One highlight was seeing a Middle Spotted Woodpecker for the first time, excellent views of Lesser Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, best showings of Crested Tits to date and beautiful flower filled meadows. The Romanesque church of Hrastovlje was a little gem and the Roman Arena in Pula was quite breath taking when first approached. It was a well balanced week of activities with lots of delights.
B.D. Monmouthshire, Sep 23
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Go Slow in Istria in Autumn
Tour Code: HRV04An 8-day 'Go Slow' holiday to Croatian and Slovenian Istria to enjoy the region's wildlife, gastronomy and a little history.
£1,975 (Inc flights)
£1,775
Highlights
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Summary
- Single-centre tour based in a comfortable hotel in the attractive valley of the River Mirna, Croatia
- Eat at local ‘konoba’ (or ‘trattoria’) each evening 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
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 and cuisine in a relaxing schedule of local guided walks in breathtaking Karst scenery in the mornings, optional visits to nearby cultural sites after lunch and magnificent Istrian dinners each evening. Based in the modern San Stefano complex at the thermal baths at Istarska Toplice, you can opt out from the itinerary whenever you wish to go swimming or enjoy a therapeutic massage.
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. The grounds of the hotel include a stunning set of 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 in two magnificent local restaurants 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!
Outline Itinerary
Reviews
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This was a mix of wildlife, cultural sites and traditional Istrian food. The balance of wildlife in the mornings and afternoon cultural visits was perfect. The leaders were extremely knowledgeable and were able to point out all things of interest and answer all our questions.
C.W. Lincolnshire, Oct 19 -
This was my first 'Go Slow’ holiday with Naturetrek and I enjoyed the chance to visit Istria which was an area I knew little about. The expertise of the tour guides ensured that the group enjoyed a varied daily programme, seeing many parts of the beautiful Istrian peninsular.
L.T. Norfolk, Oct 19 -
Small group holiday with 2 naturalist guides. The mornings were gentle walks looking at wildlife and vegetation and the afternoons visiting places of interest in the region. Transport was good. Evening meeting to check on the day's viewings was helpful. Very well organised trip. Full-board which included a packed lunch for greater freedom and an evening meal in a local restaurant experiencing regional dishes. Both guides were thoughtful and very knowledgeable, ensuring everyone was included and had a chance to see specific birds such as the Golden eagle as it flew past.
F.F. Vale of Glamorgan, Oct 18
Dates & Prices
2024
Tour Leader: Nathan Long
Nathan's passion for wildlife began during childhood, inspired by his naturalist grandparents. With a special interest in ornithology, he studied photography at university carving out a career as a photographer, with his work published in the International Bird Photographer of the Year competition. Combining his love for conservation, travel, and engaging people with nature, Nathan spent several years in New Zealand as a tour guide where he introduced tourists to the country's natural wonders, exploring some of the most scenic and remote parts of the South Island. Eventually returning to the UK, Nathan utilized his ornithological expertise at the British Trust for Ornithology. Now based in Cambridge, Nathan works as the Corporate Partnerships Manager for The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants and is proud to support the charity’s conservation work.
Nathan's love of nature and travel has taken him around the globe. He has encountered Thorny Devils and Lyrebirds in Australia, Mountain Gorillas and Shoebills in Uganda, Yellow-eyed Penguins and Kiwis in New Zealand, and Mayan Ant Thrushes and Boa Constrictors in Mexico. A highlight of his travels was swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga. A keen scuba diver, Nathan seizes any opportunity to also explore underwater life, including diving with Thresher Sharks in the Philippines, Manta Rays in the Maldives, and schools of Barracuda in Borneo.
2025
2026
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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