The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike
Guided from EUR € 2044
Bike and Boat Tour aboard Andela Lora
Countries: Croatia
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Explore Croatia’s Scenic Coastline, Historic Harbor Towns, and Medieval Villages on an Electric Bike and Boat Adventure
Croatia is known for its incredible beaches, historical cities, and picturesque islands. On this guided e-bike and boat tour, you'll discover Croatia's largest peninsula and some of its most scenic locations.
Istria, sitting between Kvarner Bay and the Gulf of Triest, is an oasis with over 300 miles of coastline and is home to fascinating harbor towns like Pula and Porec. Cycling inland, you'll find medieval hilltop villages and delightful olive groves and vineyards, evocative of the Italian countryside.
While the terrain undulates, you'll conquer the ascents with ease on electric-assisted bicycles, returning to your comfortable floating hotel each day.
Highlights
- The amphitheater in Pula
- White truffles of Istria
- The Baredine Cave with its underground lake
- The artists' village of Grožnjan
- Guided cycling excursions on electric bike
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Daily program
Day 1: Embarkation in Omišalj - Cruise to Cres
Arrive in Omišalj, a historic town on the island of Krk with a rich maritime past. Boarding begins at 2 pm, and after you’ve settled into your cabin, the boat will embark on its initial journey to Cres. Weather permitting, a stop will be made in a scenic bay for a swim in the clear Adriatic waters. The day’s destination is Cres, the island’s capital. Its old town, shaped by Venetian architecture, offers picturesque alleys and historic churches, perfect for an evening exploration.Day 2: Cres - Pula (17 mi. / 28 km)
Begin the day with a relaxed breakfast onboard as the boat heads toward Pula. In the afternoon, explore the surrounding area, starting with Galižana, a village celebrated for its traditional winemaking. Next, visit Vodnjan, known for its historic olive oil production and well-preserved medieval buildings. Continue to Fažana, a picturesque fishing village offering views of the Brijuni Islands National Park. Return to Pula for a guided tour, featuring landmarks like the Roman amphitheater and the Temple of Augustus. Spend the evening discovering Pula’s streets and local culture before staying overnight in the city.Day 3: Pula - Vrsar - Porec (25 mi. / 40 km)
Begin the morning with breakfast aboard as the boat makes its way to Vrsar, a town linked to the legendary Casanova, who reputedly sought refuge here. From Vrsar, embark on a bike ride along the scenic Limski Canal, passing through the tranquil rural landscape until you reach Kloštar and then Poreč. Poreč is lively with its bustling promenade and vibrant shopping streets. Be sure to visit the Euphrasius Basilica, famous for its early Christian mosaics. Spend the afternoon swimming and unwinding before enjoying an overnight stay in Poreč.Day 4: Poreč - Novigrad - Rovinj (36 mi. / 59 km)
Start the day cycling along the "Parenzana," an old railway route that once connected Istrian towns. This scenic ride leads to Grožnjan, a medieval village celebrated for its vibrant arts community. Known for its flower-filled squares and galleries in traditional stone buildings, Grožnjan has been a haven for artists and musicians for decades. In the afternoon, continue through the picturesque Istrian landscape, making a stop in Buje, a town famed for its wine production. Proceed to Novigrad, where the coastline offers beautiful views and a rich maritime history. The evening is perfect for exploring Novigrad’s charming waterfront and enjoying an overnight stay in this coastal town.Day 5: Rovinj (12 mi. / 20 km)
Breakfast is served on board as the boat approaches Rovinj, the gateway to today’s biking excursion. From Rovinj, the route leads along an old railway to the Lim Canal before coming to a local park with scenic trails that wind past picturesque bays, ideal for a swim. After some time at the beach, return to the boat and explore Rovinj’s winding streets and historic sites. In the evening, a guided city tour reveals the town’s rich history and lesser-known highlights. The night is spent in Rovinj, allowing for an immersive experience of its vibrant atmosphere.Day 6: Rovinj - Fažana - Rabac (22 mi. / 37 km)
