discover kvarner bay

MTB & Boat Kvarner Bay Standard
(8 Days/7 Nights, up to 143 mi/230 km, 11,155 ft/3,400 m of elevation by MTB, level 2, S0-S2)

Spend a week on a charming motor sailer and travel to the islands of Cres, Molat, Dugi Otok, Pag, Rab and Krk. Your guide will accompany you to the hidden corners of the region. The hilly to mountainous landscape with partly challenging slopes requires good physical condition. The islands vary greatly and therefore offer large variety while biking: wide natural paths, small side roads, Roman roads, seafront promenades and narrow paths which will lead you across the islands.

This MTB & boat tour is aimed at off-road fans who enjoy a tour outdoors in nature in varying terrain but is not specifically trail orientated. The dedicated MTB trail percentage is limited to what the islands have to offer. This tour takes place parallel to our hybrid bike & boat tour in the Kvarner Bay on the same boat. One tour guide takes care of the mountain bikers whilst the other one accompanies our trekking riders. If you have a partner or a friend, who prefers cycling to biking, don’t hesitate to bring him/her with you. So you can have a common vacation and indulge in your favorite hobbies during the daytime.

If you prefer technically challenging trails or prefer to bike more daily kilometers, our Kvarner Bay MTB Special & boat tour with varying difficulty levels for mountain bikers, would be the right choice for you.

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

1st Day Omišalj (Embarkation) – Cres
Individual arrival in Omišalj, a picturesque fishing harbour on the island of Krk. Embarkation takes place between 2 and 2:30 pm. Our 4 hour crossing to Cres starts at 3 pm. Meanwhile we can sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful views of Rijeka and the looming Ucka Mountain. We spend the evening in the Venetian influenced town of Cres.

2nd Day (Sat) Islands of Cres and Lošinj (aprx. 17 mi./28 km, aprx. 2460 ft./750 m of elevationAfter breakkfast our tour starts from the city of Cres and takes us to the small port of  Martinšćica. After a efficient climb on asphalt roads, the off-road joy ride can begin with incredible views over the bay of Valun. After a nice break in the village of Podol, we will continue on natural paths and goats tracks with at times flowy sections, past the Vraner Lake to our boat in Martinšćica. Enjoy the cruise from here to Mali Lošinj. The port with its colourful facades and numerous cafes offers its visitors a welcoming atmosphere for a relaxed evening.

3rd Day (Sun) Islands of Lošinj and Molat (aprx. 16 + 9 mi./aprx. 26 + 14 km, aprx. 820 + 695 ft./250 + 212 m of elevation)
In the morning a short tour leads us across the island of Lošinj, which is literally made for mountain biking. We bike through pine forests past palm trees and agaves along a promenade to mirrored city of Veli Lošinj, the former capital of the island. It invites us for a break with ice cream parlors and cafés. Back on the ship one of the most beautiful crossovers awaits us. Arriving on the flower island of Molat we starts a second bike tour. Although there are no prepaired trails on this island, Molat impresses with its rich vegetation, neat gardens and great views of the neighboring islands. We spend the night in a peaceful and secluded port on the island.

4th Day (Mon) Islands of Dugi Otok and Olib (aprx. 22 mi./36 km, aprx. 1804 ft./550 m of elevation)

During breakfast the ship brings us to the island Dugi Otok, where we explore mostly on asphalt roads the northern, elongated part of the narrow island by bike. The scenic road opens to magnificent views of bays, islands and the mainland frequently. Many spots offer a view of the sea on both sides of the island. Our ship can be seen navigating to the next harbor where it awaits our arrival in Savar or Brbinj. On arrival we can cool off with a refreshing dip in the sea. We continue by boat to the small island of Olib for the night.

