Istria Countryside & Coast Escape (Pula, Motovun & Rovinj), Croatia

Step into Pula Airport, where you’ll find your personal driver waiting. A winding route takes you up toward the mountains passing fields full of grapes, ancient stone houses and endless green slopes under blue skies. As daylight softens, arrival comes at a rustic countryside retreat close to Motovun. Here, unpack slowly, maybe slip into the pool. A breath of peace settles when you walk through a nearby town, absorbing how quietly life moves in Istria.

In the evening, come together for a homemade welcome dinner prepared with local ingredients, from peppery olive oil and seasonal vegetables to fresh pasta and comforting flavors that suit a relaxed first night.

Inclusions:

• Private airport transfer
• Accommodation in countryside estate
• Welcome dinner

This morning, head to Motovun, a hillside village stuck like glue to the edge of the Mirna Valley, hidden behind ancient stones that seem pulled from some old tale. Wander through narrow cobble paths, tiny open spaces, then stop at lookouts where sky and land stretch wide, just right for snapshots with kids and moments of make-believe when they’re small.

Afterward, enjoy lunch in a traditional konoba, then keep the afternoon flexible: explore nearby hill villages, stop for gelato or head back early for outdoor time at your accommodation as the day comes to an end gently.

Inclusions:

• Guided walking tour of Motovun
• Lunch reservation
• Afternoon at leisure

Flavor strolls into the day, hand in hand with trees and quiet surprises. A guide meets you near the woods, along with a sharp-nosed dog trained for this hunt, stepping into hidden clearings where truffles rise each season. You watch closely as earth shifts under paws guided by instinct, revealing those sticky white clusters people go wild for. Truffle hunts here aren’t about tools rather they’re about patience, sniffing and sudden grins when someone spots something golden. Kids lean in close, ears wide, while grown-ups feel their chests tighten from excitement. Nature does the work, yet everyone feels part of something real, alive and barely seen twice.

After the hunt, continue to a nearby kitchen for a private family cooking class, cooking classic Istrian dishes together before sitting down to enjoy what you’ve made. The afternoon stays open for pool time, countryside walks or simply the joy of having nowhere to be.

Inclusions:

• Guided truffle hunting experience
• Private family cooking class and lunch
• Afternoon at leisure

Rovinj draws you in, its narrow lanes lined with bright houses that spill down to the sea. Pastel walls face the water, where boats bob quietly beneath a clear sky. Walking through the old town reveals tiny art studios, plus stores that seem frozen in time. The path leads upward to a stone church and when you reach the top, the coastline stretches out in one long glance.

Lunch is by the water, with boats bobbing nearby and a breezy coastal feel in the air. The afternoon is perfect for families to swim from a rocky cove, enjoy a beach break or take a short boat ride to see Rovinj from the sea before returning inland for a quiet evening.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer to Rovinj
• Guided walking tour
• Free time by the sea

Start the day by going to a nearby olive farm where you can watch how Istria's best oils come from trees to press, made clear and fun for children to understand. After that, try a small sample session so everyone hears the rich, sharp notes of the region’s oil which is usually matched with plain snacks that quietly win young and old tastes alike.

In the afternoon, enjoy an easy coastal bike ride along shaded paths and gentle routes, with plenty of stops for views and photo breaks. If you’d rather slow things down, change cycling for a relaxed afternoon back at your estate and let the day unfold naturally.

Inclusions:

• Olive oil farm visit and tasting
• Bike rental
• Afternoon at leisure

Back in Pula, spend a day diving into stories that fit young audiences well. Walking alongside your guide, discover remnants of Roman times like the large stone theater that stirs thoughts just stepping beneath its soaring entrances brings old scenes to mind.

Continue through the old town, discovering lively squares and historic streets, with time built in for snacks and small breaks. After lunch in town, head back to the countryside for a relaxed evening and a slower pace.

Inclusions:

• Guided tour of Pula
• Entry to Roman Amphitheater
• Lunch reservation

Today is a full day to enjoy and fill it however feels right for the family. Wander back to that quiet village that stuck with you. Lounge by the pool instead of moving at all. Take a slow ride through rolling hills where stone houses sleep under warm light. Stop wherever seems worth it. Return to the sea when hunger or tired eyes call. Don’t rush the last scoop of ice cream.

In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner celebrating Istrian cuisine and the shared moments that made the week special.

Inclusions:

• Day at leisure
• Farewell dinner

After you are done with your breakfast, meet the driver who arrives for the ride to Pula Airport. You’ll leave Istria with memories of hilltop views, hands-on experiences and that rare family feeling of truly settling into a place, even in just eight days.

Inclusions:

• Breakfast
• Private airport transfer