Kvarner Bay by Mountain Bike and Boat

Day 1: Omišalj (embarkation) – Rabac (A & B: approx. 10 km / 200 m)
You will make your own way to Omišalj on the island of Krk and board between 1 and 1.30 p.m. At 2 p.m. the boat casts off for Rabac, on the Istrian peninsula, a coastal town of clear water and café terraces along the promenade. There you will take the first short ride of the week to get your bike set up, in the local Bike Skills Park — the first bike park ever built in Croatia, and a good place to test both the bike and your own riding. The night is spent in Rabac.

Day 2: Rabac – Island of Cres (A: approx. 32 km / 500 m · B: approx. 25 km / 500 m)
The day starts with a transfer up to Labin, a village at 300 metres above the sea. The descent back to the coast alternates asphalt, forest tracks and simple trails, and a more technical line runs along the coast of the peninsula with glimpses back towards Rabac. Once back on board the boat crosses to the island of Cres and its main town of the same name, a quiet harbour shaped by Italian architecture, where you spend the night.

Day 3: Islands of Cres and Lošinj (A: approx. 30 km / 700 m · B: approx. 34 km / 600 m)
An asphalt climb opens the day before the route turns onto gravel roads with wide views over the bay of Valun, climbing steadily inland. The clifftop village of Podol is the reward and the break. From there natural paths and goat trails, with flowing sections, lead past Lake Vrana towards Lubenice, and the final trail down to the port of Martinšćica has technically demanding sections. The boat is waiting there and cruises on to the relaxed harbour town of Mali Lošinj.

Day 4: Islands of Lošinj and Ilovik (A: approx. 30 km / 600 m · B: approx. 25 km / 400 m)
Lošinj is made for mountain bikes, and today the only hard choice is which line to take: the coastal loop around the peninsula through pine forest and past small bays, or the more technical ride down to the harbour of Veli Lošinj. Veli Lošinj was the island's capital until its harbour became too small for modern boats and Mali Lošinj overtook it. In the afternoon the boat crosses to the tiny island of Ilovik, to be explored on foot, with time for a swim.

Day 5: Islands of Ilovik and Rab (A: approx. 37 km / 700 m · B: approx. 33 km / 550 m)
The morning cruise takes you to Rab, a small island with a lot of riding: seaside trails along historic Roman roads with long views, flowing sections through the Dundo forest with the sea appearing between the trees, and, for those who want them, plenty of rocky and blocked lines. The old town of Rab, with its four bell towers, is one of the most photogenic on the Adriatic and a good place to spend the evening.

Day 6: Island of Krk (A & B: approx. 27 km / 420 m)
In the morning the boat crosses to Krk, the island's main town. The first climb runs up through olive groves on a gravel road and the descent is a natural single trail that finishes at the sea. The route then follows the coast on a single trail past small bays, climbs through forest to Punat on the other side of town and drops back over rocky terrain. The evening is for the alleyways of Krk and the terraces near the water.

Day 7: Island of Krk: Krk – Vrbnik – Omišalj (A & B: approx. 52 km / 790 m)
The last and longest day crosses the ridge of the island to Vrbnik, a small museum town built on a fifty-metre cliff and surrounded by the vineyards that produce Žlahtina, the local white wine. A varied route brings you down to Soline, with a chance to swim, and a narrow coastal path leads back to the boat in Omišalj. There is time to walk through the town, swim or simply sit on deck before the trip ends with a final get-together.

Day 8: Omišalj (disembarkation)
Disembarkation after breakfast, at around 9 a.m., then your individual journey home or an extended stay in Croatia.

Good to know
The rides are led by certified MTB guides; with more than twelve mountain bikers on board, two guides accompany the group. From day 2 to day 5 there are two route options, A and B, so the group can split by fitness and technical confidence.