Itinerary
Islandhopping by Boat & Bike: Highlights of Istria
8 days / 7 nights | Ship: Linda | from / to Omisalj
„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. Everything from the grand amphitheater in Pula to the natural wonders of the region make this tour so special.
Fall in love with the Adriatic Sea on this bike & boat tour in Istria. Relax while being on a romantic motor sailer - your floating home. Get on your bicycle after an invigorating breakfast, enjoy your lunch break ashore or meet your ship in one of the pretty harbors for a crossing. Enjoy the outstanding cuisine aboard after getting to the next harbor while watching the sunset or stroll around historical harbor towns before going to sleep under the stars… either on deck or in your cabin.
The itinerary of the Istria Highlights tour is the same as the itinerary of the Istria Highlights PLUS tour, making the PLUS tour on board the Deluxe ship a great alternative should you have difficulties finding availability on this trip.
Highlights of this bike and boat trip
✔ Culture: A visit to the impressive amphitheatre in Pula
✔ Nature: The beautiful Limski-Canal
✔ Activity: Visit to the famous Baredine Cave with its underground lake
✔ Culinary: The famous white truffles from Istria
Day 1 (Fri) Omisalj (Embarkation) - Cres
Individual arrival to Omisalj, a charming pirates 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 Omisalj. Check-in on board is possible from around 2pm. The first cruise to the Island and city of Cres takes place shortly after. If the weather permits we will stop for a refreshing swim stop along the way. In the evening your guide will take you for a walk through the charming old town, characterized by its Venetian heritage. The night is spent in Cres.
Day 2 (Sat) Cres – Liznjan – Pula (aprx. 29 mi./47 km by bike)
Enjoy breakfast in the morning with a longer cruise from Cres to the south-west coast of Istria to Liznjan. The old fisher village with its small harbor is the starting point of your first bike tour on the istrian peninsula. Enjoy quiet country roads and picturesque towns as you make your way to Pula, the secretive main town of Istria. You will have time to explore this enticing city characterized by decades of Roman rule. Explore the mighty amphitheater, the Augustus Temple and the Golden Gate. The night is spent in Pula.
Day 3 (Sun) Pula – Vrsar – Porec (24 mi./39km by bike)
Before breakfast the boat will depart Pula so that you arrive in Vrsar just after breakfast. Vrsar is the town where the famous seducer, Casanova took refuge from the furious husbands of his lovers. From Vrsar your bike tour will take you along the Limski Channel to Klostar in the hinterlands. After a strengthening afternoon break, and the possibility to try a delicious suckling pig for lunch, we continue by bike to Porec. We will have a chance to indulge in the multifaceted history of Porec in the company of our city tour guide in the afternoon on a walk through this enchanting town. The shopping streets are vibrant with life. A visit to the Euphrasian-Basilica with its intricate pre-Christian mosaics is highly recommended. The night is spent in Porec.
Day 4 (Mon): (Mon) Porec –Novigrad – Vrsar (aprx. 40 mi/65 km by bike)
During breakfast, the boat will bring you to Novigrad, where your cycling tour today will begin. You cycle through vast vineyards and olive groves to the picturesque hill top village of Buje, overlooking the fertile pastures surrounding it. From here you follow the “Parenzana”, an decommissioned railway line, which will bring you to the artists town of Groznjan. You will have time to visit the numerous galleries, situated in quaint stone houses. Back on our bikes we continue through the neighboring villages and rural Istria all the way to Vrsar. Here the boat awaits you in a protected harbor for the night.
Day 5 (Tue) Rovinj (aprx. 10 mi/17 km)
After a short crossing by boat we will enjoy a cycle tour along the coastal promenade from Rovinj to the outskirts of this wonderful seaside village. We taking time for a lengthy swim in the Adriatic before returning back to the boat. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided city tour through this picture perfect town squeezed on a small peninsula surrounded by blue sea. It is not without reason why this idyllic city is a haven for artists from all over the world whose work can be admired in the numerous galleries in town. This night is also spent in Rovinj.
Day 6 (Wed) Rovinj – Fazana - Rabac (aprx. 21 mi/35 km)
Today’s bike tour takes us along the coast mainly on natural paths and through forests to Fazana with its delightful harbour and splendid promenade lines with the colorful facades of the local houses. The ship awaits us here and once on board, takes us around the southernmost point of the Istrian Peninsula to the city of Rabac. Undoubtedly one of the most popular holiday towns in Istria. The night is spent in Rabac.
Day 7 (Thu) Rabac - Omisalj (aprx. 22 mi/37 km)
Today starts with a longer climb from Rabac, to the hilltop village of Labin where we can enjoy a coffee break with an incredible view over the bay of Rabac. We continue by bike through the incredibly diverse scenic landscapes and villages of the Istrian hinterlands before returning back to Rabac. We board the boat and enjoy an afternoon cruise back to Omisalj where we enjoy a festive evening meal in the company of our feloow travelers, crew and guides.
Day 8 (Fri) Omisalj (Disembarkation)
After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.
Changes: We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements.
Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.
