Cycling tours in ISTRIA

Welcome to Umag, a scenic coastal town along the Adriatic Sea in Istria, Croatia. From fun-filled family holidays to relaxing wellness getaways, Istraturist offers the best hotels, apartments and villas for your ideal vacation in Croatia. This tourist region, which encompasses the cities of Umag, Novigrad, Buje and Brtonigla, is equally suitable for all cyclist profiles, be they mountain cyclists, road cyclists or tourist cyclists. It will successfully host not only the participants in their trainings and preparations, but also the leisurely and recreational tourists. Umag, the scenic Istrian city along the Adriatic Coast, has become a top sport destination in Croatia. Due to its location in northwest Croatia, Umag is considered the gateway to Istria from northern Europe. The Umag - Novigrad region boasts a complex of 12 mountain and 6 road routes and it is most proud of its Parenzana cycling trail, which follows the route of the former narrow-gauge railway tracks. The vineyards and the olive groves, the forests and the streams, the medieval towns on hills - these are only a few of this area's cycling assets.The sight of lush landscape is endless and the scent of the Adriatic Sea is in the air. No holiday in Umag would be complete without experiencing the tastes of its wonderful Istrian food. Due to its prime location, Umag offers both delicacies from the sea and traditional fare from the region. Situated on the Adriatic Sea, there is no shortage of fresh seafood in Umag. Fish, crab and clams, among many others, are plentiful in the clear water of the Adriatic. One of the most popular foods in the region is Istrian ham, or prosciutto. This dried ham has been a staple of Istrian cuisine for centuries. The ham is prepared in a unique fashion, using only fresh air to cure the meat, resulting in supreme texture and flavour. Served with cheese and bread, Istrian ham is perfect for an appetizer before your meal or as the main dish itself. With such fertile land and an ideal climate, Istria offers delicious tastes throughout the year. The freshest asparagus is plentiful in the spring and truffle season arrives in the autumn. As a delicacy, truffles are held in high regard around the world and the very best can be found in Istria. Also, the Istria's perfect growing conditions for olives and grapes are evident when sampling the region's world famous olive oils and wines.

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Description

There is no better way to explore Istria than by the spending the day on one of the region's many bicycle trails. With 19 interconnected, marked trails covering approximately 560 total kilometres, Umag has become a top destination in Istria for recreational and professional cyclists. And with varying trail difficulties ranging from beginner to expert, finding a track that suits your abilities is easy. Kilometres of coastline provide an easy, scenic route for a fun-filled day. Maybe a more difficult ride is what you are looking for? The hilly countryside of Buje, which rises to approximately 500 meters above sea level, is perfect for the cyclist looking for a Croatia mountain biking experience. Whatever your pleasure, you will not be disappointed. Seeing all the beauty Istria has to offer will not be difficult from the bike trails. Not only do trails offer breath-taking sea views, but they also present numerous historical landmarks along the way, making your ride even more enjoyable. With clean, fresh air and breathtaking landscapes, Umag is certainly a fantastic biking region for everyone. So fill up your water bottle, map out your ride and prepare an unforgettable Croatia biking experience.

Download brochure PDF CLICK HERE: Northwestern Istria bike guide

Let us propose you a special mtb tour called PARENZANA > 61 km + 290 m climbing - 3/4 hours