In the morning, bike along scenic coastal forest trails leading to Fažana, a village with a charming harbor and a promenade lined with colorful buildings. After boarding the boat, continue with a coastal cruise to Rabac. Located in a picturesque bay on Istria’s eastern shore, Rabac is known for its striking white pebble beaches and transparent waters. Consider ending the day with a cocktail at a local bar, a great way to relax and take in the evening atmosphere.Day 7: Rabac - Njivice - Omišalj (26 mi. / 43 km)
Early in the morning, the journey moves to the island of Krk for the final cycling leg. This stage traverses from Njivice to Omišalj on Croatia’s largest island, noted for its diverse landscapes and the acclaimed Zlahtina white wine. Pause to explore Soline Bay, where the mineral-rich mud is renowned for its therapeutic benefits and adds a memorable touch to the holiday experience. After returning to Omišalj’s harbor, a farewell dinner aboard the boat offers a chance to celebrate with fellow travelers, the crew, and guides.Day 8: Omisalj (Disembarkation)
After breakfast disembarkation by 9 am.All distances are approximate. If you do not want to cycle one day, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbor. We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements.
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Accommodation
Boats
- 17 cabins (12 - 14 square meters)
- Quiet generator
- Swimming platform at the stern, sunbeds and mats on the sundeck
- Tables and chairs on deck out of the sun
- Cargo hold for E-bikes
- Wifi available in the salon and deck areas
Andela Lora
The Andela Lora is a motor yacht, launched in June 2012, and is an elegant steel ship. The attentive and helpful crew is ready to do anything for a light-hearted journey through the wonderful island world of Croatia. Read more
Overview
Hotels
Extra Nights will be accommodated in one of the following hotels depending on availability.
Krk, 4-star: Hotel Miramare or similar. Pricing available upon request.
Extension overnights will be accommodated in one of the following hotels depending on availability.
Zagreb, 4-star: Hotel Manda Heritage, Hotel Dubrovnik, or similar
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Dates & Prices
Questions about pricing or options? Call +1-215-613-0874 to talk to a Tour Advisor now.
Apr 25Apr 25 € 2044 Book Apr 25Apr 25 € 2944 Book May 23May 23 € 2244 Book May 23May 23 € 3244 Book Jun 6Jun 6 € 2444 Book Jun 6Jun 6 € 3544 Book Jun 20Jun 20 € 2444 Book Jun 20Jun 20 € 3544 Book Jul 4Jul 4 € 2444 Book Jul 4Jul 4 € 3544 Book Jul 18Jul 18 € 2044 Book Jul 18Jul 18 € 2944 Book Aug 1Aug 1 € 2044 Book Aug 1Aug 1 € 2944 Book Aug 15Aug 15 € 2244 Book Aug 15Aug 15 € 3244 Book Aug 29Aug 29 € 2444 Book Aug 29Aug 29 € 3544 Book Sep 12Sep 12 € 2444 Book Sep 12Sep 12 € 3544 Book Sep 26Sep 26 € 2444 Book Sep 26Sep 26 € 3544 Book Oct 10Oct 10 € 2244 Book Oct 10Oct 10 € 3244 Book Oct 24Oct 24 € 2244 Book Oct 24Oct 24 € 3244 Book Show pricing details and extra options →
Pricing details and extra options
Apr 25; May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29; Sep 12, 26; Oct 10, 24, 2025
Season A: Apr 25 | Jul 18 | Aug 1
Season B: May 23 | Aug 15 | Oct 10 | Oct 24
Season C: Jun 6 | Jun 20 | Jul 4 | Aug 29 | Sep 12 | Sep 26- Season A 2025 Apr 25, Jul 18, Aug 1 from € 20442025 departures: Apr 25, Jul 18, Aug 1
2025 April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Double occupancy Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 2044 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 2294 Single occupancy Price Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 2944 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 3319 Bike rentals Price Electric bike Included Gravel bike Discount € -45 - Season B 2025 May 23, Aug 15, Oct 10, 24 from € 22442025 departures: May 23, Aug 15, Oct 10, 24
2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Double occupancy Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 2244 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 2494 Single occupancy Price Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 3244 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 3619 Bike rentals Price Electric bike Included Gravel bike Discount € -45 - Season C 2025 Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, Aug 29, Sep 12, 26 from € 24442025 departures: Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, Aug 29, Sep 12, 26
