Walking Croatia’s Istrian peninsula holiday

Planet

On this walking trip we discover Croatia's Istrian peninsular, this is less-visited destination, a wonderful travel alternative to the usual Mediterranean hot spots. We explore the green landscape and Adriatic coastline on foot, walking along local trails, through tiny villages and follow the route of the former narrow-gauge railway along the Parenzana Trail. We run this trip from September – October and May – June, during these months, we will find fewer crowds at the major sights.

The tap water is safe to drink and we encourage travellers to take a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day, rather than adding to the number of plastic bottles used and to be carried. Along the trails we take on this trip there are fresh water sources to re fill. Another way to reduce unnecessary waste is through advising customers to bring lunch boxes and cutlery for picnics.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

We use a local tour leader who have lived in Croatia all their lives and are passionate about their country and showcasing its natural beauty. In Montovun we stay in a charming family ran B&B, a renovated traditional stone house. This provides both employment opportunities and a unique insight to these areas.

Throughout this trip we choose to eat out at local family-run restaurants which is both an opportunity to experience the traditional cuisine and specialities of Istria and also helps support the local economy. On day four we have a hosted lunch at a local agritourism, here the owners will tell us all about truffle tradition in Istria and we will help prepare the homemade pasta (pljukanci) to enjoy for lunch. There will be the opportunity to try local olive oil and to purchase local handicrafts and products made from Istrian lavender and honey - Istria has been declared the best extra virgin olive oil region in the world for the sixth year in a row.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.