English
French
8 Day Private Land Tour
Visiting: POREČ – BUJE – BUZET – RABAC – PULA – ROVINJ – POREČ
This adventure is ideal for those who want to cycle at their own pace, who want to travel at dates they prefer and who do not want to carry their own luggage while accommodation, daily logistics, ferries and other transfers are taken care of.
With the roadbook and detailed maps provided, you will get insider access to the best bike routes, beautiful bays and beaches, restaurants, galleries, museums, nightlife, wine cellars and other places of interest, which are on your bike path!
DAY 1
Arrival to Poreč
Welcome meeting with our representative will be at 7:00 pm at the hotel reception area. There you will receive your package which will include hotel vouchers, a bicycle with all equipment, maps, and a roadbook.
Accommodation: hotel in Poreč
DAY 2
Poreč – Buje
Our cycling tour of Istria will start with a ride from Poreč, where you can find materials and spirituals evidence of great cultures at every step. Walk along the old city center and you will find the Roman Forum, magnificent palaces from different historical periods, and, to top it all, the famous Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana). You will be riding along a coastline with beautiful bays where you can enjoy the breathtaking Mediterranean landscape with green vineyards and olive groves and taste homemade food, wine, brandy and honey produced in this area.
Continuing along the trail, you will reach Višnjan, a little place that has an astronomical observatory ranked among the 5 most important observatories in the world. Passing by Mirna river delta and Novigrad you will arrive in Umag, a town that, apart for its incandescent Riviera, boasts a rich historical heritage which includes a unique event – the festival of the traditional organ (Organum Histriae). Umag is situated on a peninsula, founded in the transitional period from late antiquity into the early middle age; the historic center that loudly speaks with the spirit of the old Venetian Republic. Continuing to the northernmost point of Istria (Savudrija) and finish your first day in Buje area.
Distance: 70 km / 43 miles
Overnight stay: guesthouse in Kladanija
Highlights: Poreč, Višnjan (wine cellars), Mirna river delta, City of Novigrad, City of Umag, Savudrija
Meals: breakfast
DAY 3
Buje – Buzet
On the way to Buzet we will ride across Grožnjan, “The town of artists”, a typical Istrian medieval town located high on top of the hill along the right coast of the river Mirna, vaunting its centenary walls, its renaissance loggia dating from 1585 and the beautiful St. Vitus and Modesto’s baroque church. While riding along its streets, you’ll find that almost every door leads to art studios or galleries, and windows from every direction echo the sounds of different music genres from classical to jazz.
Continuing on your ride to discover Šterna; a village named after a big local cistern, situated on the large plateau intersected by water flows. Then go on to explore Oprtalj with unchanged urban medieval disposition, narrow streets, shops, beautiful Venetian palaces, portals and covered passages, and a particularly unique view of the Istrian peninsula from the town loggia, according to many, the most beautiful of Istria.
Finally, arrive in Buzet, known in Roman times as Pinquentium, today is known as ’’the City of truffles’’. The surrounding forests along the valley of the river Mirna cover some of the best areas of the entire Istria for the hunting of this divine tuberous.
Distance: 47 km / 29 miles
Overnight stay: hotel in Buze
Highlights: City of Buje, Grožnjan the “city of artists”, Livade – the truffle center of the world, Istrian spa center, City of Buzet
Meals: breakfast
DAY 4
Buzet – Rabac
After a tough climb to Prodani, the road leads to one of the most attractive and picturesque Istrian medieval towns, Dragud. This place which, until some hundred years ago, was known for the cultivation of the silkworm. Today it is almost completely abandoned but its unforgettable natural position, the exceptional beauty of the stone architecture, modest palaces, the walls and the old churches have kept location alive. This location has been used in the making of many national and foreign TV series and movies, like the “The 3 Musketeers”.
Pazin, the true heart of Istria, is known as the commercial, cultural and educational center central Istria. Unique for its spectacular position above the karst abyssal cave, Pazin holds the medieval Kaštel. Today the Ethnographic Museum of Istria and the Municipal Museum are both in the castle. Kaštel is located on the verge of a 130 meters deep abyss. From
From Pazin, you pass through Gračišde, an absolute pearl of the Istrian hinterland. The entrance into this town is truly enchanting with a magnificent Salomon mansion made in the combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles. This structure will make you think you’re lost in some distant corner of Venice.
Continue further through Kršan, feudal land property, having obtained its name for the rockiness of the spot and at the same time, was erected on the foundations of an ancient early medieval burg, we arrive in Rabac, the pearl of the Kvarner bay. Overnight in Rabac.
Distance: 67 km / 41 miles
Overnight stay: hotel in Rabac
Highlights: City of Dragud, Pazin the capital of central Istria, Gračišde, City of Labin, Rabac the pearl of east Istria
Meals: breakfast
DAY 5
Rabac – Pula
Today you will ride across Raša, the first modern mining town in Istria, Barban and on to Pula. On the way, you will find “Liburna”, a nature reserve of autochthon animals. Apart from these charming animals, in particularly sociable donkey, you will find a unique ethnological collection of antique tools.
Which city is situated on seven hills, has a magnificent Amphitheater and is not Rome? The answer is Pula. This city is an enchantress with thousands of appearances casting spells on its visitors for centuries. End the day visiting the Sergius’ Triumphal Arch, from the end of the 1st century B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century A.D., and the famous Arena, a Roman amphitheater from the 1st century B.C.
