Tastes & Flavours Of Istria Self Guided Walking 2025

Arrival in Istria. Info meeting with Fiore representative at 1900HRS at the hotel reception area where you will be provided with the package including hotel vouchers, maps and a road book, luggage tags. Overnight in Buje Area. (D)

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, short transfer to Brtonigla. The numerous acres of vineyards and olive groves are surrounded by pathways that lead towards meadows and woods, deep into the centre of nature that lives intact, far away from the modern civilization. It is also a place where you can find superior wines and olive oils; many family cellars and tasting premises invite travellers to discover the authentic power of the local lifestyle. Visit one of the best wine cellars in Istria where you will get acquainted with wine production and taste Istrian wines with a snack. After 3 hours walking through vineyards, you will reach Buje, a small hilltop town. From the top of the hill you can enjoy the pretty view of terraced fields and arable land, vineyards, and olive groves. Enjoy sightseeing in this town full of history and culture. The route finishes in front of your hotel where you will arrive by the former railway. Overnight in Buje area. (B, T)

Walking distance: 16-18km
Elevation gain: +268m / -278m

After breakfast you are ready to start exploring Istrian villages and hidden paths. After a short transfer (10 min) the walking stage starts on ex railway ‘Parenzana’, a narrow-gauge Austrian railway connecting Trieste with Poreč through a series of Istrian small towns. The railway is 123km long. The railway was in function from 1902 until 1935 and today the track has been rearranged into cycling and hiking paths wounding through the Istrian hills. Grožnjan will be your start point. After you view its galleries and viewpoints you can pass through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards. After passing through several tunnels and over old bridges you will reach the village of Livade, the truffle centre of the world, where you can taste and buy products with truffles. In front of Livade, on a hilltop, Motovun, where your hotel is located. Overnight in Motovun. (B)

Walking distance: 25km or 20km
Elevation gain: +511m / -573m

Your hike will start from your hotel, descending from the hilltop to the walking trail which guides you through vineyards, to the small village Brkač. On the ‘Parenzana’ trail you head back to Motovun. Today you will be picked up at your hotel by a driver who will transfer you to a small village where you will meet a local family. They will introduce you to the truffles of Istria, prepare a light lunch with wine, and then show you how to find a truffle with dressed dogs and an educated truffle hunter in the nearby forest. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Motovun. (B, L)

Remark: In the case that this family is not available, the same truffle hunt will be organised on day 6.

Walking distance: 15km
Elevation gain: +451m / -452m

After breakfast, short transfer  to Oprtalj (15 mins). A picturesque little town, deep in the Istrian Peninsula, begin a walk through the Istrian Mountain Trail. The route goes downhill into the forest and passes Sv Ivan (Saint John) village. Next village is Saint Lucija, with a very beautiful church. Through a few villages, you will arrive to Control Point, which has one of the best views of Mirna River Valley. The trail is passing by the Pietrapelosa castle and leads down in the valley. After passing an aqueduct, the trail goes towards the village of Mali Mlun. After a few more villages, a beautiful view opens on the town of Buzet. Through a forest and fields, the trail will get you to Buzet. Upon arriving in Buzet you can stop in a ‘grappa brewery’ where they will show you how they prepare over 100 different types of brandy. You have the opportunity to taste a few different grappas. Overnight in Buzet. (B, T, D)

Walking distance: 18km or 8km
Elevation gain: +496m / -700m

Breakfast at the hotel. Today’s path from Buzet to Hum can be a circular trail or one way if you start from Hum. The trail starts by the river and turns into the forest, passing over shallow rivers, or riverbeds if it is dry. The trail passes by some waterfalls with lakes. Nice, and not too steep, the trail leads you all the way to Kotli, the water springs with natural pools and an old watermill. The trail continues following the riverbed and passes through Benčići, an abandoned village where you can see traditional Istrian stone houses. From there you will see Hum and its recognisable church tower in the distance. When you get to Hum, take a walk and you will understand why it is the smallest town in the world. In Hum you can eat in the local 'konoba' (restaurant). The 'konoba' in Hum offers you nothing but traditional Istrian dishes. The ‘way of mistletoe’ will lead you all the way back to Buzet. It takes about 3 hours to hike one way. Overnight in Buzet. (B)

Walking distance: Buzet to Hum 12.5km; Hum to Buzet 12km
Elevation gain: Buzet to Hum +343m /-138m; Hum to Buzet +145m / -333m

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Poklon (30 mins), a saddle between two hills, from where trail starts. It goes on the top of Učka mountain, the biggest mountain in Istria with altitude of 1401m. From the top it goes all the way down to sea level in Lovran. The path is covered by oak and chestnut forests that give pleasant freshness in hot summers. The very summit of Učka (Vojak) is worth the climb to see the stunning panorama. The panorama of Kvarner Bay includes sea and coastal towns; the mountains in the background, Obruc, Snjeznik, and Risnjak Western side; the whole Istra peninsula lies in front of you. Sometimes, if visibility is good, you can see the view towards to Venice and the Alps on the north side. Overnight in Lovran. (B)

Walking distance: 15km or 6km
Elevation gain: +783m / -1692m or +28m / -382m

After breakfast at the hotel, check out. (B)