Description

Istria offers idyllic cycling through a medieval landscape of castles and vineyards. The terrain is perfect for the cyclist who wants to combine slightly rolling and hilly terrain.

1.DAY- ARRIVAL

Arrival in Pore. Meeting point is in our office in Pore
(map with location of our office will be sent to you) where we will provide you with: package including hotel vouchers, bycicle with all equipment, maps and a road book. Transfer from Pore to accommodation in Buje and overnight.

2. DAY - BIKING MOMJAN MUSCAT TRAIL - 38 km / 23 miles

Breakfast, apart from enjoying the breathtaking landscape of the terrace-styled vineyards which resemble to an image on the front page of a holiday guide to Tuscany, you can indulge the sensation the area of Buje gives, a real polyphony of fragrances and tastes. After we have walked along the paved streets of the old centre of Buje, we continue downhill, follow the trail leading through Bibali, Krug and Smilovici and you will reach Momjan a magnificent place located at an altitude of 270 meter with impressive ruins of the medieval citadel built on a rock. Visiting one of most popular wine cellar you will have opportunity to taste world's best Muscat that from Momjan. Overnight in Buje area.

Asphalt - 18 km
Macadam - 20 km

3.DAY - BIKING PARENZANA TRAIL - 68 km / 42 miles

After breakfast we will start biking (on macadam) on the legendary route of the Parenzana, the former narrow-gauge railway line which deeply into the Istrian peninsula and from Porec to Trieste connects 33 Istrian cities, which today are located on the territory of even three states. Passing through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards, once it was named as the railway of the wine. After passing through many tunnels, over old bridges and stop on many fascinating view point from charming medieval town of Gronjan to Viinada we reach Pore, the town where you can find material and spiritual evidences of great cultures at every step. Ride along the old city center and you will find there the Roman Forum which was once a fortified Roman camp, magnificent palaces from different historical periods, e.g. the "House of the two Saints" and the famous Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana). Overnight in Pore area.
Asphalt - 19 km
Macadam - 49 km

4.DAY - BIKING THE TRAIL OF THE ISTRIAN MALVASIA - 50 km / 31 miles

Breakfast, The ride along this trail is particularly pleasant because you are riding along the coastline with beautiful bays where you can enjoy the breathtaking Mediterranean landscape with green vineyards and olive groves and taste home made food, wine, brandy and honey produced in this area. Continuing along the trail, you will reach Vianjan, a little place that vaunts an astronomical observatory ranked among the 5 most important observatories in the world. If you have found here your guiding star, or if you have refreshed yourself with a glass of excellent home made wine we can continue our ride towards Pore where our adventure has, actually, began. Overnight in Pore
area.

Asphalt - 19 km
Macadam - 21 km

5.DAY - BIKING TRAIL OF CAPTAIN MORGAN - 50 km / 31 miles

Breakfast, A marsh, rare birds, a cursed city, buried pirates treasure, a fjord, a cave with a primitive man and a hermit, an ancient solar observatory - all this you can find on our bike trail of Captain Morgan. After riding along the coastline we reach Vrsar, romantic fishermen village where the famous Casanova came back even two times. Our bike ride we continue through the magical forest Kontija with a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of the Lim Fjord to ruins of the medieval town Dvigrad. Just to stir your imagination - you are now in an area where many legends and mysteries based on historical events still live on: that of Dvigrad devastated by the plague because of an ancient curse, of the buried treasure of Captain Morgan's pirates near the village named after him (Mrgani), of the cave where the remains of the primitive man were found and where, as legend has it, St Romuald used to live as a hermit in the Middle Ages.
Passing Kanfanar and the hill Maklavun, an astral-archaeological site tumul from the Bronze Age we will finish this day in Rovinj.

Asphalt - 26 km
Macadam - 24 km

6.DAY - BIKING BRIJUNI RIVERA TRAIL - 50 km / 31 miles

After breakfast we start riding along the coastline towards Pula. Riding through the ornithological reserve Palud with rich variety of ornitho-fauna, a unique place where you can hear the chirping of even 215 different bird species we reach Faana, Situated on a low coast, well protected from the open sea by the enchanting Brijuni archipelago (nowadays a national park) and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the hinterland, Faana was well known already in ancient Roman times. Which city is situated on seven hills, has a magnificent Amphitheater and is not Rome? The answer is - Pula. No, it is not a mistake you are, indeed, in front of Pula, the largest city in Istria. Pula is an enchantress with thousand appearances which has been casting spell on its visitors for centuries. This day we finish visiting the old city with the Sergius' Triumphal Arch (from the end of the 1st century B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century A.D.) and famous Arena, a Roman amphitheater (from the 1st century B.C.).

Overnight in Pula area.
Asphalt - 20 km
Macadam - 30 km

7. DAY - BIKING ORCHIDS TRAIL - 50 km

After we start last biking tour along well-intended coast to Cape Kamenjak, surrounded by the 30 km long coast with numerous gulfs, bays and white beaches washed by the crystal clear blue green sea we reach ancient Mutila, nowadays Medulin. On the was we can find 22 types of orchids including the endemic specie "Serapias Istriaca" (the Istrian orchid), see the so-called "islet - plate" where the dinosaur's footprint has been preserved or find the remains of luxurious Roman villae rusticae. Overnight in Pula area.
Asphalt - 23 km
Macadam - 27 km

8.DAY - DEPARTURE

After breakfast transfer to Pore.

Highlights

Istria abounds in gravel, lawn, forest and mountain pathways, designed for the mountain biking adventure of your dreams. Perfect for the cyclist who wants to combine rolling and hilly terrain.

Euphrasius basilica in Porec (UNESCO), old town of Rovinj, Roman Amphitheatre in Pula, bike trail on old railway line Parenzana, nature park Lim Fjord, nature park Cape Kamenjak, Istrian wine and food

Travel Types

• Cycling (Mountain)
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Nature Tours
• Photography
• Sports
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Vacation Packages

Cost in US$:

from USD 730,0

Program Fees Include:

welcome meeting
2 x overnight in Buje area in rural hotel 3*
2 x overnight in Porec area in hotel/pension 3*
1 x overnight in Rovinj area in hotel/pension 3*
2 x overnight in Pula area in hotel/pension 3*
7 x breakfast
transfer from Pore
to Buje (on arrival ) and from Pula to Pore
(on departure)
Information package including detailed route description (maps and road book) and vouchers
luggage transport between accommodation

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Year Founded

1993