discover kvarner bay

MTB & Boat Kvarner Bay Special from/to Omišalj
(8 Days/7 Nights)

As an exceptional holiday, in which a thoroughbred biker can find what they are looking for, our MTB special boat & bike trip Kvarner bay is perfectly suited for mountain bikers!

Take a week on board one of our charming boats and sail to the most beautiful islands of the Kvanrer bay. The islands Cres, Lošinj, Rab and Krk are known for their own special character and diverse sceneries – that definitely guarantees trails that are rich in variety. From flow trails to technically challenging trails, the islands offer something special for every biker.

This tour is offered exclusively as a mountain bike tour, optimised for the athletic requirements of a mountain biker. Every tour is guided by two MTB guides, who will give their best effort to provide tours at varying levels of difficulty. The tours vary according to altitude, kilometers and difficulty of the trails:

A: aprx. 131 mi./210 km, 13,290 ft./4,050 m of elevation, S1 – S3
B: aprx. 119 mi./190 km, 11,480 ft./3,500 m of elevation, S1 – S2

Tour groups with less than 10 participants will be guided by one guide only. In this case only one guided MTB level can be offered and the guide will do their best to customize this level to the groups abilities.

For more and updated info please visit: www.inselhuepfen.com/en/kms

1^st Day Omišalj (Embarkation) – Rabac
(A & B: aprx. 6mi./10 km, 650 ft./200 m of elevation)
Individual arrival to Omislaj on the island of Krk. Board the boat between 1 and 1:30 pm. At 2 pm we embark on our first cruise on board the boat to Rabac on the Istrian Peninsula. The coastal town is surrounded by crystal clear blue waters and numerous cafes on the seaside promenade give an inviting impression. It is here that we will do our first small tour to get the bikes set up for the week. This will take place in the local Bike Skills Park. Here you can test your bike and your riding ability on the first ever constructed bike park in Croatia. The night is spent in Rabac.

2^nd Day Rabac – Island Cres
(A: aprx. 20 mi./32 km, 1,640 ft./500 m of elevation; B: aprx. 15 mi./25 km; 1,640 ft./500 m of elevation)
Today’s bike tour starts with a transfer to Labin, a village at 300 m above sea level. The descent back down to the sea alternates between asphalt roads, forest tracks, and simple trails. A more technically demanding trail takes you along the coast of the peninsula with fleeting views of Rabac. Once back at the boat we cruise to the island of Cres to the main town with the same name. A quaint harbor town characterized by its Italian architecture. The night is spent here.   

3^rd Day Islands Cres and Lošinj
(A: aprx. 19 mi./30 km; 2,300 ft./700 m of elevation; B: aprx. 21 mi./34 km, 1,970 ft./600 m of elevation)
The tour starts with an asphalt climb before turning off onto gravel roads with wonderful views over the bay of Valun steadily making your way inland. In the clifftop town of Podol our efforts are rewarded with a short break. After catching our breath, we continue along natural paths and goat trails with flowy sections past the Vrana Lake in the direction of Lubenice. The final trail to the port of Martinšćica has technically demanding sections. The boat awaits your arrival in Martinšćica and takes us on a cruise to the relaxed harbor town of Mali Lošinj. The various cafes and bars along the seaside promenade offer plenty of choice to enjoy a relaxing sundowner before catching a restful night’s sleep.

4^th Day Islands Lošinj and Ilovik
(A: aprx. 19 mi./30 km, 1,970 ft./600 m of elevation; B: aprx. 15 mi./25 km, 1,310 ft./400 m of elevation)
The island of Lošinj is sculpted for Mountain bikers. Here we have the tough choice  either to bike along the coastline through lush pine forests once around the peninsula, past picturesque bays, or to take a more technically challenging ride to the harbor Veli Lošinj. Veli Lošinj was originally the capital city of the island before its harbor became too small for modern day boats and Mali Lošinj overtook it in size and popularity. In the afternoon we cross over to the island of Ilovik where we can enjoy the afternoon exploring the island by foot and going for a swim.