2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Double occupancy Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 2444 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 2694 Single occupancy Price Twin/double cabin - lower deck € 3544 Twin/double cabin - upper deck € 3919 Bike rentals Price Electric bike Included Gravel bike Discount € -45 - Extra options
Extra options Dietary restrictions Gluten free, dairy free, or vegan€ 70 Discount amount Price Triple room discount Discount € -200 Quad cabin discount Discount € -400 Children 16yo or underDiscount € -200 Transfers Price Group transfers to/from Zagreb and Omisalj on arrival and departure days only€ 65
Included services
- 7 x nights accommodation in cabin with private bathroom
- 2 x full board and 5 x half board
- Electric bike
- English-speaking tour guide
- Guided cycling tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
- Guided tours in Pula and Rovijn
- Maps for the daily cycling tours on board
- Bed linen and towels
- Optional self-guided cycling tours using navigational app
Please note a required visitor's tax and bottle water flat rate of approximately €60 per adult and €30 per child is not included in this tour package. These fees are paid directly to the captain upon arrival. Credit and debit cards are not accepted on board; ATMs are available at stops along the tour route.
- Season A 2025 Apr 25, Jul 18, Aug 1 from € 2044
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Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
Surface and terrain
This guided tour can be comfortably tackled with an e-bike, covering distances of 12 - 38 miles (20 - 60 km) and elevations of 656 - 3280 feet (200 - 1000 meters) per day. Participants should have a basic level of fitness and prior bike riding experience. It is important to note that approximately 30% of the routes are on natural paths and gravel roads.
How to get there
Tour start and end
Port in Omišalj
The following group transfers are offered for a fee with advanced reservation (on arrival and departure days only at the indicated times):
Airport of Zagreb (ZAG) - Port of Embarkation
ZAG to Omišalj: 12:15 pm
Zagreb City Center to Omišalj: 11:30 am
Departure times from Omišalj to Zagreb on disembarkation day: 8:00 am. Please make sure, that your return flight does not depart from Zagreb before 12:00 pm!Airport of Rijeka (RJK) – Port of Embarkation
On request, flight information is required to reserve.Railway Station Rijeka - Port of Embarkation
Rijeka Station to Omišalj: 9:30 am
Departure times from Omišalj to Rijeka on disembarkation day: 8:00 am (45 minutes approx.)Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Nanette Bean 3 months ago
Adventure in Croatia
Our guides Christopher and Mirta were excellent, very thorough and reliable and fun. The boat, the Andela Lora Was well-maintained and a pleasure to be on. The food on the boat was excellent, kudos to the chefs. Croatia is a beautiful country and I’m glad we got to Bike on back roads, we had many fun adventures
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★★★★★ Linden Bentley 3 months ago
Istrian adventure
Boat and boat accommodations were fine. Meals on board exceeded expectations. We like plenty of vegetables and that was provided. Crew and guides excellent! Bikes top class. Trails, trying in places. Destinations good, routes well guided. While we prefer all car-less rails to trails with consistent surfaces this was more varied between attention-required rocky/gravel/rutty surfaces, with 'turnstiles', paved surfaces with cars and no shoulders, and good smooths gravel--- it was a more demanding biking experience than those we prefer. Guides were excellent in explaining the upcoming terrain, traffic and inclines/declines. Pacing did not allow for much 'side tracking' for photos, or rests or independent exploring.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Elaine Kubicki 7 months ago
Charming Coratia
