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ToursCroatiaCroatia: Highlights of Istria | Plus
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Croatia: Highlights of Istria | Plus

Premium Experience the higher levels of comfort, smaller groups and extra’s.

Experience the Heart of Europe

Difficulty
  • Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
  • Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
  • Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
  • Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 2
Difficulty level 2
Duration of the tour.
time
8 days
Guidance
  • Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
  • Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
guidance
Guided cycling

The largest peninsula in Croatia offers an incredible backdrop for our e-bike tour Istria Highlights Plus. Situated between the Kvarner Bay and the Gulf of Triest, Istria is an oasis of superlatives. The 500m long coastline offers countless picture perfect beaches and fascinating historical harbor towns such as Pula, Porec and Rovinj. The fertile hinterlands in contrast, are characterized by their medieval hilltop villages and colorful vineyards and the silver-green olive groves. Much like the landscapes typical for Tuscany. In addition, Istria is graced with over 2300 hours of sun […]

From €1799 p.p.

Mainland of Istria

Historical harbor towns

230 km / 143 miles

Motoryacht with max. 29 passengers

Monday to Friday
Amsterdam: 08:30 to 22:00
New York: 6:00AM to 7:00PM
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Croatia: Highlights of Istria | Plus

About this tour

The largest peninsula in Croatia offers an incredible backdrop for our e-bike tour Istria Highlights Plus. Situated between the Kvarner Bay and the Gulf of Triest, Istria is an oasis of superlatives. The 500m long coastline offers countless picture perfect beaches and fascinating historical harbor towns such as Pula, Porec and Rovinj. The fertile hinterlands in contrast, are characterized by their medieval hilltop villages and colorful vineyards and the silver-green olive groves. Much like the landscapes typical for Tuscany.

In addition, Istria is graced with over 2300 hours of sun each year, assuring with great certainty that your visit will be a sunny one. The region has also made itself a name for its culinary delights: home to some of the world’s best truffles, olive oil and wine. Discover the vast diversity of this delightful region on board your deluxe ship, your floating accommodation for the week, and a reliable e-bike as your means of transport on land.

The itinerary of the Istria Highlights PLUS tour is the same as the itinerary of the Istria Highlights tour, making them both great alternatives to each other should you have difficulties finding availability on this trip.

E-Bike Tour
The riding pace is determined by the cyclists on e-bikes. Guests who are taking part on this tour on a gravel bike should have the necessary physical condition to keep up with this pace. The day-tours (12 mi./20 km to 43 mi./70 km and 656 ft./200 m to 3280 ft./1000 m of elevation gain) will take us through hilly terrain and will be mainly on asphalt roads. Thank you for your understanding.

The ship – Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You will sleep and have breakfast and 1 or 2 warm meals on board. Depending on the program, this will be lunch or dinner. The other meal is ashore (not included). It’s possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental E-bikes on board.

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Day to day program

All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.

The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons. We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements. If necessary the tour will be operated in reverse.

Day 1: Omišalj (Embarkation) – Cres

Individual arrival to Omišalj, a charming pirate’s nest on the island of Krk. If you decide to arrive by car, we can gladly organize a secure parking space for your car for the week. If you are arriving from Zagreb, we can also arrange a transfer for you to the harbor of Omišalj. Check-in on board is possible from around 2pm. Once we have made ourselves comfortable in our cabins, we enjoy the first crossing to Cres. If the weather is good, we stop for a swim in a beautiful bay and you can take a dip in the Adriatic Sea. Our destination is the island capital of the same name, where we spend the night. The Venetian-influenced old town of Cres, with its beautiful alleys and many churches, entices you to take an extensive evening stroll.

Day 2: Cres – Pula | Pula roundtour (approx. 17 mi./28 km)

In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with a pleasant morning cruise to Pula. In the afternoon we explore some picturesque places in and around Pula. Via Galizana we go to Vodnjan and further through the fishing village Fazana before coming back to Pula. After the bike tour you can take part on an inspiring guided city tour before enjoying our evening exploring

Day 3: Pula – Vrsar – Poreč (approx. 25 mi./40 km)

In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with another pleasant morning cruise, this time to Vsar. It’s in Vrsar that the heartbreaker Casanova is believed to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers. From here we cycle along the Limski Canal to Kloštar in the rural hinterland to the destination of today, Poreč. The town has a lively vibe with its long promenade and shopping streets. A visit to the famous Euphrasius Basilica with its magnificent early Christian mosaics is also worthwhile. There is also plenty of tiome to go for a swim and relax in the afternoon. The night is pent in Poreč.

Day 4: Poreč – Novigrad ( approx. 36 mi./59 km)

In the morning we follow the “Parenzana”, an abandoned railroad line, which leads us to the famous artists’ village of Groznjan. The picturesque artists’ village is a medieval jewel in the Istrian hinterland. It awaits us with romantic alleys, flower-filled squares and diverse galleries that have made their home in old natural stone houses. In the afternoon, we bike through rural Istria via Buje to Novigrad, where we can enjoy the evening and spend the night.

Day 5: Novigrad – Rovinj | Rovinj, roundtour (12 mi./20 km)

In the morning the ship takes us to Rovinj during breakfast, the starting point of today’s bike tour. Close to the town, the sprawling green wilderness of the local park is the perfect setting for a bike ride past picture perfect bays where we can stop for a refreshing swim. After a pleasant morning on our bikes and at the beach, we return back to the ship and there is plenty of time to explore the city in the afternoon. In the evening a guided city tour reveals the secrets of the town before spending the night there.

Day 6: Rovinj – Fažana – Rabac (aprx. 22 mi./37 km)

Our morning bike ride takes us near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths to Fažana, with its quaint little harbor and promenade lined with colorful houses. Afterwards, we continue to Pula, where our ship will take us on a longer crossing to Rabac. Here, located on a picturesque bay on the east coast of Istria, we can 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 (aprx. 26 mi./43 km)

In the early morning, we cross to the island of Krk, where a final cycling stage awaits us. The route will lead us 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 – it will not only leave you looking ten years younger, but also makes for a wonderful holiday memory! Back in the harbor of Omišalj, our ship awaits us 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.

Day 8: Omisalj (Disembarkation)

After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home.

Good to know
  • Itinerary changes We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements. Should it be the case for example that the harbors on the above mentioned tour sequence are overcrowded, the tour will be operated in reverse.
  • Language aboard Due to our international audience all tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.
  • Requirements for e-bikers (level 1): Exclusive E-bike tours for guests with a good fitness level. The tours, including the meters of elevation, can be ridden comfortably by e-bike (12 mi./20 km to 43 mi./70 km and 656 ft./200 m to 3280 ft./1000 m of elevation gain per day).
    All bike tours require a healthy basic level of fitness from the participants and prior experience in bike riding. Please take note that around 30% of the tours take 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.
  • Guided group pace: On our e-bike tour programs, the riding pace is determined by the cyclists on e-bikes. Guests who are taking part on these tours on a gravel bike should have the necessary physical condition to keep up with this pace. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Requirement to wear a helmet: Helmets are mandatory on our bike tours. It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required).
  • Children We believe that only children with a good physical condition and previous bicycle tour experience and a minimum age of 10 are able to master the cycle tours with their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental e-bike is 1.50 m (4.9 ft.). Follow-me bikes, bike seats and bike Bungees can also be hired for accompanying children. Our reservation experts are happy to provide you with more detailed information on request. It is mandaorty for all participants on our tours to wear a bicycle helmet.
  • Catering The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day.  Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. The catering consists of 2 x full board and 5 x half board.
  • Our ships Please do not forget that the ship is your hotel as well as a machine, which has to be maintained and operated – day and night. A certain level of noise is therefore inevitable.