5th Day (Tue) Islands of Pag and Rab (aprx. 21 mi./34 km, aprx. 1660 ft./506 m of elevation

After a morning crossing we reach the island of Pag. Today’s bike tour takes us mainly on asphalt roads past stone walls and a sheep’s pastures to Novalja. After a short coffee break we continue to the northernmost part of the island Pag. The rugged, karstic island, which is covered with herbs, offers the ideal basis for the famous spicy cheese of Pag. Also well-known are the olives from the ancient olive groves of Lun, through which we descend just before the end of the tour. The short crossover to Rab offers one of the most marvelous view of the medieval city walls of the city of Rab. After landing we can explore the numerous alleys on a leisurely walk through the lovely old town, which emerges out of a wedge-shaped peninsula.

6th Day (Wed) Islands of Rab and Krk (aprx. 21 mi./34 km, aprx. 1968 ft./600 m of elevation)

Rab is a small island, but excellent for mountain biking. It offers plenty of opportunities and varying bike terrain. Today’s tour takes us along narrow promenades and Roman roads, along flowy trail sections and through shaded forests around the island, with constant glimpses of the clear blue sea. Once back at the boat, we start our cruise to the nearby island of Krk. We hope to throw the anchor along the way for a refreshing swim stop. The evening and night is spent in the historical town of Krk.

7th Day (Thu) Krk Island (aprx. 28 mi./45 km, aprx. 2,690 ft./820 m of elevation)

Our last bike tour leads us across the so called “golden island” of Krk. The famous Zlahtin grape vines thrive here, grown mainly around the town of Vrbnik. We bike past expansive vineyards, olive groves and long stone walls. After a coffee break we follow the wide coastal paths back to the muddy bay, Soline. The final stretch takes us along narrow paths and through peaceful villages to Omišalj, where we can enjoy the end of our trip with a cozy evening on board.

8th Day Omišalj (Disembarkation)
The guests are asked to check out after breakfast, i. e. around 9 am. Individual trip home or extend your holidays 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 2

Sporty daily tours with partly mountainous stages of about 20 to 34 mi./32 to 55 km and 656 to 2,952 ft./200 to 900 m of elevation gain. The mountain bike terrain is very diverse as is the landscapes of the different islands. The hilly to mountainous terrain with some steep ascents requires a good physical condition. The islands are very different from one another and have a correspondingly large amount of variety while biking: wide natural trails, small side roads, Roman roads, paved promenades and narrow paths run across the island. 

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.

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.

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 (shower/toilet in each cabin)

At 31 x 6 m the Linda is a sleek wooden motor sailor built in 1955 and fully refurbished in 2006. She hosts 14 friendly guest cabins each with own shower and WC. The spacious and tastefully furnished salon with its wooden tables and cushioned benches provides a welcoming atmosphere. The large rooftop sundeck is laid out with padded sunning mats offering you a great space to switch off and relax in.

The captain and his united crew are eager to welcome you on board for a recuperative vacation. The crew, who have been working together for many years, takes care of their guests touchingly and is looking forward to preparing an unforgettable holiday for you.

For more detailed information about the Linda please visit: https://www.inselhuepfen.com/en/linda/

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

– from 1.290 euro (comfort ship Linda)

Included services

• 8-day-trip on a motor 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 rides and sightseeing as described in itinerary
• Overview-maps for the daily tours on board
• Bed linen and towels

• English-speaking tour guide

• Tourist taxes

Additional optional services (on request)

• Shared twin cabin (on request)
• Surcharge for a cabin above deck: 250euro/1.883 kn person
• Surcharge for a double cabin for single use below deck: 600 euro/4.520 kn (limited, on request)
• Surcharge for a double cabin for single use above deck: 800 euro/6.027kn (limited, on request)
• 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)
• 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
• 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 – Detailed Itinerary on request

• Additional night on Island Krk: on request

Not included in the tour price

• Journey to Omisalj/Krk Island
• Flat rate for bottled water, 25 euro/188,36kn or 15 euro/113,02kn 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

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

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

Direct booking of the MTB & Boat trip Kvarner Bay

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