Istria E-Bike & Boat
Croatia Bike + Boat Tours
The magical landscape of the Istrian peninsula!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1940 Rates
Overview
The Istrian Peninsula is the largest in Croatia and offers an incredible backdrop for this e-bike and boat tour.
The Romans called this land "Terra Magica", and magical it is! Situated between the Kvarner Bay and the Gulf of Triest, Istria's picture-perfect beaches and fascinating historical harbor towns, such as Pula, Porec, and Rovinj, are delightful.
As you travel inland, you will think you are in Italy! The fertile hinterlands are reminiscent of a Tuscan landscape, characterized by medieval hilltop villages, colorful vineyards, and silver-green olive groves. This is home to the world’s best truffles, olive oil, and wine.
Istria is graced with over 2,300 hours of sun each year, so get ready for a sun-filled vacation.
Highlights
- Medieval villages
- Ancient harbor cities: Pula, Porec, Rovinj...and more
- Impressive Roman amphitheater in Pula
- The beautiful Limski-Canal
- Exploring the coasts AND hinterlands
- Rails to trails cycling on the Parenzana Rail Trails
- Baredine limestone cave
- Deluxe accommodations
Be sure to check out our full list of bike & boat tours in Croatia.
Itinerary
Day 1: Embarkation in Omišalj - Cruise to Cres
Day 2: Cres - Pula, 11 mi. (19 km)
Day 3: Pula - Vrsar, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 4: Vrsar - Poreč, 18 mi. (29 km)
Day 5: Poreč - Novigrad - Rovinj, 36 mi. (59 km)
Day 6: Rovinj - Fažana - Rabac, 25 mi. (41 km)
Day 7: Rabac - Njivice - Omišalj, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 8: Omisalj (Disembarkation)All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to weather or last-minute docking changes.
Day 1: Embarkation in Omišalj - Cruise to Cres
Arrive in Omišalj, a charming pirate’s nest on the island of Krk. Check-in on board begins at 2 pm. After settling into your cabin, the boat will set off for the first crossing to Cres. If the weather is favorable, the boat stops in a beautiful bay where you can take a refreshing swim in the Adriatic Sea. Today's destination is the capital on the Island of Cres. The Venetian-influenced old town of Cres, with its beautiful alleys and churches, entices you to take an extensive evening stroll.Day 2: Cres - Pula, 11 mi. (19 km)
After breakfast on board, the first task is to adjust your bikes before taking them on your very first ride to the iconic red lighthouse. Afterwar returning to the boat, it sets off for another crossing to Pula at the southern tip of Istria, where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the old town. The secret capital of Istria awaits with impressive evidence of its Roman past. Take your time for an extensive stroll and explore impressive ancient monuments, such as the famous amphitheater reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome, the Temple of Augustus, and the Golden Gate.Day 3: Pula - Vrsar, 23 mi. (38 km)
In the morning, explore the picturesque scenery in and around Pula. Via Galizana, cycle to Vodnjan and further through the fishing village of Fazana before returning Pula. Once there, the boat crosses to Vrsar, stopping for a swim break at the Limski Fjord. In Vrsar, where you will spend the night, the heartbreaker Casanova is believed to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers.Day 4: Vrsar - Poreč, 18 mi. (29 km)
From Vrsar, cycle along the Limski Canal to Kloštar in the rural hinterland. Stop and take a much needed rest and enjoy a local meal before the tour continuing on to today's destination, Poreč. In the afternoon, encounter the colorful history of Poreč at every turn as you stroll through the charming old town with its beautiful buildings from bygone eras. A visit to the famous Euphrasius Basilica with its magnificent early Christian mosaics is also worthwhile.Day 5: Poreč - Novigrad - Rovinj, 36 mi. (59 km)
In the morning, follow the "Parenzana", an abandoned railroad line, which leads to the famous artists' village of Groznjan. The picturesque artists’ village is a medieval jewel in the Istrian hinterland. It awaits with romantic alleys, flower-filled squares, and diverse galleries that have made their home in old natural stone houses. In the afternoon, bike through rural Istria via Buje to Novigrad. You'll have the opportunity for a quick swim before the boats crosses to Rovinj.Day 6: Rovinj - Fažana - Rabac, 25 mi. (41 km)
A morning bike ride leads near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths to Fažana, with its quaint little harbor and promenade lined with colorful houses. Later you continue to Pula, where the boat takes you the rest of the way to Rabac. Here, located on a picturesque bay on the east coast of Istria, enjoy gorgeous white pebble beaches, crystal clear waters, and a beautiful harbor. Not to be missed is an evening cocktail in a local bar.Day 7: Rabac - Njivice - Omišalj, 23 mi. (38 km)
In the early morning, the boat crosses to the island of Krk, where you'll embark on your final bike ride. The route leads from Njivice to Omišalj, the largest island in Croatia and home of the delicious Zlahtina white wine, impresses with its diverse landscapes. Don’t miss the opportunity to cover yourself in the mineral rich mud in the bay of Soline, which is said to reduce the appearance of aging. Maybe this is true but it also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of Omišalj, the boat awaits with a delicious last evening meal prepared by the chef.Day 8: Omisalj (Disembarkation)
After breakfast disembarkation by 9 am.This tour is also offered onboard the Comfort Class vessel, the Linda. Most of the participants will be using regular touring bikes. If that interests you, please check out our tour Istria.
