Istria MTB-Boat

Kroatien, croatia, istrien, istria

Istria MTB+Boat

from/to Omisalj

Highlights and culinary

In Istria, Central Europe and the Mediterranean world meet. By mountain bike and boat you experience this unique coastal region for a week. In the “green oasis” of Europe, varied landscapes and terrains as well as a variety of trails at relatively low altitudes make for a perfect mountain bike vacation.

Dates 2025:

Arrival: Friday
Duration: 8 days

Dates:
Ship Linda
Season 1: April 18., May 02.
Season 2: May 16., Oct 03./17.
Season 3: May 30., June 13./27., Sept 05./19.


Min.number of participants: 14 persons

mixed group / S0-S2

1st Day: Omišalj (Embarkation) – Cres Island

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. 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.

2nd Day: Cres – Pula (aprx. 24 mi./40 km; 1640 ft./500 m of elevation, S1 – S2, bike park S3)

In the morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with a pleasant morning cruise to Pula. In the afternoon we explore Cape Kamenjak with its great diversity of pedal trails. The Park also has more than 30 bays with a rich flora and fauna which enrich our visit. After our afternoon on the bikes we return back to Pula where we can take part on an inspiring guided city tour before enjoying our evening exploring the town further at our leisure. The night is spent in Pula.

3rd Day: Pula – Vrsar – Poreč (aprx. 16 mi./27 km; 820 ft./250 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

This morning we enjoy our breakfast on board with another pleasant morning cruise this time to Vrsar. It is in Vrsar that the heartbreaker Casanova is believed to have sought temporary refuge from the husbands of his lovers. From here we bike along the Limski Channel, through forests, fields and vineyards and visit the small San Servolo bike park with a small selection of trails at varying levels. At the end of a great afternoon on our bikes we conclude our tour in the city of Porec. 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 worth a visit and there is also plenty of time to go for a swim and relax in the afternoon. The night is spent in Porec.

4th Day: Poreč – Novigrad (aprx. 37 mi./60 km; 2625 ft./800 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

After breakfast 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. From here we can experiment on a number of technical downhill trails before continuing along gravel roads through rural Istria to Novigrad, where we can enjoy the evening and spend the night.

5th Day: Rovinj (aprx. 17 mi./28 km; 984 ft./300 m of elevation, S0 – S1)

Today the boat takes us to Rovinj during breakfast, the starting point of today’s bike ride. Today’s ride is less technical but very scenic with a beautiful beach as our destination. After a pleasant swim, we return back to the boat and with 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 here.

6th Day: Rovinj – Fažana – Rabac (aprx. 20 mi./33 km; 820 ft./250 m of elevation, S0 – S1)

Our morning bike ride takes us near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths and gravel roads to Fažana, with its quaint little harbor and promenade lined with colorful houses. We board the boat and enjoy a cruise along the coast 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.

7th Day: Cres Island – Krk Island: Njivice – Omišalj (aprx. 25 mi./41 km; 1574 ft./480 m of elevation, S1 – S2)

In the early morning, we cross to the island of Krk, where a final tour awaits us. The route will lead us from Njivice to Omišalj with some great trail sections along the way. 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 boat 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.

8th Day: Omisalj (Disembarkation)

After breakfast disembarkation until 9 am and individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.

Important Information

We reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organizational requirements. Sometimes the tour will be run in reverse order.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION:

YOUR ShiP – LINDA

At 31 x 6 m, the Linda is a sleek wooden motor yacht rebuilt as an Islandhopping passenger ship in 2006. There are 14 friendly guest cabins each with a private shower and WC. The spacious and tastefully furnished salon with its wooden tables and upholstered benches provides a welcoming atmosphere. The large sundeck and the two shaded decks at the stern are furnished with sun mats and comfortable lounge furniture. Perfect to unwind for a relaxing cruise.

Group riding pace
On a guided MTB tour the speed of the group is determined by the mountain bikers on regular bikes. If you have hired an e-MTB, we ask you to respect those in the group who are riding without electric support. Those on regular bikes require more time and recovery when biking up hill. We thank you for your understanding.

