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Family Cycling Holiday in Istria
Duration
8 days
Site savings
$28
From
$1,348 USD
Discover the history, culture and natural beauty of the Istria region on this 8 day guided cycle tour with lots of activities included, as well as sightseeing opportunities and of course, manageable segments of sedate and safe cycling for all ages. Families are thought of throughout the tour, from the routes and activities chosen to the fact that you'll be staying in just two lodgings throughout. Basing yourself in only two places means less packing and unpacking and more time for activities and relaxing. Bring on the adventure!
- CategoryFor Families
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration8 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level1 - Beginner
- Activity Level1 - Easy
- Elevation1 - Easy
- TerrainMixed
- Distance57.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance9.3 miles
Quick Stats
- Duration8 days
- Main DestinationIstria
- Distance57.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance9.3 miles
- Elevation1 - Easy
- TerrainMixed
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrival
Arrive at Pula Airport where a group transfer is available to the hotel either in Poreč or Vrsar. Poreč is an ancient Roman town that is now a popular coastal town in Istria. It is riddled with historic buildings of Gothic, Romanesque and baroque design. It's coastline is filled with fun and excitement from the many establishments and water sports. Vrsar on the other hand is an old fishing town and is a delight with its seafront promenade, stunning sunsets, winding streets, pavement cafés and old stone houses. Most buildings are painted white giving it a very summer Mediterranean feel against a beautiful deep blue sky backdrop. The warm glistening sea and boats bobbing in the harbour all exude the atmosphere that gives charm and a holiday feel.
Your guide will give a briefing about the week ahead after which a welcome dinner has been prepared.- Hotel Poreč, Poreč or Hotel Vista, Vrsar
- Dinner
- Day 2Cycle along the old railway line of Parenzana
Today is an ideal start for your family holiday with some cycling on flat trails away from any traffic. Known as the wine railway (parents will be pleased to know!), the Parenzana Railway was built to link Porec, here on the Croatian coast with Trieste in Italy, and was operational between 1905 and 1935. It is now a super cycleway and is made all the more interesting by peddling through tunnels and over old bridges, until you arrive at the old train station!
There is no rush today as you cycle. You will start at the pretty, medieval hill-top village of Groznjan, around 50mins transfer, which overlooks the valley of the Mirna River. Dating from around the year 1100, Groznjan is today known as a centre for artists and artisans. You will explore its timeless streets on foot, where it seems every doorway leads to an artist's studio. You will have a picnic lunch with you and will eat this at a suitable spot along the route with some nice views and shade.
The ride is eastwards through rolling countryside above the Mirna River, to the truffle centre of Livade, where you will visit a truffle shop and have the chance to taste this much sought-after delicacy. You will have time to stop at one of the pavement cafés for an ice-cream or coffee. You will cycle a little further to the village of Motovun and here you will meet the support vehicle and transfer back to the hotel in Vsrar.
- 13 miles
- -862.9 ft
95.1 ft
958 ft - Hotel Poreč, Poreč or Hotel Vista, Vrsar
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 3Cycling Poreč and Cave Baredine
Starting out in Porec (20mins drive) we bike on single track rural roads on a mix of tarmac and gravel, along coast and bays with beautiful views out across the sparkling sea. If there is time you can stop for a cool drink in one of the seaside cafés.
Leaving the sea you will go through olive groves to the village of Tar. It is incredibly peaceful and relaxing riding. After Tar, you will cycle south-westerly and head down another rural road to the Baredine caves where you will stop to explore this interesting site. The tour of the caves explores several chambers and tunnels down to 132m (433ft) underground. They are well lit with maintained paths. In the caves, you might be able to see the rare 'cave olm', a small salamander which is endemic to this Dinaric Karst region.
Leaving the caves you will hop on your bike again and cycle along rural paths back to Porec and then to the hotel. You will have time to enjoy a swim in the sea on your return before the guide suggests somewhere for dinner.