If you’re looking for something different, check out our full list of bike & boat tours or view all our featured trips, including hiking, multi-adventure, & active cruising.
Map
Boats & Bikes
- Andela Lora
Deluxe Class Motor Yacht
We had the exciting opportunity to follow this boat through from construction to launching. The Andela Lora is an elegant boat launched in June of 2012 and is one of the largest of the Croatian fleet at 131 feet long and 28 feet wide. The friendly crew will always make sure that you have the most comfortable and relaxing journey on board! Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast
- 2 days with lunch & dinner and 5 days with lunch or dinner
- High-quality pedelec electric bike with pannier
- English-speaking cycling tour guide & 6 guided cycling tours as per itinerary
- Guided tours in Pula and Rovinj
- Overview-maps for the daily biking tours (on board)
- A limited number of helmets available, advanced reservation required
- Tourist taxes
What’s Not Included
- Meals not indicated as included
- Drinks on board (tally sheet)
- Meals and drinks ashore
- Helmets - limited number available (reservation required)
- Entrance fees for sights not included
- Bottled water + tourist taxes, payable onboard: €60 for adults & €30 for children up to age 16
- Gratuities for crew & tour-guide
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
2024
Friday departures
Season 1: April 19 & May 3*, 2024
Season 2: July 26, August 9, October 4, & October 18, 2024
Season 3: May 17, & June 14, 2024
Season 4: August 23 & September 6, 2024*Discount: 200 Euros per person on May 3 departure. Only for new bookings made after February 9, 2024.
On many dates, an MTB itinerary is offered. This is perfect for travelers who wish to spend their holiday together, but do not share the same riding preference. If you are interested, we will send you the dates, complete itinerary as well as information regarding the mountain bike available for rental.
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Below deck | Twin/double $ 3258 £ 1699 $ 2,902 € 1940 kr 297016 ₪ 8001 ¥ 328758 Mex$ 36175 NZ$ 3567 NOK 23276 zł 8579 S$ 2883 kr 23048 $ 2,117 $ 3426 £ 1787 $ 3,051 € 2040 kr 312326 ₪ 8413 ¥ 345705 Mex$ 38039 NZ$ 3751 NOK 24476 zł 9022 S$ 3031 kr 24236 $ 2,226 $ 3594 £ 1875 $ 3,201 € 2140 kr 327636 ₪ 8826 ¥ 362651 Mex$ 39904 NZ$ 3935 NOK 25675 zł 9464 S$ 3180 kr 25424 $ 2,336 $ 3762 £ 1962 $ 3,350 € 2240 kr 342946 ₪ 9238 ¥ 379597 Mex$ 41769 NZ$ 4118 NOK 26875 zł 9906 S$ 3329 kr 26612 $ 2,445 Above deck | Twin/double, supplement $ 420 £ 219 $ 374 € 250 kr 38275 ₪ 1031 ¥ 42366 Mex$ 4662 NZ$ 460 NOK 2999 zł 1106 S$ 371 kr 2970 $ 273 Below deck | Twin/double for single-use, supplement $ 1008 £ 526 $ 897 € 600 kr 91861 ₪ 2474 ¥ 101678 Mex$ 11188 NZ$ 1103 NOK 7199 zł 2653 S$ 892 kr 7128 $ 655 Above deck | Twin/double for single-use, supplement $ 1344 £ 701 $ 1,197 € 800 kr 122481 ₪ 3299 ¥ 135570 Mex$ 14917 NZ$ 1471 NOK 9598 zł 3538 S$ 1189 kr 9504 $ 873 Extra Options
Discounts
