Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Advance preparatory information was clear. Management of an itinerary change, due to unforeseen circumstances whilst on holiday was well managed and communicated with us clearly.
An excellent experience.
We very much enjoyed our Coastal Croatia holiday. The navigation app worked like a dream . The bikes were top quality, well serviced and comfortable. and thankfully we had chosen e bikes, The tracks were much rougher than we expected in places and more short ups and downs - we walked in places . We loved the accomodation at Villetta and Villa Tottorotto both very individual old buildings with excellent food and service. Hotel Flores was not at the same level but the rooms were large with a balcony and location in the pine forest, next to the sea and town was lovely. Take Bruna's advice on day 6 - the road at the head of the Lin Fjord is very busy, bendy , single carriageway steeply down/uphill. We recommend taking the boat to Brijuni island from Fazana and hiring a bike there. We missed the gears but it is just beautiful with lovely bays, roman villas, good roads and quiet if you avoid the road train! All three destinations. Fazana, Rovinj and Porec were well worth visiting.
This was our second holiday with Headwater and the customer service and holiday was equalled to our previous holiday, Megan was very helpful and the holiday lived up to expectations. The cycling along the coastal route was generally pretty flat, except when going in land. However there were quite a few gravel tracks which we stayed on for several km (5-8km), on a couple of rides. These were at times heavily rutted and as we had a mixed fleet of Mountain and trail bikes, not all the bikes could withstand the terrain. We really enjoy the variety and unique experience that a cycling holiday offers, giving the opportunity to explore destinations that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. In Istria, having access to the bikes all the time meant easy exploration of the local areas at other times and not just during the actual guided routes. We added in additional days to our itinerary which meant we could use the bikes to cycle to more secluded beaches and swim locations.
Once we got through the booking process, the service from Headwater and the organisation of the trip was excellent.
I really appreciated the lovely accommodation and that all the arrangements worked like clockwork to make it a relaxing holiday, especially as a single parent travelling with 3 children
Highly recommended walking holiday to Split and Dalmatian Islands. We chose to do some of the shorter walks suggested to keep near the sea as it was very hot, so every walk also included a swim. Great accommodation with v friendly hosts.
This trip provides a lovely coastal experience of Istria. The hotels are all in good locations giving access to the local towns, beaches and restaurants. The cycling is reasonably easy but with a few (manageable) climbs that take a little more energy.
Croatia is a beautiful country. We had great walks, lovely scenery and good hotels. At the briefing we felt a bit overwhelmed with the amount of info re transfers, taxis and ferries but all worked well and all the tickets , bookings etc are well presented in a folder so we didn't loose anything! Day 3 - St Antonie - route on Jelsa - the bus drops you just outside of town rather than in the town centre so keep an eye out and check with the driver if you're at Jesla - we missed the stop but the driver very kindly took us back! Walking to the Tor at the beginning of the walk is more like a 3 booter and involves quiet a bit of scrambling. Once at the top though the rest of the walk is easier. We shared a cab back to Hvar with other walkers on the trip later in the day so as not to have to clock watch/ rush for the last bus back in the early afternoon. Overall a fab trip with varied and interesting walks.
This holiday was beautiful! It was so well organised. Island hopping is very different to the other Headwater holiday's we have done and be aware of the extra mileage of ferry hopping on top of the walks. The hotels were well placed and their hosts were amazing! Mljet was stunning and the walk to the top is so worth it!!! Hvar was beautiful but the Jelsa bus walk was very tight on time. Adding an extra day in Split was fantastic and he Croatian people were so friendly and kind. Overall we enjoyed every second and i would thoroughly recommend it!
The walks were challenging enough to get a sense of achievement without feeling overstretched. The GPS navigation made it almost impossible to go wrong and was a source of comfort, as was having Azra answering very quickly when I had to phone her with a question.
The accommodation and instructions were spot on, which led to me having a more relaxing week than when I have organised my own trips.
Self guided suited us as we’re used to ‘doing our own thing’ but this tour gave us our own space (with everyone having different walking paces) but provided the benefit of having other similarly minded people to share our trials and tribulations with at the end of each day - if you wanted to.
I would definitely recommend Headwater/Exodus to anybody wanting a self guided walking tour.
Beautiful trip to Croatia, very scenic and varied locations visited whilst cycling
We visited Croatia May 20-28th 2023 and were very glad that we were not there in high season when apparently most of the islands we visited would be heaving with tourists. The weather was perfect and on many of our walks we met very few people, if any. Island hopping is an ideal way to enjoy the amazing scenery. One word of advice, make sure that you keep all your paperwork safe. It can be quite confusing at first to receive so many vouchers, which are essential for ferries and pickups. Having said that, everything worked seamlessly, apart from the time we nearly ended up in Dubrovnik, not realising we had docked in Mlijet! Take poles- nearly all walks are downhill on stony ground. I struggled a bit with the walk on Day 2 and opted to skip Day 3 walk due to the tight schedule. Otherwise all the walks were manageable and definitely worth it for the spectacular scenery. We found Croatia to be a little more expensive than anticipated. However, we would thoroughly recommend this holiday.
Great walks, excellent accommodation, good food. Romina's briefing was an excellent introduction and made the walking notes very easy to follow, hardly needed the GPX tracks. On the walks we saw snakes (not poisonous!), orchids (Lady, 3-toothed and a bee orchid) and heard the cuckoo. Hotels were all very friendly and loved the indoor pools after the walks. Lots of food choices in Motovun, only a couple in Buzet (but a good supermarket at the end of the walk). Great pizza/food after the long walk to Groznjan at aModoMio - worth seeking it out!
We travelled with our son who has special needs and we had a great time. The itinerary, organisation and choice of hotels and food was really good and the small number of special requirements we had were met really well. Croatia is a beautiful country and we had the best mix of activity and relaxation and met some lovely fellow travellers too.
A good holiday. However the route notes were, according to our local guide, written 10 years ago and we thought they needed refreshing as they were often confusing. Over 10 years growing vegetation and fallen trees had changed the paths. Also the descriptions of where to go next were often poor and didn't reflect the reality on the ground. There were a couple of days which had crazy inclines on very muddy or stony paths which would have been quite dangerous in the wet. The distances quoted in the guide were often considerably out.
