TRANS CROATIA MTB TOUR
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Trans Croatia MTB Tour is a great multiday choice for all Croatia lovers or those who want to spend an active vacation at the Adriatic. Spring and autumn is the perfect time to visit, with nice temperatures, easy breeze and beautiful vistas.
A unique selection of trails, combining the continental part of Kvarner region, Gorski kotar plateau, Velebit Mountains and numerous Islands reveals different aspects of Croatia, from challenging trails to exquisite culinary experience. With trail elevation below 2.000 meters, this tour offers riders exceptional single track at moderate elevations. All of our rides boast remarkably well maintained trails, gorgeous vistas of nearby sea and lush green nature. The beautiful synchronicity of sea and mountains is taking you through serene forests in Gorski kotar, inviting for a rest at Zavižan mountain hut in Velebit Mountains, and further descending to the coast to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Lopar (Rab), Baška and Krk Island.
HIGHLIGHTS: Zavižan views – Northern Velebit National Park, Winnetour land, Rab old town, Rab coastal trail, Lopar beach trail, Moon plato Krk, decent to Baška
INFO
PRICE: On request!
Price includes:
– 7 nights accommodations in 3-4 star hotels/pensions (accommodation Zavižan in a mountain hut)
– 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners with local/ typical touch
– Fully qualified and experienced mountain bike guide for the duration of your trip (guided tour only)
– Baggage transfer between stages
– All group safety equipment
– Accompanied local driver following the group from
(day 3 – day 7)
– Transfer from route ending point to route starting point
– Ferry ride fees
– 24/7 hotline number (support)
Rates are valid per person, based on double occupancy.
Optional
– Supplement for single room 189 €
– GPS device rental 10€/day
– e-bike rental 39€/day
– bike-rental 29€/day
Price excludes:
– Travel and activity insurance
– Personal safety & cycling equipment
– Lunches
– All beverages with included meals
– Any other items not mentioned as included.
DATES
5 – 12 May, 2019 GUIDED, SELF-GUIDED
29 September – 6 October, 2019 GUIDED, SELF-GUIDED
NOTE: In season, any tour can be organised on any date for a group of a minimum of 2 people.
ITINERARY
FROM ADRIATIC SEA TO GORSKI KOTAR
We start riding in small village Čavle above Rijeka following the concrete and gravel road to Grobniško polje, facing quite a climb on forest/gravel road Platak, where we can have lunch in mountain hut. We follow the gravel road to Mrzle Vodice continuing on 8 km long single trail. We do some more pedaling to Lokvarsko Lake, enjoying some nice single trails, before we proceed to our stay for the night – Fužine, a pleasant small town founded in the 17th century, with a long tourist tradition.
DAY 2 (Distance: 64 km, Elevation: 1288 m)
FROM FUŽINE TO ADRIATIC SEA
Today we ride a part of new and exciting MTB race trail, located in the area of Gorski Kotar and northern Adriatic coast, called from Fužine to the sea. The ride starts from the hotel, following the trail in the shade of Primorje Mountains, taking a single track descending to the coast into the town of Novi Vinodolski. The ride continues above the Novi Vinodolski, leading to Senj, once home to “Senjski Uskoci”, a brave medieval resistance army that fought the Ottoman and Venetian invaders in 14th century.
DAY 3 (Distance: 38 km, Elevation:1838 m)
ASCENT TO VELEBIT MOUNTAIN & ZAVIŽAN HUT
The third day of our Trans Croatia tour is devoted to the one of the most expected challenges on the Croatian part of the trail – ascend to the mighty mountain of Velebit, the heart of the Dinaric mountain range in Croatia. It is said that what Olympus Mountain is to Greeks, the Velebit is to Croats! A short but relatively hard ascent will reward us with more beautiful views of the Northern Adriatic coast and islands. We start from sea level and gradually ascend towards Velebit. Upon reaching the Oltare pass we join the road leading to the entrance of the National Park Northern Velebit, from where we continue on gravel roads to Zavižan mountain hut – the highest meteorological station of Croatia and our base for the night.
A wonderful afternoon views of Northern Adriatic Islands are priceless, overlooking the scenery at almost 1600m below us. On a clear day, it is possible to see all the way to the Italian Apennines range and if we’re lucky, even across northern Italy, to the famous Dolomite peaks!
