Coastal Croatia: Porec to Pula Cycling

Cycle along Croatia’s spectacular Istrian Peninsula

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.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Average daily distance: 30km (19 miles)
No. of days cycling: 6 (including 4 optional rides)
Terrain and route: The suggested cycling is mainly on gently undulating and flat terrain with one more challenging day but still perfect for occasional cyclists.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 12 yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.

Vaccinations and Health

Croatia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Croatia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Croatia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/croatia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/croatia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/croatia/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Croatia.html

Food & Drink

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.

Weather

Croatia boasts one of the sunniest climates in Europe, and some regions are notoriously free from rain. We travel throughout the season, so you should expect some variation depending on when you travel. In the late spring and early autumn dates the temperatures will be cooler, ranging from the high-teens to mid-twenties (Celsius) during the day and dropping to the mid-teens at night, enough to want a jumper. In late August and early September there is also more chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and at night time, but these are generally intense and short lived. In the summer temperatures can be high, particularly in July and August where they can reach the mid to high 30s.

Weather Charts