This option features a comfortable charter boat Linda. For more information about it, scroll down to the Things to know section.
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Embark on an unforgettable guided MTB and boat trip through Istria, where each day unveils thrilling adventures and discoveries. Begin at Omišalj's pirate nest and cruise to the lively Rabac. Explore Rabac Bike Skills Park's trails, unearth Pula's rich Roman history, and pedal through picturesque landscapes adorned with forests, river valleys, vineyards, and olive groves, winding between dreamy hilltop villages and historic coastal towns. Venture along the dramatic coastline and idyllic bays and savor catered meals aboard the cozy Linda yacht, your haven of comfort. Combine sailing and MTB for an ultimate experience of this magical peninsula.
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Individual arrival to Omišalj, a charming pirate’s nest on the island of Krk. If you decide to arrive by car, a secure parking space for your car for the week can be organized. If you are arriving from Zagreb, a transfer can also be arranged for you to the harbor of Omišalj. Check-in on board is possible from around 2 pm.
Once you have made yourselves comfortable in your cabins, you’ll cross over to Cres! If the weather is good, there will be a swimming stop along the way in the beautiful Adriatic Sea. The Venetian-influenced old town of Cres, with its beautiful alleys and many churches, entices visitors to take an extensive evening stroll.
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After breakfast on board, the first task is to adjust your bikes in the idyllic harbor of Cres and take a first bike tour to the lighthouse. Afterwards, you will take a longer crossing to Pula at the southern tip of Istria, where you’ll go on a guided tour of the old town.
This secret capital of Istria awaits us 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.
Distance: 12 miles / 20 km
Elevation gain: 1,542 ft / 470 m
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From Pula, you will take a bike trip to Cape Kamenjak before crossing the Kamenjak Nature Park. The Park has more than 30 bays with a rich flora and fauna. After lunch on board, the boat will take you to Vrsar with a possible swim break at the Limski Fjord.
In Vrsar, where you will spend the night, the heartbreaker Casanova is said to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers. Have a lovely evening strolling through Vrsar’s charming streets.
Distance: 24 miles / 39 km
Elevation gain: 1,575 ft / 480 m
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Departing from Vrsar, cycle along natural paths of the Lim Channel through the Kontija Forest. The forest covers an area of 65 hectares and includes 140-year-old beech trees! During a longer break, you can have a local meal here before you continue through traditional villages to the final destination—Poreč.
On the way, a short detour to the well-maintained St. Benčić Trail is a must. In the afternoon, you will encounter the colorful history of Poreč, as you stroll through the charming old town with its beautiful buildings from bygone eras. There is a real energy to be felt in its alleys. A visit to the famous Euphrasius Basilica with its magnificent early Christian mosaics is also worthwhile!
Distance: 20 miles / 32 km
Elevation gain: 1,475 ft / 450 m
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In the morning, follow the “Parenzana”, an abandoned railroad line, which will lead you to the famous artists’ village of Groznjan. This picturesque artists’ village is a medieval jewel in the Istrian hinterland and awaits you with romantic alleys, flower-filled squares and diverse galleries that have made their home in old natural stone houses.
In the afternoon, bike through many small villages along the historic railroad line via Buje and finally you’ll reach Novigrad. Here you’ll board your boat to take you to Rovinj, and that’s where you will spend the night.
Distance: 38 miles / 61 km
Elevation gain: 3,133 ft / 955 m
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Your morning bike tour takes you near the coast and primarily on nature and forest paths to Fažana, a beautiful town with a lovely harbor and a promenade lined with colorful houses.
From here, bike to Pula where the boat awaits you for your crossing to Rabac. Nestled in a picturesque bay on the east coast of Istria, Rabac has gorgeous white pebble beaches, crystal clear waters and a beautiful harbor. End your day with a refreshing cocktail!
