Beyond Boundaries Travel: Croatia

8 Days / 7 Nights – approx. 235 km (142 mi.) by bike
"The heart of Europe" is what the Istrians call their peninsula, inspired by its shape and its position at the crossroads of European arteries of cultures and nations. This is where Central Europe and the world of Mediterranean meet. On this tour you will explore the most popular part of the Croatian coast. Starting in Pula, the ship will take you a bit further north every day, and our tour guides will show you the most beautiful routes of the whole coastal region. You will visit the paradise of nature on the islands of Brijuni, the Lim-channel with its caves, the coastal cities Poreč, Rovinj and Pula, as well as the Istrian hinterland, a famous wine- and truffle region.
Pula, the starting port of the trip, can easily be reached by bus as well as by car. The trip always starts and ends on Sundays, which allows you an unhurried and comfortable arrival.

Day 1 (Sun) Starting from Pula, ca. 25 km (15 mi.)
Individual arrival in Pula , the most important port of Istria with an impressive cultural heritage from Roman times. If you are planning to come to Pula by car, we can reserve a safe parking space for you. The cabins on the motor yacht will be ready for you from 11 am. At 2 pm, we start on our first cycling tour to explore the surroundings of Pula . Afterwards, the ship will take you to the national park of Brijuni-islands, where you will have dinner and spend the night on board.

Day 2 (Mon) National Park of Brijuni , ca. 20 km (12 mi.)
Until the death of Tito in 1980 the paradise-like islands of Brijuni were a prohibited area, reserved for the government elite and their guests. In a relaxed and enjoyable bike-tour you will explore every corner of this subtropical park of nature and get to know its rich flora and illustrious fauna. In the afternoon the ship will take you to Vrsar where you will spend the night.

Day 3 (Tue) Vrsar – Poreč, ca. 35 km (22 mi.)
You will be cycling from Vrsar to the shore of the Lim-channel, where we will have lunch in one of the famous caves - the local oysters enjoy a special reputation. Near to this cave you will have opportunity for swimming. Afterwards you will cycle on asphalted roads and through old villages to Porec, where the ship will be waiting for you. In the afternoon you can stroll through the picturesque Old town with its enchanting patios and wide view over the sea.

Day 4 (Wed) Poreč – Novigrad, ca. 50 km (30 mi.)
A longer tour will take you to the artist town of Groznjan, situated in the “Istrian Toscana”. Picturesque alleys and little studios invite you to take a stroll and to look. Here you will have your lunch and enjoy an Espresso before you continue your cycling tour to Novigrad.

Day 5 (Thu) Novigrad – Umag, ca. 25 or 45 km (15 or 28 mi.)
Through the backcountry you will cycle all the way to Umag, where you can see the remains of the city walls and the charming old town. This bike-tour can be prolonged by an additional 20 km to visit remote villages on the Savudrija peninsula with various viewpoints over the sea.

Day 6 (Fri) Umag – Rovinj, ca. 20 km (12 mi.)
In the morning you will cycle to Novigrad nearby the coast. Here you will meet the ship and lade your bicycles. Afterwards you will have time to relax cruising to Rovinj, one of the most charming and romantic but nevertheless lively Croatian coastal towns. Winding alleys full of beautiful details lure you uphill through the old town to the church on top. From here you will be able to admire the view on the lovely, rocky bay with its numerous sailing yachts. Today’s cycling trip will take you to the nearby nature park with its beautiful bays that call for a swim.

Day 7 (Sat) Rovinj – Pula, ca. 40 km (24 mi.)
Along expanded seaside walks you will reach a pristine macchia area. Near the coast you will make your way to Fazana, where you will have lunch and afterwards time to go swimming. From here it's not far to Pula and to the ship. The old town will invite you to stroll around once again before you will go to bed in your homely cabins.

Day 8 (Sun) Pula – Check-out
The guests are expected to check out after breakfast, i.e. by 9 am.

Alterations:
We reserve the right to make alterations to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organizational requirements. Sometimes the tour will be conducted in inverse order. The tour of Brijuni may be conducted without bicycles. You will find further details in your booking information packet.

Requirements (level 1-2):
The bike routes require a basic level of fitness, which you should have acquired by occasional or daily cycling. The routes reach a maximal height of 200 m. The daily routes of 30 km (18 mi.) on average, cover hilly terrain and can be completed without time constraints. You can, however, also choose to skip a bike-tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead. The roads are mostly asphalted and there is little traffic outside of holiday periods.

Bringing Children:
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1,40 m (4.6 ft.)

Accommodation:
Ship TARIN
The TARIN is a new two-masted motor sailing ship of 23m length and 6 m width that was built in 2003/4. All of her 10 cabins are above the water level. Five cabins have a double bed (140cm/55” wide) and three of those feature an additional bunk bed. The other cabins have two separate beds that may be aligned beside each other or on two levels. The fore sundeck measures 40 m2, the upper deck even 60 m2. Together with the large saloon, captain Nevio’s TARIN offers ample space to her passengers.

Catering:
The cook on board is a member of the crew of four and prepares the breakfast and one warm meal a day. The half board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.

Guided tour:
The tour will generally be guided in German language. One of the guides will translate into English for non-German-speaking participants.

Embarkation: on Sunday in Pula.
Season 1 2007: May 20 - June 24
Season 2 2007: September 09 - October 07

Services included:

* 8-day-trip on a motor yacht with a crew of four
* 7 nights on a motor yacht in a double cabin with shower/toilet (single cabin not an option)
* 7 x half board on the ship
* Bed linen and towels
* English-speaking tour guide
* 7 guided cycling tours
* Overview-maps for the daily tours on board
* Entrée,and guided tour in Brijuni national park.