An unforgettable tour of Istria for epicureans and food lovers. Istria is a wild and preserved paradise where truffles and olive oil are king.
This self drive tour in a hire car will take you through vineyards, olive oil farms, homemade honey shops and truffle oaks fields where you’ll be able to search for the black gold of the region.
On the way you will visit hilltop villages, Venetian cities such as Novigrad or Rovinj, the Roman amphitheater in Pula and all the restaurants where you can taste regional specialties.
Suggested duration: 8 days
Theme: Food & wine
Difficulty : For all public
Visited countries: Croatia
Pula
Barban
52428, Oprtalj, Croatia
Oprtalj
Novigrad, Croatia
Rovinj, Croatia
Bale
Welcome to Croatia! On arrival at Pula’s Airport, collect your hire car and drive to Barban.
You have the use of an economic E-Class vehicle, type Volkswagen Polo 1.2 or similar with unlimited mileage for the duration of your stay. CDW insurance is included.
On your drive you will get a first glimpse of Istria and remains of the Roman Empire. You can make a stop in Pula to visit the old town, before to check Labin, a perched village that is really worth a visit, and Rabac, a small seaside resort.
Your drive ends in Barban where you check-in at the hotel.
Terra Balka can offer other options. On the spot the car rental company will be able to propose you additional insurances if necessary.
Night 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.
Today is a free day in the heart of Istria. You can explore at your own pace, at leisure: 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!
Night 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.
It is time to uncover the Green Istria, also known as the authentic, gastronomic and secret part of Istria. The first stop will be the visit of Gracisce, one of the most beautiful villages in Istria and yet very little visited. In addition to its beautiful houses, the village offers an incredible panorama of the region. You continue to 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. You then head to Kaldir, the heart of ecotourism in Istria, followed by 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 1 – 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 served with local products (local ham, cheeses). Visit of the cellar.
Tasting break 2 – 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).
Night 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.
Gourmet getaway in the heart of Istria. Start the day from Oprtalj, which offers a central position in the heart of vineyards and perched villages. This region offers you its best kept secrets: the scent of pine trees, olive oil plantations, small roads winding through the hills. You head to Paladini for a truffle hunt, then to the hamlet of Hum followed by 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 liquors of course. Then come the cheeses, sausages, oils, scrambled eggs and other specialties.
All these products are based on truffles of course, but also honey or red fruits and are also available in their shop. Afterwards, in order to digest this exquisite meal, you leave for the forests to hunt for truffles. You will learn the basic steps to follow the dogs and find this mushroom so sought-after. Enjoy this 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.
This is another day at leisure in the heart of Istria: you can opt for a walk up the hills, to explore the perched villages and the nearby vineyards, or just relax by the swimming pool. You may want to meet your hosts or taste wine in a nearby wine-estates.
Night 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.
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, you reach the small town of Vrsar, you drive passed the Lim Canal (or fjord) to then go down to a small port before arriving 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 atmosphere of the place and enjoy tasting 5 different wines,served with cheese, bread and olives. The ‘cuvée reine’ is an excellent red wine! In addition to the wines, you can try the olive oil or the famous grappa.
Night in a 5-star estancia in the middle of the vineyards. Standard room.
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 knowledge;
Activity options: City by bike, gastronomic tour, wine tasting or treasure hunt. Rovinj has many faces and our city tours are 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 sunset 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. ç
Night in a 5-star estancia in the middle of the vineyards. Standard room.
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.