This was my second bike trip with Bike Tours. My first was the Albania tour, which was fabulous! Overall, the Croatia trip was very satisfying, i.e. the yacht was very accommodating, the staff was very attentive and informative including the email personnel who answered questions before the trip, the new chef was great, the e-bikes worked well, the other vacationers made for pleasant exchanges, and the small ports and villages were charming to visit and the staff tours were interesting. On the other hand, there were things that kept this tour from being a 5 rating. My biggest concern was the additional costs, i.e., expected tips and bar/water bills that were not mentioned in the initial cost of the tour and were only made aware a few weeks before the tour and after the initial commitment and payment for the tour was made. Also, along with those concerns, I am curious as to why there was an extra charge for an e-bike when the trip is advertised as “The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike” and everyone rode an e-bike except two people who brought their own bikes? We also had problems mid-week with sewer gases in the bathrooms, which did get repaired within a day or two, and the air conditioning in the cabins worked well only one night out of 7, which made the cabin quite warm and damp. There were 34 bikers riding at the same time and on many more rocky gravel trails and busy highway/roads then I had expected and, at times, felt rather dangerous. However, as you noticed I still gave this tour a rating of 4, so, enough good outweighed to make it a satisfying trip.
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★★★★★ Elaine Kubicki 7 months ago
Charming Coratia
This was my second bike trip with Bike Tours. My first was the Albania tour, which was fabulous! Overall, the Croatia trip was very satisfying, i.e. the yacht was very accommodating, the staff was very attentive and informative including the email personnel who answered questions before the trip, the new chef was great, the e-bikes worked well, the other vacationers made for pleasant exchanges, and the small ports and villages were charming to visit and the staff tours were interesting. On the other hand, there were things that kept this tour from being a 5 rating. My biggest concern was the additional costs, i.e., expected tips and bar/water bills that were not mentioned in the initial cost of the tour and were only made aware a few weeks before the tour and after the initial commitment and payment for the tour was made. Also, along with those concerns, I am curious as to why there was an extra charge for an e-bike when the trip is advertised as “The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike” and everyone rode an e-bike except two people who brought their own bikes? We also had problems mid-week with sewer gases in the bathrooms, which did get repaired within a day or two, and the air conditioning in the cabins worked well only one night out of 7, which made the cabin quite warm and damp. There were 34 bikers riding at the same time and on many more rocky gravel trails and busy highway/roads then I had expected and, at times, felt rather dangerous. However, as you noticed I still gave this tour a rating of 4, so, enough good outweighed to make it a satisfying trip.
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★★★★★ Mary Lou Taylor 7 months ago
More than I could have hoped for.
This was my first bike tour, and I was a little apprehensive. But it was great! The boat was first-rate, with a wonderful, accommodating crew and excellent chef. The tour guides were fun, responsible, and caring. And Croatia is beautiful. I would definitely recommend this adventure.
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★★★★★ Bob VG October 9, 2023
Wonderful trip!
Explored the Istrian Peninsula by day while relaxing on the wonderful Andela Lora at night. Pro tip: Don't book a lesser boat! Staff was very attentive. Guide Yana was a delight with her bubbly enthusiasm. Appreciated many costal ports as well as old historic inland villages. Would have appreciated the opportunity to for upgraded bikes and more food variety. The booking process was smooth and we would defiantly go with BikeTours.com again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Emma Broadfield August 25, 2023
An excellent way to explore the Istrian Peninsula
This is a fabulous way to explore the Istrian Peninsula, as you have the opportunity to see the coast and also explore inland. The boat is very comfortable and it is great to be able to get away from the crowds at the end of the day! The towns and villages that you get to explore are gorgeous and the coastline spectacular. Being able to swim off the back of the boat and cool off is an added bonus!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- One
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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