Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our cycling holiday in Istria. This biking vacation in Istria is a wonderful guided bike tour by bike and boat. Stunning cycle rides during the day and relaxation on your floating hotel at night. The wonders of this type of holiday is that if you do not cycle or do not wish to cycle you can stay on board and soak up the sun. The heart of Europe is what the Istrians call their peninsula, inspired by its shape and its position at the crossroads of European arteries, cultures and nations. This is where Central Europe and the world of Mediterranean meet. On this tour we will explore the most popular part of this Croatian coast.

Starting in Pula, the ship will take us a bit further north every day, and our tour guides will show us the most beautiful routes of the whole coastal region. We’ll visit the paradise of nature on the islands of Brijuni, the Lim channel with its caves, the coastal cities Porec, Rovinj and Pula, as well as the Istrian hinterland, a famous wine and truffle region.

Available 22/4, 29/4 , 10/6, 23/9, 30/9, 7/10, 14/10, 21/10
Level 1 -2 Guided Bike and Boat Tour

Day 1 (Sun) Pula – Medulin – Bay of Banjole , approx. 30 km/19 miles by bike
Individual arrival at Pula, the secret capital of Istria, a town full of impressive remains of its Roman past. From 11.00 hours onward you can move into your cabins on the motor yacht. Our first bike tour takes us from the harbor along beautiful bays to the southern tip of Istria. From there we ride on a good asphalt road to Medulin, easily recognized from afar by its two white church towers. In the shady village square we take a short break for refreshments. From Medulin we bike to the bay of Banjole for our overnight.

Day 2 (Mon) Vrsar - Porec ,approx. 30/19 miles by bike
After breakfast we start on a 3.5 hour cruise to Vrsar, the town where lady killer Casanova found temporary refuge from lovers pursuing him. Starting from Vrsar, we bike along the Lim fjord to Klostar in the hinterland. After a break, long enough to taste some fresh suckling pig, our route takes us to Porec. On a walk after dinner with our town guide, we encounter the evidence of the town's eventful past at every step along the way, strolling through the charming historical centre, with its beautiful buildings of many different periods, and the bustling shopping lanes. The famous Euphrasius Basilica, with its gorgeous early Christian mosaics, is also well worth a visit.

Day 3 (Tue) Porec – Grosnjan - Umag , approx. 60 km/38 miles by bike
Today's bike tour takes us from Porec through extensive vineyards to Visnjan, home of the famous white cattle. After a coffee break we continue through the gentle hills of the hinterland via Vizinada to the artists' village of Grosnjan. Along the way we’ll have a fortifying picnic. Our destination is Umag, which offers a picturesque old town centre with the remains of a medieval city wall located on a promontory.

Day 4 (Wed) Umag – Savudrija – Umag - Novigrad ,approx. 20+15 km/12 + 10 miles by bike
In the morning we undertake a round trip to the Savudrija peninsula, the northernmost point of Istria. In favorable weather conditions we’ll have an amazing view as far as Slovenia ,Italy and even the Alps. On the way back to the ship, there are plenty of opportunities for a refreshing dip in the sea. In the afternoon you bike along quiet sea promenades from Umag to Novigrad. There we’ll find the impressive battlements of the city wall as well as Pelagius Basilica. Around the pretty harbor we find many cafes and bars, where we can end of the day.

Day 5 (Thu) Novigrad – Porec – Vrsar ,approx. 20 + 15 km/12 + 10 miles by bike
After breakfast we leave Novigrad and bike along the coast to Porec. Here we meet up with the ship and have time for a swim or another stroll through the wonderful old town centre. After lunch on board we continue along the coast to Vrsar, where we’ll spend the night. Along the way we have a break at an open air museum, where we can admire the sculptures of the famous stone mason school of Vrsar.

Day 6 (Fri) Rovinj - Palud ,approx. 20 km/12 miles by bike
In the morning our ship takes us to Rovinj, often called the "pearl of Istria". The charm of this dreamy artists' town will quickly captivate you. After a round trip to the Palud Nature Reserve, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Rovinj. After dinner a town guide leads us through the maze of narrow lanes making up the old town.

Day 7 (Sat) Barbariga – Fazana – Brijuni Islands - Pula ,approx. 20 km/12 miles by bike
After a short cruise to the bay of Barbariga, we unload our bikes and cross with a ferry over to the Brijuni Islands. Until Tito's death in 1980, the paradise of the Brijuni Islands was a prohibited area accessible only to the government elite and their official guests. The island's sightseeing train takes us to the remotest corners of this subtropical nature park with its lush vegetation and exotic fauna. On the way across the island we’ll also visit some well preserved Roman excavations with a local guide. In the evening we bike from Fazana to Pula, where dinner on board of the ship is already waiting for us.

Day 8 (Sun) Disembarkation at Pula

Minimum number 14 persons , minimum age 10 and height above 140 cm.

Tariff 2012

How to get there
By plane to Trieste , Venice , Pula and by train/bus to Istria Pula and dock.
Pula   – distance: 15 minutes –individual taxi transfer (ca. £20 one way)
Rijeka – distance: 1,5 hours – collected transfer (£20  per person/way)
Zagreb – distance: 3 hours – collected transfer(£40 per person/way)
Collected transfers are on request / the mentioned price is only valid if booked by at least 6 people ,to be paid locally.

Accommodation:
Ship TARIN
With its dark green painted hull and the white stripes the Tarin is in each port an eye catcher from afar. Completed at the beginning of the 2004 season, it is the one of newer ships in the fleet. The furnishings of the cabins attest to the care, that captain Nevio put into the building of his ship. Bright wood, curtains at the large windows and the nicely furniture cabins will immediately make you feel at home on the Tarin. The ship has 11 cabins, from which 10 are above deck. Four cabins have a French bed (140 cm) and a single bunk. Two cabins are equipped with a French bed (140 cm). The five remaining cabins have two bunks, which are arranged one above the other or next to each other. A cozy cabin is below deck. It has one small desk, separate beds and two portholes. Each cabin has a private shower/toilet.

To view our other cycling holidays in Croatia

To view our walking holidays in Europe

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