Great holiday especially out of season! Would be very busy in peak season and loved having walks and beaches to myself, not having to book restaurants and everywhere so green and lush! Great walks and plenty of time to explore the towns.
Wonderful mixture of walking and culture - really beautiful, walks not too strenuous and so give plenty of time for sitting down and reading a book etc as well.
We had a lovely time, everything from visiting the amphitheatre in Pula to sitting outside enjoying a delicious breakfast overlooking the waterside in Fazana. Lots of lovely sea food and the routes were varied and interesting. Alot of the routes were tracks rather than tarmac but it was fine for our bikes with no suspension (we took our own). September was a good time to go with temperature in the mid twenties. All the hotels were very nice but we preferred Fazana most of all due to its location.
We used an app recommended by the representative in Croatia and made very little use of the printed instructions
Enjoyed the holiday looking forward to another family cycling holiday next year
Excellent hotels in great places, good bikes, excellent routes, everything worked faultlessly
This was a very good and varied holiday, mostly based in the interior of Istria but with two nights on the coast as well. The walking in the hills was through a range of landscapes, including vineyards and hilltop towns, and there were great views from the escarpment above Buzet and from the heights of Mount Učka. The two-night stay in Opatija involved much less exertion and was a chance to relax after the other days of walking. The transfers were very well organised and the local support and guidance was excellent, as were the hotels, with particularly good breakfasts in Buzet and Opatija. There were also very good restaurants in all three locations. We added a short stay in Pula onto the holiday, providing a chance to see some of the Roman sites there, especially the impressive amphitheatre. It was quite hot at the end of June, but there was a good amount of shade on the walks and so this didn't cause us any problems.
An enjoyable and relaxed exploration of Istria
A great holiday in beautiful countryside and coast. The itinerary was good giving plenty of time to dawdle and have a swim in the sea. We did extend the route on the two shortest days to get a bit more cycling. The local cuisine was delicious especially the seafood.
We aren't the type to want to sit around on our holiday, so this was perfect for us. Fantastic riding along wonderful tracks, paths and roads alongside the coast, sometimes in dappled sunlight under trees, sometimes along quiet country lanes between olive trees and vineyards. By the end of each day we felt like we'd enjoyed the sunshine, had had some exercise and had seen some more of this beautiful country and was now ready for a cold glass of wine and a good meal, which were both readily available in all of the chosen beautiful coastal towns. Stunning! Have already highly recommended to all our friends and family!
Lovely walks in an area we would not have thought of if we hadn’t seen it in the catalogue.
Stunning coastline, beautiful old towns with lots of historical interest, amazing sunsets and glorious food and wine! Some of the cycling tracks were very rough with uneven surfaces on unmade roads, not gravel as described. The agent Bruna was extremely helpful and we would recommend taking up her offer of a lift to avoid cycling on a dangerous stretch of road. We had a really enjoyable holiday and are now planning our next Headwater experience!
Great holiday staying in three different lovely old Croatian towns on the coast with good cycling with the added bonus of being able to add extra nights in Venice at the end of the holiday
This holiday had quite a lot of off road sections. We had excellent weather but these would be difficult if wet. Lots of choices of restaurants to eat at in the evenings, and interesting towns to enjoy. First two hotels really excellent with helpful and friendly staff. Beaches very rocky so take shoes to swim or buy some there. We enjoyed some Snorkelling .
We enjoyed this holiday. A couple of howevers: we had an early flight out, which necessitated a 3.30am start. We arrived in Fazana at 11am. It would have been helpful to have the welcome briefing earlier in the day, rather than at 6pm when all we wanted to do was eat and get to bed. In Rovinj we stayed at the Hotel Eden which was a culture shock after the Villa Phasiana. The staff were extremely unhelpful, asking that we wait to check in until they had finished dealing with a coach load of Germans, despite me being stood in line. They didn’t tell us about what was on at the hotel, and later that same evening were more interested in chatting to one another rather than speaking to us and another guest at the reception desk. Particularly bad was that our luggage was left in the main reception area until we collected it at 7pm on the evening we arrived. No security whatsoever. I would not recommend this hotel.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Wilson
Thank you for posting your review. Overall we are pleased that you had an enjoyable holiday. We are however sorry that your experience in the Hotel Eden was not a good experience. This is not a hotel that we use frequently and hopefully it was an isolated incident that we will continue to monitor should we use it again.
Again thank you for taking the time to post your review and I do hope that we will
be able to welcome you again on another Headwater holiday.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Our 5th time with Headwater and once again a great experience. Great booking service, excellent hotels, fab walks with great notes/maps all making this a FAB experience.
Absolute stand out features were the delightful hotels in Fazana and Rovinj. Utterly charming in every possible way. Sadly, Hotel Flores in Porec was utterly grim...in every possible way, and a disappointment to end what was otherwise a wonderful holiday. Fazana and Rovinj hotels were perfectly located, the staff were tirelessly charming, genuinely welcoming and really went the extra mile. If you can, I would recommend selecting somewhere other than Flores for the two final nights of the stay in Porec. The coastal cycling paths gave spectacular views and were mostly level and of a reasonable length. Suggest taking the bikes from Fazana to the island on the first cycling day rather than going to Pula. The city doesn’t seem to have much to offer apart from amphitheatre - maybe you can squeeze in both trips?? One part of the route took us inland to Bale. Whilst the destination was lovely, the long climb uphill on a busy road to get there was a bit of a trek. Would suggest sticking to the coast and avoiding the uphill if you are a softie like me. The country route from Porec was beautiful, passing through pretty villages and opening up a view of real Istria away from the tourist areas at the coast. Do stop at the caves on the final day - well worth seeing. Bruna was a super rep who took us off the beaten track to see the gorge from the shore and the view from the top - singing to us much of the way! Quite a character in the best possible way. Already considering where to next.
Walking was very challenging but we felt real achievement completing the routes - especially up the escarpment! Overall it was excellent walking - scenery - lack of other walkers - very good instructions (as the maps were not recommended). Hotels were very suitable but the Jakov restaurant was extremely expensive (it was pouring with rain so we had to eat in). Overall it was another successful Headwater holiday and we are already planning our next one!
A very enjoyable cycling holiday. Great hotels in lovely harbour towns. Some of the cycling was a little trickier than we're used to with lots of gravel/stone tracks and more gradients than we were expecting. The room at the Palazzo did not have a balcony which we were expecting. Apart from that, all great.
