5 Days Leisure Cycling & SPA Holiday in Croatia

Key information

• Trip type: Guided
• Lodging: Point to Point
• Terrain: Paved and hilly
• Starts and ends in: Zagreb
• Type of bike: Road bike or touring bike
• E-bike: Available to rent
• Maximum 16 persons.
• Minimum 2 persons

Day 1: Zagreb to Terme Tuhelj

On the first day of this tour, you are going to meet, check the bicycles, and get to know each other. Be reminded that bike checking before every departure will be a part of the everyday routine during this tour. You are heading towards West, leaving the sun behind and waving goodbye to Zagreb.

You’ll be riding towards Podsused bridge and that will be your first crossing over the river Sava. It should be mentioned here that a train called Samoborček was driving over this bridge for some time and that one of the first river beach was opened here, in 1924.

You will continue the ride through Strmec, heading and reaching the town of Samobor. After trying the cream cake on main square, you will cross the Sava river in an old fashioned way, using ferry, reaching its northern coast where you’ll remain till the end of our tour. Very soon afterwards, you’ll be in town Zaprešić.

After a short refreshment, you’ll continue the ride through picturesque villages, following hills, and leading near Sutla, which is a natural border between Croatia and Slovenia. You’ll be following Sutla till Klanjec – a birthplace of Antun Augustinčić, Antun Mihanović, Ksaver Šandor Gjalski (to be said something about them on the spot).

At wish, you can ‘hop’ to Kumrovec, the birthplace of J.B. Tito, former Yugoslavian president. Your destination is a little bit further, but you have to struggle a little bit with the challenging hills of Zagorje.

Happy to leave those hills behind, you’ll arrive to Terme Tuhelj. It is suggest for you to go to sauna, take massage, or go swimming after dinner. At the end of the day, Cycling Adriatic believes you are going to be overwhelmed by this day full of events and efforts and wish you a good night sleep.

Day 2: Terme Tuhelj to Marija Bistrica

Wake up, have breakfast, pack your things, check out, and get your bike. You’ll do the routine checking and head towards Krapina. Refreshed and rested, you’ll continue an easy ride on Zagorje roads, occasionally interrupted with some challenging ups or slopes. If necessary, you can take a break, but very soon you’ll arrive in Krapina, in particular in Hušnjakovo, where you can visit Krapina Neanderthal Museum.

This is the largest and most abundant collection of Neanderthal people collected at a single locality. The age of this rich paleontological locality corresponds to the period of about 125,000 years ago. Therefore, it is something you don’t want to miss when already being here.

First coffee and then bike and back to the present time. You’ll be travelling on the peaceful roads of Zagorje, stopping if required and approaching at a regular pace to our today’s destination – Marija Bistrica. The shrine of the Mother of God of Bistrica has a long, centuries-old history. Apart from the religious contents and the Miraculous Statue, you can see and taste some of the traditional products, like ‘licitar’, ‘gvirc’ (traditional honey drink) and ‘medenjak’ (honey cake).

Another interesting place is the Park of Sculptures on open space. Wooden sculptures can be seen all over the place and in the park itself there are over 100 of them. Afterwards, dinner and free time at your choice at the hotel spa and comfortable bed in a quiet room.

Day 3: Marija Bistrica to Varaždin

Once again, daily routine. Breakfast, packing, bike checking, and departure when you are ready. Apart from biking, today is the day of baroque. You’ll be coming to Varaždin, riding through villages originating from the 14th century. Depending on your wish and needs, you can take breaks and enjoy the green hills of the highest mountain of the north-west Croatia – Ivanščica.

You’ll be riding at the edge of the mountain for almost 20 kilometers, avoiding ascends until the last ride up the Varaždin Breg. Here, you’ll have the last break, coffee and cake complemented with unforgettable view. The rest of today’s route is descend to the town Varaždin.

You’ll check in the hotel, have lunch and dinner and the rest of the day you can spend walking around the town, sightseeing baroque palaces, visiting the old town – the most important sightseeing spot of the town on Drava. Varaždin has a lot of museums and different cultural events some of which occur on the open space. The town is rich and beautiful indeed, but do not forget to go to the bed early enough to be able to get up on time tomorrow.

Day 4: Varaždin to Terme Sveti Marin

Breakfast, packing, checking – cannot move on without it. Today, you’ll be crossing the river Drava. It means also visiting your fourth region – Međimurje. In no time, you’ll be passing through Nedelišće and come to Čakovec, another baroque city with a museum in the Old Town and baroque tower built on the city walls creating today a recognizable silhouette of the town. After sightseeing and coffee break, you’ll continue the ride on two wheels towards your destination – Terme Sveti Martin.

In order to avoid riding the bike all the time, you are going to take a break for wine tasting. Cycling Adriatic won’t tell you where, hoping you are going to be as delightfully surprised as they were during their first visit. After not too much wine, you have a few kilometers to go, including the last, but serious ride up Železna gora.

By riding down Železna gora, you’ll reach your aim – Lifeclass Terme Sveti Marin. Delicious dinner and luxurious wellness and spa will make the end of this day and this whole journey just perfect.

Day 5: Terme Sveti Marin to Zagreb

After breakfast, you will sum up the last four days with pictures and videos done during the tour. You will be transferred back to Zagreb via van. If this wasn’t enough for you, Cycling Adriatic can recommend their seven days tour on Adriatic Sea.

Food