Welcome to Hooked on Cycling holidays and our cycling holiday in Croatia. This biking vacation in Croatia is in the wonderful region of Istria in the north of the country. This cycle tour is a wonderful independent cycling tour. Cycling consists of a number of different pleasures, one of them is to experience the unique sense of closeness to nature and the local culture as you ride through it. From the biker’s perspective the surroundings of the stunning medieval and intact coastal towns of Poreč and Rovinj look like a series of idyllic landscape sketches. You will be passing by olive groves, vineyards, wind your way through parks, forests, undisturbed lush Mediterranean vegetation whose sight and perfume fill your senses. And the sea is never far: it is usually hard to say where the green turns into blue.
As the route takes you inland, that’s when the adventure starts – this area has preserved its charm and beauty with many remote villages immersed in rough nature and extensive forests. Something you won’t forget is when the imposing hill-top town of Motovun looms up. For many Croatians, this is the most beautiful medieval town in the country, with houses scattered all over the hill interspersed with vineyards producing great Istrian wines. After cycling some 45 kilometres, you won’t feel dizzy out of exhaustion but out of impressions.
The area you will explore, features not only outstanding natural beauty, but also traces of a glorious past. Medieval towns – all protected cultural monuments which stand on hill tops as if they were some kind of strange hill cap, and each one of them will fascinate you with its special charm. During your rides you won’t suffer either hunger or thirst, since each larger village accommodates at least one tavern, inn or restaurant, in all of them you can enjoy the home-made food and the fine local wine on offer.

Available daily 1st April to 27th October
Level 2 self guided tour

Day 1 Arrival in Istria.
During the course of the day you arrive in Porec

Day 2 Circular rides from Porec 28 miles 45 km
You set off from, the beautiful old city centre of Poreč that has many treasures, like the Roman Forum which was once a fortified Roman camp, several magnificent palaces from different historical periods, the “House of the two Saints” and the famous Euphrasian Basilica, that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Leaving behind you the bustling  port, you take a cycle path along the coast, through the fresh-smelling pine-tree woods and continue along the beaches of Plava Laguna and Zelena Laguna, a true paradise for tourists. Passing through true Istrian villages as Mugeba and Fuškulin, you reach St Lovreč. You can stop here for a while and walk in the small fortified town which has been inhabited since the 9th century and visit the Parish church of St Martin with nice fresco's.  
Enchanted by the romantic images of Lovreč you continue crossing a  delightful countryside with picturesque villages such as Žikovići, Vežnaveri and Kosinožić, that bring you back to Porec.

Day 3 Circular rides from Porec 23 miles 36 km
Through the fresh park-forests along the coast north-east of Porec you head to Tar – on a fertile plateau which stretches on the one side to the sea and on the other to the mouth of the river Mirna. According to the experts of the UN-FAO, the olive plantations of Larun at the foot of Tar, produce Europe’s best olive oil.
You start ascending and soon you'll catch sight on Kaštelir, a picturesque town inhabited since prehistoric times, later becoming a Roman fortification and a medieval citadel. Unfortunately there are no remains of the medieval walls in the centre of Kaštelir but you can visit the three-nave church of St Kosmas and St Damian from the 19th century which has an imposing belfry. Ride along its narrow streets and enjoy the view of nicely tended gardens, the nearby fields and vineyards.
You continue through a pleasant landscape with green vineyards and olive groves, where you can taste home made food, wine, brandy and honey. You cross the lovely town of Višnjan, famous for its astronomical observatory, ranked among the 5 most important in the world. Look for a guiding star and refresh yourself with a glass of excellent home made wine. Through typical Istrian countryside with rolling hills, forests, small scale agriculture and authentic villages you find your way back to Porec.