Despite the record June temperatures for Croatia, which proved very challenging to complete the walks, the holiday proved to be a great success with some lovely relaxed evenings after such strenuous exercise with excellent meals in these great hotel locations in this lovely country.
A great cycling holiday .. would recommend either end of the season as Croatia looks as if it will get full in peak time with RV's and people. So best to go when quieter and cooler for cycling. Bruna is great ..take her advice on road section to Porec as road is steep , very narrow and with a lot of vehicles is dangerous. Please check the distances as given in the notes, for example in one place it says continue on road for 2Km but it is much nearer 4.
An excellent opportunity to see the Istria region and visit quiet but beautiful villages. Cycling can be a little challenging on some days, but well worth the effort
Istria was a wonderfully unspoiled area, excellent for walking or cycling. Headwater’s walking instructions were clear and easy to follow. Would definitely holiday with Headwater again.
Glorious holiday
The first walk was the longest and most arduous in the heat and would have been better on Day 2. Those in our group who had previous experience of your holidays would have rated the walks as 2 and a half boot standard rather than 2 boot. Overall it proved to be a very enjoyable holiday and we should like to receive your brochure for future possible holidays..
Holiday was excellent. Hotels well chosen and sited. Some walking was quite challenging for a group with 5 out of 6 members over 70 ! but, nevertheless, accurately described except for a stretch on the Day 5, Buzet Loop walk ( paragraph 3, page 14 ). Luka and Romina were excellent reps, charming and helpful. We teamed up with another delightful couple, Mr and Mrs Blair.
An excellent way to see a lovely part of Croatia.
A good combination of sun, sight-seeing and cycling. The cycling was rarely strenuous and was a good way to see this very attractive part of Croatia.
Fantastic holiday. Great locations, especially Rovinj, which is fabulous, we really want to return there. Cycling was the right level of distance and slopes. We are already booking next years holiday with Headwater as we loved it so much.. Only negative was the very wordy, and sometimes out of date route notes. A little map would help and they should be checked more often. Would definitely recommend this trip.
Istrian Peninsula in Croatia is like stepping back in time. Friendly people, unspoilt countryside and abundance of flora and fauna. Beautiful contrasts of hills and coastal walks and well worth visiting.
Avoid July August -too hot for walking
Its great to have everything done for you, and someone on hand to deal with problems or issues that arise. Cycling planned routes enables you to see far more of the country and its interiors. if you like the idea of activity during the day and chilling during the evenings and nights then this is the type of holiday for you.
We had perfect walking weather at the end of June; a mixture of cloudy and sunny days and not too hot temperatures. The three hotels were of a very high standard and each was in a good location for the walks, albeit the first two are at the top of steep hills which could be a challenge at the end of a day’s walk. The Hotel Kastel in Motovun had superb views and facilities. The packed lunch from here could have fed a family! Its star rating does not really do it justice. Buzet as a town has little to offer apart from the lovely Vela Vrata Hotel and the Melody bar and terrace next door. In addition to the indoor pool you can privately reserve a time in a separate jacuzzi which was bliss after a walk! The Sveti Jakob Hotel in Opatija was in the heart of the town, next to a pretty garden. Breakfast on its terrace was lovely. It has little outdoor space to relax in though apart from the terrace. You can however use all the facilities- pool, sun beds and parasols etc at its sister hotel, the Milenji 100 yards down the road and we were made welcome there. Notes for the holiday were excellent; the best we’ve had in our nine Headwater holidays. Romina the local agent was superb; we could not fault her at all. The taxi company used for transfers to and from the airport was of a very high standard; both drivers were friendly and welcoming. They became part of our holiday and we enjoyed our conversations with them....
Excellent holiday
Thoroughly enjoyed cycling in Croatia - a great way to experience this lovely part of the country. The hotels were all gems and the itinerary allowed us to see and do everything we wanted to. Headwater always gets it just right! The cycle routes aren't as well-established as some we have followed in France and Italy but it appeared that they are being improved, for instance a new stretch of coastal path designed for both pedestrians and cyclists had just been completed.
Great holiday.
We had a wonderful time , bar the lack of working air-conditioning in 1 hotel. We met friendly helpful people on our trip, and enjoyed the wonderful and rugged scenery.
The hotels in Fazana and Rovinj were lovely, as were the staff, and the hotel in Pores was good. All were very well placed within the towns. We were disappointed with the bikes that were presented to us. Luckily we had taken our own saddles and pedals otherwise the bikes would have been more uncomfortable. I found the gravel tracks to be very difficult to ride on and this spoilt it for me. My husband was not so bothered. The country lanes were lovely to cycle along. We were both surprised that we were advised by Bruna to have a transfer along a section of the road that she considered too dangerous for us to ride on. The road was too narrow and the gradient was too steep. This was not reflected in the travel guidance which led us to believe that this a gentle 2K uphill ride. Basically, this is not a ride for occasional cyclists. We cannot praise Bruna enough, she was fantastic and really looked after us.
Lovely cycling along quiet lanes, hilltop villages, olive groves.
Fantastic walking holiday in beautiful locations, on top of hillsides and by the sea. The food was excellent and didn't disappoint, but I do like truffles! The hotels were excellent from the rooms, services and cleanliness. The packed lunches were very generous with plenty of variety from the Hostel Kastel. We took extra water on the walks and drank the tap water with no issues. Just leave some energy at the end of the walks to walk back up the hills to 2 of the hotels.
Excellent holiday, helped greatly by the local guide customising the walks to suit the needs of the slower walkers.
Coastal Croatia Cycling was a great holiday, in an interesting and scenic coastal area and we followed it with the Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling as it is easy to get a ferry from Porec to Venice (prebooked on line). Bruna was an excellent rep, providing a thorough and useful briefing at the start and a debrief meeting at the end and was very contactable if needed. We took up her offer of a lift across a busy section of road in the last week of the Croatian school holidays and a detour to view the Lim Fjord on Day 6. The stone/Kazuni houses were well worth visiting on Day 3. Note that if you really want to visit the Jama cave on Day 7 in a busy holiday time you may need to book ahead or wait 2 hours for a tour. Swimming is possible on many of the days, however the beaches are stony/rocky so beach shoes are required and are available to buy in Fazana near the hotel for only about 10 Euro. This was our 3rd Headwater cycling trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Enjoyable cycle rides, in beautiful coast and countryside, well within the capability of the averagely fit (with the exception of the section around the fjord). Bikes well maintained - rugged but a bit heavy. Bruna was an excellent rep and provided a transfer to avoid having to cycle the fjord road. Good standard of hotel accomodation. Would recommended this holiday.