SINGLE-TRAIL CLASSIFICATION:

To ensure that you are well prepared for your bike tour with Islandhopping and know what technical difficult level to expect, we have created a classification for all single trails that could be ridden on our tours. The difficulty levels included in our classification coincide with the Single Trail Scale which can be found at here.
Blue (easy, S0 – S1): small obstacles such as small roots, small stones, some erosion, gradients of up to 40 %, loose surfaces, tight corners but no hairpins, obstacles can be rolled over. Skilful braking and weight shift required, riding while standing.
Red (medium, S2): loose surfaces, larger stones and roots, steps and shallow stairs, gradients of up to 70 %, light hairpins. Constant readiness to brake, shift of centre weight to overcome obstacles, accurate braking, consistent body tension required.
Black (difficult, S3 – S5): blocked single trails, many large boulders and roots, smooth/slippery surfaces, loose scree slopes, large steps/drops, extremely steep gradients of over 70 %, tight hairpins. Expert level of bike control/handling required.

Note:
On all the above dates the mountain bike tours are operated parallel on the same boat as the hybrid bike tours. One tour guide will accompany the hybrid bike cyclists while the other will guide the MTB route, only one MTB level will be offered. The detailed itinerary for the hybrid bike cruise can be sent to you on request

YOUR BICYCLES:
  • MTB Fully (full suspension)
  • MTB Fully Premium
  • E-MTB Hardtail

Insurance against theft and damage of the Fully/E-MTB bookable:
30 euro/week (not insured: grossly negligent damages)

ATTENTION:
Bringing own e-bikes not allowed on our ships!
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).

ARRIVAL INFORMATION:

Airport

  • next airport: Rijeka (RJK), Pula (PUY) or Zagreb (ZAG)

Train station

  • next train station: Rijeka

Parking

  • A safe parking space:
    motorcycle: approx. 50 euro/week
    car up to 6 m in length: approx. 70 euro/week
    vehicle longer than 6 m: approx. 130 euro/week
    (to be paid on-site to the tour guide)

Transfer

  • Transfers bookable- see Prices
  • 8-day-trip on a motorized yacht with crew
  • 7 nights in a twin cabin with shower/toilet
  • 2 x full board and 5 x half board
  • Guided cycling tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
  • City tours in Pula and Rovinj
  • Overview-maps for the daily tours (on board)
  • Bed linen and towels
  • English speaking tour guide

2-day extension program Zagreb

pre or post-tour bookable

Included services:

  • Overnight stay in the centre of Zagreb
  • transfers from Airport Zagreb – Hotel Zagreb // Hotel Zagreb – Boat in Omisalj (when booked pre Istria Tour)
    or transfers Boat in Omisalj – Hotel Zagreb // Hotel Zagreb – Airport Zagreb (when booked post Istria Tour)
  • guided sightseeing tour in Zagreb (entry fees for sights not included)
  • dinner in a local restaurant
  • Taxes
  • Detailed travel information booklet
3 star hotelprice per person
Double roomupon request
Single roomupon request
4 star hotel
Double roomupon request
Single roomupon request
Ship LindaSeason 1Season 2Season 3
2-bed cabin lower deck999,-1.149,-1.299,-
2-bed cabin above deck1.249,-1.399,-1.549,-
2-bed cabin for single use lower deck1.499,-1.724,-1.949,-
2-bed cabin for single use above deck1.874,-2.099,-2.324,-
prices in EUR/person

Flat rate for bottled water
Adults: 60 Euro per person/week
Child up to 16 years: 30 Euro per person/week
(to be paid to the captain)

Discounts additional bed/children

With three persons sharing a cabin (limited availability), we offer a 200 euro discount per person on the tour base price (not combinable with other discounts). Children up to the age of 16 receive a discount of 200 euro on the tour base price (double occupancy, not combinable with other discounts).

Additional bookable

Rental bikes
MTB Fully220,-
MTB Fully Premium420,-
E-MTB Fully320,-
Additional nights Krk Island incl. breakfastupon request
Transfer on arrival-/departure day price per person/way
Airport Rijeka- Omisalj harborupon request
Airport Zagreb – Omisalj harborupon request
Zagreb-centre – Imisalj harbor
11:30 am from Zagreb Center or 12:15 pm from Zagreb Airport / return transfer from Omišalj to Zagreb Airport starts at 8 am: 60 euro person/way and 60 euro bicycle/way (reservation required two weeks in advance, booking incl. complete transmission of flight details)
upon request
prices in EUR/person

Operator: Inselhüpfen/Zeitreisen

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