Istria Hiking Tour

Introduction
Northern Italy Italy
The starting point of this hiking tour is in Trieste, the former Habsburger seaport seated at the foothills of the Karst. After a few kilometres, you leave Italy and hike to Slovenia and Istria. This sunny peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea is characterised by little picturesque fisher villages, small towns on the Karst hills, vineyards and valleys. Let yourself be surprised by the charms of a landscape rich in contrasts and the various colours of Istria.

The hiking tour through Istria runs slightly hilly.

Accomodation

Accommodations
During this trip, nights are spent in different locations.

Description
Accommodations consist of a mixture of 3 and 4 star hotels offering private bedrooms with ensuite facilities.

Local tax
Some cities charge a tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or check-out at the hotels.
This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and the number of days of stay. It is usually between 1 and 5 € per person per night.


Meals
All breakfasts are included.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival in Trieste
Individual arrival at the first hotel in Trieste.
Meals included: none
Overnight in Trieste

Day 2: Muggia to Koper
In the morning you take the ferry from Trieste to Muggia. The stage begins in Muggia, the only Istrian town in Italy. You hike inland from the sea. After crossing the border with Slovenia, you have a beautiful view of the Muggia valley and the Julian Alps. You descend gently along the Slovenian Alpine Trail. Here the landscape opens up above the Gulf of Koper amidst wooded areas and vineyards. You will walk part of the stage on the Parenzana, the former Istrian narrow-gauge railway that connected Trieste and Poreč until 1935. End the day in the car-free old town of Koper with all its magnificent buildings. It is possible to shorten the route by bus (ticket not included).
Ascent approx. 250 m / descent approx. 220 m / approx. 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Koper

Day 3: Koper to Piran
Continuing along the sea, you leave Koper and hike to the old fishing town of Izola and on to Piran/Portoroz, your destination for today. You will hike through the beautiful Strunjan National Park. Piran is the birthplace of Giuseppe Tartini,
an Italian violinist and composer, and its centre is strongly marked by Venetian influences. Stroll through the alleys with their Venetian palaces, or enjoy the flair in the Piazza Tartini in the centre of Piran. Portorož and Piran are surrounded on
both sides by salt flats. Thanks to the preciousness of the famous salt the picturesque Piran had its boom in the Middle Ages.
There ́s the possibility to shorten the route from Koper to Izola by bus (ticket not included).
Ascent approx. 200 m / descent approx. 180 m / approx. 4 - 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Piran

Day 4: Piran to Buje
In the morning you take a public bus to the starting point of the stage (ticket not included). You leave the coast, before crossing the border into Croatia. You hike inland to Buje.
In Buje and the surrounding area, the soil is particularly fertile. Many of Croatia‘s best-known winegrowers cultivate their wines in this area. Wine roads lead you through the vineyards and olive groves around the small town. In the evening, the well-known wine-cellars and restaurants invite you to enjoy the delicacies of Istrian cuisine.
Ascent approx. 150 m / descent approx. 100 m / approx. 4 - 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Buje

Day 5: Buje to Brtonigla
Starting from Buje, you walk amidst green fields, olive groves and vineyards to Brtonigla. Brtonigla combines typical rural Istrian cuisine with Mediterranean sea cuisine. Worth seeing here are sacred buildings such as the parish church of St. Zenon. Worth a visit is also the Mramornica cave.
Ascent approx. 280 m / descent approx. 340 m / approx. 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Brtonigla

Day 6: Brtonigla to Kastelir
You will hike through the Skarline Nature Park. The park is named after the Škarlina stream. North of Kastelir, above the valley of the Mirna River, lie the ruins of the medieval settlement of Nigrinjana, now Gradina. The Via Flavia, a military road that once went through Trieste, the Mirna valley and Porec to Pula, passed through Kastelir. The village of Kastelir is surrounded by Mediterranean plants, olive trees, vineyards and fields.
The surrounding forests are rich of mushrooms and wild asparagus. From Kastelir you take a transfer to Tar.
Ascent approx. 300 m / descent approx. 200 m / approx. 4.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Tar

Day 7: Tar to Porec
The last day of your discovery trip in Istria takes you to Porec. Most of your hike will be along the coast. From far away you will see the Euphrasius Basilica, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should definitely be visited. End your hiking tour with a good glass of wine on one of the squares in the old town of Porec.
Ascent approx. 10 m / descent approx. 110 m / approx. 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Porec

Day 8: Departure
Individual departure or possibility to extend your stay.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Istria Hiking Tour

Dates Note: Custom dates possible for groups of 5+ pax

Other Info
Meeting: Trieste
Airport: Trieste Airport
Transfer:

Climate:
                                                    Piran area