Cycling Croatia: 4 destinations for a relaxing bike ride on your holiday

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Cycling Croatia is an increasingly popular way of active vacation from year to year.

Very well known by all true cyclists and cyclo-tourists, Croatia is integrated into the EuroVelo network of cycling routes.

Apart from the official, there are plenty of other cycling routes

Four EuroVelo routes pass through Croatia, but apart from the official routes, there are plenty of other routes for everyday bike touring with an abundance of natural, historical, and cultural beauty. Contrast landscapes and the availability of discovering old sites with bicycles make it very attractive for cycling explorers.

Terrains like macadam fields are ideal for mountain bikes whilst asphalted roads are more suitable for family sightseeing, in Croatia you will find one for everyone’s taste, beginner or professional.

Means of public transport that can accept bikes are trains, boats (ferries), and river ferries, and it is also possible to transport bikes by plane and bus. Also, the bike itself as a means of transport is increasingly becoming a daily part of public transport.

Wine and Gastro Cycling Trip in Istria

We’ll start from Croatia’s most popular cycling peninsula – Istria, well known for its famous bicycle tours along wine and gastro routes through stunning vineyards.

Endless gently rolling hills and rural roads here make cycling a pure enjoyment. As cycling is so well organized here, it’s the easiest destination to arrange a self-guided cycling trip. There are about 60 marked mountain bike trails, a total of 1500 km, and the majority pass through forest paths and unpaved country roads.

Northern Istria has 9 circular trails about 400km long. The mountainous terrain makes these the most difficult trails, but the views are spectacular. Most attractive are the ones passing through the hilltop village of Motovun or the world’s smallest town Hum.

7 marked bike trails around Pazin

Central Istria has 7 marked bike trails around Pazin. These are visited mostly by professionals and rarely crowded.

Southern Istria has the easiest trails. The 300km of marked trails are mostly riding along the coast. There are two bike trails around Poreč but the most beautiful trails are around Zlatni Rt park outside of Rovinj. Three marked trails around Vrsar pass through the Kontija forest with a sweeping view of the Lim Channel.

All of them offer you a magnificent blend of nature and historical and cultural sites along the way so Istria is a great destination for cycling explorers and families.

Istria is a cycling destination all year round although winters bring very lonely environments and limited offers.

Cycling routes on Dalmatian Coast and Islands

Apart from Istria, cyclists who enjoy being somewhere else each morning would enjoy a dramatically beautiful Dalmatian coast with its islands.

It is possible to island-hop all year round, although ferries to particular islands might be limited to one a day in winter. Late spring and early autumn are the most wanted periods for such adventure since July and August can be very hot. Too hot even for sightseeing, not to mention cycling.

The most popular island-hopping itinerary is cycling Croatia on the bike from Split to Dubrovnik via the islands of Brač, Hvar, and Korčula, and Pelješac peninsula. This route allows you to see the very best of Dalmatia due to many good ferry connections. During the day you’ll explore 1700 years old Palace of Diocletian, Greece, and Roman ruins, the longest fortified walls in Europe, fisherman villages, wine cellars, and art galleries.

You’ll pass next to the private gardens, along the coast, olive groves, and endless lavender fields. An overnight at each island allows you to experience the island’s evening atmosphere at local “konoba” (taverns) with the most amazing local traditional food and wine, of course.

Cycling Dubrovnik’s countryside and islands

Another cycling gem is a route around Dubrovnik’s countryside and islands, that allows you to make memories that will last longer than any souvenir.
From Konavle and its amazing countryside to the Pelješac peninsula, you’ll reach the historic town of Korčula. Take a rest and dine like a local and enjoy the exceptional natural beauty of National Park Mljet.

After visiting salt lakes you’ll be relaxed as never before and full of energy to cycle your way back to Dubrovnik. With a short ride to a nearby island of Šipan, you’ll get a day of complete relaxation on this quiet island. For the end of your cycling Croatia journey. don’t forget to explore the Old town of Dubrovnik, full of stories and historical sites, a town that deserves the name “A pearl of Adriatic”.