Fantastic hiking trip, Croatia is beautiful. It can be extremely hot in summer, we were lucky though.
Lovely area, easy cycling, good food and lovely hotels! Hotel Tuttorotto deserves a particular mention. It is a very special place, the staff extremely welcoming and breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea was fantastic.
The cycling holiday to Northern Croatia was a joy. Knowing that your bags were in safe hands and that they would be delivered to the next destination was fantastic. It meant you were able to cycle at your own pace, take in all the sights and scenery, take a dip in the water at your choosing and as many times as you like and stop at a restaurant for lunch along the ways was just the best. A really wonderful holiday.
Brian McAlea, Belfast
Cycling the Istrian coast was a prefect holiday. We were able to enjoy the right mix of cycling, swimming and relaxing at the beach. The side trips to small towns were well worth it. The food and wine is excellent. A highly recommended holiday.
A well organised trip staying picture postcard pretty hilltop villages.
one of the best cycling holidays we have been on. Great cycling and relaxing swimming in warm seas.
Croatia is a beautiful, welcoming and friendly country. We were told by locals that we were mad attempting to cycle in high season because it is too hot and the roads are too busy to be safe. Yes it was hot, but there was a good breeze and much of the cycling is on quiet back roads or off-road. We enjoyed exploring on our bikes and felt safe. There is one stretch of dangerous road on the way to Porec that our rep told us she would not allow us to cycle and would drive to pick us up and take us to the other side. She does this for everyone, this could do with being updated in the notes. Fazana and the first hotel were superb, Rovinj was very different but again beautiful and the hotel was quirky and fabulous. The trouble was that the further we went the more touristy and busy it became. Porec was fine but too many tourists and a very ordinary hotel with mass produced breakfast was a bit of an anticlimax at the end of the route. It may be worth Headwater looking into running this holiday in reverse so that it ends on a high. This having been said, it was a fabulous holiday, the crystal clear turquoise sea round every turn was beautiful to swim in, we swam in the sea every day, it was a fitting reward at the end of each cycle ride.
Croatia lived up to all expectations and we would be more than happy to return. Everything about the holiday was first class but it was Bruna that stood out for us - she spent a lot of time with us and came to pick us up to avoid a very dangerous road.
Croatia is a wonderful country and everyone was really friendly and helpful. Bruna, our local rep, made the holiday. She gave us a lift up the busy steep road by Lim fjord and took us to a wonderful viewpoint which we wouldn't otherwise have seen. I would actually say it is a 1-2 bike standard rather than 1 bike
Istria is a beautiful area and the local people are both friendly and helpful. The routes provided were well described and the instructions were easy to follow, but the walking was not as exciting or demanding as I expected. For example, the walk along the disused railway became rather monotonous and the ascent of Mount Ucka was made too easy by giving us a ride to such a high point on the mountain. We were disappointed to find that several of the walks were over too quickly because we followed advice to begin early and avoid the heat of mid-day. While this was sensible advice, there weren't places like bars, cafes, churches or castles available to spend the hottest hours in and so we just completed the walks early. One thing that did surprise me was that the food and wine of the area was of a higher standard than I expected.
Croatia well worth a visit -people; are very friendly , good value for money, good food and lovely places. This holiday we didn't think the walks were as good, having to wait for other walkers to be picked up and taken to the next place. Hotel Vrata is lovely but there is no where to relax when you have finished the walk, we ended up sitting in the bar down the road for 4 hours.. it is nice to have an outside pool and loungers to enjoy the sun and read a book. Standard of finish is very big but no shower you can stand up under! At Opatje there is a walk up to Vepranic which is a great hike to the church which is not mentioned in the notes but is very good. Packed lunches could have been better. Romina is a lovely lady and very helpful. The walks were mainly in woods so not many views unlike the Tuscany walk perhaps there could be more variety
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Smith,
Thank you for your feedback, we were pleased to read you had an enjoyable holiday overall. We were however sorry to read of your disappointment with the waiting times at the end of the walks, this is the first time that we have received constructive feedback in this area. Please be assured, we will monitor this area for future tours and implement improvements as required. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
It was great to read you felt Romina provided a good service. We have passed on your comments to her. She was pleased to receive your positive comments.
We would like to thank you for your continued loyalty and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Lisa
Lovely locations, great hotels with well thought-out cycling routes that took us to parts of the beautiful Istrian peninsula that other visitors would never see.
Our week exceeded all our expectations - the hotels and their services were superb, the walking itself and the notes and maps were wonderful and the transport arrangements could not have been better. Special mention too for the local representative, Romina, who could not have done more to make things perfect. So a great week!
I do have to say it is a pity, given our actual experience, that the administration leading up to it was so unsatisfactory.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Clark,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback, it was great to read your holiday exceeded your expectations. We were also pleased you felt Romina provided a great service, which helped enhance your holiday. As you can imagine, she was delighted with your comments. We were however sorry to read of your dissatisfaction with the administration of your holiday. Please be assured, your feedback has been discussed with the relevant departments to ensure we continue to provide the excellent Customer Service our customer have come to expect, when booking a Headwater holiday.
In closing, we would like to thank you for choosing to travel with Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Lisa
Great little towns and villages perched on hills, connected by excellent walks. We enjoyed the whole experience.
Headwater Holidays are always an interesting and memorable holiday. The variety of accomodation combined with cycling or walking abroad is a winning formula whether you travel as a couple or with fitness minded friends. We have tried over 10 destinations now over the years including the canoeing down the dorgogne and every combination has been wonderful. The guided walking gives you a chance to see and learn about areas of europe that are off the beaten track and you feel like you are experiencing the real country.
An enjoyable holiday.
Our journeys on the Castle to Coast Walk took us through some of the most beautiful hill countryside in this relatively unknown region of Croatia. The walks were well-designed, well-described and very enjoyable, and the hotels welcoming and comfortable. Opatija is a gem of a resort and provided an excellent and relaxing conclusion to our trip.