Day 4 Porec to Motovun 28 miles 45km
Leaving Porec through rolling hills in an easterly direction, you will pass by a small village called Bačva (a barrel). Thinking about the inspiring name of this charming village, refresh yourself with a glass of excellent wine. You can visit here the church of St Jacob and the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, surrounded by rich vegetation and picturesque Istrian houses.
You proceed along a plateau before reaching Višnjan. At the beginning of the main street you will find the medieval church of St Anthony the abbot with Glagolitic inscriptions from the year 1550 and precious remains of frescoes by Dominic from Udine.
When you have enjoyed enough your sightseeing of Višnjan and its beautiful sacral art continue along the road through the breathtaking landscape. If you're longing for some genuine home made food and excellent wine, just enter one of the numerous agriturismo's along the road.
A delightful descent brings you to the Mirna valley. Something you won't forget is when you catch sight on the imposing hill-top town of Motovun. For many Croatians, this is the most beautiful medieval town of Croatia, with houses scattered all over the hill.

Optional Extension Circular Ride from Motovun Overnight stay in Motovun (700 metre climb , 30 miles 50km )
Some legs are required today since it's the toughest ride of your tour. But the unique natural beauty is absolutely worth the effort. You explore the magnificent rough green hills around Motovun, a beautiful mix of untouched nature and small scale culture and agriculture. Here are the famous extensive forests of Motovun, rich of truffles the Motovun gastronomic specialty and a gourmet delicacy.
Half way you reach Buzet, perched high on a hill at the foot of the impressive Čičarije, near the source of the Mirna River. The perfect moment for a rest with breathtaking views on the valley at one of the restaurants. Stroll around the splendid medieval centre with 4 squares, visit the regional museum and admire the parish church and the baroque fountain, which is one of the most beautiful town fountains in Istria. Most of the route climbs gently along quiet roads except the last 2 km into town, through a splendid landscape from where you have nice views of the sea on clear days.

Day 5 Zminj to Rovinj. 25 miles 40km
After breakfast, a short transfer will bring you too Zminj. The village is located on a limestone hill between the Limska Draga Cove and the Raša valley. This is the region’s agricultural centre and a the crossroads of regional roads. It has a good sandwich shop.
After passing by some beautiful villages you reach Kanfanar, where you can visit the church of St Silvestre. In the year 1714, after a severe plague, a valuable pulpit from the basilica St. Silvestre, with the relief of St Sofia was transformed into this church. It is a delight to cross the sparsely populated hinterlands of Rovinj with abundant maquis (typical Mediterranean vegetation), it feels like your completely isolated from civilization.
The adventure starts when you partly follow the old railway track from Rovinj to Kanfanar, through the untouched forest just south of the Limski fjord. It's an exhilarating section, immersed in the forest of oak trees, strawberry trees, heather and many broom plants, with a delicious sweet perfume.
You return to the civilized world when you reach the magnificent coastline near Rovinj – also called little Venice. Rovinj is a typical Mediterranean seaside resort which will seduce you with its extraordinary beauty. In the riddle of narrow streets and small squares of the old city centre there are several beautiful palaces from different historical periods and there is a wonderful promenade with many seaside cafes where you can stop for a drink or a bite to eat.

Day 6 Circular ride from Rovinj. 23 miles 36km
In a straight line you head to beautiful Venetian Bale. Stroll around through the circular streets with Venetian-Gothic manor houses and visit Kaštel Bembo, a magnificent gothic-renaissance citadel. Along the narrow streets of Bale, you can find a number of good taverns. After this delightful rest stop, you continue along marvelous quiet gravel roads and cycle paths into the splendid coastal natural area of 'Zlatni rt. Punta corrente', a protected Forest Park of singular beauty and of high aesthetic and botanic value, one of the most important parks on the Istrian coast. Of great importance is also the ornithological nature reserve Palud – a brackish marsh,  where you can enjoy a rich variety of 217 (!) registered bird species. You continue in northerly direction through and along this enchanting isolated coastal area with undisturbed lush Mediterranean vegetation, little bays, cliffs and beaches. Suddenly you see the stunning contours of Rovinj again, this awaysome view is the cherry on the cake, the end of a great bike tour  that will leave you with memorable impression

Day 7 Departure from Rovinj

2008 Prices

Fly Low cost with Ryanair to Trieste airport

How to get there
By plane to Trieste , Venice or Treviso and by train to Istria Porec.
Private transfers from Pula - Porec & Rovinj - Pula ( upto 4 persons ) £51 each way
Private transfers from Venice airport - Porec ( up to 4 persons) £220 , Rovinj - Venice airport ( upto 4 persons ) £220

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