Inland Istria - Hilltop towns, Family farms & amazing Delicacies

DAY 1 - Let yourself be dazzled by this Istrian gem

Welcome to Istria, a land of gastronomic wonders. We will bring you the richness of tastes and smells offered by this little piece of heaven, but first, you should get acquainted with the small picturesque hilltop town of Motovun, deep in the Istrian countryside.

Depending on your flight schedule, your driver will meet you at the exit of the arrival area at Pula Airport and take you to Motovun, the best-preserved medieval fortified town in central Istria. Your hosts await your arrival in a charming family-owned B&B. Once you get settled in, take a stroll around the town and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding area, the so-called “kingdom of truffles”. There is no better way to start your gastronomic journey through Istria than a dinner at a nice local tavern on a slope just outside the medieval city gate, with a menu that relies on local ingredients and old recipes. The menu is a kind of introduction to the next day that will be partially dedicated to truffles.

Overnight in Motovun.

DAY 2 - Truffle hunting and liquid gold tasting

After breakfast, meet your guide and start your daily gastronomic adventure.

The area around Motovun is the kingdom of truffles, but also a place where you can find great olive oil, distinctive Istrian grappa, and exquisite wines which, served with traditional Istrian culinary recipes, fully evoke the spirit of this ancient region. First, you will visit a local olive oil producer, who will tell you something about the estate, olives, olive oil, and oil tasting techniques. After the tasting of the oil, you can take a short walk through the olive groves and maybe purchase a bottle to carry home.

The journey continues leading you to the Motovun forest, the magic territory of Istrian truffles. You will experience truffle hunting, following trained dogs tirelessly seeking “The Gold of Istria”.

Walking through the forest is relaxing and if you find truffles, the experience will be unforgettable. After the hunt, it’s time to visit one of the winemakers of the region. This part of Istria, where the red soil becomes grey, white and clayish, is famous for its golden Malvasia and red Teran (Terrano) grape variety. You’ll taste four complexes, outstanding mineral wines and find out about the production process and the tradition of winemaking. To not drink on an empty stomach, your hosts will offer you some Istrian prosciutto, homemade sausage, or salami and cheese.

The next stop is the distillery where you will experience the entire production process and taste local spirits made of wild pear, wild apple, Teran grapevine, raspberry, etc., and home-made jams. The appetite is stimulated so dinner awaits you in one of the typical Istrian taverns and your hosts will make sure you have an introduction to the next day again.

After dinner and a short drive, you will return to Motovun.

Overnight in Motovun.

DAY 3 - Family farms and the “town of artists”

You will meet your guide after breakfast and start another gastronomic adventure by going to the village of Fabci to visit a family farm. This family farm is situated in untouched nature and here you can see indigenous Istrian oxen Boškarin, being bred naturally and ecologically. This family is a proud owner of two, multiple prize winners in categories of obedience, beauty, weight, and ploughing competition. Besides the oxen, you will have the opportunity to see other typical Istrian animals like goats, donkeys, and sheep and an illustration of the production and use of indigenous farm tools and equipment.

The hosts will offer some aperitif and home-made fritule or kroštule (typical deep-fried pastry).

After leaving the farm, your guide will take you to visit another Istrian family with a long tradition in agro-tourism. They will let you in on a secret of making the Istrian pršut, a meat delicacy with a status of protected geographical origin that can be made only in continental Istria, in ideal climatic conditions, following the strict traditional method dating back centuries. Here, you will visit the premises where pršut is made and taste some of their products made exclusively with natural ingredients, meat from the farm, self-propagating herbs, and aromatic spices from the area.

Not far from here, some 15 minutes’ drive, you will visit a winery, go to the wine cellar and tasting room where you will get the chance to taste some of the premium wines typical for this territory. Something that’s also typical for this region is the hilltop towns that, although we do call them towns, are essentially small villages with spectacular views over the countryside.

Your guide will take you to visit Grožnjan – the “town of artists”, tell you something about its history and let you soak up the atmosphere as you wander its cobbled streets. Compared with other hilltop towns, Oprtalj, another charming medieval town located above Mirna Valley, is a bit more colorful. Many houses have bright colored facades and just out of the town walls, there is a nice Venetian loggia, offering amazing vistas over the neighboring hills and olive groves.

Here, you will have dinner, and the menu will be based on seasonal specialties.

After dinner and a short drive, you will return to Motovun overnight.

DAY 4 - Motovun-Pula-Airport

After breakfast, it’s time for packing and check-out. Depending on the flight schedule, your driver will take you to the airport or the town of Pula.

The remaining balance is required to be paid at least 21 days before arrival unless specified otherwise in the specific offer.

If your arrival is within 21 days in the moment of making a reservation, you will need to pay the full amount within 24 hours to make the reservation valid.

Please note our Cancellation and no-show policy is as follows:

Reservations canceled thirty (30) days or more before the date of arrival will incur a 6% charge.

Reservations canceled twenty-nine (29) to twenty-two (22) days before the date of arrival will incur a 30% charge.

Reservations canceled twenty-one (21) to fifteen (15) days before the date of arrival will incur a 50% charge.

Reservations canceled fourteen (14) to zero (0) days before the date of arrival will incur a 100% charge.