Itinerary Expand allFazana to Porec Day 1 Start Fazana.Start Fazana. Relax on the hotel terrace and explore the village. You will have the bike briefing in the evening. Please ensure that you take your route notes with you to the briefing.Premium Hotel Day 2 Circular warm up ride to Pula; visit the beautifully preserved Roman amphitheatre.Today you can enjoy a gentle warm up ride to Pula. The ride is short so you can spend a good period of time here exploring the town. Pula has a long history and was brought to particular significance by the Emperor Augustus. Undoubtedly the most well-known site of the town is the amphitheatre, which was built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It was the 6th largest of its kind and is now use to stage film festivals and summer operas. The narrow streets of Pula offer a lovely place to enjoy a relaxing wander, with ancient monuments littered throughout the town, plenty of boutique shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants and of course the pretty harbour. You could spend all day here; alternatively, you could catch a boat to the Brijuni National Park - this was Tito's private island archipelago. With Roman villas, Byzantine villages, Tito's personal zoo and even his 1950s Cadillac make for an interesting visit.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Cycle inland to Vodnjan village brimming with architectural treats; return to Fazana.Pedal inland through lemons, pines and olive groves to Istria's ancient capital of Vodnjan, a compact village full of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. The St. Blaise cathedral is known for having the tallest tower in Istria (63m) and is host to an array of bizarre relics. You can pick up some picnic supplies, then head north for lunch amid stone beehive style huts - kazuna - near the 8th century church of Sta Foska. You will then return along the coast passing the remains of Roman baths on the shore. Spend the evening back in Fazana where you can enjoy a sunset stroll along the harbour.Optional shorter route: cycle approx. 20km.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Picturesque rural riding to Bale; time for lunch in the old town; then on to Rovinj.Head north through walnut, plum, almond and fig trees. A steady ascent brings you to Bale, known as Castrum Vallis by the Romans who built a castle here to protect their salt trade. It is then downhill to the sea and a sinuous coastal path under umbrella pine, bay-hopping for 8km by crystal seas. Rovinj is your charming destination, known as the Venice of Istria. The central basilica is surrounded by narrow marbled alleyways that by night are lit by the candles of the dining tables which spill out onto the streets. The bustling harbour offers a great atmosphere and you can also explore the museum, housed in a baroque mansion called Califfi Palace where artwork, sculpture, jewellery collections and ceramics are displayed.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Free day to explore Rovinj, swim in the sea or enjoy a short optional ride.Today is free to explore Rovinj - lose yourself in the boutiques and art galleries or find a nice swimming cove. It is even possible to catch the ferry to Venice for the day. If you fancy getting back on the bikes, you can enjoy a lazy northern loop passing ruined churches, olive groves and oxblood coloured soils tilled by rusty tractors. Return to Rovinj to enjoy a swim and the evening atmosphere. After sunset some bars put cushions on the rocks so you can watch the underwater lights shimmer as the fishing boats return for the night.Optional Ride approx. 12km.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Pedal inland to Lim Fjord with panoramic view point; cycle back along the coast to Porec.Take sun-dappled back roads inland to the head of the Lim Fjord - an impressive wooded valley and today's challenge. You will begin by freewheeling down to the base before ascending 2km to a fantastic panoramic viewpoint on the other side. You can enjoy lunch in one of the many grill restaurants en route, then head back to the sea to meet the coast 10km south of Porec. You can then follow the water to your hotel near the harbour.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Visit the UNESCO heritage Basilica of Euphrasius. Follow coastal cycle tracks; then loop back to Porec.Porec is most famous for its 300AD UNESCO heritage Basilica of Euphrasius with magnificent golden frescoes and intricate mosaics. The Basilica is right in the heart of Porec, just off the main street, it is very easy to find with the sparkling golden mosaic which sits above the entrance. You can visit it as you leave Porec today before heading north along the shore. The seaside tracks that you follow pass a Roman amphora factory and follow clear bays and headlands for 10km. You will then head inland to visit the giant Jama Baredine limestone cave before returning to Porec for your last evening. There are many waterfront restaurants, as well as some hidden treasures tucked away in the town.Premium Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 End Porec.After breakfast if you have pre-booked a transfer we will take you to Pula airport in time for your flight. Meals included: Breakfast
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Hotels 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).
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Reviewed September 2015 sue strangGreat 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.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Rovinj was beautiful.Is there anything else you would like to add? To sum it up, the cycling wasn't quite what I was expecting (that is more roads with traffic) but the routes are well planned, the accommodation was fantastic and the trip gives you a great insight into a lovely part of the world, with great food and wine, quaint hill villages as well as lovely secluded spots for swimming. We enjoyed visiting Istria a lot and cycling was a great way to see it.
Reviewed August 2014 James BarlowCycling 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.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Admiring the beautiful old town of Rovinj from the bell towerWhat did you think of your group leader? N/A - self guidedDo you have any advice for potential travellers? A detour to Motovun was beautiful but a challenging cycle. Bring insect repellent for the countryside cycles.
Reviewed July 2014 Jeremy SlaterCoastal Croatia by Bike Fantastic holiday. Arrangements, schedule and hotels were first class.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving in Fazana at night - could not believe we were staying in such a beautiful locationWhat did you think of your group leader? self guidedDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Book this holiday you will not be disappointedIs there anything else you would like to add? Rovinj and Porec are stunning holiday destinations. Hotels in all 3 locations were excellent - we were so well looked after.
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