CyclingMTB & E-MTB OptionsBilingual ENG/DEU

Island Hopping By Mountain Bike & Boat Highlights of Istria 2025

Omišalj - Cres - Pula - Vrsar - Poreč - Grožnjan - Novigrad - Rovinj - Fažana - Rabac - Njivice - Omišalj

In Istria, Central Europe and the Mediterranean fuse into one. In this European oasis a diversity of landscapes and terrains provide an exciting variety of trails with relatively few metres of elevation, making it the ideal playground for mountain bikers. Enjoy a week long MTB and cruise full of contrasts in Istria. Bike through lush green pastures and plains, forests and picturesque vineyards and silver green olive groves. Every day, enjoyable trails are the highlight of every ride: some flowy, some technical! Your local guides know the region well and can take show you the best of the region.

One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to Pula, the largest and oldest city on the Peninsula. Here you can explore the famous Roman amphitheater and the old town. You can also look forward to the artists’ village of Grožnjan, the enchanting old towns of Rovinj and Poreč and various culinary delights!This MTB tour takes place parallel to the hybrid bike tour on board of the same boat. Both itineraries are fully guided. 

Approx 232km; 3,400m elevation by MTB or e-MTB, MTB Level 1-2, S0-S2

Check in OMIŠALJ on FRIDAYS from 1400HRS
Check out OMIŠALJ on FRIDAYS by 0900HRS

Code: I2 ISM

MS Linda

Day by day Itinerary

Day 1
Omišalj - Cres

Individual arrival to Omišalj, a charming pirate’s nest on the island of Krk. Check-in on board is possible from around 1400HRS. Once you have made yourselves comfortable in your cabin, enjoy the first crossing to Cres. Your destination is the island capital of the same name, where you will 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

In the morning, enjoy your breakfast on board with a pleasant morning cruise to Pula. In the afternoon, 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 your afternoon on the bikes, return to Pula where you 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. 

Bike route approx 40km; 500m elevation

Day 3
Pula - Vrsar - Poreč

In the morning, enjoy your 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, 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 your bike, conclude your tour in the city of Poreč. The town has a lively vibe with its long promenade and shopping streets. A visit to the famous Euphrasies 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 Poreč.

Bike route approx 27km; 250m elevation

Day 4
Poreč - Novigrad

In the morning, follow the "Parenzana", an abandoned railroad line, which leads you to the famous artists' village of Groznjan. The picturesque artists’ village is a medieval jewel in the Istrian hinterland. It awaits with romantic alleys, flower-filled squares and diverse galleries that have made their home in old natural stone houses. From here you can experiment on a number of technical downhill trails before continuing along gravel roads through rural Istria to Novigrad, where you can enjoy the evening and spend the night.

Bike route approx 60km; 800m elevation

Day 5
Novigrad - Rovinj

In the morning the boat takes you 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, return 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.

Bike route approx 28km; 300m elevation

Day 6
Rovinj - Fažana - Rabac

Your morning bike ride takes you near the coast, mostly on natural forest paths and gravel roads to Fažana, with its quaint little harbour and promenade lined with colourful houses. Board the boat and enjoy a cruise along the coast to Rabac. Here, located on a picturesque bay on the east coast of Istria, enjoy gorgeous white pebble beaches, crystal clear waters and a beautiful harbour. Not to be missed is an evening cocktail in a local bar.

Bike route approx 33km; 250m elevation

Day 7
Cres - Njivice - Omišalj

In the early morning, cross to the island of Krk, where a final tour awaits you. The route will lead you 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 harbour of Omišalj, your boat awaits you with a delicious last evening meal on board which can be spent in great cheer in the company of the fellow travellers, crew and guides.

Bike route approx 41km; 480m elevation

Day 8
Omišalj

After breakfast disembarkation by 0900HRS and individual trip home or extended stay in Croatia.

Inclusions

  • 7 Nights in A/C ensuite cabin
  • 2 Days Full Board, 5 Days Half Board
  • Bilingual Cruise Guide - English, German
  • Guided cycling tours as per itinerary
  • Full Suspension Mountain bike
  • Overview maps for the daily tours (onboard)
  • Bed linen & towels

Exclusions

Supplements Payable Upon Embarkation

  • Tourist Taxes, Port Fees & Bottled Water €60 per person
  • Special dietary requests (lactose/gluten free, vegan etc) €70 per person
    Note: Must be communicated in advance, payment on board.

