Croatia's Istrian Coast

Istria is Croatia’s beautiful northern region, boasting a brilliant combination of intriguing history, idyllic scenery and picturesque coastlines – discover it all from your seafront hotel.

Overview

• 7 nights in a 4-star hotel
• 15 Included meals : 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch , 7 dinners including a welcome drink
  
• Tour Manager as your host & Specialist Local Guide
  
• Free scheduled group transfers are available on arrival & departure, plus other transportation & porterage

Included in Tour:

• Opatija tour & chocolate-tasting
• Discover Pula & Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula
  
• Visit Plitvice Lakes
  
• Winery tour & tasting
  

Itinerary

DAY 1 ZAGREB

Make your own way to Zagreb where you can meet us for the scheduled group transfers to your hotel in Lovran, a charming town with a relaxed atmosphere on the eastern coast of Istria. Enjoy some time to settle in and explore your surroundings, and get to know your travelling companions over a welcome drink before dinner this evening.

DAY 2 OPATIJA

Located in Kvarner Bay, the stylish resort of Opatija boasts amazing sea views and splendid Austro- Hungarian architecture. We’ll visit here on today’s included excursion and take a stroll around the beautifully maintained gardens and along the lovely coastal promenade – the Lungomare – which forms a stunning backdrop to the town’s elegant villas, hotels, shops and cafés. We’ll also enjoy a chocolate making demonstration followed by a tasting. Tonight we join the Kvarner themed dinner in the hotel where you will sample some local specialities.

DAY 3 PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK

Croatia’s UNESCO-listed Plitvice National Park is situated in a valley between forested mountainsides. Here, 16 beautiful lakes spill into one another forming impressive cascading waterfalls, and we’ll enjoy a full day wandering around the bridges and paths that connect the lakes. We’ll take a relaxing boat trip across Lake Kozjak, the largest in the park, and look out for native deer, wild boar and a huge array of bird species.

DAY 4 LOVRAN – AT LEISURE

Explore at leisure today, either independently or in the company of your travelling companions. Your hotel is conveniently located just a short stroll from the historic centre of Lovran with its rich architectural heritage. Alternatively, you could join us on an optional boat trip to the beautiful island of Cres. We'll drop anchor in a lovely bay where you can swim in the crystal-clear waters and enjoy a tasty barbecue lunch on board. This evening, there's a treat in store as we get together for a Mediterranean-themed dinner.

DAY 5 PULA & ROVINJ

We’ll discover more highlights of the Istrian Peninsula on today’s included excursion. Our first stop is Pula, with its Roman ruins and immense amphitheatre – one of the world’s largest and best preserved. We’ll then head to a family-owned winery set on a hill
surrounded by vineyards. Here, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the cellars and a tasting of four different wines with a light lunch of cheese, prosciutto, bread and olive oil. Next, we’ll head to the popular resort of Rovinj to take in the sights of the bustling harbour and the Old Town, before calling at a traditional farm where we’ll learn about olive oil production and enjoy a tasting.

DAY 6 LOVRAN – AT LEISURE

Enjoy a free day to enjoy the facilities at your hotel. Perhaps take a dip in the pool or relax on the stone-paved beach, soaking up the sun as you look out over the Adriatic Sea.

If you want to explore a little further afield, why not join our optional excursion to Ljubljana in neighbouring Slovenia. In the company of a Local Guide, we'll take the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle, enter the courtyard and admire sensational vistas from the viewing tower. After lunch in a local restaurant, you'll have some free time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps shop for souvenirs or enjoy a drink with your travelling companions in one of the inviting bars.

DAY 7 LOVRAN – AT LEISURE

Enjoy another relaxing day today. Maybe take a dip in one of the hotel's pools, or if you fancy some pampering, perhaps treat yourself to a beauty treatment or massage in the hotel spa.

Alternatively, there are a couple of optional excursions to choose from.

You could join us to the medieval hill-top town of Motovun, where you'll admire wonderful views over the surrounding landscape. We'll head off on a truffle hunt with an official guide and his dog, to learn more about this local delicacy and how it is sought. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a delicious truffle lunch at a farm in Livade. Or, for something completely different, how about a zip-line adventure? You'll head to the town of Pazin and admire views of the stunning countryside, a river gorge and medieval castle as you soar through the air on this exhilarating experience.

This evening, we'll gather as a group for a farewell get-together .

DAY 8 DEPARTURE

Your tour comes to an end today.