The design of the week was very well balanced; the directions astonishingly detailed and accurate; the accommodation superb; Romina the rep absolutely outstandingly excellent. They even got good weather for us. After 22 years of never having an organised holiday we are converts. Could not recommend this more highly.
Great Fun. Lovely area and great cycling.
Lovely coastline easy cycling
Organisation was excellent unfortunately the route notes were poor leading to us losing our way a couple of times. Luckily the guide was very knowledgeable. She talked us through the section through the Fjord. Once we decided not to cycle that part she kindly agreed to transport us for this section. The route description of the Fjord did not include that this was a busy section with very limited space and no where to push the bikes if we decided that we could not manage the hills. A real omission of Headwater. Our middle hotel room while being comfortable had a locked interconnecting door. Unfortunately the only small child in the hotel was in the next door room which meant that we could not sleep in once the child was awake which was very early. The other two hotels were excellent
Vegan vrata hotel had no hot water in our room on first day and only warmish on second day. Ate there and staff seemed stressed and this did not make for a relaxing evening. Not impressed with this hotel.
Beautiful and varied walks. Good level of stamina required. Istria is very quiet but local people are very friendly eg a farmer gave us some apples when we resting (and obviously) tired.
In the first walk, there was no shade. Walk 2 is longer but a little easier. It would make more sense to swap over walks 1 and 2 to allow travellers to acclimatise.
We had a problem with the packed lunches. We mentioned on the application form that we do not eat meat. I rang Headwater the week before the holiday to make sure that this was known and had been passed on to the 2 hotels providing packed lunches. I was told that this would be done. On arrival, we found out that neither hotel knew of our requirements. Clearly, there is communication breakdown.
Everything went very smoothly, no hitches, excellent hotels and some good cycling.
As occasional cyclists we found the cycling very manageable on a mixture of Tarmac and gravel tracked routes. The coastal scenery was stunning and the three different locations provided a good variety of places/shops/ancient sites to explore.The standard and location of the hotels was very good enabling easy foot access to a reasonable range of restaurants for which Tripadvisor proved useful. Everyone was friendly and our holiday aided by good weather was a great success.
Very well organized, would recommend to all.
Excellent hotels, really good walking notes (best we've had!), good food available locally. very knowlegable rep.
Excellent way to experience the beauty and friendliness of Croatia and in particular the Istrian coast. Bikes excellent and fit for the sometimes stoney cycle paths. Not as daunting as we had envisioned bearing in mind we are both over 70. Rep excellent and very helpful. All accommodation is well chosen and perfectly located. A cycling holiday with an emphasis on the holiday aspect.
Croatia is a lovely country but the cycling routes were not good. A lot of the routes were on busy main roads up-hill with lots of heavy traffic. The cycle paths were mainly shingle and quite dangerous and very dusty. One cycle path (shingle) had a quarry in the middle of it and heavy quarry lorries were using the cycle paths - nowhere to escape - and dust everywhere. The hotels were good. Some of the cycling was through popular beach side areas and therefore one had to beware of pedestrians/children, etc. All in all, although there were some lovely villages en route, cycling on the roads with no views was not worth it.
brilliant holiday,well packaged,very thorough instructions,great locations
Croatia is a beautiful country and we enjoyed the contrast between hilltop hotels and two nights on the coast. We did however find the walking tough going at times due to the heat at the beginning of September - 30+ degrees. Maybe that is why there were only 4 of us on the trip, others chose a cooler time of year! The organisation was excellent as we transferred hotels, our Rep and drivers were friendly and very helpful. The food was slightly disappointing as there was little fish on offer until we got to Opatije. The meal at Hotel Vela Vrata was very good, we wished we'd eaten there both nights.
We shall await the new season's brochure and plan next year's holiday after checking the expected temperatures.
The countryside was pretty and the places we stayed in had narrow, windy roads barely wide enough for a car which were intriguing to explore. Snorklling was fun and there were fish to see from waist height just standing in the water. The cycling was not overly challenging but the heat had to be managed with plenty of water and early starts.
Lovely country. Romina was an excellent guide. The Buzet loop walk was boring and the notes were not adequate
Croatia and the Istrian Coastline are a gem and offer a variety of historic and scenic opportunities.
Headwater never fails to please. We have holidayed with them on three occasions now, love their routes, their choice of hotels and attention to every detail.
Cycling the Istrian coast was such a wonderful holiday for myself and my husband. The sea was gorgeous, some of the routes were a bit bumpy and confusing but each location was so beautiful it was incredible. Food was great in the first two hotels and such stunning locations. We would definitely recommend to a friend and think about going on another holiday with headwater.
The 2 hill top hotels were excellent. Perhaps more warning should be given that these are steep uphills at the end of the days walk to arrive at hotel.
Buzet really had nothing available in the old town, I had thought there might just be a little more, perhaps. Glad we were there only 2 nights.
Beautiful area of undiscovered gems of hilltop villages, lovely hotels, excellent representative and great 'real' food. Late July rather hot but still enjoyable as the walks could be started early in the morning thanks to hotels doing early breakfasts
We loved Croatia and in particular the Adriatic riviera which was stunningly beautiful and relatively unspoiled. All the hotels were good and in excellent locations and Romina the rep was fantastic - extremely helpful, friendly and accommodating. The walking was more challenging than we have experienced on other Headwater holidays and not quite as interesting or inspiring. It was very hot walking in July and there were lots of mosquitos - it would probably be a better choice in May or September. We will definitely return to Croatia to explore this beautiful country further.
As above maybe reduce prices.
This is one of the best walking holidays we have had with Headwater. Excellent walking notes guided us through a lovely and varied landscape. And the accommodation in all three hotels was of the highest standard; perfect locations too.
The package of walks in Croatia was very good, albeit challenging at times. The local rep was excellent and helpful at all times. The accommodation was well chosen and all transfers were timely and efficient. Overall it was an excellent package and we would recommend it to others. This was our second Headwater walking holiday and lived up to the standards set by the first one. We will certainly look to do similar walking holidays with Headwater in future.
Excellent and varied walks in attractive countryside, comfortable friendly hotels and interesting local cuisine with plenty of truffles. Our very helpful local guide, Romina, advised us about possible issues and added to our enjoyment of the holiday.
Tougher walking than expected. Most days finished with steep climb. Hotels variable, rep. super. Countryside lovely. We decided to have a rest from walking on Day 3 and hired bikes which was a pleasant change.
