Bale to Rovinj
Istria is a beautiful part of Croatia. The coast is full of rocky beaches and water that is clean, clear and that no photo can do justice to. It was our first time in this area of Croatia, and taking our bikes was a bonus as it is a lovely way to see this part of the country.
Bale, Istria
The village of Bale is worth a visit, it is very pretty with cobbled streets and beautiful old buildings. We were so taken with it that we stopped for a coffee and a wander round, to soak it all up.
There are a couple of tracks going out from the village and, the one we took we realised after a while was incorrectly numbered. With the help of the free map from the Tourist Office in Rovinj and our Kompass map, we managed to navigate our way around. So glad we did, as it made us feel we were far away from everything, with pretty views and farmland.
Butterflies
There were literally thousands of the most amazing butterflies on this track, so take your time and watch them. It is obvious the eco culture is working, having never seen so many butterflies in our lives. The only problem was trying to take any photos of them. I’m not a professional photographer and use my iPhone. You will have to take my word for there were hundreds of different colours and sizes, and they were mesmerising.
San Polo campsite & beach, Istria
After the trip around Bale, we decided to head for the coast and dip our toes in the sea. The coast is 7km from Bale and worth it as the sea was beautiful and warm. There was a massive camping ground with a barrier at the entrance, but they allow day visitors. The campsite had cafes, restaurants, and toilet blocks for the camper. These were useful to us as we could use the facilities and change into our swimming stuff.
Please be aware there are a LOT of nudist beaches and campsites in Croatia, which was a surprise for us. I am not comfortable with nudity (very British). Therefore, I spent much time looking at my bike computer or the sky, much to my husband’s amusement. Lots of Europeans love to be naked on holiday. So don’t be offended or stare too much; to them, it is normal.
After a snack and a dip in the sea, we made our way back up the coast to Rovinj, following a similar path we had done the previous day.
Highlights of the area.
- The colour of the water in Croatia was spectacular. Beaches are generally rocky, which I prefer as that means you have no sand in annoying places, especially when you have to get back on a bike.
- Take swimming stuff with you and make the most of the areas to stop, rest, and dip in the sea.
- It can be very warm, so read my tips on riding a bike in hot weather before you go.
I loved this area of Croatia. I believe they are making more cycling tracks each year so, I can’t wait to return and see what they have done.