Coastal Croatia: Porec to Pula Cycling

Coastal Croatia: Porec to Pula Cycling

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Coastal Croatia: Porec to Pula Cycling

8 Days Starting in Porec and ending in Fazana

Visiting: Croatia

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

C07IS

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 6

Physical rating:

Easy & Moderate

Age range:

12-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Cycling

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Istria, often referred to as Croatia’s Tuscany, is simply idyllic for a week-long cycling holiday. This self-guided route gives you the freedom to explore the area's treasure trove of antiquities at your own pace. The UNESCO sites of Porec and Rovinj and the amphitheatre in Pula give a distinctly cultural edge to this relaxed cycling itinerary. The hotels offer local charm, all close to the seafront so you can enjoy the atmosphere of the harbours and sunsets over the sea.

Highlights

  • Explore the Istrian Peninsula

  • Discover Roman architecture

  • Superb swimming opportunities

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Start Porec.

On arrival you can go for a swim nearby or explore the town before your bike briefing at 6pm.

Day 2 : Visit The Unesco Heritage Basilica Of Euphrasius. Follow Coastal Cycle Tracks; Then Loop Back To Porec.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The 300AD UNESCO heritage Basilica of Euphrasius with golden frescoes and intricate mosaics is at the heart of Porec, and you cycle past it along the shore as you go north. Seaside tracks pass a ruined Roman amphora factory, and follow clear bays and headlands for 10km. Loop back inland to visit a giant limestone cave - Jama Baredine - then sip some zingy Roxanich wines as you pass by their vineyard, before heading back for a swim in the pool.

Day 3 : Free Day To Explore Rovinj

Meals Included: Breakfast

A transfer takes you all the way to Rovinj. The town rivals Venice (just a day trip over the bay) for charm, where marbled alleyways are soft with candlelight and lively dining tables. Lose yourself in art galleries and boutiques, find a sunny swimming cove, or take a boat out to one of the small islands just off shore.

Day 4 : Enjoy A Short Optional Ride From Rovinj.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take a lazy northern loop passing ruined churches, olive groves and oxblood soils tilled by rusty tractors. On your return, enjoy a swim from the boat piers, then relax with a sundowner on the shore. After sunset some bars put cushions on rocks and underwater lights shimmer as fishing boats return for the night.



Day 5 : Picturesque Rural Riding To Bale; Time For Lunch In The Old Town; Then On To Fazana

Meals Included: Breakfast

Head south on a winding coastal path under umbrella pines, bayhopping for 8km by crystal seas. A steady, gentle ascent brings you to the small town of Bale, known as Castrum Vallis by the Romans who built a castle here to protect their salt trade. It's then back downhill to the sea and through walnuts, plums, almonds, figs and vines to Fazana.

Day 6 : Cycle To Pula To Visit The Beautifully Preserved Roman Amphitheatre.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Cycle to Pula where there is a network of marbled alleys to explore, many packed with Roman remains including a beautifully preserved amphitheatre from 27BC. Spend the day here or head back to take the boat to the Brijuni National Park - Roman villas, Byzantine villages, herds of deer and pine-fringed bays make for an amazing visit!

Day 7 : Cycle Inland To Vodnjan Village Brimming With Architectural Treats; Return To Fazana.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Pedal inland through lemon, pine and olive trees to Istria's ancient capital of Vodnjan, a sleepy village full of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Pick up some picnic supplies at the bakery, then head north for lunch amid kazuna (stone beehive-style huts), near the 8th century church of Sta Foska. Return along the coast, passing remains of Roman baths on the shore. Back in Fazana, take a sunset stroll along the harbour.

Day 8 : End Fazana.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast if you have pre-booked a transfer we will take you to Pula airport in time for your flight.

What's Included

  • All breakfasts

  • Luggage transfers

  • Headwater Navigation App

  • High Quality Bikes

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request -compulsory supplement)

  • Visas or vaccinations

  • Arrival & departure transfers (available on request)

  • Tourist taxes to be paid locally: approx. 13€/trip

Accommodation

We use 3 and 4-star hotels throughout, enjoying excellent locations and some spectacular coastal views. A highlight is the Villa Tuttorotto in Rovinj, one street back from the waterfront. This is a little 7 bedroom townhouse, squirreled away down a back alley, with a delightfully personal atmosphere. All the hotels are well located and all rooms have en suite facilities. All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory single room supplement (please see dates and prices on the website).

Food

All breakfasts included. Croatian food is an amalgamation of flavours and influence, from inland to coastal and from former rulers from Italy and Austria. On the coast pasta, risotto and pizza dishes frequent the menus - a favourite is cuttlefish risotto where the rice is dyed black by the fish ink. In Istria they fish a lot of shellfish and crustaceans, so oysters, crab and prawns feature in many dishes. Sardines are also one of the mainstays of the local diet and are usually served grilled and drizzled with lemon juice on a bed of crunchy salad. Pork and lamb are by far the most popular meats, and you will also find lots of cured meats, usually served with olives. Desserts are often quite heavy and sticky, but there also tends to be a good display of ice-cream on offer thanks to the Italian influence.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Only Luggage transfers

  • What is the maximum group size?

    3 and 4-star hotels

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    13+ age people can go in this tour.

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    3 and 4-star hotels

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Coastal Croatia by Bike

Fantastic holiday. Arrangements, schedule and hotels were first class.

Cycling in Istria

This week-long self-guided cycling trip was excellent. Cycling through olive groves, along rocky shores and sampling tasty local food. Typical distances were 30K a day suggested, but there is great scope for extending (or shortening) routes to suit yourself. Directions were generally good, and accommodation was excellent along the way in very friendly hotels in Fazana (especially!) Rovinj and Porec.

Great intro to Istria

The accommodation on the trip was first class, small family run hotels with excellent staff in very good locations. The bikes were very good and well equipped. Istria is a lovely place. The food was very good, particularly the seafood, as you'd expect. The wine was also very good too. I was a little disappointed by the cycling, I think if you are a regular cyclist on British roads it won't faze you, but I'm used to quiet road and cycle path cycling. About 1/2 the trip is on roads, some of which are quiet, but others have fast traffic and are quite busy. I managed it, but it did mean some of it wasn't as relaxing as I thought it would be. Others doing the same trip, who were more used to road cycling, thought the traffic was fine, so don't let that put you off. The scenery around Porec , and the final day's cycling was lovely, and on paths and quiet roads. Other days were more mixed, with the towns rather than the cycling being the highlight.

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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