This was a great holiday, well organised, excellent communication, excellent rep who was very helpful, great route notes, good quality bikes and gives you an opportunity to visit some fantastic places on the Istrian coast in Croatia and see some lovely sights.
My only concern is that some of the routes, in my opinion, are quite dangerous, especially the unsurfaced roads and gravel tracks. If you have no experience, or little experience of cycling, this holiday I would suggest is not for you. Even as a regular cyclist I found some routes difficult and challenging. If you struggle with heat, I would suggest not choosing a holiday in July/August, but go for May or early June. You could be spending 4/5 hours out in the heat on some days.
However, if you love cycling, then this holiday is perfect and first class, a great company to go with as everything was organised as advertised and I would throughly recommend it.
Some of the walks were challenging. The second day's walk was long at 12,5 miles. Buzet was not a good centre for tourism. The old town was beautiful but nothing there really as was the new town. Unless you wanted to walk back up many steps from the restaurant in the new town, you had onlt the one restaurant in the old town. Food was not brilliant. We ate there on the second night and and they started packing up at 9pm. They did not even ask us if we wanted a dessert or coffee. Just wanted us out. And this was a Saturday night!!!! The walk on the escarpment was beautiful but it was impossible to find the path down again. The notes said it was a hard to find path but it was IMPOSSIBLE. There were four of us and we failed. If the paragliding naturists want their privacy then they should put clear markers where we should go!!!! This was meant to be a 7.5 mile easy walk We used our OS maps to find an alternative roiute but it meant the walk was 11.5 in total.. In the blue book, others had written the same problem. and we did mention to the rep.
Some long ascents made for tough walking in parts but with the reward of good views. The spring flowers were wonderful. The stay at Motovun was enjoyable and the last 2 nights in Opatija a delight - pity there wasn't an opportunity to stay longer here since there was a lot to do and some great restaurants. We found Buzet disappointing. Romina (the local rep) was very efficient.
I am undecided as to booking with Headwater again, as there were some issues throughout the holiday which marred the experience. These were not things that Romina could have resolved as they were booking issues. I plan on submitting an email to Headwater shortly detailing these.
Romina was a fantastic representative, both very professional and friendly.
When my suitcase failed to arrive from Gatwick, and I had to wait 2 days for it to catch me up, she lent me a waterproof walking jacket and walking sticks.
Headwater take care of planning process of a walking holiday. They provide efficient and reliable travel arrangements, excellent and interesting accommodation and a superb variety of walks with comprehensive notes. Our guide had walked the routes shortly before to double check their accuracy, attention to detail that reinforced our confidence. Evening meals are arranged for the first night at each location, giving us opportunity to explore, if we wished, on other evenings. In fact, our greatest concern was which wine to drink.
This was our first holiday with Headwater and we really enjoyed the whole thing. The walks were just what we wanted (helped by excellent weather) with varied terrain and views, we had no problem following the route notes (so hardly bothered with the maps provided) and found the lunches provided by the hotels were more than enough for us.
Our rep (Romina) was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The hotels were all great and the local restaurants, especially in Motovun and Opatija were excellent and great value. There're plenty of local wines too, which were not expensive and really good!
The region is beautiful, the people we met were friendly and we can't wait to go back.
An enjoyable holiday. Well organised, good bikes, very comfortable accommodation and breakfasts. Croatian coast attractive, and not too busy in September when we went and Croatian staff in hotels and local restaurants all friendly and helpful. Rides well planned, and maps and directions good. I had an unfortunate fall skidding on a wet road, and couldn't ride one day, but the support from local bike hire was excellent, and myself and bike both made it to the end of the holiday. Would recommend as good medium level cycling break.
Our Croatian walking holiday was a wonderful experience. The villages were picturesque and stunning in their location and ambience. The walks were through diverse terrain of natural beauty and the food was delicious. Highly enjoyable and thoroughly recommended by us both.
Fun and adventurous but no planning hassle
A good holiday made especially interesting by Romina the local Rep. She is a lovely person, very helpful and very knowledgable and very willing to share her knowledge of the area. All the hotels were good and their locations very specacular . We wish we could have stayed longer in Hotel Sveti Jacob but had to return home. One night is not enough to enjoy the many attractions of this beautiful place.
This was our first holiday with Headwater and we were very impressed. It was a good balance between walking and relaxation. The programme was put together very well: no walking on the first day, a gentle first walk the following day and then the longest walk mid-holiday. By the time we tackled the mountain walk, we were feeling fitter and more able to take on the challenges. It was good to relax by the sea for the last two nights and we enjoyed the coastal walk. It was a great way to discover a new area and we really enjoyed the beautiful countryside in Istria.
The hotels were very good and the food was excellent.
We would like to single out Romina for particular attention, she was absolutely delightful, intelligent, responsive and very caring, she did a marvellous job.
Thank you Headwater, we are very keen to use you again in the future.
Maintained the high standard we have come to expect from Headwater.
Lovely holiday with very welcoming local people
We had a really good week's walking, albeit in 40 degrees! Croatia was fabulous and we would return in the future.
Your representative Romina Brumnic was absolutely excellent and nothing was too much trouble for her to arrange - a real asset.
Having enjoyed a previous Headwater walking holiday in Tuscany that was also rated '2 boot' our assessment is that this holiday to Croatia was much harder and a reasonable level of fitness is essential. The hotels are all OK although we were a little disappointed that the swimming pools were indoor. At the Hotel Vela Vrata you had better like truffles! Day 5 walking instructions could be better. As part of the packed lunches (variable quality!) you receive a single small bottle of water - this was wildly insufficient especially in the intense heat of July. Overall though a great holiday, Croatia is beautiful.
...the 3 hotels were very different, but, were all in good locations with quality offerings. the people and staff of Croatia are very welcoming and have no airs and graces about themselves. the bikes are well maintained and sturdy, and, need to be for some of the unsurfaced paths. Rovinj was our favourite place, but, all towns / hotels that we visited were pretty and welcoming.
Great hotel locations, very friendly with good service and excellent food and drink especially the abundant and very good value seafood.
