Cycling through Istria, Croatia

Essential Information

Trip Profile

Average daily distance: 110km (68 miles)
No. of days cycling: 6
Vehicle Support: 100% but with limited seats (for only 2 clients). The vehicle is there to carry luggage and support the group.
Terrain and route: 100% tarmac (may be pot-holed in places). Route is a good mix of undulating riding and steady hills (with some challenging steep sections), mainly on quiet roads although some sections are busier. You should be an experienced cyclist and confident in your ability to ride these challenging distances.

Accommodation

7 nights hotels.

We use a mix of comfortable 2 and 3 star hotels, all with en suite facilities and some have air-conditioning. Many are family-run and you can expect a warm-hearted welcome. In recent years Croatia has regained its place as a popular tourist destination with visitor levels nearly as high as before the Balkan conflict.

Unfortunately a large number of hotels were damaged beyond repair either directly or indirectly during those years and demand now heavily outstrips supply. As a result hotel prices are high and Croatia is not the cheap destination some might expect. Hotels tend to be more workmanlike than luxurious with communist era style architecture and facilities. Top end hotels are available but charge top end prices and are therefore not used on this trip. In Motovan the hotel has more limited availability and on occasion we may have to stay down the road in Istarske Toplice.

Food

7 breakfasts included.

Reality Check

Cycling Conditions The rides mainly follow tarmac roads (which may be pot-holed in places). The roads are generally quiet with a few busier sections around the towns themselves. The route is mostly undulating but there are challenging climbs on each day of the ride, the longest of these is 28km rising from sea-level to 900m, these climbs can take several hours so it is important that you are prepared and capable of tackling these. The gradients are predominantly gradual but on each climb there is generally a small section where the elevation is steeper. On the whole you will have full days in the saddle with stops for snacks and lunch.

The scenery is spectacular and the best way to enjoy it is from the bike. Although the trip is 100% vehicle supported, the vehicle has limited seats for only 2 clients. The vehicle is there to carry luggage, water and snacks, and support the group.

Rides are from hotel to hotel with no vehicle transfers during the day, so you should be an experienced cyclist and confident in your ability to ride these challenging distances. We recommend that you practice riding longer distances over consecutive days or at least be confidant that you are capable of doing this.

This trip is classified road and graded C/D (Challenging/Tough). Please see the introductory pages of the Cycling Brochure for more important information on classification and grading. 6 consecutive days cycling, average 110km/day (68 miles). If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to call us.

Normal group size and age

Normally 6 to 16, plus leader and a driver. Minimum age 16.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

In order to provide a more accurate cycle holiday grading system, where a cycling trip falls between two grades we use an intermediate or split grade, for example Challenging/Tough. Clearly, conditions may differ from region-to-region or month-to-month and as such the information given on these pages is designed to act as a guide to your cycling holiday only. In all cases you should refer to the Trip Notes for further details.

Cycling: Our cycling holidays come in all shapes and sizes; from gentle self-guided trips in the Veneto, to tackling the High Atlas in Morocco, or exploring the length of Vietnam.

Cycling Through Istria