Croatia Gravel Bike Tour

Cycle a historic rail trail through Istria to the Slovenia–Croatia border

Trip Style

Gravel

Tour Duration

5 Days / 4 Nights

Activity Level

Level 2

Bikes

Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3
Trek Electric-Assist Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS

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Starting from

$3,499.00 per person

See dates

Join us at our upcoming event to learn more!

Ride the historic Parenzana rail trail in Istria, cycling gravel paths through vineyard-lined hills, fortified towns, and coastal landscapes.

Follow the Parenzana trail through the heart of Istria, where a former narrow-gauge railway has been transformed into a gravel rider’s dream. From the cobbled artist enclaves of hilltop villages to quiet coastal tracks with Adriatic views, this historic route delivers a sampler of Istria’s best: forested paths, old rail tunnels, ancient aqueducts, and a steady mix of smooth to chunky gravel with gradual, scenic climbs. Stay in castle towns and countryside resorts, refuel at rustic cafés, and soak up the Mediterranean spirit of Croatia. With a wide range of gravel surfaces and unforgettable scenery, this ride is made for gravel curious riders of all levels—just bring your sense of adventure.
Learn more about Gravel trips and if they're right for you »

Trip Wows
  • Cycle the car-free Parenzana Trail through vineyard-covered hills, olive groves, and medieval towns steeped in history

  • Stay in Motovun, a hilltop town known for its limestone architecture and legends of giants roaming the valley below

  • Explore Grožnjan, a hillside village of cobbled streets, narrow alleys, art studios, and truffle-scented shops

  • Ride past restored rail stations that reflect Istria’s heritage and the railway’s impact on its culture and landscape

  • Savor truffle-rich cuisine as you ride through Istria, Croatia’s renowned truffle capital

Views of the perched village of Motovun

The hilltop village of Motovun

Stay in Motovun, a medieval village with panoramic views of vineyards and the Adriatic Sea. Explore its cobblestone streets, ancient walls, and lively local culture.


What Guests are Saying

This trip offers the perfect blend of unique gravel riding and historic charm. It’s a great introduction for those new to gravel, with a variety of surfaces to explore, while still delivering a fun and dynamic ride for experienced cyclists. With shorter daily mileage, you’ll have time to truly soak in the trail’s distinctive sections—and enjoy that extra mid-ride espresso. Since the trail is open only to bikes and foot traffic, there’s truly no other trip quite like it.

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Shay D., Trek Travel Trip Designer

Everything was my favorite. The scenery, the organization and planning of the trip which allowed everybody regardless of biking abilities to enjoy themselves, the food, the high-tech Trek bikes, exceptional guides who took care of absolutely everything with a smile.

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Edward, Trek Travel Guest

I LOVED this trip and I think gravel is so much more fun than road! This is an area I want to return to it was a great experience and if you doubled the daily mileage I would be really into that as well!

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Mitz, Trek Travel Guest

Everywhere we went, we were treated like family thanks to the deep connections the guides had made with the locals, which is an experience you simply wouldn't get by traveling through the area on your own.

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Michael R., Trek Travel Guest

This was my first Trek trip, but let me tell you there will be many more to follow!  What an amazing way to vacation. Great people, biking, food, and places!

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Cody H., Trek Travel Guest


Great Ride

Motovun to Buje

The Motovun to Buje route offers a “gravel sampler” through the most scenic heart of the Parenzana trail. Ride a thrilling mix of rugged gravel, smooth dirt, bridges, tunnels, and aqueducts with breathtaking views.


Dates & Pricing

Book early for the best price

  • Guaranteed

  • Join Waitlist

  • Private

  • Limited Availability


Itinerary
Activity Information

Hotels
Motovun, Croatia
Roxanich Winery & Design Hotel
Luxury

A bold blend of heritage and modern luxury, Roxanich Winery & Design Hotel sits just below the hilltop village of Motovun, overlooking the vine-laced Mirna River valley. Vibrant interiors, striking architecture, and a celebrated wine cellar create a sensory escape rooted in Istrian tradition. Unwind in the spa or at the infinity pool, then enjoy fresh, locally inspired cuisine paired with Roxanich’s own acclaimed natural wines.

Motovun, Croatia
Hotel Kaštel
Explorer Hotel Variation. See dates for details.

Perched high above the Istrian countryside in the medieval hilltop town of Motovun, Hotel Kaštel is a family-run retreat housed in a 17th-century palace. This charming boutique hotel offers a peaceful escape with sweeping views of the Mirna River Valley and surrounding vineyards. Guests can unwind in the serene spa, enjoy the indoor pool, and savor regional cuisine on the terrace—all just steps from the town’s ancient gates.

Buje, Croatia
Villa San Servolo
Explorer

Villa San Servolo, on the outskirts of Buje, offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by rolling vineyards and olive groves. The modern wellness area and tranquil setting provide a perfect escape, where you can unwind and connect with nature. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, local gastronomy, and stunning views of the Istrian countryside in this serene villa.