Prices & availability

To view the availability of this tour and/or book online please click on the button below. A new screen will open.


Prices & information

Pricing overview - 2025
Cabin type For Season A Season B Season C
Twin cabin below deck 2 pers. € 1799 € 1999 € 2199 Twin cabin above deck 2 pers. € 2049 € 2249 € 2449 Cabin below deck for single use 1 pers. € 2698.50 € 2998.50 € 3298.50 Cabin above deck for single use 1 pers. € 3073.50 € 3373.50 € 3673.50
Included in this tour
  • 8-day-trip on a motorized yacht with a crew
  • 7 nights in a twin cabin below deck with shower/toilet
  • 2 x full board and 5 x half board
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Guided cycling tours and sightseeing as described in itinerary
  • Guided tours in Pula and Rovinj
  • Bed linen and towels
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Overview-maps for the daily tours on board
Excluded in this tour
  • Transfer to Omisalj
  • Flat rate for bottled water and tourist taxes €60 per person or for children up to age 16 €30 (to be paid to the captain)
  • Rental E-Bike or gravel bike (optional)
  • Rental bicycle helmet (optional)
  • Entrance fees & excursions
  • Meals and beverages ashore
  • Parking fee
  • Other transfers
  • Drinks on board (tally sheet; to be paid to the captain)
  • Personal (travel) insurances
  • Tips for tour-guides and crew (at your discretion)
  • SGR Insolvency protection
SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person - will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)
E-Bikes/Gravel bike

E-Bikes: High-quality pedelec, powered mainly by a Bosch motor capable of covering long distances, and characterized by their light weight and great components. Alternative drive systems may also be used. Standard components of our e-bikes in varying frame sizes include, 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture-proof touring tires, high-quality derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a sturdy bike stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack. We offer a trapeze frame for all guests up to 1.79 m, and a diamond frame for people taller than 1.80 m.

The gravel bikes can be ridden over a variety of terrain. These bikes run perfectly on smooth asphalt surfaces as well as on gravel trails. The Orbea Terra H (or similar model) is the ideal all-terrain road bike. The ‘H’ stands for ‘hydro’ and indicates the extensive versatility of the bike. The aluminium frame allows for an upright seating position, as required for non-asphalted roads. Orbea calls this “all-road geometry”. The Terra H has a carbon fork, which allows tire widths up to 40 mm, flat mounted disc brakes, and 12 mm thru axles. A Shimano Tiagra transmission completes the bike’s components. The bike is fast, light, robust, extremely versatile, and is exceptional to handle.

Bringing private bikes & exclusion of private e-bikes

The tour which you have booked requires an e-bike in top technical condition. Islandhopping can offer you high quality, fully serviced rental bikes perfect for the terrain of this tour.

We do not allow you to bring your own e-bike due to the safety regulations on ship as well as ensuring the safety of our employees. If you would like to ride an e-bike, please rent one from our inventory.

We do not advise bringing your own tour or hybrid bike, as the guided group pace is oriented towards the e-bike riders. If you want to ride your own bike on the trip, we recommend bringing a sporty bike that meets the technical requirements to keep pace with the higher speed of the e-bikes. In addition, your bike will need to have good tires (ex. Gravel Bike or Cyclocross Bike). Furthermore, you should ensure you have the required level of physical fitness. Before traveling, please check the condition of brakes, gears and tires as well 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 bicycle will result in relatively high additional costs (particularly when flying) and the risk of transport damages is high.