5^th Day Islands Ilovik and Rab
(A: aprx. 23 mi./37 km, 2,300 ft./700 m of elevation; B: ca. 20 mi./33 km, 1,800 ft./550 m of elevation)
In the morning we cruise to the island of Rab. A small island, but great for mountain biking. The tours take place on seaside trails along historic roman roads with exceptional views over the island and on flowy sections through the Dundo Forrest with constant glimpses of the clear blue sea. Those seeking to ride more technical challenging trails will be pleased to know that the island offers many rocky and blocked riding sections. The island offers great variation for all riders. The old town of Rab with its four clock towers is regarded as one of the most picturesque old towns on the Adriatic coast. A wonderful town to spend the evening in looking back on a day of great riding.

6^th Day Island Krk
(A: aprx. 19 mi./31 km, 2,300 ft./700 m of elevation; B: aprx. 17.5 mi./28 km, 2,300 ft./700 m of elevation)
In the morning we cruise to the port of Baška on the island of Krk. Today’s bike tour takes us up an intial climb on an asphalt road before taking smaller paths and natural trails as we make our way to the ‘Moon’. The Landscape on the north side of the island is characterized by its moon landscape. This side of the island is exposed to the full forces of the regions strongest winds, leaving nothing but rocks in its path. We cycle through this incredible landscape before taking an epic ride along a historic roman road back down to the sea. The flowy ride with breathtaking views over the sea will leave you with a long lasting impression. From Baška we cruise to the city capital of Krk, with its lovely old town. Enjoy an evening exploring the alleyways with your guide and relaxing on one of many beautiful spots near the sea. The night is spent in Krk.

7^th Day Island Krk: Malinska – Omišalj
(A: aprx.25 mi./40 km, 2,130 ft./650 m of elevation; B: aprx.  22 mi./35 km, 1,800 ft./550 m of elevation)
A short cruise will take us to the seaside town of Malinska – still on the island of Krk. From here our bike tour leads us along natural paths and side roads to Dobrinj. You will be rewarded with stunning views of the northern part of the island of Krk. On a clear day you can look back to Učka. Passing one of the many caves of the island, we bike on a narrow path along the coast back to the ship in Omišalj, where we have enough time to walk through the town, go for a swim or relax on board before the trip ends with a cozy get-together.

8th Day Omišalj (Disembarkation)
You are asked to check out after breakfast, i. e. around 9 am. On request we can organise a collective group transfer to Zagreb or Rijeka. Individual trip home or extend your holidays in Croatia.

GOOD TO KNOW

Itinerary changes
We reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organizational requirements. Sometimes the tour will be run in reverse order.

Level A: 2 – 3; Level B: 2
Moderate to challenging daily tours in hilly terrain. The terrain in this region is very diverse and changes from island to island: technical and demanding single trails alternate with wide gravel 4×4 roads and sometimes also quiet asphalt stretches; there are very few unrideable points.

Each day you are able to decide between tour variation A and B.
Level A: up to aprx. 60 km/37.5 mi. and aprx. 750 m/2,460 ft. of elevation
Level B: up to aprx. 50 km/31 mi. and aprx. 600 m/1,970 ft. of elevation

Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmets are mandatory on our bike tours. It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required). Furthermore, we recommend riders to carry arm and leg protectors during the bike tours. Our tours are dependent on weather conditions and the final decision is that of the captain. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend time on board the boat, instead of taking a planned bike-tour.

Riding in a group
On a guided MTB tour the speed of the group is determined by the mountain bikers on regular bikes. If you have hired an e-MTB, we ask you to respect those in the group who are riding without electric support. Those on regular bikes require more time and recovery when biking up hill. We thank you for your understanding.

Single-Trail Classification

So that you are well prepared for your bike tour at Islandhopping, and that you know which technicality grade you should await to be confronted by, we have comprised a classification for all single trails which you will ride. The difficulty levels included in our classification coincide with the Singeltrail-Skala found at (http://www.singletrail-skala.de/).

Blue (easy, S0 – S1): small obstacles such as small roots, small stones, small gully erosion, gradients of up to 40 %, loose surfaces, tight corners but no hairpins, skilful braking and weight shift required, riding while standing, obstacles can be rolled over.

Red (medium, S2): loose surfaces, larger stones and roots, steps and shallow stairs, gradients of up to 70 %, light hairpins, permanent braking readiness, displacement of centre of mass to overcome obstacles, accurate braking, permanent body tension.

Black (heavy, S3 – S5): blocked single trails, many large boulders and roots, smooth/slippery surfaces, loose scree slopes, large steps/drops, extremely steep gradients of over 70 %, tight hairpins, expert level of bike control/handling.