Bikes & Gear
Ride the Best Bikes in the Industry
Gravel
Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3

New in 2026! The Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 is a carbon gravel bike built for epic rides. Its lightweight frame features Gravel Endurance geometry with IsoSpeed comfort tech, while 45 mm tires smooth out rough terrain. With a wireless SRAM Force XPLR AXS drivetrain featuring a wide 10–46T 13-speed 1X gearing, and powerful disc brakes—everything you need to go wherever the gravel leads.

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Electric Gravel
Trek Electric-Assist Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS

New in 2026! Trek’s Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS is a lightweight gravel bike built for miles of fun. The TQ HPR60 electric-assist motor adds a quiet boost up to 15 or 28 mph (region specific), making climbs and long days easier. Carbon wheels and frame keep it quick and responsive, while 45 mm tubeless tires and IsoSpeed tech smooth rough terrain. With SRAM’s 12-speed AXS wireless shifting and disc brakes, every move is in your control.
Upgrade to the Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS for $399 (3-6 day trips) or $599 (7+ day trips). Available in limited quantities. See specific trip dates for available bike options.

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Two cyclist and one rider

Trek Travel Guides

The World’s Best

From the moment you meet our guides, you'll understand the difference. You'll feel the genuine care they take to make your vacation perfect. From their expert support to sharing their favorite hidden spots, they tailor every moment to you.

Certified Guides

Additional Gear
  • Choice of Trek Travel Santini cycling jersey or technical t-shirt to keep
  • Trek Travel water bottle to keep
  • Cinch sack day bag to keep
  • GPS device with pre-loaded routes providing turn by turn directions
  • Trek front and rear lights
  • A flat pack containing a tube, levers, and a CO2 cartridge with inflator and tubeless plugs
  • Shimano SPD dual sided mountain pedals
  • Trek helmet
  • Trek saddle
  • For the most comfortable ride, we recommend you bring your own saddle. If you prefer, you can bring your own pedals and helmet on the trip and our guides will install your gear on the first day during your bike fit.
2026-CY-Mens-Gravel_Flatlay

Trip Inclusions

Additional Details

Know Before You Go!

We want you to be fully prepared for your cycling vacation of a lifetime. This involves making sure that you choose the appropriate trip for you and that every aspect of your experience is flawless. Each Trek Travel trip is unique to ensure maximum enjoyment every time.

Your Trip Need to Knows:

  • Rider ability: This gravel trip is designed to be welcoming to most ability levels, but it is highly recommended that you have strong bike handling skills and an adventurous spirit to try out a gravel trip. Although the rides are short, the bumpy terrain and variable gravel surfaces can be more demanding than you expect. This is all part of the fun, and with the willingness to learn and try something new, you will leave this trip with a great understanding of riding on all types of gravel.
  • E-Bikes: E-bike speeds vary worldwide due to local regulations, which determine how fast you can ride with assistance. See the E-bike speed chart to see the maximum speeds allowed in each region.
  • Tunnels: There are some tunnels on this trip that can be quite dark when riding through. Most tunnels have motion-sensor lights, but we recommend removing your sunglasses before entering and allowing your eyes to adjust before pedaling through.
  • Currency: Even though you will be visiting three countries on your first day of the trip, you won’t need to show your passport at border crossings, nor will you have to change money between Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. Euro is the currency for this trip.
  • Credit cards: Your American Express credit card might not work in Croatia and Slovenia. While you’ll only pass through Slovenia on the first day of the trip, you may wish to bring a Visa, Mastercard, or euros in cash for your trip, just in case.
  • Dining: Enjoy the gastronomy of the Istrian Peninsula. Dinners will take longer than in the US but it’s part of the cultural experience—so relax and indulge in the tastes of Croatia!
  • Route changes: Gravel roads are dynamic by nature. Road surfaces change throughout the year depending on maintenance (grading, adding new gravel) and weather, particularly rain. Our guides constantly monitor road conditions and may change the routes as needed to provide the best possible riding experience.

Before and After Your Trip

FAQs

The climate of the Istrian peninsula is typically Mediterranean along the coastline, but inland it gradually changes to mild continental climate. The ideal time to visit this part of Croatia is in the fall. The daily average temperature in September ranges between high 60s to high 70s ºF (around 20-25ºC) and in October from a high of mid-60s°F (18-20°C) to a low of 50°F (10°C). Rain is always a possibility, so be prepared with layers. The weather can be cool at night, so please bring a light jacket and walking shoes for short evening walks to and from dinner. Please note, one or two dinners are casual with shorts being acceptable attire. View our Packing List

To reserve your space on a trip, you can either call us at 866-464-8735 to speak with an expert Trip Consultant or book online any time by clicking the “BOOK THIS TRIP” icon near the upper right of each destination’s overview page.* Once you have submitted your reservation online, a Trip Consultant will contact you within one business day to answer any questions you may have and to confirm space, bike, and room availability on your desired trip. Your booking will be finalized once your no-risk deposit is paid. If you make a reservation more than 90 days prior to the trip, a $750 no risk deposit is due at the time of booking.** If you reserve your trip less than 90 days prior to the departure, the full balance is due at the time of booking. Once your booking is complete you will receive an email confirmation with important information pertaining to your trip.