Distance: 53 km / 33 miles
Overnight stay: hotel in Pula
Highlights: Raša river valley, Barban city, Istrian villages, City of Vodnjan, Roman amphitheater in Pula, Old part of Pula
Meals: breakfast
DAY 6
Pula – Rovinj
Cycle along the coastline towards Rovinj. You will head for the mysterious world of the Bale region, proud for its glorious Soardo-Bembo Castle of the Gothic and Renaissance period and the parish church of St. Julian. Bale had been developed from the ancient Roman castrum (military fortification) along Via Flava, the ancient Roman road that used to connect Trieste and Pula. Discover Sv. Vinčenat, with its grandiose Morosini-Grimani citadel with towers, parish church, municipal loggia and a line of 16th-century Renaissance houses and a town šterna in the middle. Sv. Vinčenat really belongs to a range of the most attractive Venetian creations of that period. This day finishes in Rovinj.
Distance: 55 km / 34 miles
Overnight stay: hotel in Rovinj
Highlights: Restaurants in Fažana, Castle in St.Vincent, Palaces in Bale, City of Rovinj
Meals: breakfast
DAY 7
Rovinj – Poreč
Rare birds, a marsh, a cursed city, buried pirate’s treasure, a fjord, a cave with a primitive man and a hermit, an ancient solar observatory – all this you will find during today’s biking trip. Our bike ride will take us across Kanfanar to the ruins of the medieval town of Dvigrad. Just to stir the imagination, you will arrive in an area where many legends and mysteries, based on historical events, still live on. Such as the city being devastated by the plague because of an ancient curse, the buried treasure of Captain Morgan’s pirates near the village named after him, Mrgani, a 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. After riding along the coastline you will reach Vrsar, a romantic fishermen village where the famous Casanova came back to two times.
Distance: 60 km / 37 miles
Accommodation: hotel in Poreč
Highlights: Old city of Rovinj, Ruins of Dvigrad, Lim Bay, City of Vrsar, Poreč
Meals: breakfast
DAY 8
Poreč – Departure day!
Private transfer from your hotel to the airport.
Daily distances: 0 – 70 km per day
Total distance biked: 350 km in 6 days
Level of difficulty: moderate with average daily distances up to 60km
How flat or hilly is this tour: moderately hilly
Road Surface: paved
Suitable for families: yes
This package includes:
- 2 x overnight in hotel in Poreč
- 1 x overnight in hotel in Buje
- 1 x overnight in hotel in Buzet
- 1 x overnight in hotel in Rabac
- 1 x overnight in hotel in Pula
- 1 x overnight in hotel in Rovinj
- 7 x breakfast
- road book – Information package including detailed route description and vouchers
- luggage transport
- 24/7 emergency number
Package does not include:
- bike rental service ***
- travel and bike insurance
- arrival and departure from Istra
- transfer from airport to hotel and re-tour (can be organized at request)
- lunches, dinners, and drinks
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Airfare, Travel Insurance
- Gratuities, Personal expenses
- Additional excursions and / or services not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses (internet, telephone, mini bar etc.)
- Tips and porterage services
Bike Tour – Poreč to Rovinj – 8 Days
- Available from May through October
- 8 Day Self-Guided, Private Journey
- Prices are based on number of passengers traveling and dates of travel
- Hotels are not guaranteed until confirmed
Why do you want to choose a self-guided bike tour?
On these trips, you will be riding without the guide, but Adventures Croatia is always “behind the scenes”, making sure logistics run smoothly and offer 24/7 support.
One of Adventures Croatia’s missions is to present local culture and customs while offering outdoor activities.
Save yourself a lot of time spent on research, choose one of our self-guided bike tours, leave your luggage behind and enjoy the ride!
Are the self-guided bike tours tailor-made?
Another Adventures Croatia specialty is creating a tailor-made self-guided bike tour. Duration of your holiday, extra services on tours, type of accommodation (sail boat, yacht, hotel, and luxury villa or boutique hotel) and types of transport between the islands can be combined to create unique experiences during your Croatian holiday.
Since we are not a big company or booking engine site, your early inquiries for tailor-made tours would be much appreciated! Adventures Croatia’s busiest season is during the months of May, June, September, and October. Please plan ahead for your want a custom itinerary.
What’s included?
Orientation meeting
Presented by Adventures Croatia representative. Get a full explanation of tour logistics, daily bike rides, historical and general description of areas to be visited, local wine and dining suggestions and more suggestions based on your preferences.
Bike fitting
During the bike fitting, we make sure bikes are correctly adjusted for you, and that you are aware how to use the brakes, gears etc. As we have 6 different frame sizes, adjustable stems on each bike, different seats (soft, gel, racing-stiff, all-around) and different type of pedals we are sure we can fit our bikes to work well for you.
Quality bike rental
Road, hybrid, tandem and children bikes are available for our self-guided trips. Our bikes are serviced regularly and inspected before they leave our base in Split. For pedals, you can choose either flat or toe cage pedals, or bring your own SPD or similar pedals. We do have helmets for you but prefer if you bring your own.
Luggage transfer
All you have to do is pack and unpack your luggage when changing hotel; the rest is on us.
Road book with detailed cycling maps and route descriptions
Each year we put a lot of effort in the development of our maps. We are continuously scouting for new roads! We have created route descriptions ourselves, meaning that we have actually covered every inch of the trail and every bump on the route. The result is a clearly written set of route descriptions that guide you, km by km, along the trail, and supply you with further information as well (points of interest, refreshments, local restaurants etc.).
Something extra you will receive on our self-guided tour is detailed daily descriptions of various sights and natural wonders you will find along the cycling path. Whether it is a historical site, gourmet restaurant, local wine cellar, amazing beach, art gallery or similar, we will point that out for you!