Optional Extras

  • Limited liability protection for rental bike (theft & damage) $75 per bike
    Note: Grossly negligent damages are not covered.
  • Premium full suspension MTB Upgrade $480 per person
  • E-MTB Upgrade $240 per person​
  • Premium full suspension E-MTB Upgrade $890 per person

Not Included

  • Arrival/departure transfers (available on request)
  • Entrance fees for sites (paid direct)
  • Drinks on board (tally sheet to be paid to the captain)
  • Meals & drinks ashore
  • Tips for the crew & tour guides
  • Anything not specified in inclusions

 

Pricing and Accommodation

Start DateEnd Date
Upper/Main DeckTwinSingle Lower DeckTwinSingle
Fri 02 May 25Fri 09 May 25
$3,180$4,480$2,655$3,700
Fri 16 May 25Fri 23 May 25
$3,489$4,946$2,969$4,166
Fri 30 May 25Fri 06 Jun 25
$3,489$4,946$2,969$4,166
Fri 13 Jun 25Fri 20 Jun 25
$3,803$5,417$3,283$4,637
Fri 27 Jun 25Fri 04 Jul 25
$3,803$5,417$3,283$4,637
Fri 05 Sep 25Fri 12 Sep 25
$3,803$5,417$3,283$4,637
Fri 19 Sep 25Fri 26 Sep 25
$3,803$5,417$3,283$4,637
Fri 03 Oct 25Fri 10 Oct 25
$3,489$4,946$2,969$4,166
Fri 17 Oct 25Fri 24 Oct 25
$3,489$4,946$2,969$4,166
swipe for more

Important Notes

Upper Deck Cabins are above the Main Deck
​Main Deck Cabins are on the Main Deck
Lower Deck Cabins are in the hull of the ship, below the Main Deck
Cabins are allocated according to availability

Captain reserves the right to change the route in case of bad weather conditions, crowding or other circumstances out of his control. Departures are guaranteed for minimum 14 participants. Cruise Operator reserves the right to cancel or change the ship name if necessary. Guests are obliged to follow ship rules (found in written form onboard). Guests are not permitted to bring beverages onboard the vessel that have been purchased onshore. All drinks must be purchased onboard. In the event of inappropriate behaviour the Cruise Operator and Captain reserves the right to disembark guests.

Route, Itinerary & Inclusions are subject to change without prior notice.

Port taxes, entrance fees, sightseeing and excursions (if not included in the package) must be paid in local currency upon arrival.

It is highly recommended that clients take comprehensive travel insurance including against cancellation of reserved services.

Disclaimer
Due to specific mooring conditions and requirements in some Croatian Ports, multiple ships are moored side by side. This makes it necessary to cross from one ship to the other where there are gaps in between each ship. Special care must be taken at all times when crossing between the ships, and guests do this at their own risk. Crew assistance will be given to those needing and requesting it. View from cabin windows and balconies may be obstructed when moored in port and alongside other ships. Cruises are not recommended for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

Itinerary Changes
Cruise operator reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organisational requirements. Sometimes the tour will be run in reverse order.

MTB Level S1-2
Easy to moderate daily tours with stages of about 25-50km and 300-900m of elevation gain. Istria is a mountain biker’s paradise with a range of trails from easy to moderate to choose from. Ride on mainly unblocked flow trails, wide natural paths and quiet asphalt roads. It should not be required to carry your bike over any blocked paths. Instead of taking part on a MTB tour, you are also welcome to either join the hybrid bike group or to remain on/near the boat. The daily tour program is dictated by the weather and the decisions of the captain. 

Single-Trail Classification
To ensure that you are well prepared for your bike tour and know what technical difficult level to expect, a classification has been created for all single trails that could be ridden on your tour. The difficulty levels included in your classification coincide with the Single Trail Scale which can be found at http://www.singletrail-skala.de/.

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.

Helmet Requirement
Helmets are mandatory on your bike tour. It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required). Furthermore, we recommend riders to carry arm and leg protectors during the bike tours. 

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. 

Bringing Children/Teenagers
We believe that only children in a good physical condition with a minimum age of 14 who have previous MTB riding experience can keep up with the demands of our mountain bike tours. In addition, they should have prior experience with riding techniques needed for descending on narrow trails and technical terrain. Please be aware, that the smallest rental mountain bikes are suited to a body height of 1.50m and above (XS frame). Croatian law requires children under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet when riding a bike. When travelling with children, we recommend our Multi-Adventure Tours in Greece and Croatia which are specifically curated for families and offer family-friendly pricing.

Accommodation - Traditional Ensuite Ship Linda (all cabins with shower/toilet)
At 31 x 6 m, the Linda is a sleek wooden small ship rebuilt as a 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.

Catering
The onboard chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering consists of 2 x full board and 5 x half board. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.

Language
Cruise and cycle tours are conducted bilingually (English, German).

Participants
Minimum 14 / Maximum 29

Booking Check-List
If you are interested in booking this cruise we require the following details from every accompanying traveller:
▪ First and last names (as seen in passport, no nicknames)
▪ Date of birth
▪ Nationality
▪ Rental bike yes/no and which type
▪ Body height (for rental bike)
▪ Bike insurance yes/no
▪ Helmet yes/no and size
▪ Contact number of guests while abroad

Arrival Information
▪ Guests time of arrival
▪ How are the guests arriving? (for flights please include flight number and time)
▪ Are transfers required (at additional cost)? If so, from where/to? For how many people?

 

Extras and Add Ons

Add Sightseeing & Excursions

Need travel insurance? Get a quote from us.