Lovely relaxed cycles with plenty of 'things' to see along the way. The only difficulty was the route notes which had had the maps removed and left only descriptions and a very large region map. The guides had removed the maps because they were 'confusing' - I suspect that reflects a difference between visual and aural people - we would have been MUCH more comfortable with a MAP - particularly since some of the descriptions in the guide were a little wrong.
One of the best Headwater holidays we have done. Croatia certainly more than lived up to our expectations. Everything about the holiday was excellent and the people there were universally warm and welcoming. A wonderful contrast between the hilltop towns of Motovun and Buzet and the classical seaside villas of Opatija. It will be difficult to better this holiday!
A very good holiday. Some of the roads were a bit dangerous narrow fast and bendy like the road round the fjord. Some of the off road was too rough with big limestone chippings. Your reps were working on different maps to us.
Beautiful countryside, it was lovely to see so many wild flowers and butterflies (we went at the end of May). There was a good range of walks, all challenging in their own way but with fantastic views as a reward. You do need a relatively good level of fitness as it is hilly and we,d recommend boots as suggested by Headwater as the tracks are very rocky in places. Our favourite location was Motovun, with it's cobbled streets and bars and restaurants overlooking the landscape below. There was little to do or see in Buzet, so make the most of the circular walk whilst you are there. We found all of the hotels to be of a very high standard and the service was good, the room we had in Hotel Sveti Jakov in Opatija was stunning and the hotel was in a lovely quiet part of the town.
A superb holiday in stunningly beautiful countryside. Great walking conditions and routes through varied terrain, sometimes challenging and always rewarding. The hotels were first class and staff everywhere were friendly and helpful. The final days in Opatija were relaxing and the effect end to a great holiday. Thank you Headwater!
NB. We feel that the route notes for days 4 & 5 could do with adjustment as things appear to have changed on the ground. I would be happy to offer suggestions. Please advise how you would like these to be supplied.
Yet again a very enjoyable and successful holiday with Headwater. What a smooth running organisation you are.............efficient at home and abroad............friendly, welcoming and enthisiastic. The hotels in Fazania and Rovinj were exceptional. the staff were not only helpful, but also truly passionate about their work and their country. The cycle rides had been well researched and, apart from one transfer day (Fazania to Rovinj) when the busy roads far outweighed the quiet lanes and tracks, took us through fascinating places. Thank you to all and here's to the next time. Jenny and Paul Newman
Good walking with excellent notes. Excellent accommodation. Helpful local rep. Perhaps overpriced.
The whole holiday exceeded our expectations. Thank you. We will travel with you again.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Aries,
Thank you for your lovely feedback, we were pleased to see you enjoyed your holiday in Croatia.
We look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa
Very good walking holiday with excellent accomodation. Croatia is a lovely country to visit, the people are friendly, there is plenty to see and the prices are reasonable.
Excellent holiday overall, enhanced by a good mix of 4 couples in our group. BUT the performance of your reps was very poor in terms of availability and understanding of our needs.
Challenging walking with a comfortable hotel at the end of the day.
Great location for biking, loads of marked routes, do go to the local tourist office and get the leaflet which gives all local cycle routes for that area, and use these whenever you can. Great hotels, with friendly staff, the locations vary but all interesting, our input to Headwater would be that the hotels need to be very good to make these holidays value for money. Good bikes which were well up to the local cycle routes! Do swim whenever you can as the sea was fabulous, and warm!
All 5 of us had an excellent hoiliday ,Thank you.
One possible improvement- the last day's 'Directions' (Porec to Novigrad) were much simpler to follow than the other days' , because they used the local cycle route signs as reference points ; but there had been cycle route signs all along the way on previous days - they just were not mentioned.
This was one of most enjoyable and exciting Headwater walks we have experienced. Istria was unknown to us and we loved the hill-top towns where the 'truffle is king'! cuisine was superb and the hotel staff and local residents so friendly. The local rep was the most conscientious, helpful and friendly we have ever met. Please extend our thanks to her. The 'good' comment on Comfort at the last hotel related simply to the failure of the air conditioning system which was freezing. This was resolved by the staff. Fabulous holiday and the weather gave us ideal conditions.
The holiday was perfect. The area, the hotels and the activities were just what we wanted from a holiday. This was one of the best Headwater holiday that we have been on. We were disappointed last year with The Jura but this holiday has given faith in Headwater again
A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Croatia was a lovely country, the walks just right and the hotels great. The other couple on the walk were like minded and we got on really well.
We chose a walking holiday because we enjoy walking and believe you get more of the atmosphere of where you are if you are on foot. After the airport we were driven to a gem of a hotel, with wonderful views and the sound and sight of swifts in the summer air. Our guide was very efficient and worked very hard to see that we got the most out of our stay. She was local and gave us sound information on what to expect. A couple of the days here saw quite high temperatures so we needed to make sure we had water or knew where we could get water on route.. The hotel at Buzet was also at the top of a peak so this is a holiday where you must be prepared to walk some high ups and downs. The third hotel at Opatija was very well situated and we had a very large room with a baloney. This hotel had a fish restaurant, the fish being caught locally the night before. On our final evening we had one of their superb fish meal on the terrace with the sound of soft live music in the background, which was a fitting closure to a very enjoyable holiday.
This was our sixth Headwater Cycling Holiday and every bit as good as the others. Croatia is lovely place for cycling, not too strenuous.. The hotels were all excellent and well situated. Eating out was easy and good value. The towns and villages were all interesting places especially The Roman ruins in Pula and the round stone shepherds shelters were a highlight. We had time for two enjoyable boat trips.
To get the most enjoyment out of this holiday one needs to build up cycling strength and stamina as there were some long rides with hills which needed a lot of energy, particularly for my age group (65+). Fortunately I had been doing this for 4 months so it was fine. This was not a problem for my 25 year old daughter. The cycle paths were a bit challenging as the surface was sharp loose stones and it was necessary to get off the bikes and walk on many occasions.
Croatia is beautiful and the weather was perfect - swimming was possible every day. This is a great way to experience a country up close and get to places most tourists cannot.
The Istrian peninsula felt like an undiscovered jewel for visitors. Beautiful countryside, great local food and wine and you can walk all day without seeing anyone else! As always with Headwater a lot of thought had been put into the arrangements for the hotel and the walks and the local guide Romina was brilliant.
Superb location excellent guide really had an excellent break. Beautiful location would love to go again and again
We have taken several holidays with Headwater mainly in France and have always enjoyed them,but this one in Croatia comes top.Lovely countryside, many wild flowers to admire, super accommodation and very friendly people.