Distance: 24 miles / 38 km
Elevation gain: 920 ft / 280 m
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In the early norming, cross over to the island of Krk where a final cyclist stage awaits you. The route will lead you 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—not only will it leave you looking ten years younger, but it also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of Omišalj, your boat awaits you with a delicious last evening meal on board which can be spent in great cheer in the company of the fellow travelers, crew and guides.
Distance: 26 miles / 42 km
Elevation gain: 2,526 ft / 770 m
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Enjoy your last breakfast and disembark before 9 am. Say goodbye to fellow bikers, crew, your guide, and to Croatia—or explore further during the extended stay.
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Included:
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- An experienced English-speaking cycling guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 8-day boat and bike tour in Istria
- Accommodation aboard Linda: 7 nights in a twin cabin below deck with shower and toilet
- Most meals: 2x full-board, 5x half-board on board
- Overview-maps for the daily bike tours (on board)
- City tours in Pula and Rovinj
- Bed linen and towels
- The 5 euro SGR Insolvency Protection (mandatory consumer contribution called the SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme)
Add-ons
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- Single supplement — 50% of the tour base price, let us know prior to booking if interested
- Cabin above deck — $265 per person if shared
- Full suspension MTB rental — $230
- Premium full suspension MTB rental — $440
- Full suspension e-MTB rental — $335
- Premium full suspension e-MTB rental — $620
- Limited liability protection for e-bike rentals (theft and damage covered, grossly negligent damage not) — $30
- Private or group transfers from Rijeka Airport, Rijeka train station, or Zagreb to Omišalj (round-trip possible) —
- let us know if interested
- Special dietary requirements — $75, to be paid on board
- 2-day Zagreb extension — let us know if interested
- Additional nights on the island Krk — let us know if interested
Not included:
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- Transportation to Omišalj
- Flat rate for drinking water and tourist taxes (€60 per person, €30 for children up to the age of 16, to be paid to the captain)
- Beverages on board (tally sheet, to be paid to the captain)
- Any personal expenses ashore
- Entrance fees for sights/museums en route
- Guide and crew gratuities — optional
- Travel and medical insurance
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This MTB tour is Istria is ideal for riders with good fitness who are capable of handling easy to moderate daily tours with stages of about 15-31 mi (25-50 km) and 980-2,952 ft (300-900 m) of elevation gain.
Istria is a mountain biker’s paradise with a range of trails from easy to moderate to choose from. We ride on mainly unblocked flow trails, wide natural paths and quiet asphalt roads. It should not be required to carry your bike over any blocked paths. Instead of taking part on a MTB tour, you are also welcome to either join the hybrid bike group or to remain on/near the boat.
To ensure you’re aware of how technical the singletrails are, below you’ll find a classification of all singletrails that could be ridden on the tour:
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- Blue (Easy, S0–S1): Small obstacles (roots, stones, erosion), gradients up to 40%, loose surfaces, and tight corners. Requires skillful braking, weight shifts, and standing riding.
- Red (Medium, S2): Loose surfaces, larger stones/roots, steps, shallow stairs, gradients up to 70%, and light hairpins. Requires precise braking, weight shifts, and body tension.
- Black (Difficult, S3–S5): Blocked trails, large boulders/roots, slippery surfaces, scree slopes, large drops, gradients over 70%, and tight hairpins. Expert bike control required.
The speed of the group is determined by mountain bikers on regular bikes. If you decide to hire an e-MTB, be aware of this and respect those in group who are riding without the electric support.
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Here’s what you’ll need:
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- Comfortable riding or athletic clothing, preferably moisture wicking or synthetic material (both short- and long-sleeved clothing)
- Helmet (mandatory to wear) — please bring your own, well-fitted helmet, rental ones are limited (reservation required)
- Padded cycling shorts — recommended
- Week’s worth of relaxed leisure clothing
- Swimming gear
- Long-sleeved sweater or sweatshirt
- Lightweight waterproof jacket
- Sneakers or sport shoes
- Sunglasses
- Plenty of water, water bottle or hydration bladder
- Daypack with snacks
- Biking gloves are optional but recommended
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
Bring comfortable clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Summer months are usually sunny and hot, but there is always a chance for an occasional summer storm or rainy day. Weather is more unpredictable in late spring and early fall, with a possibility for cooler windy days, so it is instrumental that you are informed about the weather forecasts and prepared for different conditions.