No matter which part of Croatia you choose for relaxed cycling – whether on a guided bike trail or self-guided cycling tours – we are sure that your vacation with Fiore Tours will be unforgettable and exactly what you wanted to have.

Fiore Tours - Cycling and walking travel agency, Croatia

Your adventure partner in Croatia!!!

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ENQUIRY

OUR GROUP SERVICES

If you’re considering bringing your group to Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Hercegovina or Montenegro trust FIORE TOURS to organize and deliver your custom travel experience. Our comprehensive group services include:

All components for an integrated tourism experience. These include professional driver and licensed guides, transportation (car, minivan, 15 passenger minibus or coach), accommodation (hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, private accommodation, even camping), meals (from picnics to fine dining) and activities (hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting).

Innovative itinerary development. We work with our clients to develop itineraries that respond to their customer’s psycho-graphics and exertion and comfort levels. Feel free to ask us for examples of popular itineraries or ones that are more “off the beaten path.”

Outstanding customer service. Our success is largely due to our guides who place the customer first. As a “hands on” tourism business, our guides also work in the office, help set policy and basically keep the rest of us honest. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours and keep a 24 hour emergency line open.

Value for money. The quality of our product and its cost represent some of best value for money spent. Our local knowledge, innovative ideas, access to a wide variety of unique properties and direct service delivery contribute to competitive pricing and customer satisfaction.

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL?

Tourism is the world’s fastest growing industry. Traveling to far flung places gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience cultures that are so different from our own. But with the wondrous joy of travel comes the responsibility of ensuring that we do not adversely affect those countries that we visit. In a nutshell, Responsible Travel is about ensuring that you, as travelers, and Fiore Adventure, as a promoter of travel:

  • respect the local culture
  • do not inadvertently introduce new social ills and
  • promote & practice environmental responsibility in the places that we visit


That way, you enjoy a unique and memorable experience as well as authentic cross-cultural exchange and our local resources, cultures and customs are protected.

It has always been at the heart of Fiore Adventure’ ethos to not exploit local communities’ culture and environment.

We ensure our tours are:

  • low impact on natural resources
  • respectful and observant of local customs and
  • supportive of local economies


All staff of Fiore Adventure are locally employed and all our guides are, ensuring a more authentic experience for travelers, as well as sensitivity to local customs and culture. We also involve local communities in remote areas that we travel to.


Our environmental policy:

  • We recycle all our waste paper
  • Our correspondence and promotion is carried out via the internet and email, minimizing the amount of paper used for our activities
  • We use established, locally-owned and run accommodation wherever possible and aim to leave sites in better condition than we find them.
  • Our vehicle fleet is managed to minimise environmental impact.
  • Our group sizes are small, helping minimise cultural and environmental impact.
  • We monitor our impact, and where necessary alter our programmes accordingly.
  • We always abide by site-specific guidelines pertaining to flora and fauna.


Social policy:

  • All staff of Fiore Adventure are locally employed and all our guides are, ensuring a more authentic experience for travelers, as well as sensitivity to local customs and culture. We also involve local communities in remote areas that we travel to.
  • Our accommodation is mostly provided in small hotels, guest houses or apartments.
    On all our tours we use local produce and provide local-style meals, and we encourage our guests to try local dishes and delicacies
  • We support local economy and small business by supporting locally owned shops, restaurants, and using local guide services.
    Using local employees, accommodation providers, local restaurants and transportation services, Fiore Adventure ensures that financial benefits remain in the local community.

What you can do:

  • Learn something about Croatia: culture, religion, geography, politics and local customs.I strongly recommend to get a good travel guide such as Lonely Planet guides or Croatian Tourism Board. They are very useful before and during your staying.
  • Try to speak at least a few words of Croatian, you will make a big impression by doing it and it’s also a show of respect and interest on your part.
  • In many places fresh water is a very precious commodity and should not be wasted, so use a minimum for showering and washing, especially when you are on islands, tap water is drinkable throughout Croatia
  • Turn out the lights or air condition when you leave your room, use the public transport as much as you can, minimize your waste generally
  • Pick up your litter, never live any trace in nature, when you are in rural areas please stay to the trails and don’t damage or take any plants or flowers

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Fiore tours & adventure operates a fleet of different vehicles from cars, minivans and minibuses. Each van is equipped stereo radio/ CD sound systems with microphone, cloth/velour upholstered seats, carpeted interior and air conditioning. The vans are regularly serviced and continuously checked by a well established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the country. This adds up to the best preventative maintenance program, but technical problems are not always avoidable.

