Experience the Heart of Europe by MTB & Boat

MTB & Boat Highlights of Istria MTB

Experience the Heart of Europe by MTB & Boat from/to Omisalj 8 days/7 nights, aprx. 144 mi./232 km / aprx. 11154 ft./3400 m elevation by bicycle, level S1 – 2, S0 – 2

„The heart of Europe” is what the Istrians call their peninsula. This is where Central Europe and the world of Mediterranean meet. Explore this unique coastal destination for one week on your bike. The Istrian Peninsula is perfect for off-road fans: fascinating landscapes, thrilling and sometimes challenging single trails with relatively few meters of elevation in a diverse range of terrain. Truly enticing for a MTB holiday by the sea!

This MTB tour takes place parallel to our hybrid bike tour on board of the same boat. Both itineraries are fully guided.

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

1st Day (Fri) Omišalj (Embarkation) – Cres Island

Individual arrival to Omišalj, a charming pirate’s 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 Omišalj. 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. 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.

2nd Day (Sat) Cres – Pula (aprx. 24 mi./40 km; 1640 ft./500 m of elevation, S1 – S2, bike park S3)

In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with a pleasant morning cruise to Pula. In the afternoon we explore Cape Kamenjak with its great diversity of pedal trails. The Park also has more than 30 bays with a rich flora and fauna which enrich our visit. After our afternoon on the bikes we return back to Pula where we can take part on an inspiring guided city tour before enjoying our evening exploring the town further at our leisure. The night is spent in Pula.

3rd Day (Sun) Pula – Vrsar – Poreč (aprx. 16 mi./27 km; 820 ft./250 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with another pleasant morning cruise this time to Vrsar. It is in Vrsar that the heartbreaker Casanova is believed to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers. From here we bike along the Limski Channel, through forests, fields and vineyards and visit the small San Servolo bike park with a small selection of trails at varying levels. At the end of a great afternoon on our bikes we conclude our tour in the city of Porec. 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 worth a visit and there is also plenty of time to go for a swim and relax in the afternoon. The night is spent in Porec. 

4th Day (Mon) Poreč – Novigrad (aprx. 37 mi./60 km; 2625 ft./800 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

In the morning we follow the “Parenzana”, an abandoned railroad line, which leads us to the famous artists’ village of Groznjan. The picturesque artists’ 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. From here we can experiment on a number of technical downhill trails before continuing along gravel roads through rural Istria to Novigrad, where we can enjoy the evening and spend the night.

5th Day (Tue) Rovinj (aprx. 17 mi./28 km; 984 ft./300 m of elevation, S0 – S1)

In the morning the boat takes us to Rovinj during breakfast, the starting point of today’s bike ride. Today’s ride is less technical but very scenic with a beautiful beach as our destination. After a pleasant swim, we return back to the boat and with 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 here.

6th Day (Wed) Rovinj – Fažana – Rabac (aprx. 20 mi./33 km; 820 ft./250 m of elevation, S0 – S1)

Our morning bike ride takes us near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths and gravel roads to Fažana, with its quaint little harbor and promenade lined with colorful houses. We board the boat and enjoy a cruise along the coast 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.

7th Day (Thu) Insel Cres – Insel Krk: Njivice – Omišalj (aprx. 25 mi./41 km; 1574 ft./480 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

In the early morning, we cross to the island of Krk, where a final tour awaits us. The route will lead us from Njivice to Omišalj with some great trail sections along the way. The largest island in Croatia and home of the delicious Zlahtina white wine impresses with its diverse landscapes. Don’t miss the opportunity to cover yourself in the mineral rich mud in the bay of Soline – it will not only leave you looking ten years younger, but also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of Omišalj, 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.

8th Day (Fri) Omišalj (Disembarkation)

After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.

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.

MTB Level S1 – 2

Easy to moderate daily tours with stages of about 15 to 31 mi./25 to 50 km and 980 to 2,952 ft./300 to 900 m of elevation gain. Istria is a mountain biker’s paradise with a range of trails from easy to moderate to choose from. We ride on mainly unblocked flow trails, wide natural paths and quiet asphalt roads. It should not be required to carry your bike over any blocked paths. Wearing a protective bike helmet is mandatory – we recommend bringing your own helmet with you. Rental helmets are available in limited numbers on board (reservation required). Instead of taking part on a MTB tour, you are also welcome to either join the hybrid bike group or to remain on/near the boat. The daily tour program is dictated by the weather and the decisions of the captain.

Single-Trail Classification
To ensure that you are well prepared for your bike tour with Islandhopping and know what technical difficult level to expect, we have created a classification for all single trails that could be ridden on our tours. The difficulty levels included in our classification coincide with the Single Trail Scale which can be found at here.

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

Red (medium, S2): loose surfaces, larger stones and roots, steps and shallow stairs, gradients of up to 70 %, light hairpins. Constant readiness to brake, shift of centre weight to overcome obstacles, accurate braking, consistent body tension required.

Black (difficult, 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 required.

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.

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.

Bringing Children/Teenagers
We believe that only children in a good physical condition with a minimum age of 14 who have previous MTB riding experience can keep up with the demands of our mountain bike tours. In addition, they should have prior experience with riding techniques needed for descending on narrow trails and technical terrain. Please be aware, that our smallest rental mountain bikes are suited to a body height of 1.50 m and above (XS frame). Croatian law requires children under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet when riding a bike.

Catering

The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering consists of 2 x full board and 5 x half board. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure 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 detailed information about the Linda please visit: https://www.inselhuepfen.com/en/linda/

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

Direct booking of the MTB & Boat trip Highlihts of Istria

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