Gourmet Tour in Istria

Day 1: Zagreb – Rovinj
Arrival at Zagreb airport and transfer to the peninsula of Istra. A feast for the eyes, Istria’s streams flow to the sea through deep valleys and gullies. The view is splendid: white-topped mountains, lush wheat fields, plateaux, valleys, vineyards, olive groves on hillsides, and finally, the sea. As you get to know Istria you will notice more and more enchanting details: church facades and portals, tiny villages with their specific architectural touches, and the babble of a charming streams. Everything is warm-hearted and friendly here: nature, towns, and people. Accommodation in Rovinj.

Day 2: Rovinj – Vodnjan – Pula – Lim Bay – Rovinj 
We begin the day with breakfast at the hotel and then go on to visit Rovinj with local guide. Rovinj is a charmingly picturesque town and one the most romantic places in the Mediterranean. The narrow, winding, cobbled streets, crammed-together houses and buildings, and picturesque squares will just take your breath away. One of the most famous attractions is the St. Euphemia Cathedral, the largest Baroque building in Istria. Proceed to Pula with a stopover in Vodnjan for an olive oil tasting. Vodnjan is a charming medieval town with several interesting buildings. For many centuries Vodnjan was the most important town in southern Istria. Next we depart for Pula for a guided tour. In this 3,000-year-old town you will visit the famous Roman Amphitheater and its underground chambers, city gates, and walls; the Triumphal Arch of Sergians; the Roman Forum; the Roman mosaics; and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. After Pula you will proceed to the Lim Bay near Rovinj for an oyster tasting and dinner. Return to Rovinj for overnight.

Day 3: Rovinj – Porec – Motovun – Rovinj
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Porec for a guided tour. A medieval patrician town, also called “the Town of Mosaics,” Porec enchants visitors with its colorful mosaics in the basilica of St. Eufrasius (a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site). Proceed to Motovun for wine tasting. Motovun is a small town of rich cultural and historical heritage, situated on a hill above the Mirna River valley. The famous Motovun forest is the habitat of the respectable white truffle. In 1999, the then-largest white truffle in the world was found there (1.301 grams). After the visit you will attend a cooking class and you will prepare your tasty dinner based on truffles. After the dinner you will return to Rovinj for overnight.

Day 4: Rovinj – Zadar
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Zadar. Escorted by a local guide you will visit one of the most beautiful old Dalmatian cities. Zadar has been the center of this part of the Adriatic coast since Roman times. Today it is a city with a rich cultural heritage. Overnight at a hotel in Zadar area.

Day 5: Zadar – Pag Island – Zadar
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the Island of Pag for a visit and cheese and prosciutto tasting. The Island of Pag is often called “Island of Rock” or “Lunar Island” because of its barren and rugged surface. There, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the island’s most-known product, Pag Island cheese. This is a one-year-aged, pasteurized cheese made from the sheep raised on the island. There are a total of 40,000 sheep and 8,000 humans on the island of Pag. Return to Zadar for overnight.

Day 6: Zadar – Plitvice Lakes National Park
After breakfast depart for the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the park on your own. Plitvice Lakes were included in the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage in 1979. There are 16 interlinked lakes between Mala Kapela Mountain and Pljesevica Mountain. The lake system is divided into the Upper and Lower Lakes: the Upper Lakes lie in a dolomite valley surrounded by thick forests and are linked by numerous waterfalls; the Lower Lakes, smaller and shallower, lie on limestone bedrock and are surrounded only by sparse underbrush. Overnight in the area of Plitvice Lakes.

Day 7: Plitvice Lakes – Zagreb
We will have breakfast at the hotel and leave Plitvice Lakes for Zagreb, with a stopover for a walk at your leisure in the village of Rastoke. Rastoke features a 300-year-old village with houses and watermills, which emerged among its cliffs and islets. Upon your arrival in Zagreb, you will have a guided sightseeing tour of the town, which will include the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government Palace, the Croatian National Theater, and the University. In the evening you will enjoy a dinner in a typical restaurant in Zagreb to taste the specialties of the Zagreb region. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 8: Departure from Zagreb
After breakfast, enjoy some free time until your transfer to Zagreb Airport for departure.

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Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.

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Kutrubes Travel also offers a variety of other tours throughout this region. Contact us for detailed itineraries and descriptions.