DAY 4 (Distance: 46,5 km, Elevation: 570 m)
FROM VELEBIT BACK TO ADRIATIC COAST
One of the highlights of the trip is a ride along the main ridge of Velebit mountain, one of the largest and longest mountains in Croatia. We explore the lush forests and meadows enjoying the amazing forms that nature has created in the karstic relief of the Dinarics Alps. We pedal to Alen, turning down towards Jablanac village at Adriatic coast. The road is a combination of asphalt, gravel and single trails. At the end we have a short asphalt road to Stinica, catching a ferry to Rab.
Once we arrive to Rab Island, the shuttle will be organized to city Lopar, our base for the next 2 days. For those who would like some more biking to do, we suggest to ride an adventurous loop around Lopar’s beaches. Really intriguing ride with sections where one literally has to push the bikes to reach its goal. If you wish to have an easy ride we’d suggest you to skip that part!
DAY 5 (Distance: 48 km, Elevation: 977 m)
BEST OF RAB
The island was mentioned for first time in a Greek source around 360 BC. The name is deriving from word Arba that means “Black island” due to the rich pine forests. The island is still green and really fun for biking. Tour is combined with gravel, asphalt and single trails. The most certain highlights of the day are the city of Rab, Premožič trails and a scenic trail following the coast starting from city of Rab. You will face a longer climb at the beginning of the tour, continuing with several shorter climbs and descents. Lopar beach (the town where you are staying) was chosen as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! If you haven’t had a chance to explore the region a day before, now is a perfect time to do Lopar’s beach loop.
DAY 6 (Distance: 53 km, Elevation: 1288 m)
KRK RING TOUR – PART 1
For the next 2 days you will follow our unique Krk Ring Tour which runs along the coast most of the time. It’s all about riding the scenic trails with amazing views over the Adriatic Sea, the surrounding islands and Velebit Mountains. The beginning and the end of the tour can be set anywhere on the island but our tour starts on the parking place close to the Krk airport and ends in Baška on the other side of the island. Baška is known for beautiful beaches and great infrastructure for bikers/tourists and makes a perfect tour finish. The highlights of the day are “Strava segment”, a really nice trail at the beginning of the tour, scenic views from Village Dobrin, Plateau of the Moon above Baška and final trail from Plateau to Baška.
DAY 7 (Distance: 71 km, Elevation: 1379 m)
KRK RING TOUR – PART 2
The final tour day starts in Baška and finishes at the parking place where we started a day before. The tour has quite an easy start, facing short but steep climb after 12km, rewarding you with some awesome vistas. From that point on you have great single trail almost directly to city Punat. In continuation, we ride a combination of asphalt & gravel roads and trails to city Krk and later on to Porat. In between we will bike through vineyards and olive trees with spectacular views over the coast. From Porat we follow nice trails along the coast with the short climb at the end, all the way to the parking place where we finish the tour.
LOGISTICS
Our adventure starts and ends in small village Čavle, close to Rijeka (Croatia).
AIRPORT SHUTTLE
Rijeka is sorrounded with 3 international airports within a maximum of an hour distance (from Zagreb, Trieste, Italy and Ljubljana, Slovenia). We can arrange airport shuttles from all 3 airports.
BY CAR
You cross the Austrian border through the Karavanke tunnel, taking the highway to south (Ljubljana, Postojna, Ilirska Bistrica). You cross the border with Croatia at Jelšane/ Rupa having another 15 minutes’ drive to reach Rijeka.
From Zagreb you take the highway towards Rijeka and from there you follow the signs for Čavle.
ACCOMMODATION
Our tours are running mostly through smaller cities & villages. We always strive to choose the best accommodation & restaurants in the region, authentic and very nice.
Our careful planning and preparation means you won’t have to worry about missing the best roads and sights. You will enjoy local hospitality & great food all the way.
OTHER INFORMATION
- In a single group there will be a maximum of 8 people. But there can be more than 1 group.
- We will form groups according to individuals desires, fitness and also bikes.
- Every evening there will be a briefing session organized. Where the guide(s) will present the next day’s tour profile (altitude profile, length, difficulty…). There is always the option to avoid difficult route sections or change your group if there will be more than one. There are many variations of each days
- Meeting instructions and final trip arrangements will be sent to you two weeks prior to your tour start date.
