Tour Family Cycling Holiday In Istria

Meals

3 x overnight with breakfast in hotel/guesthouse 3* in Vrsar 4 x overnight with breakfast in hotel/guesthouse 3* in Rovinj 5 x picnic lunches, 1 x welcome dinner in a local restaurant

Guide

English-speaking local guide

Others

Welcome meeting entrance fee and visit cave Baredine A single timed return airport transfer All land transport required by the itinerary Bike hire

Not included:

Others

Travel insurance Visas Airport taxes Airport transfers other than group transfers Some meals as detailed in the meal plan Extra activities and excursions not part of the itinerary Tips for local staff Miscellaneous personal expenditure

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Day 1 Day 1: Meet Group At Hotel In Vrsar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Meet Group At Hotel In Vrsar

Independent arrival to our hotel in Vrsar on the coast. This old fishing town is a delight with its seafront promenade, stunning sunsets, winding streets, pavement cafés and old stone houses. Most buildings are painted white giving it a very summer Mediterranean feel against a beautiful deep blue sky backdrop. The warm glistening sea and boats bobbing in the harbour all exude the atmosphere that gives charm and holiday feel. This afternoon we pick up our hire bikes at the shop and then go to the hotel and settle in. Our guide then gives us a briefing about the week ahead. If time allows are can pop down to the nearby beach for our first swim. We have a welcome dinner and a good nights sleep.
Day 2 Day 2: Cycle Along The Old Railway Line Of Parenzana.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Cycle Along The Old Railway Line Of Parenzana.

Today is an ideal start to our family holiday with some cycling on flat trails away from any traffic. Known as the wine railway (parents will be pleased to know!), the Parenzana Railway was built to link Porec, here on the Croatian coast with Trieste in Italy, and was operational between 1905 and 1935. It is now a super cycle way and is made all the more interesting by peddling through tunnels and over old bridges till we arrive at the old train station! There is no rush today as we cycle. We start at the pretty, medieval hill-top village of Groznjan, around 50mins transfer, which overlooks the valley of the Mirna River. Dating from around the year 1100, Groznjan is today known as a centre for artists and artisans. We will explore its timeless streets on foot, where it seems every doorway leads to an artist’s studio. We have our picnic lunch with us and will eat this at a suitable spot along the route with some nice views and shade. Our ride is eastwards through rolling countryside above the Mirna River, to the truffle centre of Livade, where we will visit a truffleshop and have the chance to taste this much sought-after delicacy. We have time to stop at one of the pavement cafés for an ice-cream or coffee. We cycle a little further to the village of Motovun and here we meet our vehicle and transfer back to our hotel in Vsrar.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: biking 27 km, time: 3 hours.
Day 3 Day 3: Circular Cycle Route Along The Coast To The Baredine Caves
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Circular Cycle Route Along The Coast To The Baredine Caves

Starting out in Porec (20mins drive) we bike on single track rural roads on a mix of tarmac and gravel, along coast and bays with beautiful views out across the sparkling sea. If we have time we can stop for a cool drink in one of the seaside cafés. Leaving the sea we go through olive groves to the village of Tar. It is incredibly peaceful and relaxing riding. After Tar we cycle south-westerly and head down another rural road to the Baredine caves where we stop to explore this interesting site. Our tour of the caves explores several chambers and tunnels down to 132m underground. They are well lit and maintained paths. In the caves we might be able to see the rare ’cave olm’, a small salamander which is endemic to this Dinaric Karst region. Leaving the caves we hop on our bikes again and cycle along rural paths back to Porec and then our hotel. We will have time to enjoy a swim in the sea on our return before our guide suggests somewhere for dinner.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: biking 30 km, time: 3-4 hours, visit cave 45 minutes
Day 4 Day 4: Sea Kayaking, Snorkelling And Swimming At Lim ’Fjord’
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Sea Kayaking, Snorkelling And Swimming At Lim ’Fjord’