- 18.6 miles
1,007.2 ft
1,007.2 ft- Hotel Poreč, Poreč or Hotel Vista, Vrsar
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 4Sea Kayaking, snorkelling and swimming at Lim Channel
Today you will take a break from the bikes and enjoy another activity in this beautiful region. You will have a day sea kayaking along Lim 'Fjord'. Not geographically a fjord, but locally called this, because it is not carved from glacial ice, and it does not have steep sides, just gentle green undulating ones, and warm turquoise waters - this channel is 35km (21mi) long connecting the sea and the Pazincica River. It is a government protected area, so no motorised boats are allowed on the waters, making it an ideal place for you to kayak along.
There are lots of places to stop on your journey today down the fjord. You might have lunch at a remote beach, only accessible from the channel, where you can enjoy a snorkel and a swim.
This is a beautiful day on the water in these warm climes, the children and adults will enjoy it alike. In the afternoon you will transfer to your new hotel base in Rovinj. Here you can enjoy an ice cream or a glass of wine as you unwind. Fresh fish (combined with a glass of Malvasia) is a popular choice at dinner this evening.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: sea kayaking 6-10 km (different options are available), time: 2 hours kayaking.- Hotel Villa Lili or B&B Baron Gautsch
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 5Free day in Rovinj
There are no planned activities today, so you can relax a bit and do your own thing. Rovinj is said to be one of the most picturesque towns in the Mediterranean - the 'Pearl of Adriatic' - it has colourful houses on the waterfront, a distinctive church and bell-tower. It is full of cobbled streets and piazzas, with ice-cream parlours and cafés serving good coffee and wine! There are several beautiful beaches in walking distance, or a short taxi ride away, where you can spend some time.
There is also an option to go on a full or half-day boat trip out to the Brijuni Islands National Park. These were the summer residence of Tito which was beneficial for the park with the renewed forests and land. You can walk here or swim on the beaches. The nearby Punta Corrente Forest Park is also delightful for a walk and its beaches. The choice is yours.
- Hotel Villa Lili or B&B Baron Gautsch
- Breakfast
- Day 6Biking Rovinj Riviera
You will set off this morning on the bikes again and cycle south-westerly along the coast, and through pretty little villages. Again, today the route is almost all flat. The area of Palud Cove, which is just 8km (5mi) away, is the first and only ornithological reserve in Istria, providing habitat for over 200 bird species. Motor vehicles are not allowed into the reserve, but you can explore the trails on your bikes. It is a very peaceful area and there is a small rocky beach where you can have a swim and enjoy a picnic.
You will then return along the coast to the medieval town of Bale. From here you can transfer back to Rovinj. Back in Rovinj, you might have some time to visit another beach before you find another restaurant for tonight's dinner.
- 14 miles
- 410.1 ft
869.4 ft
459.3 ft - Hotel Villa Lili or B&B Baron Gautsch
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 7Cycle around Cape Kamenjak and Aquarium in Pula
You will have a short transfer this morning to the most southern peninsula of Istria, the Cape Kamenjack. This isthmus is surrounded by a coastline of 30km (18.6mi), including bays, white beaches and crystal clear blue waters. It's stunningly beautiful. You will cycle from here to the village of Medulin.
Along the way, you will stop for some swimming and can guarantee an ice-cream stop as well. For those interested, there are 22 orchid species in this area. You will also see the fossilised dinosaur footprints and an ammonite preserved on the flat rock here. To enhance the experience there is a model dinosaur lurking in the bushes along the trail!
After the bike ride, you will transfer to Pula, the largest city in Istria. It has an incredible Roman amphitheatre and a long history of wine-making. You will have some free time to explore this city or have an optional visit to the Pula Aquarium which is located in an old fort of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
You will return to Rovinj at the end of the day. Tonight your guide will suggest a nice restaurant for a celebratory final dinner in this glorious and peaceful part of Mediterranean Europe.
- 12.1 miles
- 6.6 ft
794 ft
787.4 ft - Hotel Villa Lili or B&B Baron Gautsch
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 8Departure Day