Go Slow in Istria in Autumn

Tour Code: HRV04

An 8-day 'Go Slow' holiday to Croatian and Slovenian Istria to enjoy the region's wildlife, gastronomy, wine and a little history.

8 days from
£2,195
Land only price from
£1,995
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Istria represents an extraordinary compendium of natural beauty, history and civilization at the crossroads of Europe stretching back beyond the Romans and into prehistory. This Go Slow holiday incorporates nature and culture, history, cuisine and wine in a relaxing schedule of local guided walks in breathtaking Karst scenery in the mornings, and visits to nearby cultural sites after lunch and magnificent Istrian dinners each evening. Based in the comfortable Roxanich wine hotel, just outside of the picturesque hilltop town of Motovun, you can enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, a massage or a glass of delicious local wine with views across the valley.

  • Single-centre tour based in a comfortable wine hotel just outside the picturesque town of Motovun. 
  • Eat at local ‘konoba’ (or ‘trattoria’) some evenings in an area famed for its gastronomy
  • Enjoy the first of the wintering wildfowl arriving from the north
  • Autumn butterflies may include False Grayling, plus late broods of Heath and Spotted Fritillaries
  • Cultural excursions to the tiny “city” of Hum, the Roman arena in Pula, and the church of Hrastovlje, amongst others
  • Led by expert naturalist guides

Grading

Grade A. Easy to moderate day walks only.

Istria represents an extraordinary compendium of natural beauty, history and civilization at the crossroads of Europe stretching back beyond the Romans and into prehistory. This Go Slow holiday incorporates nature and culture, history, cuisine and wine in a relaxing schedule of local guided walks in breathtaking Karst scenery in the mornings, and visits to nearby cultural sites after lunch and magnificent Istrian dinners each evening. Based in the comfortable Roxanich wine hotel, just outside of the picturesque hilltop town of Motovun, you can enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, a treatment in the spa or a glass of delicious local wine with views across the valley.

After a short flight to Trieste it is just a 90 minute drive to our hotel, where each of our daily natural history excursions will be within 25km of our base. Nearby are stunning limestone cliffs with Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart present all year. If the autumn has not been too cold there should still be some butterflies about including the second and third broods of Heath and Spotted Fritillaries and a variety of blues and skippers, as well as scarce autumn butterflies such as the False Grayling. Whilst the flora of the Karst is largely a spring affair, the woods and meadows will be enlivened by Cyclamen purpurascens, as well as displays of purple Autumn Crocus.

After lunch, our excursions take on a more cultural air, with visits to the Roman arena in Pula, the sixth largest surviving to the modern day, the hilltop towns of Motovun-Montona and Grožnjan-Grisignana, the fabulous frescoes in the Romanesque church of Hrastovlje, the caves at Baredine and the tiny walled “city” of Hum. Evenings will be spent either in the hotel restaurant or at a magnificent local "Konoba" (Trattoria) with wonderful meals that reflect the long period of Venetian and Italian domination in this area with fresh pasta, gnocchi, truffles and wild boar, with a nod to the best of Balkan cuisine in the form of cevapcici sausages and mixed grills…and a glass of delicious local wine!

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Trieste, transfer Motovun
Day 2/7
Morning natural history walks and afternoon cultural excursions
Day 8
Transfer Trieste, fly London Stansted
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    A comfortable, modern hotel with a wine cellar full of its own wine, with views of the beautiful hilltop town of Motovun. 

  • Food:

    All included in the price, stating with dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8. Dinners either at the hotel or a local trattoria, and lunches either at a local cafe or picnics. 

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 28th Sep – Sun 5th Oct FULL £2,195
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£495

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Tue 29th Sep – Tue 6th Oct SPACES £2,195
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£495

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!