*Please note that select trips cannot be booked online at this time. For those trips, please call a trip consultant at 866-464-8735.

**Deposit amounts vary for all Race, Cross Country, Special Edition, Ride Camp, and Self-Guided tours. Please confirm deposit amounts for all trips with your Trip Consultant at time of booking.

When a trip is booked, a guest confirmation email is immediately sent out. One week prior to the trip start, you’ll receive an email containing your trip start meeting location reminder and any last-minute information that you’ll need to know. You will also receive instructions to download the Ride with GPS app before your trip to provide you the day to day plan and daily route guides.

With one person booked on a date, the trip becomes guaranteed.*

In the case where trips are at one or two guests, we will contact you prior to final payment to give you the following options:

Pay a small trip fee of $500 per person for two guests or $1000 for one guest, which ensures your preferred trip date will run. If there are three or more guests before departure date, the fee will be refunded in full.

or

Switch to a different trip or different departure date. Should there be any difference in trip price between your original trip and the new one, you will be expected to pay the difference, or we will refund you accordingly.

Offer only valid if Trek Travel contacts a guest to discuss these specific options. Trips with fewer than three guests may operate with only one guide. The guide will support all rides with a Trek Travel van. If you would like to discuss the option of having two guides, please speak with your trip consultant.

The small trip supplement for Ride Camps is as follows – for two guests an additional $250 or for one guest an additional $500.

*Cross Country, Race, and Special Edition trips as well as a small number of select departures have a minimum guest count to guarantee. Please check with your Trip Consultant for more information.

Unforeseen events may make it necessary to cancel or modify a trip. Our Guest Services team will update you with any changes. We reserve the right to cancel departures in cases of force majeure or the failure of third parties—such as hotels—to honor their reservations, in which case all payments received to date will be refunded, which constitutes full settlement. Trek Travel is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled trips, such as airline tickets, or for costs that are incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations, or illness. We strongly encourage Travel Protection for complete coverage.

We understand things happen in life and sometimes you have to cancel or change your tour.

Read our Cancellation Policy

Our Trip Consultants are available to assist and can answer your questions. Please call us at 866-464-8735.

Trek Travel recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help safeguard you and your travel investment against the unexpected. We offer a travel protection plan through Arch RoamRight that provides coverage for unforeseen events that could affect your ability to travel with us. Learn more about our Travel Protection

We've collaborated with a specialized travel agency committed to delivering tailored vacation planning, ensuring your entire Trek Travel journey is nothing short of unforgettable. Learn more about our Travel Services

Sharing the joy that comes with wow moments

Trek Travel guides are dedicated to making moments that last a lifetime, and we invite you to thank them with a trip gratuity. These are customary and at your own discretion, to recognize service, hospitality, and the little extras that surprise and delight. For this Gravel trip, we recommend between $200-$250 per guest and, of course, you may choose to give more if your guides made your trip an unforgettable experience.

Like everything else about your vacation, the Trek Travel team is here to make this experience easier for you. While local currency is preferred, you may also tip through the following options:

Via PayPal (please have this account set up in advance when possible) or with your guest services representative on the phone before or after the trip.

Gratuities will be divided among the guide team, so feel free to leave your gratuity with whomever you choose at the end of your trip.

You cannot put a price on a wow. But you can show your thanks for an exceptional experience.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out our General FAQs section. You will find answers to the most common questions that don't necessarily pertain to a specific trip. See Gravel FAQs

Want to learn more about our trips? Watch our recorded Guide-Led Virtual Events—just visit our Trek Travel Youtube Channel and search for your trip.


Guaranteed Trips

Our trips are guaranteed to run once we have one confirmed booking on the trip. Click here to view our full guarantee policy.

Trek Travel reserves the right to cancel trips with zero guests, therefore you must book with Trek Travel before making travel arrangements for the trip. We are not responsible for travel arrangements made prior to confirming your Trek Travel Trip. Select trips are not guaranteed.

Sold Out/Waitlist

This trip is currently sold out, but you may be added to the waitlist in the case of availability.

Limited Availability

If a date is marked with Limited Availability, there are few spots left to book. We will secure additional rooms from our hotels before confirming your reservation.

Looking to travel with a small group? Ask our trip consultants about private trips and learn more.

Private

If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.

Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735

Hotel Differences

Trek Travel offers three hotel levels to match your style. Luxury hotels provide elegant, thoughtful touches with exceptional hospitality. Explorer hotels blend modern amenities with local charm in unique settings. Comfort hotels are casual and conveniently located near Trek Travel activities.

Activity Levels

Level 1:

Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Level 2:

Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).

Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

Level 3:

Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Level 4:

Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

What are your trip styles?

Classic Bike:

Explore beautiful destinations with a curated blend of guided activities, local cuisine, handpicked accommodations, and itineraries to suit every traveler, from laid-back adventures to luxurious escapes.

Gravel:

Venture off the beaten path to unforgettable places, with fully-supported routes that combine gravel and paved roads in classic Trek Travel style.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Hiking & Walking:

Step into adventure with carefully designed routes, unparalleled hospitality, and deep-routed local connections.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Self-Guided:

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Single Occupancy

Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself