Croatia Travel Tours

Bicycle Tour in Istria, Croatia 7 days/6 nights 2012 Tour Departure Dates: Anytime. Contact us and let us know when you'd like to go. Istria has captivated travelers for centuries with its sapphire waters, hidden coves, and traditional fishing villages. It is particularly noted for its gastronomic delights and wines. A journey through Istria showcases the primeval beauty with its forests, mountains, and coastal roads. Biking is a perfect way to experience this little explored gem of Croatia.
Day 1: Transfer from Zagreb airport to your accommodation in Istria, a small romantic hotel or an Agrotourism in the area of Buje. Your host will welcome you with some homemade canapés and "rakija" (a type of local brandy). Meeting with the guide and presentation of the program. Dinner and overnight in Buje area.
Day 2: Breakfast. Biking Momjan Muscat Trail (38 km/23 miles). Apart from enjoying the breathtaking landscape of the terrace-styled vineyards, which resemble an image on the front page of a holiday guide to Tuscany, you can indulge the sensation the area of Buje gives, a real polyphony of fragrances and tastes. After we have walked along the paved streets of the old center of Buje, we continue downhill, following the trail leading through Bibali, Krug, and Smilovici, finally reaching Momjan, a magnificent place with impressive ruins of the medieval citadel built on a rock. Next visit one of the most popular wine cellars where you will have an opportunity to taste world's best Muscat - from Momjan. Dinner and overnight in Buje area.

Day 3: After breakfast we will start biking (on Macadam) on the legendary Parenzana Trail (68 km/42 miles), the former narrow-gauge railway line, which lies deeply into the Istrian peninsula and connects 33 Istrian cities. The trail passes through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards, which is why it was once named "the railway of the wine." After passing through many tunnels, over old bridges, and stopping at fascinating places such as the charming medieval towns of Grožnjan and Vižinada, we finally reach Poree, the town where you can find material and spiritual evidence of magnificent culture at every step. Ride along the old city center and you will find the Roman Forum, which was once a fortified Roman camp, magnificent palaces from different historical periods, e.g. "The House of Two Saints" and the famous Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana). Dinner and overnight in Poree area.

Day 4: After breakfast, bike the Trail of the Istrian Malvasia (50 km/31 miles). The ride along this trail is particularly pleasant because you are riding along the coastline with beautiful bays, where you can enjoy the breathtaking Mediterranean landscape with green vineyards and olive groves and taste homemade food, wine, brandy, and locally-produced honey. Continuing along the trail, you will reach Višnjan, a little place that vaunts an astronomical observatory ranked among the 5 most important observatories in the world. When you have found your guiding star here, or when you have refreshed yourself with a glass of excellent homemade wine, we can continue our ride towards Poreè, where our adventure has actually began. Dinner and overnight in Poree area.

Day 5: Breakfast and then bike the Trail of Captain Morgan (50 km/31 miles). A marsh, rare birds, a cursed city, buried pirates' treasure, a fjord, a cave with a primitive man and a hermit, an ancient solar observatory - all this you can find on our trail. After riding along the coastline we reach Vrsar, a romantic fishing village, which Casanova himself often liked to visit. We continue our ride through the magical forest, Kontija, with a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of the Lim Fjord and ruins of the medieval town, Dvigrad. Just to stir your imagination - you are now in an area where many legends and mysteries based on historical events still live on: that of Dvigrad devastated by the plague because of an ancient curse, of the buried treasure of Captain Morgan's pirates near the village named after him (Mrgani), of the cave where the remains of a primitive man were found and where, as legend has it, St. Romuald used to live as a hermit in the Middle Ages. Passing Kanfanar and the hill Maklavun, an astral-archaeological site, Tumul from the Bronze Age, we will end the day in Rovinj. Also called "Little Venice," Rovinj is a typical Mediterranean seaside town which will seduce you with its extraordinary beauty. Dinner and overnight in Rovinj area.

Day 6: After breakfast we're off on the Biking Orchid Trail (50 km). We start our last biking tour along the coast of Cape Kamenjak towards ancient Mutila, nowadays Medulin, and enjoy a beautiful route surrounded by coastline with numerous gulfs, bays, and white beaches washed by the crystal clear turquoise sea On the way we can find 22 types of orchids, including the endemic species "Serapias Istriaca" (the Istrian orchid), see the so-called "islet-plate" where a dinosaur's footprint has been preserved, and find the remains of luxurious Roman Villae Rusticae. Dinner and overnight in Pula area.

Day 7: Breakfast. Transfer from Istria to Zagreb airport. Departure flight home. TOUR PRICE: (land cost per person) 10 travelers: $1500 8 travelers: $1570 6 travelers: $1650 4 travelers: $1780 2 travelers: $1980 Single Supplement:$470 Price Includes: Welcome meeting 2 x overnight in pension/hotel 3* in Buje area 2 x overnight in pension/hotel 3* in Poreè area 1 x overnight in pension/hotel 3* in Rovinj area 1 x overnight in pension/hotel 3* in Pula area 6 x breakfast 5 x lunch (picnic or restaurant) All transfers in minivan/minibus Luggage transport from hotel to hotel English-speaking guide during whole program 5 x bike trips 5 x snacks and drinks along the way ( water, juice, fresh fruits, and cereal bars) Price Does Not Include: Airfare (unless otherwise arranged) Departure and custom fees Gratuities and individual daily expenses Additional beverages Local taxes Travel insurance Trip cancellation Medical and luggage insurance are recommended for coverage against all unforeseen circumstances Payment and Refund Policies If you have any questions or you'd like to book this trip, please contact us. Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to. <-- back to list of Tours to The Balkans
back to top

Croatia Travel Tours

Bicycle Tour in Istria, Croatia