Green Heart of Istria

Arrival in Istria and make your way to the first hotel in the area of Buje. A welcome meeting is planned for 7pm at your hotel to got through the weeks walking ahead.

This morning a short 10-15 minute transfer to Brtonigla. Today you are walking through local vineyards and olive groves, following small paths through meadows and woods you shall feel far away from modern civilization. Here you shall find superior wines and high-quality olive oils. There is an abundance of family-owned vineyards and cellars all tempting the traveller to visit and sample. After around 3-4 hours of walking, you shall return back to Buje, a small hilltop town asking for you to explore further. Take a coffee in a local café and enjoy the views of terraced fields, arable land and vineyards. This town is full of history and culture – amazing.

After breakfast, you are ready to start exploring typical Istrian villages and hidden paths. After a short 10 minute transfer, the walking route starts on the ex-railway Parenzana. The Parenzana was a narrow gauge Austrian railway connecting Trieste with Poreč through a series of Istrian small towns, it is 123 kilometres long. The railway was operating between 1902 until 1935, and today, the track has been converted for cycling and hiking paths through Istrian hills. It was a lifeline at the time for the small villages and after it closed and also due to the 2^nd World War the population quickly declined.

Grožnjan will be your start point of the walk. After you have visited the art galleries and viewpoints you can walk through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards. After passing through several tunnels, over old bridges, you can stop and admire the views at many points before reaching the village of Livade, known as the truffle centre of the world where you can taste and buy some products with truffles. In front of Livade on a hill is the town of Motovun your overnight stop.

Today’s hike you will start from your hotel and descends from the hilltop to a walking trail which guides you through the vineyard to a small village called Brkač. Here you can stop if you wish at a local Istrian tavern for lunch. Now on the Parenzana trail you head back to Motovun. On the way back you can stop in the small winery where you can taste local wines.

Today after breakfast you shall have another short 15-minute transfer to Oprtalj. This is a picturesque little town deep in the Istrian peninsula> Here you find the start of the Istrian Mountain Trail. First, today’s route descends into a forest passing the village of Sv.Ivan (st.John). We continue on the trail passing St.Lucija where you can find a very beautiful church. Soon you shall reach a point where you shall see one of the best views of the river Mirna valley. Now the trail passes by the Pietrapelosa castle dating from the 10^th century, now a ruin amongst dense vegetation. Soon the path will lead you down to the river valley below. After passing an aqueduct the trail continues on the hill towards the village of Mali Mlun. Soon you shall see the village of Buzet your destination for the day. Buzet is a beautiful hilltop town with a lovely looking church seen for miles around.

The route today from Buzet to Hum can be a circular trail or one way if you start from Hum. The trail starts by the river and heads into the forest, passing over a shallow river or riverbed if it’s dry. Soon you shall pass by some waterfalls with small lakes. Nice, and not too steep, the trail leads you all the way to Korita, with water springs with natural pools and an old watermill. The trail continues following the riverbed, passing through Benčići, an abandoned village where you can see traditional Istrian stone houses. From there you’ll see Hum and its recognizable church tower in the distance. When you get to Hum, take a walk and you’ll understand why it’s the smallest town in the world. In Hum you can eat in the local “konoba”, a word from the local dialect that means restaurant. The “konoba” in Hum will offer you nothing but traditional Istrian dishes. The «way of mistletoe» will lead you all the way back to Buzet. It takes about 3 hours of hiking in one way.

First, you have around a 30-minute transfer to Poklon where your walk starts along with the saddle between two hills. It goes to the top of Učka mountain which is the biggest mountain in Istria with an altitude of 1401m. Then from the top, it goes all the way down on sea level on the Lovran Path. This trail is covered by oak and chestnut forests that give pleasant freshness in hot summers. The very summit of Ucka (Vojak) is worth to climb on for a stunning panorama. The panorama of Kvarner bay includes sea and coastal towns, as well as the mountains in the background of Obruc, Snjeznikand Risnjak and on the Western side the whole Istria peninsula lies in front of you. Sometimes, if visibility is good, view towards Venice and on the Alps on the north side. 

Depart after breakfast.