Additional options & information - 2025
  • Rental E-bike: € 245 per week;
  • Rental gravel bicycle: € 200 per week
  • Insurance against theft and damage of the rental e-bike/gravel bike: €30 /week (not insured: grossly negligent damages)
  • A Safe parking space: Motor cycle: €40 /week, car until 6 m of length: €80/week, vehicle above 6 m of length: €120 /week (to be paid on-site to the tour guide)
  • Transfer from/to Rijeka airport (on embarkation and disembarkation days only): price on request
  • Collective transfers between Zagreb and Omisalj on day of embarkation/disembarkation only (11:30 am from Zagreb Center or 12:15 pm from Zagreb Airport / return transfer from Omišalj to Zagreb Airport starts at 8 am: prices on request (reservation required two weeks in advance, booking incl. complete transmission of flight details)
  • Exclusive transfer: on request

 

Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmets use is mandatory on all cycling tours. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own well-fitted helmet. Rental helmets are available on board in limited number (on request).

Loyalty discount

Explore our Loyalty Discount!

After your tour, you’ll receive an exclusive discount code:

  • You get 3% on your second tour with us.
  • From the third tour onwards, you will receive a 5% discount.
  • Enjoy savings on any of our upcoming trips in 2025.

 

Check your post-tour email for details. You can combine this discount with other promotions for additional savings. Join us again for another adventure by boat and bike!



Reviews

based on 6 reviews on
19 Aug 2024

James Nelson

The boat was very nice with great guides (Ivan and Tony) and a great crew. Istria was gorgeous with many postcard perfect towns along the Adriatic coast. There were many opportunities to swim off the back of the boat. The shuttle that was provided made getting to and from the boat from Zagreb very simple and easy. On the downside, many of the rides were off road and some had serious gravel sections on steep climbs. Several riders fell during the week and many were unhappy with the amount of gravel. Also, other than two walking tours there was little off-boat enrichment that we have experienced on other boat-bike tours.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 13 Sep 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re pleased you enjoyed the boat, the guides, and the Adriatic coast. We appreciate your comments on the bike routes and off-boat enrichment. Kind regards Boat Bike Tours

24 Oct 2023

Lily Marie Rogstad

Bicycle in Istria, Croatia. Good guides, especially Kristoffer, very helpful and well-informed. The food onboard was OK but not excellent.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 27 Oct 2023

We're pleased you had a great experience biking in Istria! Your feedback on the onboard food is noted, and we'll continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of our tours.

22 Oct 2023

Barbara Gay Hamilton

Good experience overall! Great guides, excellent service, good accommodations, good food, interesting cultural experience. Staff was easy to talk to and some of the guides had good knowledge of the local history. Did not seem to know much about local wildlife. Maintenance staff responded promptly to cabin problems, and kept a clean ship. Food was really good, but a bit much at times. Might be less waste if done in a smorgasbord style, although putting bowls of food on the table worked well, could do the same with meat maybe. Breakfast – Enough crescents for everyone with a note, 1/person. The trails with rocky gravel not fun, too rough, too stressful, too focused on trail to enjoy the scenery, trail gravel bed needs serious improvements. I did the bike and boat experience out of Split in 2019 and enjoyed it more, (actual island hoping), better roads, less traffic, and gorgeous scenery. But I did enjoy seeing more of Croatia and learning more of its history. Experience Oct 6 – 13th, Barb Hamilton

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 2 Nov 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your comments and will take them into account for future improvements. We're glad to hear you had a good overall experience and enjoyed the guides, service, accommodations, food, and cultural aspects of the trip. We hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future. Best regards, Boat Bike Tours

22 Oct 2023

Phil

The Andela Lora is a beautiful boat, quite new. Our lower deck cabin was spacious (bigger than upper deck cabins) and comfortable. The food was excellent, and lots of it. Crew and guides were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. E-bikes were in good condition, and on Croatia’s climbs are well advised for all but the most serious riders. Early October weather was superb, warm but not hot.

Reply from Boat Bike Tours 27 Oct 2023

We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience aboard the Andela Lora! Thanks for sharing. Best Regards, Boat Bike Tours


Can we help you?


Available ships for this tour

Motor ship Andela Lora Croatia

Sea access

Deck chairs

Cosy lounge area

Several sun decks

max. 34 passengers
17 cabins
2 tours available with this ship

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