Today we take a break from the bikes and enjoying another activity in this beautiful region. We have a day sea kayaking along Lim ’Fjord’. Not geographically a fjord, but locally called this, because it is not carved from glacial ice, and it does not have steep sides, just gentle green undulating ones, and warm turquoise waters - this channel is 35km long connecting the sea and the Pazincica River. It is a government protected area, so no motorised boats are allowed on the waters, making it an ideal place for us to kayak along. There are lots of places to stop on our journey today down the fjord. We might have lunch at a remote beach, only accessible from the channel, where we can enjoy a snorkel and a swim. At the end of the fjord we walk into Romuald’s cave. This 105 m long cave has several impressive chambers, with evidence from prehistoric times and animals such as bears, lions and even hyena. Now it is protected because of the large number of bats who dwell here. The legend is that a hermit St. Romuald lived here in the 11th Century. This is a beautiful day on the water in these warm climes, the children and adults will enjoy it alike. In the afternoon we transfer to our new hotel base in Rovinj. Here we can enjoy an icecream or a glass of wine as we unwind. Fresh fish (combined with a glass of Malvasia) is a popular choice at dinner this evening.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: sea kayaking 8 km, time: 2 hours kayaking.
Day 5 Day 5: Free Day In Rovinj.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Free Day In Rovinj.

Swimming or boat trip.There are no planned activities today, so we can relax a bit and do our own thing. Rovinj is said to be one of the most picturesque towns in the Mediterranean - the ’Pearl of Adriatic’ - it has colourful houses on the water front, a distinctive church and bell-tower. It is full of cobbled streets and piazzas, with ice-cream parlours and cafés serving good coffee and wine! There are several beautiful beaches in walking distance, or a short taxi ride away, which we can spend some time at. There is also an option to go on a full or half day boat trip out to the Brijuni Islands National Park. These were the summer residence of Tito which was beneficial for the park with the renewed forests and land. We can walk here or swim on the beaches. The nearby Punta Corrente Forest Park is also delightful for a walk and its beaches. The choice is yours. In the evening we have the option of all meeting up and enjoying one of the many restaurants serving food on the terraces outside in the warm night air.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: none
Day 6 Day 6: Cycle Along The Coastal Lanes From Rovinj To Palud Cove Reserve.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Cycle Along The Coastal Lanes From Rovinj To Palud Cove Reserve.

We set off this morning on the bikes again and cycle south-westerly along the coast, and through pretty little villages. Again, today the route is almost all flat. The area of Palud Cove, which is just 8km away, is the first and only ornithological reserve in Istria, providing habitat for over 200 bird species. Motor vehicles are not allowed into the reserve, but we can explore the trails on our bikes. It is a very peaceful area and there is a small rocky beach were we can have a swim and enjoy our picnic. We then return along the coast to the medieval town of Bale. From here we transfer back to Rovinj. Back in Rovinj we might have some time to visit another beach before we find another restaurant for tonight’s dinner.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: biking 20 km, time: 2-3 hours.
Day 7 Day 7: Cycle Around Cape Kamenjak To Medulin
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Cycle Around Cape Kamenjak To Medulin

We have a short transfer this morning to the most southern peninsula of Istria, the Cape Kamenjack. This isthmus is surrounded by a coastline of 30km, including bays, white beaches and crystal clear blue waters. It’s stunningly beautiful. We cycle from here to the village of Medulin. Along the way we will stop for some swimming, and can guarantee an ice-cream stop as well. For those interested there are 22 orchid species in this area. We also see the fossilised dinosaur footprints and an ammonite preserved on the flat rock here. To enhance the experience there is a model dinosaur lurking in the bushes along the trail! After our bike ride we transfer to Pula, the largest city in Istria. It has an incredible Roman amphitheatre, and a long history of wine-making. We have some free time to explore this city, or have an optional visit to the Pula Aquarium which is located in an old fort of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. We return to Rovinj at the end of the day. Tonight our guide will suggest a nice restaurant for a celebratory final dinner in this glorious and peaceful part of Mediterranean Europe.
ACTIVITY DISTANCE: biking 15 km, time: 1-2 hours.
Day 8 Day 8: Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Departure

Trip in Croatia ends after breakfast

8 days tour

Family Cycling Holiday In Istria

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Itinerary of your trip Family Cycling Holiday In Istria

Day 1: Meet Group At Hotel In Vrsar

Day 2: Cycle Along The Old Railway Line Of Parenzana.

Day 3: Circular Cycle Route Along The Coast To The Baredine Caves

Day 4: Sea Kayaking, Snorkelling And Swimming At Lim ’Fjord’

Day 5: Free Day In Rovinj.

Day 6: Cycle Along The Coastal Lanes From Rovinj To Palud Cove Reserve.

Day 7: Cycle Around Cape Kamenjak To Medulin

Day 8: Departure

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