Drive and explore

BIKE TRANSPORTATION AND SHUTTLE

Fiore Tours adventure partner in Croatia

TRANSFER SERVICE

We cater to clients from all around the world and in doing so understand their basic needs and requirements. Whether you are on a business trip or on a holiday, we can assist you move in and around Croatia.

Fiore Tours drive and explore

BEFORE YOU GO

Preparing for your trip!!!! So you have booked! Please take the time to read the following information; it will help you prepare for the trip of a lifetime. The information provided here is a guideline and should be used as such, if you need further information please feel free to contact us – one of our staff will be happy to help you.

Travel documents

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay is required for those nationals that need a visa. Those not requiring a visa need a valid passport and must leave the country before the passport has expired.If you don’t have a passport, apply for one in good time. If you do have a passport, check the expiry date.

Visa
Citizens of Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and the US do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Visas cost US$26 (single-entry), US$33 (double-entry), and US$52 (multiple-entry). Apply for a visa at your nearest Croatian embassy or consulate at least one month before planned arrival.

Travel Insurance
A requirement for all overland travel is that you have valid insurance cover for the duration of our tour. It must cover you against personal accident, medical, cancellation, curtailment and repatriation expenses , you should also make sure you are covered for hiking and other expedition activities or optional excursions that you intend to do. You should purchase your travel insurance policy at the same time as you book your tour.Please remember to bring your policy with you.

Regional Information
Read more about Croatia….

Packing list – adventure travel
One word: versatility. Your destination and the duration of time you’re traveling generally dictates what—and how much—to bring along. But whether you’re living out of your bag for two weeks or four months, pack clothes that can do double duty, ones that are functional enough for the trail but sharp enough not to stand out in a city. Sun hats can become rain hats, backpacks with detachable daypacks free your hands when lugging your gear from bus stop to hotel, and a good pair of travel pants with a concealed zipper pocket could stand in for a money belt.

When it comes to clothing, stay away from cotton (or at least aim for poly/cotton blends; it may be comfortable, but it takes forever to dry), and try for wrinkle-free clothes. Pack one nice outfit for that must-have dinner in a Parisian café, and always have pants or a skirt that’s long enough to cover your legs should you be traveling in a country where custom dictates a degree of modesty. In warmer climes, you’ll naturally be packing lighter. In cooler locales, layering will stretch your wardrobe. Another piece of advice: darker colors generally blend in anywhere, let you mix and match without becoming a fashion accident, and save the hassle of constant washing. And if you’re heading someplace with inexpensive markets and shopping (Southeast Asia, for example), you can always buy a few new items when the need or desire strikes.

In the brave new world of bags, you can get a rolling bag/backpack hybrid that gives you the versatility, and the newer generation of rollers come with wheels that swallow up Central European cobblestone as much as NYC asphalt. But if you’re uncertain, let your interest be your guide. Trekking in Annapurna? Go with a traditional backpack. Crawling the pavement of South America’s metropolises? A rolling bag will save your back and serve you well.

