Adventourus Active Vacations

8 day Independent or Escorted tour

The lands of the ancient Republic of Venice. Three countries in one week between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

The history of the Republic of Venice provides the background to the entire trip. From the wonderful Venice, you will pass through the beaches on the coastline up to the plain of Friuli and then you will continue with the fascinating town of Trieste, finishing with a trip to the beautiful Istria county coast in Croatia, a sight which is truly to be treasured.

Individual arrival in Mestre (the mainland of Venice). The city of Venice will captivate you with its splendour, acknowledged worldwide.

After a few kilometres on bike, you take the ferry and then the vaporetto, passing in front of Piazza San Marco. Then you will reach Punta Sabbioni, the area furthest south of the Adriatic coast, which is to the north of Venice. From here you cycle towards Caorle along the Venetian Adriatic coast, with numerous opportunities for a refreshing bathe in the sea.

Day 3: Coarle outskirts - Portogruaro (35 km)

When you have left Caorle, with its characteristic historic centre, made up of little houses painted various colours that look out onto the piazzas
and streets of the town, you will then head north towards the Julian Alps, leaving the sea behind you. You will be passing through an area with a multitude of ‘Valli da pesca’ (stretches of lagoon enclosed by earthen dikes where extensive fish farming is practised) and ‘casoni’ (constructions used by fishermen in the past during the fishing season).
Next you will go to the town of Portogruaro, one of the main centres in the period of the ‘Serenissima Republic of Venice, which is still impressive even today with its glorious ‘Palazzi’ or ‘palaces’.

Today you will spend the day in the midst of the plain on the eastern border between the region of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, passing through an area abundant in water and history, among rivers, canals and ancient roman towns. Your destination for the the day will be Aquileia, with its roman excavations, or Palmanova, named ‘the starry city’ because, from above, the city resembles a 9-pointed star.

For today’s stage, you will cross the river Isonzo, by which numerous important battles took place during the First World War. Then, you will once again head towards the sea: the gulf of Trieste awaits you, with many possible stops along the way, such as Duino with its two castles,
Sistiana with its characteristic bay and Miramare with its famous castle built according to the wishes of Massimiliano d’Asburgo, situated in
a beautiful park of more than 20 hectares in size. Just a few kilometres lie between you and Trieste, the ancient port of the Hapsburg Empire,
which has much to offer in the way of attractions.

Having left Trieste behind you, after a few kilometres you will pass the first of two borders that are key to this trip. You will cross over
into Slovenia, often cycling along cycle paths through famous holiday resorts such as Koper, first for a long period a Venetian town, and
then Austrian, and Piran, another important town which was ruled over for a long time by Venice. You then finally arrive in Portoroz, a town renowned for its spa and bathing facilities.

Cycling southwards, you will pass through the salt mines of Secovlje, a large Slovenian town. Some kilometres later you will cross the last border going into Croatia down along Istria county, the Adriatic sea’s largest peninsula. In the end you will reach Porec, the tourism capital of Croatia, with its Eufrasian Basilica, which, in 1997, was declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.

After breakfast your cycling tour comes to an end and you may begin your journey home. We would also be more than happy to extend your stay in Europe.

PRICE & DETAILS

Price & Schedule

INDEPENDENT TOUR

DEPARTURE DATES:

Independent tours depart every Saturday from April 9th to October 22nd (except from July 9th to August 27th).

- 7 nights accommodation in a double room with private facilities. The hotels we use on this tour are family run guesthouses and B&B's of 2.5 & 3 star standard.

- accommodation in superior hotels or agriturismo, all rated 3 and 4 star, all rooms with private facilities

- buffet breakfasts

- luggage transport

- tour information at your first hotel by our representative

- hybrid bicycle with 24 gears and pannier

- maps & road guide book

- Vaporetto + ferry transfer from Venice to Punta Sabbioni

- 7 day service helpline

Notes:

Transfer Porec-Venice by boat on Saturday (approx. 150 min.). Prices from € 60 Booking is compulsory.

Price & Schedule

ESCORTED TOUR

DEPARTURE DATES:

May 14th Only

Included:

- accommodation in superior hotels or agriturismo, all rated 3 and 4 star, all rooms with private facilities

- buffet breakfasts

- support vehicle that also supplies luggage transportion

- escorted cycling guide with a superior knowledge of the countryside

- hybrid bicycle with 24 gears and pannier

- maps & road guide book

- Vaporetto + ferry transfer from Venice to Punta Sabbioni

Notes:

Transfer Porec-Venice by boat on Saturday (approx. 150 min.). Prices from € 60 Booking is compulsory.

EASY TO INTERMEDIATE: You will ride for approximately 300km in 6 stages. The first three days are mainly on flat roads, across the Veneto and Friuli plain, while the last three stages are slightly more hilly... A reasonable level of fitness is required.

The nearest airport is Venice.