Could have been lovely but spoilt by many problems. Disappointed.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Thompson, We were sorry to read of your disappointment with your holiday, I will contact you directly for more information and hope to reinstate your faith in Headwater. Yours sincerely, Headwater customer service
SERVICE IN ENGLAND WAS INFORMATIVE, AS IN ISTRIA (RAMONA). THE HOTEL VELA VRATA WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING. THE ROOM WAS SMALL, THE SHOWER KEPT GOING OFF. ALSO THE AIR CONDITINIONING COULD NOT BE PUT ON. THE ROOM WAS TOO HOT, BUT COULD NOT OPEN THE WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE NOISE FROM THE CAFE DOWN THE ROAD WHICH WENT ON TILL 3AM!!
Great way to enjoy a weeks holiday with like minded people.Makes keeping fit enjoyable and easy.
We normally travel with our own bikes and a map, so this holiday was a wonderful luxury. Given the number of small back roads, I think we would have struggled to find such a good route on our own. The hotels were all very comfortable, friendly and welcoming and the countryside was beautiful. We went in September and the temperature was ideal both for cycling and for relaxing on the beach. On the evidence of this holiday we are keen to return and see some more of Croatia.
Must be our ninth or tenth holiday with you. A very well thought-out tour with the usual Headwater touch of finding interesting as well as luxurious places to stay and devising well-balanced walks to reveal the landscape. We were particularly impressed with the local agent and the two local taxi drivers who were always firendly and helpful.
This was the best cycling holiday we have been on with Headwater. Excellent cycling, if tough in places, great hotels and beautiful scenery. The water was crystal clear and it is well worth cycling beyond Pula to some excellent secluded beaches. The 4am start at Gatwick was the only downpoint of the holiday - please Headwater put on some more sensible flight times in future.
Great adventure, beautiful country new to us, superb mix of historic hilltop towns, world-class Roman heritage, lovely coast with tempting swimming coves, Italian food with a Viennese twist, red-earth olive groves and vineyards. Be prepared for some VERY rough tracks, thrills and spills, or get off and walk for extended sections. HOT, long days cycling but all very much worth it on arrival at characterful destinations and comfortable lodgings.
We had a great experience, found all the maps and guides very accurate. The guide was very informative and gave us a good update on changes to the routes. All three hotels were very good and up to the expected standard, we were warned by the guide that the Hotel Bristol was not as good as the others, however we found the room very nice and the buffet particularly good and great value. We enjoyed Croatia and its people were warm and friendly throughout. This walk was not leisurely and required a reasonable level of fitness if it is to be enjoyed.
the cycle routes took us through beautiful countryside that we would never experienced without Headwaters' guides
Croatia surpassed expectations. We would have happily have stayed longer in all the places we visited. There is so much to see and do as well as the cycling.The first 2 hotels especially were just a bit different and in all 3 resorts there was an abundance of restaurants to suit all tastes. The Croatian people were warm and welcoming and we would definitely go back. Be warned that August is perhaps a bit too hot for the cycles with the hills !
The holiday was described as soft and leisurely however, it was much tougher than that description. There were more steep climbs and a lot of gravel tracks which was difficult to cycle on. Each day did not get within the 3-4 hours detailed in your description of leisurely . Other than the cycle rides, the hotels, travel arrangements and representative were excellent.
As has been the case with our many previous Headwater cycling holidays we have greatly enjoyed ourselves and appreciated
the consistently high quality of accommodation and locations.Perhaps even more so this year(esp. with no evening meals provided ) we are however very much aware that we are paying slightly more than we should be. and obviously this is likely to affect future decision -making.
beautiful part of the world best seen on a cycling tour like Headwater's
Did everything that it said in the brochure
we suggest a few changes to the walks. The walk up to the mountain Ucka would be much better if the trip to Vela Draga was included, also that being on the way. The walk up was fine but should be extended to a walk down the mountain, giving the day much more meaning. The first day,s walk included a long portion on an old railway path. A little weary and boring. The last two kilometres were hell for all who dislike mosquitoes. The representative was asked directly at the info meeting about the mosquitoes and did not give correct information. Many walkers were bitten badly and the walk finished at the same spot the next day. The walk to Buzet was the best walk. More walks like this are very positive. We found many other places Headwater could have had focus. Why not include trips to Roc and Hum? Walking in this area was sublime. We also would have liked more descriptions about the things to do around places, since the local tourist offices were not on the ball at all.
The biggest let down was the Hotel Bristol, inspite of the warning that the standard was lower. We expected a better welcome and expected a refrigerato in the room. Headwater would do better with a quality boutique hotel alternative, many of which we found attractive. We reccommend choosing a place away from Lovran, a town that was full of run down and ruined buildings. Volosko was a better alternative. Up in the hilltops were many OK places.
We joined this trip to walk with family who had used your services before and were impressed by the standard of hotels and restaurants. They were offended by the standard at the Bristol. We thought the whole place was tatty.
We hope our feedback will inspire improvements. We will certainly return to Croatia, but reccommend visits to other places as well.
Nice walking companions make a trip such as this ideal for up to 8 people.
As a new holiday this year it all worked very well indeed. Istria is a lovely area and at the very beginning of July we were treated to abundant wild flowers, butterflies by the thousands, gorgeous views and stunning weather (though hotter then we had expected). Most days though we did have shaded sections to walk through. Loved the two hilltop towns we stayed in (Motovun and Buzet) and after leaving Buzet we did do a small (half hour) detour to visit the Vela Draga before starting our walk up Mount Ucka.
Great way of exploring the countryside in an environmentally friendly way
Two excellent hotels, Villetta Phasiana and Villa Tuttorotto, the second with a harbour view that was beyond fantastic. The cycling was energetic at times with a couple of busy roads and the occasional error in the 'talk-round' leading to some extended routes and some interesting conversations with locals to get us back on track - but overall was fine. Good bikes by the way.
Excellent location although on occasion the cycling was more challenging than expected and we spent a lot of the cycling on busy roads rather than cycle paths.
We really enjoyed our walks through unspoilt countryside, the wild flowers and butterflies in particular were delightful.The hotels in Motovun and Buzet were both excellent, and we enjoyed the food and wine.
