Bike & Boat: Istria

Istria, also referred to as the “green heart of Europe” by the locals, is Croatia’s most famous peninsula and travel destination and its popularity is not without good reason. Together with Islandhopping, you can experience the highlights of Istria from multiple perspectives on this week-long trip; from the maritime perspective on board and on land you explore the beautiful coastlines, the fruitful hinterlands and the fascinating harbor towns such as Pula, Poreč and Rovinj. There is so much to behold! Medieval hilltop villages, antique monuments, picturesque vineyards, and delicious cuisine. During the guided bike tours, you will learn all about the region from our knowledgeable and friendly guides. Back on board the boat local specialties are prepared in the on board kitchen and you can enjoy all the benefits of a mobile accommodation. The floating hotel eliminates the need to pack your bags each day as you travel from one highlight to the next and you have the possibility to enjoy a refreshing swim directly from the boat in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. Once the boat has tied off in the next harbor for the night, picturesque towns await to be seen. A holiday like no other!

TOUR PROFILE: The cycle tours require a basic level of fitness from participants, which they should have acquired from steady cycling. The day-tours (12 mi./20 km to 43 mi./70 km and 656 ft./200 m to 3280 ft./1000 m of elevation gain) will take us through hilly terrain and will be mainly on asphalt roads. Up to 30% of the tours offered will take place on forest paths and gravel roads. Pushing your bike is allowed. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.

Individual arrival to Omišalj, a charming pirate’s nest on the island of Krk. If you decide to arrive by car, we can gladly organize a secure parking space for your car for the week. If you are arriving from Zagreb, we can also arrange a transfer for you to the harbor of Omišalj. Check-in on board is possible from around 2pm. Once we have made ourselves comfortable in our cabins, we can enjoy the first cruise to Rabac. With the weather on our side, we can enjoy our first swim stop directly from the boat along the way. On arrival in the idyllic harbor of Rabac on the east-coast of the Istrian peninsula, the bikes can be adjusted correctly ready for the first tour the next day. The night is spent in Rabac.

After breakfast on board, we start our first bike tour with a longer climb to the medieval clifftop village of Labin. On arrival we can enjoy a coffee or a refhreshing lemonade whilst marveling at the view across the bay of Rabac. Back on our bikes, we enjoy a round tour through traditional local villages before returning back to the boat in Rabac. The boat awaits us with a delicious lunch as we leave port and start a longer cruise to the historical city of Pula. The unofficial capital of Istria is characterized by decades of Roman rule. There is plenty of time to explore the city on foot, taking time to appreciate the ancient monuments such as the grand Roman Amphitheater, the Augustus Temple and the Golden Gate. The night is spent in Pula.

Before breakfast the boat will depart Pula so that you arrive in Vrsar just after breakfast. Vrsar is the town where the famous seducer, Casanova took refuge from the furious husbands of his lovers. From Vrsar your bike tour will take you along the Limski Channel to Klostar in the hinterlands. After a strengthening afternoon break, and the possibility to try a delicious suckling pig for lunch, we continue by bike to Porec. We will have a chance to indulge in the multifaceted history of Porec in the company of our city tour guide in the afternoon on a walk through this enchanting town. The shopping streets are vibrant with life. A visit to the Euphrasian-Basilica with its intricate pre-Christian mosaics is highly recommended. The night is spent in Porec.

During breakfast, the boat will bring you to Novigrad, where your cycling tour today will begin. You cycle through vast vineyards and olive groves to the picturesque hill top village of Buje, overlooking the fertile pastures surrounding it. From here you follow the “Parenzana”, a decommissioned railway line, which will bring you to the artists town of Grožnjan. You will have time to visit the numerous galleries, situated in quaint stone houses. Back on our bikes we continue through the neighbouring villages and pastoral Istria to the city of Poreč where we board the boat for an enjoyable swim stop on our way to Vrsar for the night.

