7 night / 8 days
Activity duration
3/5
Grade
12+
Age
April-October
Dates

Our cycling Castles of Istra tour is planned to include some of the most interesting cultural sites in Istria that are not in the foreground and most tours and excursions bypass them. So, in addition to the well-known “hilltop” towns of Grožnjan and Motovun, there were also Momjan, Završje, Oprtalj, and Hum. The goal is to convey to guests the story of the life and history of Istria through places and buildings that are less known, and the newly restored Pietra Pelosa castle and the abandoned city of Dvigrad are good examples.

Gastronomy in Istria is also indispensable, so the tour includes tastings of oil, wine, oštrig, and brandy. Therefore, the trails that the tour goes on are without much traffic and are a combination of paved roads and other roads. Also, my goal was to emphasize the diversity of Istria and its citizens, history, and culture by driving through northwestern Istria, Ćićarija, and the west coast. What is unique about the tour is that it includes a short train ride of approx. 30 minutes. Even though it is a bicycle tour, the itinerary also offers a sea kayak trip around Rovinj and its archipelago.

This cycling Castles of Istra tour will include the organization of transportation, entrance fees to localities, viewpoints, necessary equipment and guides, and accommodation on a half-board basis. The program lasts 8 days. The program does not include incoming/outgoing flights. We look forward to seeing you on our cycling tour!

Day 1

Arrive to Buje

Arrival at the destination in the vicinity of Buje. Joint dinner with guests and guides, familiarization with the program, and “bike fitting”.

OVERNIGHT 3* OPTION: Guesthouse Lovac, Guesthouse Casa la Parenzana near Buje
OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel San Servolo, Hotel San Rocco in Brtonigla

Day 2

Cycling Momjan to Motovun

The day starts with a short ride to Momjan, from where we start our bikes towards Grožnjan. After visiting Grožnjanj, we join the Parenzana trail, which offers a wonderful view of the Mirna river valley. We depart from Parenzana towards the small town of Završje, where only a few people live today. In Završje or in the Italian Piemonte, which in the last few years has been interesting as a backdrop for the film industry, the leaning tower of the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary dominates. From Završje, via Šterna and Sv Lucia, we reach Oprtlje, where we have an organized lunch. After lunch and a tour of Oprtlje, we descend towards the valley of the Mirna river, and with Parenzana we go to Motovun, where we spend the night.

NIGHT 3* OPTION: Hotel Kaštel, Villa Borgo in Motovun
OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Roxanich in Motovun

SIGHTS AND POINTS OF INTEREST: Momjan, Završje, Oprtalj, Šterna, Livade, Parenzana, Grožnjan, Motovun
LENGTH OF CYCLING: 55 km, +980m/-1050m
INCLUDED: lunch in an agrotourism, oil tasting

Day 3

Cycling from Motovun to Buzet

From Motovun we head towards Kaldir and Zamask from where there is a wonderful view of Motovun and the valley of the Mirna river. We descend towards Livada, the center of truffles in Istria. After Livado, we drive through the Mirna valley towards the Pietro Peolos fortress, which we visit. The beautifully restored fort “tells” us about the importance of the Mirna valley in the Middle Ages. We continue towards Buzet, where we end the day with a tasting of Istrian brandies.

OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Vela Vrata in Buzet
OVERNIGHT 3* OPTION: Hotel Fontana in Buzet

SIGHTS and POINTS OF INTEREST: Kaldir, Zamask, Livade, Pietra Pelosa fortress, Buzet
CYCLING LENGTH: 45 km, +800m/-900m
INCLUDED: brandy tasting

Day 4

Cycling Ćićarija and Limska Draga

After a short transfer to Brest, we start cycling on the slopes of Ćićaria. We visit the last charcoal burners in Istria (charcoal producers in the traditional way). Via Lanišće and Lupoglav we reach Hum – the smallest town in the world, where we have an organized lunch in the local and only Hum tavern. After lunch we go to the train station where we take the train to Kanfanar and continue cycling along the Limski Drag, visiting the abandoned town of Dvigrad and ending the ride with a tasting of oysters at the top of the Limski Bay. After the tasting, we take a short transfer to Rovinj.

OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Angelo D’Oro, Villa Tuttorotto, Hotel Arupinum in Rovinj
NIGHT 3* OPTION: Guesthouse Baron GautschSIGHTS AND POINTS OF INTEREST: Brest, ĆiĆarija, Carbonari, Lanišće, Lupoglav, Hum, train ride, Dvigrad, Peak Lim, oyster tasting,
LENGTH OF CYCLING: Ćićarija 30 km, +430m/-800m; Kanfanar-Vrh Lima 15 km, +80m/-350m
INCLUDED: lunch in a tavern in Hum, oyster tasting, train ride

Day 5

Free day, optional sea kayaking trip

Today you can relax if you want or join our kayak trip around the Rovinj archipelago.
OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Angelo D’Oro, Villa Tuttorotto, Hotel Arupinum in Rovinj
NIGHT 3* OPTION: Guesthouse Baron Gautsch

SIGHTS and POINTS OF INTEREST: the town of Rovinj
LENGTH OF KAYAKING: 3-5 h
INCLUDED: sea kayak excursion

Day 6

Cycling from Vrsar to Rovinj

After breakfast, we take a private boat to Vrsar, from where we start cycling towards Kontija, a protected forest on the slopes of the Lim Bay. In Kloštra, we visit the abandoned monastery of St. Michael, which according to the story was founded by St. Romuald, and later the Templars also stayed there. In Sveti Lovreč, we take a break for lunch and continue along the slopes of the other side of the Lim channel towards Rovinj. There we cycle along the old railway that once connected Kanfanar and Rovinj, and today is a cycle path with viewpoints on the Lim channel.

OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Angelo D’Oro, Villa Tuttorotto, Hotel Arupinum in Rovinj
NIGHT 3* OPTION: Guesthouse Baron Gautsch

SIGHTS and POINTS OF INTEREST: the city of Vrsar, the forest of Kotnija, the monastery of Saint Mihovil, Saint Lovreč, the story of Captain Morgan
CYCLING LENGTH: 60 km, +700m/-700m
INCLUDED: boat ride from Rovinj to Vrsar,

Day 7

Cycling Kanfanar to Rovinj

After a short transfer from Rovinj to Kanfanar, we start cycling towards Savičenta, where we visit the Morosini Grimani palace. From Savičenta we head towards Bale and on the way, we stop to see the unique church of St. Peter on the rock. After a break in Bale, we descend towards the sea, pass the protected ornithological reserve Palud and continue towards Fažana, where we end the day with a wine tasting.

OVERNIGHT 3* OPTION: Villa Phasiana in Fažana, Hotel Amfiteatar in Pula
OVERNIGHT 4* OPTION: Hotel Chersin in Fažana, Hotel Oasi in

SIGHTS AND POINTS OF INTEREST: Svetvičenat, Morosini Grimani castle, the church of St. Peter on the Rock, Bale, Soardo Bembo Castle, Palud
CYCLING LENGTH: 40 km, +260m/-525m
INCLUDED: wine tasting

Day 8

Departure

After breakfast we will take you to the airport, or if you wish to stay longer we are happy to provide additional information.
LOCATION  Istrian Peninsula
INCLUDED 7 x nights 3-4* hotel accommodation

English-speaking guide

Traditional Istrian lunch in a local tavern (Hum)

Presentation and lunch with truffles (Motovun)

Tasting of Istrian wines and visit to the cellar (Motovun)

Shellfish tasting and a boat trip to the shellfish farm in the Lim Bay

Dinners and lunches as in the itinerary

Transfers

Olive oil, and brandy tasting

Insurance

NOT INCLUDED Airfares

Drinks and meals per itinerary

Guide gratitude                                                                 

STORY OF THE ILLYRIANS PRICE
Adult 1460,00 €
Child 11,99 year 1230,00 €
School groups and private trips price on request
Possible PRIVATE and TAILOR-MADE TRIPS, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

 

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