Map
MS Linda
MS Linda
Captain Damir’s Linda is a spacious wooden motor yacht. She was built in 1955 and renovated in 2004/2005 to meet the requirements of island-hopping. 102 ft./ 31 meters long and 19,5 ft./ 6 meters wide the Linda is among the bigger ships in our Croatian fleet. The spacious saloon can accommodate 32 guests, and the middle sundeck is constructed in a way that meals can also be served outside. The upper deck measures 131 sq ft./ 40 square meters and is big enough for sunbathing.
Cabins
Three cozy cabins below deck are equipped with separate beds and two portholes each. Another one has got a double bed with an additional bunk bed above the large bed, so that they can also be booked by three persons. On deck there are ten double cabins. Six of those have a double bed and four double cabins are equipped with separate beds. Captain Damir and his crew look forward to welcome our guests on board of their Linda. All cabins have air condition.
Travel Dates & Prices 2023
Islandhopping by Boat & Bike: Highlights of Istria
Travel Dates and Prices 2023 per Person
Please click at the travel data to open the request form.
Route:
Price per person in a cabin below deck
1.090 €
Linda
1.140 €
Linda
1.190 €
Linda
1.140 €
Linda
1.140 €
Linda
1.140 €
Linda
1.190 €
Linda
1.190 €
Linda
1.190 €
Linda
1.140 €
Linda
1.090 €
Linda
Optional services / Notes
Surchage for cabin on deck
150,- €
Surcharge for a single cabin below deck
400,- €
Surcharge for a single cabin on deck
500,- €
Bicycle rental 21-speed hybrid/week
80,- €
E-Bike 8-gear/week
180,- €
Bike insurance 21-speed hybrid/week
10,- €
Bike insurance E-bike/week
20,- €
Parking place (cars up to 6 m)/week
60,- €
- Minimum number of participants: 14
Included
- 8-day-trip on a motorized yacht with crew
- 7 nights in a twin cabin with shower/toile
- 2 x full board and 5 x half board
- Guided cycling tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
- Overview-maps for the daily tours (on board)
- Bed linen and towels
- English speaking tour guide
- Tourist taxes
Not included in the tour price:
- Journey to Pula
- Flat rate for bottled water, 25 euro for adults or 15 euro 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
- Entrance fee for sights are not included in the tour price
- Tips for crew and tour guides
Rental bikes
E-Bikes: Clients who wish to be supported by a tail-wind and seek to hire an e-bike will receive a high-quality pedelec, powered mainly by a Bosch motor capable of covering long distances, and characterized by their light weight and great components. Alternative drive systems may also be used. Standard components of our e-bikes in varying frame sizes include, 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture-proof touring tires, high-quality derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a sturdy bike stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack. Unfortunately there is no possibility to reserve one particular bike-brand in advance.
Hybrid Bikes: Those choosing to rent a hybrid bike will receive a reliable, low maintenance, aluminum frame bike in the suitable size. Our hybrid bikes are equipped with 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture-proof touring tires, high-quality derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a sturdy bike stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack. Unfortunately there is no possibility to reserve one particular bike-brand in advance.
Helmet use is mandatory on all bike rides. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own well-fitted helmet. Rental helmets are available on board in limited number (reservation requested).
Pannier: For the duration of the tour we supply you with a waterproof pannier by Ortlieb, a practical way of carrying drinks, bathing gear, camera etc. The use of our the panniers is free of charge.
Level 1–2
The cycle tours require a basic level of fitness from participants, which they should have acquired from steady cycling. The day-tours (12 mi./20 km to 31 mi./50 km and 656 ft./200 m to 2624 ft./800 m of elevation gain) will take us through hilly terrain and will be mainly on asphalt roads. Up to 30% of the tours offered will take place on forest paths and gravel roads. Pushing your bike is allowed. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.
Group riding pace:
On our regular cycling tours, the cyclists on regular bicycles determine the pace. We ask guests who have reserved an e-bike to be mindful of this and to acknowledge that the regular cyclists need time to rest and take longer to climb the hills. 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).
Bringing Children
We believe that only children with a good physical condition and previous bicycle tour experience and a minimum age of 10 are able to master the cycle tours with their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.20 m (4 ft.) for hybrid bikes and 1.50 m (5 ft.) for e-bikes. In Croatia there is a legal helmet requirement for all children up to age 16.
Price reductions
With three persons sharing a cabin, we allow a 50 % discount on the basic tour price for the third person, regardless of age. Andela Lora provides 3 and 4 bed cabins, while the Linda only has 1x 3 bed cabin below deck (double + single).
Children up to age 16 receive a discount of 25 % on the basic tour price (not combinable with the 50 % discount); Surcharge for single cabin use will be added.
Language
Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.
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.
Transfer
Transfer from/to Rijeka airport (on embarkation and disembarkation days only): price on request
Collective transfers between Zagreb and Omisalj 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)
A safe parking space: motorcycle: 30 euro/week; car up to 6 m in length: 50 euro/week, vehicle longer than 6 m: 100 euro/week (to be paid on-site to the tour guide)