The Parenzana is one of the most popular mtb tracks in Istria, an ideal way for discovering it's natural beauties. Forests and streams, konobas and cellars, hidden chapels and ancient ruins – all these attractions are linked by more than 500 kilometres of bicycle trails. Parenzana was a narrow-gauge railway operating between 1902 and 1935 between Trieste and Poreč (at that time Parenzo, hence the name Parenzana). It connected Istria to the inland of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy, of which Istria was an integral part. The railroad was of extreme importance as it brought economic progress to the most isolated and poorest parts of Istria, thereforeit is not surprising that people still remember it with respect and nostalgia. The railway transported wine, olive oil, salt, fruit, vegetables, lime, wood and other goods to the market and it ran through North-western Istria connecting Trieste with Poreč via Koper, Piran, Buje, Groznjan, Završje, Livade, Motovun, and Vizinada. The last train rode on August 31st, in 1935. Since it couldn’t compete with the road transportation it was dismantled, carriages and locomotives sold and reallocated, while rails were loaded on a ship for Abyssinia which allegedly ended up sunkensomewhere in the Mediterranean. Even though it has been 73 years since Parenzana closed, most railway stations have survived as many were converted into homes. Viaducts and tunnels are preserved as well and are exceptionally attractive. Many passionate hikers, researchers, cyclists and nature lovers have been long aware of the beauty of this magical route emphasizing that it can have huge potential if adequately revitalized. With the financial support of the European Union, vegetation and obstacles have been cleared from the ailway route, and the bridges have been restored and equipped with security fences. Being financed by multinational European Union and connecting three states - Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, Parenzana is rightly called The Path of Health and Friendship. On May 10th 2008, on the almost forgotten route of the former railway line, there was a formal opening of the cycling route “Parenzana”.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION: Even though the route starts near the border crossing Plovanija we recommend you start in the tourist settlement Kanegra, from where you should follow yellow markings in the direction of Buje. The route twists left at almost 180 degrees and passes by the former station Savudrija-Salvore; take the tarmac road there and continue towards the village of Markovac. In Markovac come off the route of the railway Parenzana and take the main road; turn left to the crossroads with the main Istrian road “Y”; cross the crossroads and, following the yellow signpost, turn right again onto Parenzana which will take you to Kaldanija; turn right and along the main road continue to Buje. After 1.5 km turn left then again turn to the unpaved Parenzana route; across Volpija continue to the main road Buje-Kaštel, there turn right towards Buje and after 1 km following the sign Parenzana turn left to a narrow concrete path. Having passed by the building of the former railway station Buje, carry on the left along the main road towards Groznjan; after two sharp turns, turn right and return to the unpaved Parenzana route. Continue by the station Triban to the very entrance of the closed tunnel Sv. Vid. Turn right and circumvent in front of the town of Groznjan, we pass through the tunnel Kalcini (178.7 m), and return again to the unpaved road route. Continue through Biloslavi, Kostanjica tunnel (69.9 m) and arrive to the foot of the hill on top of which is Zavrsje. Take the wide unpaved road and continue along Parenzana to the tunnel Zavrsje 1 (35 m) and Zavrsje 2 (28m), followed by the viaduct Zavrsje (61.8 m). Carry on along the route passing the village of Vi�intini and after a few hundred meters you will arrive to the viaduct Antonci (61.8 m). Shortly after the viaduct you will reach the village of Krti where you continue along the Parenzana route. After a few kilometres the route takes you over the viaduct (68.5 m) and through the tunnel Freski (146 m). Arriving to the railway station Oprtalj descent in a gentle rightward turn over the viaduct Oprtalj (75,2 m) and there continue further downhill; after a few kilometres you will come to Livade, and its Museum with the Parenzana collection. From Livade, the route takes you along the main road which crosses the bridge over the Mirna river followed from where it keeps going uphill on the left edge of Motovun hill, passesing through the tunnel Motovun (222 m) and continues toward former station of Karojba to the viaduct Krvar (39.9 m). Continuing uphill you will arrive to the viaduct of Sabadin (64 m) and then to the former station Vizinada, where the route of Parenzana reaches its end.

ALL DETAILS IN www.coloursofistria.com

Accommodation in bike hotels, facilities with special licences, will meet the high criteria for receiving cyclists in all aspects. The bike hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the cycling trails and they combine sports nutrition, wellness complexes, repair shops, detailed information on the routes and numerous other services tailor-made for the cyclists.

Bike & More offers to BIKE GROUPS SPECIAL PACKAGES IN THE HOTEL SOL GARDEN ISTRA**** SPORT HOTEL
PERIOD from January 2nd to March, 31st, 2012

Package for 5 overnight stays at a prize of EUR 200,00 half-board per person in a double room

The package includes:

*A welcome drink upon the group's arrival
*5 x overnight stays in a double room, half-board (diner and breakfast buffet - showcooking)
Rich menu selection adapted to cyclists
*Free access to the indoor swimming pool and fitness area
*1 x access to the wellness centre (sauna and whirlpool complex - max. 2 hrs)
*Sojourn tax
*one-man music band entertainment every night in the aperitif bar
*possibility to use the conference room max 1-2 hrs once a day
*1 dinner drink 2 dl of your choice: water, juice or beer
* BIKE ROOM
A safe, locked room with 24/7 video surveillance for free storage
of bicycles. The room has rails and hooks for bicycles. Here you can find
all equipment necessary for care and maintenance of bicycles.
* BIKE CORNER
Hotel's info corner for cyclists has all the information on the destination and its offers
* CYCLING TRAILS AND ROUTES
Informational material entitled Bike Guide through North-Western Istria with maps and routes of the area
* WEATHER INFORMATION
Daily weather forecast
* CYCLING CALENDAR OF EVENTS