After a short crossing by boat to Rovinj we can enjoy a cycle tour along the coastal promenade from Rovinj to the outskirts of this wonderful seaside village. We have time to enjoy a lengthy swim in the Adriatic before returning back to the boat in Rovinj. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided city tour through this picture perfect town squeezed on a small peninsula surrounded by blue sea. It is not without reason why this idyllic city is a haven for artists from all over the world whose work can be admired in the numerous galleries in town. This night is also spent in Rovinj.

Today’s bike tour takes us along the coast mainly on natural paths and through forests to Fažana with its delightful harbour and splendid promenade lines with the colorful facades of the local houses. The ship awaits us here for a crossing to the island of Cres. Our destination is the island capital, carrying the same name, where we will spend the night. The town is characterized by its Venetian past with winding alleyways and many churches making it impossible to resist further exploration on foot. The evening can be spent comfortably in one of the sea-side bars, listening to the sound of the sea birds as dusk settles.

In the early morning the boat departs for the island of Krk where we wish set out on our last bike ride of the week, form Njivice via Malinska to Omišalj. The largest of the Croatian islands, and home to the delicious white wine, Zlahtina, the island of Krk leaves a memorable impression with its great diversity. Don’t miss the opportunity to cover yourself in the mineral rich mud in the bay of Soline – it will not only leave you looking ten years younger, but also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of Omišalj, our boat awaits us with a delicious last evening meal on board which can be spent in great cheer in the company of the fellow travelers, crew and guides.

After breakfast disembarkment until 09:00 and individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.

We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements. Should it be the case for example that the harbours on the above mentioned tour sequence are overcrowded, the tour will be operated in reverse.

• 8- day- trip on a motor yacht with crew
• 7 nights in a twin cabin with shower/toilet
  
• 2x full board and 5x half board
  
• Guided cycling tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
  
• Sightseeing tour in Pula and Rovinj
• Overview-maps for the daily tours (on board)
  
• Bed linen and towels
  
• German and English speaking tour guide
• tourist taxes

Not included:

• arrival to Pula
• Flat rate for bottled water and tourist taxes € 60,- per person for children up to age 16: € 30,-(to be paid to the captain)
• Beverages on board (tally sheet; to be paid to the captain)
• Meals and beverages ashore
• Entrance fee for sights are not included in the tour price
• Tips for crew and tour guides

• Rental bike (21- gear trekking bike) - € 80,-
• E-Bike - € 225,-
• insurance against theft and damage of the rental trekking bike (not insured: grossly negligent damages)  - € 10,-
• insurance against theft and damage of the E-Bike (not insured: grossly negligent damages) - € 20,-
• GPS-data for free
  

Comfort Ship LINDA (all cabins with shower/toilet)

At 31 x 6 m, the Linda is a sleek wooden motor yacht rebuilt in 2006. There are 14 cosy guest cabins each with a private shower and WC. The spacious and tastefully furnished salon with its wooden tables and upholstered benches provides a welcoming atmosphere. The large sundeck and the two shaded decks at the stern have sun mats and comfortable lounge chairs at the guests’ disposal; the perfect place to unwind during the cruise.

Catering:
The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering consists of 2 x full board and 5 x half board. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.

Arrival and departure

Airport Rijeka, Airport Zagreb

Collective transfer from centre of Zagreb or Airport Zagreb (on day of embarkation/disembarkation only):
price on request - minimum 2 persons, reservation required max. 2 weeks before arrival.
Departure time: collective Transfer from centre of Zagreb: 11:30 am, Airport Zagreb: 12:15 pm
Departure time collective transfer from Omisalj: 08:00 am

Arrival by train:
Railway Station Rijeka
Collective transfer from Rijeka to Omisalj / return:
price on request - minimum 2 persons, reservation required max. 2 weeks before arrival.

Parking:
Secure long-term parking:
Motorcycle: € 40,-/week
car up to 6 m long: € 70,-/week
vehicle over 6 m long: € 120,- /week
payable on site to the tour guide

14 persons per date (If the minimum number of participants is not reached you will be informed by us in time!)
maximum: 29 persons

Startdates: 10.05., 24.05., 07.06., 21.06., 30.08., 27.09.2024