Along the beach of the Adriatic, from Italy to Slovenia and Croatia

Today you have the choice of either cycling along the dam and the lagoon to Venice or through the hinterland along the river Sile to get to Jesolo/Caorle. You cover the first few kilometers into the lagoon city by bike, then take the ferry to Punta Sabbioni (ticket not included in the package price). Numerous fishing boats and souvenir stands line your path on the endless beaches on the Litorale di Cavallino - a headland in the northwest of the lagoon. Before you leave Venice through the "back entrance", you have the opportunity to make a detour to the lighthouse at the very end of the island. Your gaze wanders over the lagoon city and its islands one last time. On the way to Jesolo, it is hard to resist the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the cooling water. You spend the night in Jesolo or Caorle. If you choose the alternative through the hinterland, you will cycle along the river Sile. Precisely because the natural river always carries a constant amount of water and flows calmly, the name of this river is derived from the Latin "silet", which means "to be silent, to be calm". Passing the ruins of the Torre Caligo, a tower from the Middle Ages that rises up near the Caligo canal of the same name, you will arrive directly in Jesolo.

Overnight place: Jesolo/Caorle

Along the coast and past the last fisherman's huts you first reach Caorle, a small bathing resort. Now it's time to say goodbye to the sea, the mainland sets the direction and the Julian Alps appear on the horizon. At the height of the Venetian Republic, inland Portogruaro was an important river port of the "Serenissima". Even today, many claim that Portogruaro is perhaps the most “Venetian” town inland. And they are probably not entirely wrong if you look at the many magnificent buildings and palaces, which are characterized by Venetian elements.

Overnight place: Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro

Approximately 65 km + boat trip from Marano Lagunare, or approximately 45 km if the first part to Latisana is shortened by train; 85 km total distance without boat.

There is also a lot to discover away from the beaches on the Adriatic: Roman ruins, ancient churches and lonely landscapes on the edge of the lagoon. From Marano Lagunare you take the ship to just before Aquileia, once a large city of the Roman Empire. Excavations of the Roman city can be visited in the outdoor area and in two museums.

Overnight place: Grado/Aquileia

approx. 40 - 80 km (short route including train journey; ticket not included)

At the beginning of today's stage you cycle through the hinterland of Trieste into a barren, cave-filled
rocky landscape before returning to the sea, to a coastal area of ​​unique beauty. There,
where the karst plateau plunges into the deep blue water, and the white cliffs rise vertically above the sea
towards the sky, follow the coastal road through suggestive places such as Duino, Sistiana, Miramare and Barcola.
You should take time to visit the romantic castle of Miramare above the
Bay of Grignano in the middle of a beautiful park where more than 2000 plant species thrive.
The city of Trieste, once a port metropolis of the Habsburg Empire, rises on the Gulf of Trieste, where you can
spend tonight.

Overnight place: Triest

approx. 35 km + boat Trieste-Muggia* or approx. 65 km, depending on the chosen variant

After just a few kilometres, it is time to say goodbye to Italy. In Slovenia, you will cycle mainly
on cycle paths through famous seaside resorts such as Koper (Capodistria) and Izola (Isola d'Istria) to Piran (Pirano) or
Portorož (Portorose), a spa town on the Slovenian Riviera. The slightly longer version of this stage leads
through the “Val Rosandra” valley in the hinterland.

*on your own, ticket NOT included.

Overnight place: Piran/Portoroz

Passing the salt pans of Sečovlje, where sea salt is harvested across vast areas through natural evaporation, you cycle across the border into Croatia. The route continues through the Croatian part of Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, through gently rolling terrain to Poreč, the most important coastal town on the west coast of Istria. A visit to the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is highly recommended.

Overnight place: Porec

Individual departure or possibility of extension.

Overnight place: Porec (Departure)