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Experience the charm of Istria
Istria by Bike and Boat |
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 "The heart of Europe" is what the Istrians call their peninsula, inspired by its shape and its position at the crossroads of European arteries of cultures and nations. This is where Central Europe and the world of Mediterranean meet. On this tour you will explore the most popular part of the Croatian coast. Starting in Pula, the ship will take you a bit further north every day, and our tour guides will show you the most beautiful routes of the whole coastal region. You will 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.
Pula, the starting port of the trip, can easily be reached by bus as well as by car. The trip always starts and ends on Sundays, which allows you an unhurried and comfortable arrival.
The bike routes require a basic level of fitness, which you should have acquired by occasional or daily cycling. The routes reach a maximum height of 200 m. The daily routes of 30 km on average, cover hilly terrain and can be completed without time constraints. You can, however, also choose to skip a bike-tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead. The roads are mostly asphalted and there is little traffic outside of holiday periods.
Helmet use is mandatory on this tour. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own (well-fitted) helmet.
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Under Croatian law, children aged 16 and under must wear a helmet when cycling.
Catering:
The cook on board is a member of the four-person crew and prepares the breakfast and one warm meal a day. The half board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.
Guided tour:
The tour will generally be guided in German language. One of the guides will translate into English for non-German-speaking participants.
Accommodation:
Ship TARIN
The TARIN is a new two-masted motorsailing ship of 23m length and 6 m width that was built in 2003/4. All of her 10 cabins are above the water level. Five cabins have a double bed (140cm/55” wide) and three of those feature an additional bunk bed. The other cabins have two separate beds that may be aligned beside each other or on two levels. Another cosy cabin with two portholes and a desk is situated below deck. The fore sundeck measures 40 m2, the upper deck even 60 m2. Together with the large saloon, captain Nevio’s TARIN offers ample space to her passengers.
Please enter the nationality and date of birth for each person booking in the comments section of the booking form
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Day 1: (Sun) Pula - Medulin - Bay of Banjole (approx. 30 km/19 miles)
Individual arrival in Pula, the secret capital of Istria, a town full of impressive remains of its Roman past. If you are planning to come by car, we can reserve a safe parking space for you. The cabins on the motor yacht will be ready for you from 11 am. Your first bike tour takes you from the harbor along beautiful bays to the southern tip of Istria. From there you ride on a good asphalted road to Medulin, easily recognized from afar by its two white church towers. In the shady village square you take a short break for refreshments. From Medulin you bicycle to the bay of Banjole for the overnight.
Day 2: (Mon) Vrsar - Porec (approx. 30 km/19 miles)
After breakfast you start on an approx. 3.5 hrs. cruise to Vrsar, the town where lady-killer Casanova found temporary refuge from lovers pursuing him. Starting from Vrsar, you bike along the Lim fjord to Klostar in the hinterland. After a break - long enough to taste some fresh suckling pig - your route takes you to Porec. On a walk after dinner with your town guide, you encounter at every step along the way the evidence of the town's eventful past, strolling through the charming historical center, with its beautiful buildings of many different epochs, 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)
Today's bike tour takes you from Porec through extensive vineyards to Visnjan, home of the famous white cattle. After a coffee break you continue through the gentle hills of the hinterland via Vizinada to the artists' village of Grosnjan. Along the way you have a fortifying picnic. Your destination is Umag, which offers a picturesque old town center with the remains of a medieval city wall located on a promontory. Dinner on board.
Day 4: (Wed) Umag - Savudrija - Umag - Novigrad (approx. 20+15 km/12+10 miles)
In the morning you undertake a round trip to the Savudrija peninsula, the northernmost point of Istria. In favorable weather condition you 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 you find the impressive crenellated city wall as well the 7th century Pelagius Basilica. Around the pretty harbor you find many cafes and bars, where you can end the day.
Day 5: (Thu) Novigrad - Porec - Vrsar (approx. 20+15 km/12+10 miles)
After breakfast you leave Novigrad and bicycle along the coast to Porec. Here you meet up with the ship and have time for a swim or another stroll through the wonderful old town center. After lunch on board you continue along the coast to Vrsar, where you spend the night. Along the way you have a break at an open air museum, where you can admire the sculptures of the famous stonemason school of Vrsar.
Day 6: (Fri) Rovinj - Palud (approx. 20 km/12 miles)
Your ship takes you in the morning 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, you have plenty of time to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Rovinj. A town guide leads you after dinner through the maze of narrow lanes making up the old town.
Day 7: (Sat) Barbariga - Fazana - Brijuni Islands - Pula (approx. 20 km/12 miles)
After a short cruise to the bay of Barbariga, you unload your bikes there 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 sight-seeing train takes you to the remotest corners of this sub-tropical nature park with its lush vegetation and exotic fauna. On the way across the island you also visit with your local guide some well-preserved Roman excavations. In the evening, you bicycle from Fazana to Pula, where dinner on board of the ship is already waiting for you.
Day 8: (Sun) Check-out
The guests are expected to check out after breakfast, i.e. by 9 am.
We reserve the right to make alterations to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organisational requirements. Sometimes the tour will be conducted in reverse order. The tour of Brijuni may be conducted without bicycles.
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Guided:
8-day-trip on a motor yacht with a four-person crew
7 nights on a motor yacht in a double cabin with shower/toilet (single cabin not an option)
7 x half board on the ship
German- and English-speaking tour guide
Bed linen and towels
7 guided cycling tours
Maps for the daily tours
Entry to and guided tour of, Brijuni national park
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Guided: 6/6, 6/13, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17/2010
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Guided:
€870
€50: Upper deck cabin supplement
€300: Single occupancy surcharge for lower deck cabin (on request)
€400: Single occupancy surcharge for upper deck cabin (on request)
€70: Rental bike
€30: Low season (9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17) discount
You can book a cabin for three persons and get a 50 % price reduction for the third person (regardless of age) on some of our ships. Further the third person doesn´t have to pay the on deck charge.
These cabins are furnished with a French bed and a single bunk bed above.
A safe parking space: €40 (to be paid to the tour-guide on the spot)
Additional night incl breakfast in Pula: from €45 double room or €55 single room
Combine this tour with any other Inselhuepfen tour - reduction of €50 per person
Additional costs:
Visitor's tax and local charges: €20 (to be paid to the captain)
Drinks on board (tally sheet)
Tips for crew and tour-guides
Meals ashore
For this tour, please provide the dates of birth and nationalities of everyone in your party in the "Comments" section of our booking form.
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Nearest airport: Trieste
Pula, the starting port of the trip, can easily be reached by bus as well as by car.
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BikeToursDirect does not operate any tours but represents all companies whose tours are listed on this
site. You can book this tour through BikeToursDirect at the same prices you'd pay booking directly through
the tour company. Book this tour by clicking on "Book Trip" button below, or contact us for help planning your tour.
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