Catering
The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering consists of 2 x full board and 5 x half board and starts with dinner on embarkation day and ends with breakfast on disembarkation day.

Language
Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.

Comfort Ship LINDA (all cabins with shower/toilet)

At 31 x 6 m, the Linda is a sleek wooden motor yacht rebuilt as an Islandhopping passenger ship in 2006. There are 14 friendly guest cabins each with a private shower and WC. The spacious and tastefully furnished salon with its wooden tables and upholstered benches provides a welcoming atmosphere. The large sundeck and the two shaded decks at the stern are furnished with sun mats and comfortable lounge furniture. Perfect to unwind for a relaxing cruise.

For more information about the Linda please visit: Linda – Islandhopping – cycling holiday by the sea (inselhuepfen.com)

Basic tour price per person (in a twin cabin below deck)

•  from 1,290 euro / Comfort Ship Linda 

Accomplishments

• 8-day trip on a motorized yacht with crew
• 7 nights in a twin cabin below deck with shower/toilet
• 2 x full board and 5 x half board
• Guided bike tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
• Overview-maps for the daily bike tours (on board)
• Bed linen and towels
• English speaking tour guide

Additional optional accomplishments

• A shared twin cabin
• Surcharge for a cabin above deck: 150 euro/1.125 kn person
• Surcharge for a double cabin for single use below deck: 400 euro/3013,8kn (limited)
• Surcharge for a double cabin for single use above deck: 600 euro/4520,7kn (limited)
• Rental bike: Full suspension MTB (fully): 180 euro/1.350 kn per week; full suspension e-MTB (E-fully): 240 euro/1.800 kn per week (limited, on request)
• Insurance against theft and damage of the rental bike: fully 20 euro/150 kn per week (not insured: grossly negligent damages)
• Private e-MTB: 50 euro/bike (handling fee) 
• A safe parking space: motorcycle: 40 euro/301,38 kn per week; car up to 6 m in length: 60 euro/452,07 kn per week, vehicle longer than 6 m: 120 euro/904,14 kn per week (on request, to be paid on-site to the tour guide)
• In case of train arrival: Collecting transfer from Rijeka train station to Omišalj: 25 euro person/190 kn per way (reservation requested). Please note, that it is not possible to take your own bike in trains.
• Transfer from/to Rijeka airport (on embarkation and disembarkation days only): 20 euro/150,69 kn person/way
• Transfer from/to Rijeka train station (on embarkation and disembarkation days only): 30 Euro/226,03kn per person/way (minimum 2 persons)
• Collective transfers between Zagreb and Omišalj on day of embarkation/disembarkation only (11:30 am from Zagreb Center or 12:15 pm from Zagreb Airport / return transfer from Omišalj to Zagreb Airport starts at 8 am: 60 euro person/way and 60 euro bicycle/way (reservation required two weeks in advance, booking incl. complete transmission of flight details – minimum 2 persons)
• Exclusive transfer (on request)
• 2-day extension module Zagreb in a 4**** hotel – Detailed Itinerary on request.
• 3-day extension module Varaždin und Trakošćan in a 3 *** hotel and 4**** hotel  – Detailed Itinerary on request.
• Additional night on Island Krk: On request

Not included in the tour price

• Journey to Omišalj /Krk Island – Flat rate for bottled water, Visitor’s tax and local charges 50 euro/375 kn for adults or 25 euro/190 kn for children up to age 16 (to be paid to the captain)
• Beverages on board (tally sheet; to be paid to the captain)
• Meals and beverages ashore
• Tips for tour guides and crew

Price reductions

• With three persons sharing a cabin, we allow a 50 % discount on the basic tour price for the third person, regardless of age, and do neither charge the above-deck surcharge for the third person. Three bed cabins are equipped with one double and one single bed.
• Children up to age 16 receive a discount of 25 % on the basic tour price (not combinable with the 50 % discount); Surcharge for single cabin use will be added.

For more and updated info please visit: www.inselhuepfen.com/en/kms

If you would like to book this trip directly, please follow this booking link:

Direct booking of the MTB & Boat Kvarner Bay Special trip

If you have any questions about this trip before booking, please contact us by email at:
info@islandhopping.com