Picturesque coastal villages and towns, Roman ruins and striking hilltop villages. We explore them all on two wheels, on this escorted cycling holiday in the Istrian Peninsula of Croatia. Ride scenic coastal routes soaking up views of the Adriatic Sea & head inland to villages that offer beautiful views of the Croatian countryside. We’ll also explore the ancient Roman ruins of Pula and its famous amphitheatre, and discover the fishing port of Rovinj, where a tangle of cobbled streets of the Old Town lead to the hilltop church of St. Euphemia on a days’ excursion.
Today we arrive into Pula Airport and make our way to the hotel. This evening we will gather as a group for the first time, and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner together.
This morning we have breakfast in the hotel to prepare ourselves for a day of cycling. Starting from the town of Novigrad on the Croatian coast, we will embark on a scenic tour along this stunning coastline towards Umag. Once we reach the city of Umag, we will have lunch before heading to Savudrija. On this route, we’ll soak up breathtaking views and explore this picturesque coastal adventure.
Distance: approximately 35 km (shorter version only to Umag 25km )
Elevation gain: +150m/-150m
After breakfast, we transfer to the start of today’s cycling adventure, Žminj, in the heart of the Istrian peninsula. From here, we will head through the villages of Foli & Bokordići, taking a break in Savičenta village – well known for the Morosini-Grimani Castle. We then ride to Lim Bay, stopping enroute to visit the ruins of Dvigrad, an abandoned hilltop town. We will finish our tour at Lim Bay, a sunken valley stretching 13km long, here we will end the ride with oyster tasting.
Distance: approximately 27 km
Elevation gain: +120m/-420m
Today we spend a day exploring on foot, discovering the Istrian Peninsula. We will journey by coach to the historical town of Pula, home to an impressive and perfectly preserved Roman Amphitheatre. Pula is nestled beneath the hills on the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula and here we will find cafes spilling out onto the pavements and colourful boutiques sitting among the ancient Roman ruins. After lunch, we make our way to medieval Rovinj, a pretty resort reminiscent of Venice, with its houses seemingly rising out of the water, a lovely Old Town and picturesque harbour.
Todays biking route will begin in Poreč where we cycle towards the towns of Funtana and Vrsar. Vrsar is a small fisherman village but also known as a place where the famous Casanova was hiding from Venetian authorities. We then ride towards Kontija forest to enjoy unpaved paths and beautiful nature.
Distance: approximately 25 km
Elevation gain: +250m/-130m
Our final biking day has the potential to be one of the most beautiful, as the section from Buje over Grožnjan to Livade and Motovun has beautiful lookout points, 6 tunnels, 4 viaducts and several bridges. We begin in the small village of Stanica near Grožnjan – the ‘Town of Artists’. Continuing along the southern side of the plateau, at some points on this route, we ride on a rough gravel road. We will arrive in the village of Biloslava, where there used to be a roofed railway stop – named after the nearby town of Kostanjica. The site offers a beautiful view of the Mirna River valley, Motovun, Vižinada & Kostanjica. We conclude our trip in one of the local wineries in the Motovun area.
Distance: approximately 21 km (longer version start from Buje additional 6 km)
Elevation gain: +195m/-470m
Today we can enjoy a free day to relax at the hotel or take the opportunity to explore this region further. The centre of Poreč is around a 40 minute walk away, a picturesque stroll along the coast, or a short taxi ride. Tonight, we will gather one final time for a farewell dinner.
This morning, we enjoy our final breakfast at the hotel before departing to the airport for our return flight home.
The Hotel Mediteran is surrounded by cedar and oak forest and is 100 meters from the beach, perfect for our group cycling week away. Porec centre is 2km away and can be reached by walking along the seafront.
The hotel boasts an outdoor swimming pool, with heated salt water, and free-to-use sun loungers. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
The hotel is fully air-conditioned with comfortable rooms that include satellite TV and a private bathroom that is fitted with a shower and a hairdryer is provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Pula Airport to the hotel is approximately 45 minutes.
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct attire when cycling for enjoyment, comfort and safety. It is essential to wear padded cycling shorts/trousers that are comfortable. We strongly recommend wearing a suitable cycling helmet on your tour. We recommend bringing your own helmet for comfort and safety however, helmets will be available with the bike hire. We also highly recommend taking and wearing cycling/biking short or long gloves. You will also need to bring a small adapted rucksack suitable for bike riding to keep all your essentials such a food, drink, first-aid kit, clothing etc
Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff of €25. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
A good level of fitness is required for this holiday as there will be times where the cycling will be up hill. We will also have times where we will be walking in places such as old towns and archaeological sites where the ground will be uneven.
Croatia uses the Euro.
The bikes that will be used are hard tail MTB bike Kona Lava Dome 29’ or 27’5 wheel size or similar.
If you would like an e-bike, this will be and extra 200.00 Euros.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January - February | 10 °C | 6 °C |
| March | 14 °C | 8 °C |
| April | 18 °C | 11 °C |
| May | 23 °C | 16 °C |
| June | 27 °C | 20 °C |
| July - August | 30 °C | 22 °C |
| September | 25 °C | 18 °C |
| October | 20 °C | 14 °C |
| November | 15 °C | 10 °C |
| December | 12 °C | 7 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
