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Find your tourLevel 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
The duration of the tour
Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
Istria, also referred to as the βgreen heart of Europeβ by the locals, is Croatiaβs 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, PoreΔ and Rovinj. There is so much to discover along the way! Medieval villages, ancient monuments, picturesque wineries and impressive caves are to be discovered along the way. 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 β¦
Monday to Friday
Amsterdam: 08:30 to 22:00
New York: 6:00AM to 7:00PM
Istria, also referred to as the βgreen heart of Europeβ by the locals, is Croatiaβs 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, PoreΔ and Rovinj.
There is so much to discover along the way! Medieval villages, ancient monuments, picturesque wineries and impressive caves are to be discovered along the way. 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.
Arriving at the next port, picturesque old towns entice you to take an extended stroll. Vacation pure! What more do you want?
This tour will often be operated on the same boat as the mountain bike cruise βHighlights of Istriaβ and one tour guide attends trekking bike group while the other one leads the mountain bike group. The mountain bike products are only available to guests who participate in these offroad mountain bike trails, more information about these offroad trails can be found on the website of our brand Islandhopping.
The itinerary of the Istria Highlights tour is the same as the itinerary of the Istria Highlights PLUS tour, making the PLUS tour on board the Deluxe ship a great alternative should you have difficulties finding availability on this trip.
The ship β Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You will sleep and have breakfast and 1 or 2 warm meals on board. Depending on the program, this will be lunch or dinner. The other meal is ashore (not included). Itβs possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental bikes on board, but you can also bring your own if you mention it when booking.
Individual arrival to OmiΕ‘alj, a charming pirateβs 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 OmiΕ‘alj. Check-in on board is possible from around 2pm. Once we have made ourselves comfortable in our cabins, we enjoy the first crossing to Cres. If the weather is good, we stop for a swim in a beautiful bay and you can take a dip in the Adriatic Sea. Our destination is the island capital of the same name, where we spend the night. The Venetian-influenced old town of Cres, with its beautiful alleys and many churches, entices you to take an extensive evening stroll.
In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with a pleasant morning cruise to Pula. In the afternoon we explore some picturesque places in and around Pula. Via Galizana we go to Vodnjan and further through the fishing village Fazana before coming back to Pula. After the bike tour you can take part on an inspiring guided city tour before enjoying our evening exploring.
In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with another pleasant morning cruise, this time to Vsar. Itβs in Vrsar that the heartbreaker Casanova is believed to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers. From here we cycle along the Limski Canal to KloΕ‘tar in the rural hinterland to the destination of today, PoreΔ. The town has a lively vibe with its long promenade and shopping streets. A visit to the famous Euphrasius Basilica with its magnificent early Christian mosaics is also worthwhile. There is also plenty of tiome to go for a swim and relax in the afternoon. The night is pent in PoreΔ.
In the morning we follow the βParenzanaβ, an abandoned railroad line, which leads us to the famous artistsβ village of Groznjan. The picturesque artistsβ village is a medieval jewel in the Istrian hinterland. It awaits us with romantic alleys, flower-filled squares and diverse galleries that have made their home in old natural stone houses. In the afternoon, we bike through rural Istria via Buje to Novigrad, where we can enjoy the evening and spend the night.
In the morning the ship takes us to Rovinj during breakfast, the starting point of todayβs bike tour. Close to the town, the sprawling green wilderness of the local park is the perfect setting for a bike ride past picture perfect bays where we can stop for a refreshing swim. After a pleasant morning on our bikes and at the beach, we return back to the ship and there is plenty of time to explore the city in the afternoon. In the evening a guided city tour reveals the secrets of the town before spending the night there.
Our morning bike ride takes us near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths to FaΕΎana, with its quaint little harbor and promenade lined with colorful houses. Afterwards, we continue to Pula, where our boat will take us on a longer crossing to Rabac. Here, located on a picturesque bay on the east coast of Istria, we can enjoy gorgeous white pebble beaches, crystal clear waters and a beautiful harbor. Not to be missed is an evening cocktail in a local bar.
In the early morning, we cross to the island of Krk, where a final cycling stage awaits us. The route will lead us from Njivice to OmiΕ‘alj. The largest island in Croatia and home of the delicious Zlahtina white wine impresses with its diverse landscapes. Donβt miss the opportunity to cover yourself in the mineral rich mud in the bay of Soline β it will not only leave you looking ten years younger, but also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of OmiΕ‘alj, 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 disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home.
Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmets use is mandatory on all cycling tours. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own well-fitted helmet. Rental helmets are available on board in limited number (on request).
Price reductions
Participants
Minimum: 14 Maximum: 28
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After your tour, youβll receive an exclusive discount code:
Check your post-tour email for details. You can combine this discount with other promotions for additional savings. Join us again for another adventure by boat and bike!
Pedal past rocky shorelines, UNESCO treasures like Dubrovnik and Split, and hidden bays perfect for a refreshing swim, and discover more tours in Croatia.
| 5 star | 2 (67%) | |
| 4 star | 1 (33%) | |
| 3 star | 0 (0%) | |
| 2 star | 0 (0%) | |
| 1 star | 0 (0%) |
Every aspect of the trip was great. Our guides were very helpful, informative and helped to form our group from being strangers at the beginning to becoming friends by the end of our tour. The boat staff could not have been better β great food and service. The Istrian coast was stunningly beautiful. We highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for sharing your experience with great guides and a beautiful route along the Istrian coast! Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
Safe caring guide. Amendments made to itinerary due to weather conditions.
Weβre glad to hear that you had a safe and caring guide, and we appreciate your understanding of itinerary adjustments due to weather conditions. Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
Our guides were fantastic β Ana was incredibly knowledgeable about Croatian history and geology, and so upbeat and fun. The rides were scenic and interesting (except for occasional rain, but not their fault). City walk tours (by Ana) were excellent. The boat (Linda) accommodations were comfortable enough but a bit spartan. My only disappointment was the food. While tasty and plentiful, it was not close to the fabulous gourmet dinners I remember from my previous Boat Bike tour.
We appreciate your feedback about the food, and weβll certainly take it into consideration as we aim to provide the best possible culinary experience for our guests. Thank you for your valuable input, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! Best regards, Boat Bike Tours
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