Oenotourism and Gourmet Getaway in Istria

Day 1 : Pula

Arrival at Pula Airport and first contact with Croatia. Collection of your vehicle inside the airport. First glimpse of Istria and remains of the Roman Empire. Passing through Pula to visit the old town, then on to Labin, a perched village that is really worth a visit, then on to Rabac, a small seaside resort. Arrival in Barban. Check-in at the hotel. Rental of a economic E-Class vehicle, type Volkswagen Polo 1.2 or similar , including:

– Unlimited mileage
– VAT tax
– Manual gearbox
– One driver insurance
– Basic third party insurance: CDW and TP.

Terra Balka can offer other options. On the spot the renter will be able to propose you additional insurances if necessary. Overnight in a 4-star boutique hotel near the village of Barban. Feel at home in this small family-run paradise in the middle of Istria. Standard room.

Day 2 : Barban

Free day in the heart of Istria. Day without programme, at your own pace, according to your wishes: take time to walk in the hills or in the vineyards, relax by the swimming pool, meet your hosts or taste wine in a nearby vineyard. A free day that could be full of unusual experiences! Overnight in a 4-star boutique hotel near the village of Barban. Feel at home in this small family-run paradise in the middle of Istria. Standard room.

Day 3 : Barban

Exploration of Green Istria, the authentic, gastronomic and secret part of Istria. Discovery first of all of Gracisce, one of the most beautiful villages in Istria and yet very little frequented. In addition to its beautiful houses, the village offers an incredible panorama of the region. Then stop at Pazin and its famous abyss. Short walk around the chasm. If you’re looking for adrenaline, opt for a zip line crossing or a caving descent. Continue to Kaldir, the heart of ecotourism in Istria, then arrive in Motovun, a beautiful hilltop village that you visit on foot. Arrival at the end of the day in Oprtalj and check-in at the hotel. Tasting break. Stop in a vineyard in a small agricultural village, for a tasting of 5 wines: 2 dry white wines / 2 sweet white wines / 1 red wine. The tasting is accompanied by local products (local ham, cheeses). Visit of the cellar. Tasting break. Stop on the road in a domain that produces one of the best olive oils in Croatia. Here you can taste the olive oil as you taste the wine, it’s amazing and delicious! The place overlooks the region, in the middle of olive groves. Visit the olive grove for 1.5 hours and taste 2 kinds of oil, wine and homemade products (bread, cheese, prsut). Overnight in 4-star guesthouse, in the village of Oprtalj, a small paradise in the middle of Istria where you will feel at home . Standard room.

Day 4 : Oprtalj

Gourmet getaway in the heart of Istria. Star day from Oprtalj, which offers a central position in the heart of vineyards and perched villages. This region offers you today its best kept secrets: the scent of pine trees, olive oil plantations, small roads winding through the hills. Direction Paladini to hunt for truffles, then to the hamlet of Hum and then Buzet. Tasting break and truffle hunt. Arrival at the village of Paladini where you will meet the truffle specialists, from father to son and from mother to daughter, for 3 generations. These friendly hosts will tell you about truffles, the tradition of truffle hunting and their dogs. Tasting of local products in a magnificent setting, starting with liqueurs of course. Then come the cheeses, sausages, oils, scrambled eggs and other specialities. And all these products are based on truffles of course, but also honey or red fruits. Products that you can buy in their shop. Afterwards, in order to digest this exquisite meal, you leave for the forests to hunt for truffles. You will learn the rudiments to follow the dogs and find this mushroom so sought-after. Nice walk in the forests of Istria. It is an unforgettable gastronomic adventure. Overnight in 4-star guesthouse, in the village of Oprtalj, a small paradise in the middle of Istria where you will feel at home . Standard room.

Day 5 : Oprtalj

Free day in the heart of Istria. A day without a programme, at your own pace, according to your wishes: take time to walk in the hills, in the heart of the perched villages or in the vineyards, relax by the swimming pool, meet your hosts or taste wine in a nearby vineyard. A free day that could be full of unusual experiences! Overnight in 4-star guesthouse, in the village of Oprtalj, a small paradise in the middle of Istria where you will feel at home . Standard room.

Day 6 : Oprtalj

From one Istria to another. Green Istria offers you more beautiful discoveries before diving into blue Istria and its main asset: the Adriatic. Discover the villages of the north, especially Groznjan, an authentic hilltop village, a real open-air museum with a large number of artist’s galleries, before reaching Novigrad and then Porec, with its narrow streets and monuments. Continuing southwards, we reach the small town of Vrsar. Then you overhang the Lim Canal (or fjord) to then go down to a small port. Road to Bale. Check-in at the hotel. Tasting break. Stop in a vineyard for about 1.5 hours of discovery. Visit of the design and modern facilities, which offer a magnificent panorama of the region. Dive into the philosophy of the place. Tasting of 5 wines, accompanied by cheese, bread and olives. The cuvée reine is an excellent red wine! In addition to the wines, you can taste the olive oil or the famous grappa. Overnight in a 5-star estancia in the middle of the vineyards. Standard room.

Day 7 : Bale

Meeting with your guide for a 2-hour private walking tour of Rovinj. Rovinj is the most beautiful Venetian wonder of Istria. Founded by the Romans, it preserves the remains of its fortifications. As you walk around the city on foot, along the waterfront, you will discover the charm of the facades, the views of the Adriatic Sea that emerge from the bend in the alley, the surprising little terraces nestled between two rocks.

Highlights of the visit: Arc de Balbi, Clock Tower, St. Euphemia Cathedral, Zlatni Rt Park, Batana Museum.

-> Is there something else you want to see? This city tour is tailor-made, we can adapt it:

* with a few more hours to visit some museums or broaden your historic ;

* to your wish of activity: by bike, gastronomic, wine tasting or treasure hunt. Rovinj has many facets and our city tours are very varied. Self-guided tour of Rovinj. Rovinj is the most beautiful Venetian wonder of Istria. Founded by the Romans, it preserves the remains of its fortifications. As you walk around the town on foot, along the waterfront, you will discover the charm of the facades, the views of the Adriatic that emerge from the bend in the alley, and the surprising little terraces nestled between two rocks. It’s a little piece of paradise that can be discovered at different times of the day: in the morning when you wake up, in the afternoon when it’s hot, and at aperitif time when the night activity begins to take shape.

Suggested highlights: Arc de Balbi, Clock Tower, Saint Eufemia Cathedral, Zlatni Rt Park and Batana Museum. Overnight in a 5-star estancia in the middle of the vineyards. Standard room.

Day 8 : Bale

Last moments in Istria. We hope you had a good trip to the land of truffles, Venetian jewels, pebble beaches, perched villages and olive groves. Drive to Pula Airport. Return of your vehicle at the airport. Check-in and boarding.