ISTRIA - CYCLING TRIP

23/08 - 30/08/2020

START

POREČ

FINISH

POREČ

TOTAL DISTANCE

400 KM

MAX ELEVATION

2260 M

DAYS

7

GUIDED RIDES

3-4

Istria CYCLING

Romans named Istria terra magica.
Bikenauts call it cycling magic land.

Istria is the largest Croatian peninsula situated in the northern part of the Adriatic sea. Crystal clear sea surrounds its green heart of vineyards and hundred years old olive groves.

Istria is home and training ground of Martin Cotar, ex-pro cyclist and your chief guide. Each detail of every backroad in Istria lives in his muscle memory. Martin will take you on rides immersed in nature, with local winding roads leading to welcoming villages and hilltop forts.

Did you know Lonely Planet included Istria among the top 10 destinations in Europe to visit in 2019?

View more photos in our Gallery

poreč

Poreč, which will be your base during the trip, is a 2,000 years old town with ancient temples and forums. It’s famous for its beautiful natural landscape, a long tradition in tourism and attractive tourist resorts. 

Did you know that Poreč has 37 km of coastline, where you can choose between 21 beaches bearing the Blue Flag, an international symbol of clean sea and well-kept beaches?

HOTEL DIAMANT

Hotel Diamant enjoys a quiet location surrounded by pine forests. Your hotel room is only a 5-minute walk away from the beach and 1 km from the historic town centre.

Guests enjoy:

Did you know that Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team stays in Hotel Diamant during their training camps in Istria?

BOOK NOW

PRICE

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
£ 1340
  • Seven nights stay
  • Transfers in Croatia​
  • Meals and drinks​
  • Supported rides​

PRICE

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
£ 1450
  • Seven nights stay
  • Transfers in Croatia​
  • Meals and drinks​
  • Supported rides​

Deposit of £300 required to reserve. 
Full balance is due by 20/08/2020.

NEED HELP?

Please get in touch.
We are available to answer all of your questions at any time. 

ISTRIA TRIP INCLUDES

Flights, home country transfers, bike hire and travel insurance are not included.
Affordable bike hire available on request. 

*Depending on personal preferences and flight times

ITINERARY

Arrival Day

Representatives from our transportation team will meet you upon your arrival at Pula airport. After an hour drive, we reach Poreč and get you settled in Hotel Diamant.

Depending on your arrival time and preferences, you can take part in a relaxed afternoon ride or simply relax on the beach.

Days 2 - 6

During these five days, we’ll organize three different guided rides taking place on calm roads inside the Istrian peninsula. Recovery days between the rides are free for you to enjoy exploring the beautiful Poreč area with its rich history and exceptional gastronomy, or swimming in the clear Adriatic sea and soaking up the sun.

We are flexible and utterly devoted to our guests. We can change routes, the order of rides, number of rides, as well as organize additional activities, like trips, sightseeing, scuba diving, etc.

Examples of our expertly crafted routes in Istria

Bikenauts Istria Day 3 Route

Distance: 127 km
Climbing: 1840 m

Bikenauts Istria Day 2 Route

Distance: 117 km
Climbing: 2260 m

Labin Long Ride

Distance: 119 km
Climbing: 1840 m

Learn more about our approach and what to expect on your trip.
See our previous Istria and Istra + King of Ucka tours.

Departure Day

The final day will offer a chance for the last spin or some relaxing time in the Poreč area. Our team will transfer you to Pula airport in time for your flight.

COVID-19 pandemic

Situation in Croatia

Our pledge

FAQ

Booking

Deposit of £300 is required to reserve your place. It can be paid on our website with all major cards. Alternative payment arrangments, for example, bank transfer, are also available on request. The balance is due by 20/08/2020. We’ll inform you when it’s time to cover the balance.

Of course. Our guests come from different European countries, but also from other continents. Payments are possible with cards, bank transfer or PayPal from pretty much anywhere.  

Yes. We use the highest standards when collecting and storing your data. We protect your data against loss, destruction, access, change or processing. We’ll never share or sell your data. We are GDPR compliant. Please read our privacy and cookie policy.

We use Stripe to process payments securely. Stripe is trusted by companies such as Twitter, Kickstarter and ASOS. Your credit card data is sent directly to Stripe, we never store it on our servers. Please read our booking terms. 

After booking, we’ll be available to you at all times.
We’ll send you several emails with:

  • Confirmation of booking
  • Reminder to cover the balance
  • Forms and additional information about the trip

If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, we will send you:

  • Occasional emails about our latest cycling trips
  • Information about exclusive discounts and giveaways

You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time. You can also write to us and request the removal of your data.

You will have to:

  • Make your own travel arrangements to arrive Croatia
  • Purchase an aeroplane ticket to Croatia 
  • Pay for airplane bicycle fees if travelling with your bike or
  • Rent a bike from us in Croatia
  • Arrange transport to/from home country airport
  • Own/rent/borrow a road bicycle
  • Own/rent/borrow a bicycle travel box/bag
  • Cover your travel, medical and bicycle insurance
  • Pay for additional food on rest days, apart from breakfast and dinner
  • Pay for any extra activities and experiences you wish to enjoy in Croatia outside of the cycling trip

Yes, you can book a trip for more than one rider. When paying the deposit, you can select the number of guests.