Gravel or road bike: $ 34 £ 18 $ 30 € 20 kr 3062 ₪ 82 ¥ 3389 Mex$ 373 NZ$ 37 NOK 240 zł 88 S$ 30 kr 238 $ 22
Discount for 3rd person sharing a triple cabin, regardless of age (calculated from basic tour price): 50%
Discount for children up to age 16 (calculated from basic tour price, cannot be combined with 50% discount): 25%
Surcharges
Unlimited bottled water (fee to be paid to captain):
Adults: $ 101 £ 53 $ 90 € 60 kr 9186 ₪ 247 ¥ 10168 Mex$ 1119 NZ$ 110 NOK 720 zł 265 S$ 89 kr 713 $ 65 Children (16 & under): $ 50 £ 26 $ 45 € 30 kr 4593 ₪ 124 ¥ 5084 Mex$ 559 NZ$ 55 NOK 360 zł 133 S$ 45 kr 356 $ 33Transfers
To/from Rijeka airport $ 34 £ 18 $ 30 € 20 kr 3062 ₪ 82 ¥ 3389 Mex$ 373 NZ$ 37 NOK 240 zł 88 S$ 30 kr 238 $ 22 To/from Rijela train station $ 50 £ 26 $ 45 € 30 kr 4593 ₪ 124 ¥ 5084 Mex$ 559 NZ$ 55 NOK 360 zł 133 S$ 45 kr 356 $ 33 Collective transfers between Zagreb and Omišalj €60 per person/way | €60 per bicycle/way Arrival
- 11:30 am departure from Zagreb Center
- 12:15 pm departure from Zagreb Airport
Return
- 8:00 am departure from Omišalj to Zagreb Airport
Exclusive transfers On request Transfers take place on embarkation and disembarkation days only. Rates are per person/way. A minimum of 2 people is required.
Extensions
4 star Double/twin $ 714 £ 372 $ 636 € 425 kr 65068 ₪ 1753 ¥ 72022 Mex$ 7925 NZ$ 781 NOK 5099 zł 1879 S$ 632 kr 5049 $ 464 Single $ 857 £ 447 $ 763 € 510 kr 78081 ₪ 2103 ¥ 86426 Mex$ 9510 NZ$ 938 NOK 6119 zł 2255 S$ 758 kr 6059 $ 557 Discount if not using transfer service $ 185 £ 96 $ 165 € 110 kr 16841 ₪ 454 ¥ 18641 Mex$ 2051 NZ$ 202 NOK 1320 zł 486 S$ 163 kr 1307 $ 120 3-day extension in Varaždin und Trakošća
3-star 4-star Double/twin On request On request Single On request On request Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This tour is designed as an electric bike tour and could be easy, moderate, or difficult, depending on the level of assistance you utilize! For those who will be riding gravel or road bikes, you will work harder to keep up with the group on electric bikes who will set the pace. You will most likely find this tour moderate depending on your fitness level. Do note for every participant, this tour assumes that you are an experienced cyclist. The itinerary will feature cycling up to an elevation gain of between 200-1000m and an average daily distance of between 17-70 km.
Please take note that around 30% of the tour takes place on natural paths and gravel roads. The described tours are primarily designed as fully guided e-bike tours. If you wish to cycle alone, please talk with your tour guide on-site about the options available.Airport Info
The closest airport to your embarkation/disembarkation harbor in Kvarner Bay is the Rijeka Airport (RJK). Because it is a small airport, you may find flying to Zagreb (ZAG) more practical. The distance to the harbor from Zagreb airport is approximately 2 hrs by car. Please keep in mind that your ship will leave port at 3 pm for its first navigation so please plan your flights accordingly.