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Due to safety regulations on the boat, it is not allowed to bring your own e-bike. By renting it with your guides, you will get high-quality, fully serviced rental bikes perfect for the terrain of this tour. You can bring your own bike seat and pedals, guides will be happy to assist you in attaching these to your rental bikes.
If you want to bring your own bike on the trip, bring a mountain bike that meets the technical requirements. In addition, your bike will need to have good tires (e.g. Gravel Bike or Cyclocross Bike). Before traveling, please check the condition of brakes, gears, and tires as well as bringing repair kits and essential spare parts (e.g. inner tube). Your bike must be in top technical condition. Please keep in mind that transporting your own bike will result in additional costs when flying.
Helmet wearing is mandatory and it’s recommended you bring your own, well-fitted helmet. Rental helmets are available, but in a limited capacity, so reservation is required should you need it.
Mountain bikes
Your guides only use high-quality full-suspension rental bikes from GIANT and SCOTT, whose components are perfectly tailored to the demands of the Mediterranean terrain. For effortless climbing and ultimate trail fun, there lightweight fullys are usually equipped with 27.5 inch rims, 140-150 mm travel, suspension forks and shocks, Shimano or SRAM shifting and brake groups as well as dropper seat posts. In order to meet the highest material requirements, your guides will also be offering premium full suspension rental bikes from SANTA CRUZ.
E-mountain bikes
If you’re looking for an easy uphill ride with an epic downhill trail experience, then these e-mountain bikes are the perfect rental bike for you! These full suspension e-MTBs are equipped with 27.5’’ wheels and robust tires ready for exploring fantastic trails. The powerful Bosch motor, large battery, 150 mm RockShox suspension, Shimano or SRAM gear and brake systems as well as hydraulic dropper posts make these e-MTBs a biker’s best friend.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- Depending on the number of people, there can be between 1 and 3 professional guides per trip.
- It takes a minimum of 14 people aboard the boat for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 29 people.
- The price of the tour is based on sharing a cabin below deck.
- The price of the tour is based on sharing a cabin below deck, but it’s possible to upgrade to a cabin above deck.
- While solo travelers are welcome, please note that a single supplement is mandatory (50% of the tour price, and this depends on availability and season). It’s not possible to join as a solo traveller and share a cabin with another guest. If interested in joining solo, please let us know before booking!
- If not enough participants sign up, your guides reserve the right to cancel the reservation. Your guides will let you know as soon as possible, at least three weeks prior to the start of the trip.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Only children with a good physical condition, previous bicycle tour experience and a minimum age of 10 can join. Please note that the minimum height for a rental e-bike is 1.50 m (4’9”). Follow-me bikes, bike seats, and bike bungees can also be hired for accompanying children.
- Children up to the age of 16 are eligible for a 200-euro discount (double occupancy). This is not combinable with other discounts. As there’s limited availability, please let us know if you’re interested prior to booking and we’ll get back to you!
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Omišalj, most people fly into Zagreb International Airport, which is 2 hours away. The easiest way to get to Omišalj is first to take a bus from the airport to the Central Bus Station in Zagreb, followed by a direct bus to Omišalj. Alternatively, take a bus from Zagreb to Rijeka, followed by a short bus ride from Rijeka to Omišalj. You can also fly directly into Rijeka International Airport, which is located in Omišalj.
If you prefer to keep things as simple and fuss-free as possible, direct transfers from Zagreb and Rijeka (either from airports or bus/train stations) can be arranged with your guide for an additional fee (for a minimum of 2 people).
Check-in is on Day 1 of the tour at around 2pm.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
The price of the tour includes the 5 euro SGR Insolvency Protection. This is mandatory consumer contribution called the SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme.
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