We start the tour in the Italian city of Trieste. It’s a seaport city with a long and complex history, lying at a crossroads influenced by Latin, Slavic, and Germanic cultures. From Trieste we immediately head towards Slovenia, cross the border and then slowly approach the Adriatic Sea.

Following the Slovenian coast we reach the charming and picturesque maritime town of Piran. Our foreign visitors enjoy the impressive atmosphere of the old town with its adorned front-doors and windows. In the middle of the town is Tartini Square with a monument dedicated to the great violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, born in Piran in 1692. Adding to the list of worthwhile places to visit is the town hall and the law-courts, the Gothic Venetian mansion, and the cathedral holds a position of eminence, commanding a glorious panorama.

We’ll have enough time to take a break, have a coffee at the Tartinni piazza and even go for a gentle stroll. Later we continue just a few kilometres on to Portorož – the best known Slovenian coastal resort town where we stay overnight. Naturally, an afternoon or even evening swimming in the Adriatic is also an option.

Cycling distance:  42 km, Elevation 253 m

Say goodbye to the sea for a while, as we head inland for a day or two. Soon after leaving Portorož we reach the Croatian border. The landscape starts to change slightly and you start feeling what Istria is about, besides its coastline. The objective for the day is to comfortably reach Grožnjan.

Grožnjan, known as the city of artists, is delightfully surrounded by green hills and the magical white soil found in Istria contributes to this must-see destination for those who want to discover the treasure chest of Istria. Due to its interesting history, which has been widely documented, it still naturally permeates the present with its rich ancient churches, prehistoric finds, ancient castles, magnificent palaces and many other old buildings, whose past glory had been recovered through restoration.

As always we end the day with a good dinner.

Cycling distance: 31 km  Elevation: 323 m

On day 3 we continue with the same style we tackled a day ago. We stay away from the sea and explore Istria’s treasures. The highlight of the day is Motovun, a  small town, globally known for its beauty, history and variety of events, including its film festival.

Motovun has become a major tourist attraction due to its recognizable medieval shape and great climate. Visitors enjoy walking through the medieval streets, taking in views from the city walls and exploring the countryside through various bike and walking trails. The natural beauty leaves everyone with an everlasting impression and is a perfect place for those who love nature and adventure.

Cycling distance 32 km,  Elevation 323 m 

It’s back to the seaside. We have plenty of time to comfortably pedal towards Poreč, a city whose centre is located on a small peninsula submerged in the sea. Its foundations were put in place during the time of the ruling Roman Empire. Today Poreč is a typical Istrian tourist town located on the Adriatic Sea. Cycling distance:  36 km, Elevation 315 m

On day 5 we travel north along the coastline, back towards Slovenia. But before getting there, we make another overnight stop in the city of Umag. Umag is a small town and port on the north-western coast of Istria. A place Croatians say presents ‘Croatia’s gateway to Europe’. It also has a reputation of being the Istrian sports centre, since it’s been the host of the ATP tournament for many years now, it attracts numerous top world tennis players. Cycling distance:  42 km, Elevation 230 m

We spend more time Croatia, following the Croatian coastline as much as we can, before entering Slovenia once again. We approach Portorož and Piran taking an alternate route to the one we took when leaving those two cities 4 days ago. We wrap up the day and the 6 day riding tour Piran. The van will be waiting for us to take us back to the tour starting point in Trieste. You might even wish to prolong your stay in Slovenia for a few days to recover and further enjoy the Mediterranean. Cycling distance:  32 km, Elevation 310 m