In some instances, we are also able to accommodate non-riding family members or friends. However, places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first served basis. Please contact us beforehand to discuss.

Yes, we are available to help with all aspects of trip planning. We can recommend the best flights to get you to and from your selected trip, as well as hotels if you want to stay longer in Croatia.

Yes. If you wish to enjoy additional time in Croatia before or after the cycling trip, we can assist you with your travel arrangements. We can recommend locations, book hotels and even organise transport. Please let us know your wishes in advance.

Definitely. When it comes to road cycling in Croatia, and even the neighbouring countries, we can fulfil all your wishes. We are also able to organise female only trips with ex-pro female guides. Contact us to learn more.

Travelling

There are currently no restrictions for those holding the citizenship of an EU/EEA Member State. You are free to enter without the need for self-isolation.
Up to date information is availably on the Croatian Government website.

Croatia is considered safe, and there are no major issues for travellers returning to their home countries after visiting Croatia. 

We will keep you updated on any potential changes, although it’s unlikely that the circumstances will change during the duration of this trip.  

You need to have a valid passport or identity card for the duration of your stay. If your travel document describes you as a British Citizen or citizen of any EU country, you don’t need a visa to enter Croatia.

We recommend you fly to Pula. There are several flights available from/to many cities on the first and last day of this tour. A simple Google flight search will show you these options. Pula airport code is PUY. Please note, due to COVID pandemic flights are substantially cheaper compared to previous years. We are able to assist with finding the best flights and all other requests related to trip planning. 

Of course. Car, boat, train or airplane. Whatever works best for you. We will offer advice, instructions and meet and greet regardless of your choice.

Once you’re confirmed on a trip, we will send you specific advice. However, in general, you will need:

  • Passport or another valid travel document
  • Travel insurance
  • Road bike
  • Cycling shoes and helmet
  • Cycling kit for all conditions
  • Spare parts – if you have some specific/uncommon accessories or components
  • Mobile phone
  • Debit/credit card or cash – if you wish to engage in activities outside the cycling trip

You should bring a road bike with drop bars and gears. Your bike must be in full working order. Consider checking/servicing your bicycle before the trip.

All airlines flying to Pula offer bike transport for an additional fee. Your bike needs to be packed before it can be put in the aircraft hold. Rules vary slightly between airlines, but in general your bike:

  • Must be packaged in a bicycle box or bicycle bag
  • Only one bike per box/bag is allowed
  • The handlebars must be flush with the frame
  • Pedals must be removed or flush against the frame
  • No other items can be carried in the bicycle box/bag (i.e. clothing)
  • Baggage allowance must not exceed 32kg

Please see Cycling Weekly’s guide to bike bags and boxes for further advice.

If you do not own a bike box, you can rent one. Many companies are offering affordable rental of bicycle boxes across the UK. Some can even deliver the box to you by post. A simple web search will help you research the market. We are available to assist you in this task if needed.

If you decide to travel without your bike, there is nothing to worry about. We can source out top-specification hire bikes in Croatia. If you require a bike, please contact us well in advance and before paying a deposit.

Transfers & Accommodation

Yes. Members of our team or a hotel representative will be there to meet you in person.

The car journey from Pula airport to Poreč is about 1 hour.

You will be staying in the town of Poreč. Accommodation will be provided on a single or double occupancy basis in Hotel Valamar Diamant.

After booking, you will receive a food questionnaire to inform us of your specific dietary requirements. We will aim to meet them in collaboration with the kitchen staff in our hotel.

Cycling

You need to have a good level of fitness and cycling experience to complete the rides. Please compare our routes with your past rides. That said, you certainly do not have to be a professional racer. Our trips are not about racing against other riders. They are about challenging yourself.

On our website, we presented the hardest versions of our rides. However, our vast local knowledge allows us to change them on the fly and accommodate the wishes of the group or individual riders. Rides can be made shorter or longer, less or more challenging.

Furthermore, our team will be there every step of the way to support you. We will assist you if you need to stop and rest, ride in the van over some sections, or wish to take a shorter route home. 

Experienced guides will ride with you at all times. We will also have support vehicles on the road, usually behind the group. Vehicles will provide food, drinks, clothes and mechanical support. We can also transport riders and bikes if needed.

We carry all the standard bicycle tools, a bike repair stand, pumps, as well as common spare parts. These will include inner tubes, tyres, chains, lubricants, brake pads, bar tapes and cables. In case of a more significant mechanical failure, we have access to local repair shops.

Your safety is our top priority. Before each ride, we will review routes and highlight any challenging segments. In the unfortunate event of an accident, rest assured you will be in good hands. Our team is competent in first aid and has the necessary first aid supplies.

If additional assistance is needed, Istria has its own ambulance service with quick access to General hospital in Pula and University hospital in Rijeka.

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