Travel Items
• passport + photocopy of front page of passport
• airline tickets
• travel insurance
• wallet (cash, credit cards, traveler’s cheque, ID Card)
• money belt
• medications
• list of contact addresses and telephone numbers
• backpack
• daypack
• multi-tool or pocket knife
• headlamp
• camera, memory card/film, charger/extra camera batteries
• ziploc plastic bags
• travel alarm clock / calculator
• small umbrella
• reading material
• International electric adapters

Clothing
• 2 to 3 synthetic/wicking polo shirts or t-shirts or 1 to 2 short-sleeve blouses, gauzy material
• fleece jacket or vest
• rainjacket (gore tex or similar)
• convertible nylon pants or a few skirts
• underwear and socks
• clothing and shoes for downtime and restaurants
• lightweight sarong
• sun/rain hat
• mid thigh-length shorts
• swimmsuit
• sleepwear
• sunglasses

Footwear
• waterproof sandals (or flip-flops for public showers)
• trail-running or hiking shoes
• “dress up” shoes (or buy them in-country)
• hiking socks
Toiletry Kit
• super-absorbent camp towel
• dramamine, or other motion sickness tablets
• anti-diarrhea medicine
• anti-bacterial cream
• insect repellent
• sunscreen and lip ointment
• handi Wipes
• feminine products
• shaving accessories

Repair Kit
• safety pins (keep straps together, etc.)
• clothespins (keep curtains closed and hang clothing to dry)
• mini sewing kit

Packing list – Cycling Holidays
Complete packing list for adventure travel
Bicycling Clothing & Gear
• bicycling shoes or stiff-soled sneakers
• bicycling shorts
• short-fingered bicycling gloves
• brightly colored cycling jerseys or synthetic T-shirts
• lightweight jacket or vest
• breathable windproof and waterproof rain jacket
Optional Bicycling Clothing & Gear
• arm and knee/leg warmers
• headband that covers ears (worn under helmet)
• synthetic mid-weight socks
• toe covers or booties (worn over clip-in bike shoes)
• bicycling tights
• windproof outer gloves (worn over biking gloves)
• lightweight but warm cycling cap that fits under helmet (skullcap)
• hydration backpack
• personal biking gear and helmet

Packing list – Walking/Hiking Holidays
Complete packing list for adventure travel
Walking/Hiking Clothing & Gear
• waterproof hiking boots/shoes
• walking/hiking shorts
• long-fingered, waterproof gloves
• lightweight windproof jacket/vest or warm sweater
• synthetic walking/hiking pants
• synthetic T-shirts
• walking sticks optional

Packing list – Sea Kayak Holidays
Complete packing list for adventure travel
Sea Kayaking Clothing & Gear
• water bottles/hydration pack
• dry bags
• synthetic T-shirts
• waterproof sandals
• swim suit and spare
• towel
• hat: baseball or wide-brim
• polypro long-sleeve top
• suncream & lipsalve
• gloves

Packing list – Multi-Sport Holidays
Complete packing list for adventure travel
Bicycling Clothing & Gear
• bicycling shoes or stiff-soled sneakers
• bicycling shorts
• short-fingered bicycling gloves
• brightly colored cycling jerseys or synthetic T-shirts
• lightweight jacket or vest
• breathable windproof and waterproof rain jacket
Optional Bicycling Clothing & Gear
• arm and knee/leg warmers
• headband that covers ears (worn under helmet)
• synthetic mid-weight socks
• toe covers or booties (worn over clip-in bike shoes)
• bicycling tights
• windproof outer gloves (worn over biking gloves)
• lightweight but warm cycling cap that fits under helmet (skullcap)
• hydration backpack
• personal biking gear and helmet

Sea Kayaking Clothing & Gear
• water bottles/hydration pack
• dry bags
• synthetic T-shirts
• waterproof sandals
• swim suit and spare
• towel
• hat: baseball or wide-brim
• polypro long-sleeve top
• suncream & lipsalve
• gloves

Notice On Filing Customer's Complaints

Pursuant to Article 8 Paragraph 2 of the Law on Consumer Protection (Narodne Novine Official Gazette No. 97/07 and 125/07 – corr. 79/09 and 89/09 – corr., 133/09), we inform our clients that complaints regarding the quality of our services can be submitted in writing to:
Fiore d.o.o., travel agency, Mate Vlašića 6, 52440 Poreč, Croatia or sending to following E-mail address: adventure@fiore.hr

You will receive a response to your complaint in writing within 15 days of receipt of the complaint. Required information: name and surname of the person filing the complaint, the exact address for submission of responses.

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