990s. You’ll also walk old Mostar and see the Old Bridge that was destroyed during the civil war in the 90s.

This day can hit you emotionally, and that’s not a bad thing. It adds depth beyond sun-and-sea, and it gives you context for why architecture and river neighborhoods look the way they do. If you prefer purely light itineraries, you’ll want to mentally prepare for that tone shift.

Day 8 back to Split through Neretva canyon to Blidinje Nature Park

The final day begins early from Mostar toward Blidinje Nature Park. You ride alongside the Neretva River canyon, then head uphill toward Čvrsnica Mountain and the Blidinje area.

The drive passes small villages affected by the civil war in the 1990s. You also visit the museum of war in Jablanica, described as a stop to learn about war times in the Balkans.

Once you reach Blidinje Nature Park, you visit Hajdučke vrleti for an authentic lunch prepared by traditional recipe style. Then it’s roughly 2.5 hours back to Split to end the journey, with your belongings waiting at the Desmo office. From there, transport to the airport or nearby hotel is organized.

If you want a clean wrap-up day: this is it. You get scenery, context, and food without ending the tour on another full city-walk sprint.

Practical tips I’d use before you go

This style of trip is all about smooth logistics and smart packing. I’d treat it like a “two-gear” trip: one kit for riding days, one kit for yacht days.

Pack for quick changes. You’ll swim a lot, and you’ll move between bike gear and lounge time. Plan for a dry layer that isn’t a hassle.

Bring sun and water protection you’ll actually use. You’ll be outside for most of the itinerary, including viewpoint stops like Mount Srđ and long cove days around Hvar.

Be ready for mixed terrain. The bike route includes gravel and off-road adventure in at least one segment. You don’t need to be an extreme rider, but you do need to be comfortable with the idea of uneven roads.

Food is planned, but you should tell them what you want. The plan says meals and drinks are prepared according to a preference list you provide. If you have dietary needs, communicate clearly so the chef can do their job.

If you’re new to sailing, don’t panic. People have praised skippers for patience and teaching when conditions or nerves show up. Still, it’s wise to pack motion-sickness help just in case.

Who should book this luxury ride-and-sail tour?

This fits best if you check most of these boxes:

• You want private, high-comfort travel with a captain and chef handling the yacht side
• You want real motorcycle touring with guidance, not just a rental with a map
• You like variety: waterfalls, national parks, old towns, bay cruising, and border-crossing context
• You value planned meals and social group rhythm on the yacht (dinners onboard are a big part of the experience)

It may not be ideal if:

• You don’t enjoy active days (riding plus walking plus kayaking adds up)
• You hate weather-dependent plans (this needs good weather for sailing)
• You’re looking for a low-cost trip with lots of free time

Should you book this 8-day private yacht + motorcycle tour?

If you want a single trip that combines luxury on the water with land adventure you can actually feel in your legs, I think this is a great fit. The yacht-as-home-base approach reduces the daily friction that ruins many “active” trips. And the route gives you both famous highlights—like Dubrovnik and its views—and distinctive stops like Mljet’s salt lakes and the underwater wine cellar at Plenković.

If the price makes you pause, don’t ignore that. Make sure you truly want private guiding, planned meals, and the motorcycle+ sailing mix. If you do, you’ll be glad you picked something built for enjoyment, not just sightseeing.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

Is pickup from Split included?

Pickup is offered, including a hassle-free pickup from your Split accommodation.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is private, and only your group participates.

What’s included for meals during the trip?

Dinner is included (noted as optional for 7) and lunch and breakfast are included on most days (noted as optional for 5 and 4). The plan also says you’ll have dinner every day and lunch and breakfast most days.

Are tickets or admissions included for specific stops?

Yes. The plan states admission ticket inclusion for Krka Waterfalls National Park, the Blue Lagoon stop near Drvenik, Miloš winery, and Mount Srđ. Other stops are listed as free where indicated.

What kind of motorcycles are provided?

The motorbikes are described as part of the motorcycle fleet you meet at the start, and guests have specifically mentioned riding new BMW GS 1250 models.

How much of the experience is sailing versus riding?

You alternate through the week. Some days are centered on sailing transfers and anchored swim time, and other days are centered on motorcycle rides with planned land stops. The yacht is used as your accommodation for the trip.

Does the route include more than Croatia?

Yes. The trip includes Montenegro and also includes travel through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Mostar and Blidinje Nature Park.

What happens if weather is poor?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

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