Deluxe E-Bike & Food Tour in Istria, Croatia

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Pula

  After arriving in Pula, you’ll get transferred to a beautiful heritage hotel which will be our base for the next two days in the northwest of Istria. After welcome drinks, a tour overview and briefing await, where we will fill you in with all the details. It’s best to get to know each other over a welcome dinner of local cuisine and wine. Your taste buds will be on high alert for the following week!

  Meals: Dinner
  Accommodation: Heritage Hotel San Rocco

  
• Day 2: Vineyards of northern Istria

  After breakfast, our Istria cycling tour will have officially started! The northwest part of Istria is most famous for its wines, so let’s take it easy on the warm-up day and visit a couple of winemakers and surrounding medieval towns. Wine tastings of local wines teran (red) and malvazija (white) will get you acquainted with some of the best wine types in all of Croatia. Highlight towns of the day might be the wine-centric Momjan or the village of Grožnjan, home to many Croatian artists which features a spectacular view of the Adriatic. We will then return back to our accommodation for some well-deserved rest!

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Heritage Hotel San Rocco
  Distance: 36 km (22 mi) / elevation gain 750 m (2,200 ft)

  
• Day 3: Old railroad of northeastern Istria

  First part of today’s route will be the very popular Parenzana cycling route. It was an Italian nickname for a pre-WW2 narrow-gauge railway. It connected Trieste in Italy and Poreč (Parenzo in Italian) in Istria (both cities were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The route will take us along Mirna Valley, which is world-famous for its mythical white truffles and a jade-colored river. After a truffle tasting, traversing a few green hills with splendid views of Central Istria, we will go to the fairytale town of Hum. It is known for being the smallest town in the world and according to legends, built by giants. The day will be concluded in the Istrian truffle capital, the town of Buzet.

  Meals: Breakfast, tasting/lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Vela Vrata
  Distance: 68 km (42 mi) / elevation gain 1,400 m (4,600 ft)

  
• Day 4: Central Istria and the medieval town of Motovun

  Continuing along the peaceful Mirna Valley, we’ll reach the top of the hill where Motovun town is nested. Valley climate often shrouds Motovun in dense fog which, when viewed from afar, makes Motovun and surrounding hills seem like green islands above the clouds. Traversing those hill islands will take us across hidden ruins and picturesque villages to the bottom half of Istria, a mostly flat and historically agricultural region. Your destination is the charming town of Svetvinčenat, known for its centrally located medieval Grimani Castle and local craft beer brewery Kampanjola.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Foscari the fine B&B
  Distance: 65 km (40 mi) / elevation gain 1,100 m (3,600 ft)

  
• Day 5: Hidden church in south Istria

  An easier day awaits todaty, exactly what is needed after an exciting and long ride of the previous day. Taking it through green forest tunnels on easy gravel routes, the ride will be mostly flat, relaxing, listening to chirping birds and crickets hiding in the bushes. Town of Bale is on the route, a settelment occupied by people since 2nd century BC. But before there were humans, in the area were found fossil remains of Histriasaurus dinosaur. Besides fossils, there is something else hiding in the dense forest of the area, a tiny St. Peter Church perched on a natural boulder. This day can also be a rest day on your Istria cycling & food tour if you feel like you need to recharge your batteries.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Foscari the fine B&B
  Distance: 32 km (20 mi) / elevation gain 300 m (1,000 ft)

  
• Day 6: South Istria and the town of Rovinj

  An easy flat route will guide us to the pearl of Istria, a seaside toen of Rovinj. The magnificent view of Rovinj Old Town, situated on an island protruding from the Adriatic Sea, is truly unforgettable. We’ll make a stop there and wonder its colorful streets with abundant Venetian architecture, gelato in our hands! Continuing to the very south of Istria, the road is still flat, but the scenery is captivating. South’s red soil and Mediterranean climate are perfect for olive growing which will be evident as we pass by countless olive groves.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Foscari the fine B&B
  Distance: 50 km (31 mi) / elevation gain 400 m (1,300 ft)

  
• Day 7: Town of Vodnjan and back to Pula

  Olive groves are abundant in the South, especially in the town of Vodnjan, which is home to several world-renowned premium olive oil producers. Did you know that Istria is one of the best olive oil regions in the world? A brief ride along the most southern and biggest town in Istria, Pula, will reveal its rich history. Venetian fortress, ancient Roman temples, and Austrian military forts and tunnels, but Pula’s highlight is a 2000-year-old Roman amphitheater, the sixth largest in the world! This is the last day of cycling on your Istria bike and culinary tour.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Accommodation: Oasi Boutique Hotel or similar
  Distance: 55 km (34 mi) / elevation 400 m (1,300 ft)

  
• Day 8: Departure from Pula

  Today is a departure day from Pula. Say goodbye to your guides and fellow cyclists—or continue touring on your own! We suggest extending your visit for a few days to give yourself a few days of well-earned rest and to explore Brioni Island near Pula or the spectacular Kvarner islands of Krk, Lošinj, and Cres at your own pace.

  Meals: Breakfast