Local Travel
There is a collective transfer available from/to Zagreb to/from Omisalj on the days of embarkation and disembarkation. The transfer leaves at 11:30 am from Zagreb Center and 12:15 pm from Zagreb Airport. PLEASE PLAN FLIGHTS ACCORDINGLY Return transfer to Zagreb Airport is at 8 am on the last morning of your tour. Again, plan your flights accordingly.
If you are flying into Rijeka Airport, a taxi transfer can be arranged for you in advance.
You can also book a transfer from the train station in Rijeka that departs at 9:30 am and a return transfer from the boat back to Rijeka Train Station. See pricing.Climate
The Istrian Peninsula is situated in the northwestern part of Croatia between the Gulf of Trieste and the Kvarner. In general, temperatures are slightly lower here than in Dalmatia. The Mediterranean climate and the many hours of sunshine make this an ideal location for a bike and boat tour. Several types of winds blow here that determine the climate: the ‘Yugo’, a warm southerly wind that brings rain. The ‘Bura’ which brings clear weather and the ‘Maestral’ that blows during the summer and offers refreshing air from the sea. Because of the abundant rainfall, Istria is one of the greenest places in all of Croatia with its vast pine forests. Be sure to check local conditions prior to your arrival.
Day of Rest
If you need a day or two off the saddle, you can always stay on board the ship sunbathing and enjoying the passing scenery.
Recommended
It is advised for you to use soft-shell luggage as storage in the cabin is very limited. Softshell luggage when empty collapses easily and can then be stored under your bed.
Remarks
Helmet use is mandatory. Though there is a limited number of helmets available on board for borrowing, it is STRONGLY recommended to bring your personal, well-fitted helmet.
Important to know
It is each traveler's responsibility to research travel requirements and to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, blank visa pages required for your destination (s), and any other requirement.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU citizens: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and the destination country.
EU-citizens: (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months from the end of your tour.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
2 Day Pre-tour Extension in Zagreb
Day 1 (Thursday): Arrival in Zagreb
A private transfer collects you at the Zagreb airport and brings you to the doorstep of your hotel. In the late afternoon, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to take you on an interesting and inspiring walk through the Croatian capital. The old town, built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, will charm you at every turn. During this 3-hour guided city tour, you will be enlightened and educated regarding this amazing city and its history. The Kaptol (the center of the Roman Catholic Church in Croatia) and Gardec (the upper old town) are of course included in the program. In the evening you will dine in a specially selected restaurant. The delicious local specialties will be a great way to end the day. Overnight stay in a hotel in the town center of Zagreb.
Day 2 (Friday): Onward journey to Omišalj
After breakfast, at 11:30 am, a transfer to Omišalj for embarkation will be provided.2 Day Post-tour Extension in Zagreb
Day 1 (Friday): Arrival in Zagreb from Omisalj
An exclusive transfer collects you at 8.00 am from the ship in Omišalj and brings you to the hotel in Zagreb. Afterward, you can begin exploring the city. A local tour guide leads you on a city tour and shows you all the secrets of this exciting metropolis. In the evening, you enjoy dinner in a specially selected restaurant. The night is spent in a hotel in the city center.Day 2 (Saturday): Departure
A transfer will collect you from your hotel in Zagreb and take you to Zagreb Airport, according to your departure time.Included:
- Accommodations near town center
- 3-hour sightseeing tour in Zagreb (entry fees not included)
- Dinner in a local restaurant
- Transfer from Zagreb airport to your hotel in Zagreb and from the hotel to the ship in Omišalj if booking the pre-tour extension.
- Transfer from the ship in Omišalj to your hotel in Zagreb and from the hotel to Zagreb airport if booking the post-tour extension.
- Tourist information
- Local taxes
Additional information regarding transfers
All airport transfers require a reservation with exact flight details. Please inform us well in advance of departure.
For the smooth execution of airport transfers, please send us the following data:
- Arrival date and departure date
- Departure or arrival airport
- Airline and flight number
- Estimated arrival or departure time
For hotel transfers please send us the following information:
- Date of transfer
- Exact hotel address
- Preferred transfer time
Extra Stay
See the “Important to Know” section for more information regarding the pre or post-tour extension available.
We always recommend booking extra nights before or after you tour to allow more time to explore. When we travel, we trust booking.com.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Island Hopping.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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