Croatia Family Adventure Holiday (8 Days – 7 Nights)
DAY 1. WELCOME TO ISTRIA
We will meet you at Pula airport or at the meeting point defined by yourselves, to then accompany you to your hotel in Rovinj. Once you have checked in, our guide will tell you about the programme and you will venture forth to see the wonderful village of Rovinj, undoubtedly one of the jewels of the region. This tour will conclude with dinner, where we can all enjoy the charms of an evening in Rovini.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Rovinj
Meals: Dinner
Activity: A walk around Rovinj
Transfer time: Depending on the meeting point. From Pula, 40 minutes.
DAY 2. KAYAK AND SNORKELLING IN THE ROVINJ ARCHIPELAGO
After breakfast we will have a short kayaking lesson to then begin rowing around the Rovinj archipelago, enjoying the views of this beautiful town from the sea. The archipelago includes 19 small islands, each with different characteristics. We approach the isle of Banjole, known for its unusual vegetation as the “Isle of Seven Hairs”, where there is a cavern practically engulfed by the sea. This will be the ideal place to swim and enjoy some snorkelling for those who wish to. Then we will carry on to the Saint John lighthouse, built in 1853 and the farthest point from the coast.
Dinner is on your own for this night, and you will therefore be free to explore the town of Rovinj with its fantastic selection of local restaurants[br] Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Rovinj
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic lunch)
Activity: Kayaking and snorkelling (10 km)
Transfer time: 30 minutes
DAY 3. BICYCLE TOURING ALONG THE COAST OF ROVINJ AND BIRD-WATCHING IN PALUD
After breakfast we will meet up with our cycling guide, jump aboard our bikes and begin our cycle along the coast between Rovinj and Palud. The distance of the route is 20km, a flat route that passes through beautiful, small villages. In Palud is the only Natural Park for bird-watching in Istria. Ornithologists have recorded over 200 different species of birds here.
Given that hunting is not permitted in the park, there is also a large number of pheasants, partridges and quail here. Various types of wild duck, swamp chickens, little grebes and common snipes, garden warblers, golden orioles and woodpeckers all live and nest here. In the forest we can find beautiful examples of oaks and holm oaks.
Before returning to Rovinj we will stop at one of the best olive oil factories where we will find out a little about how olive oil is produced, and taste one of the best olive oils in Istria.
Dinner is up to you tonight, and you will therefore be free to explore the town of Rovinj with its fantastic selection of local restaurants.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Rovinj
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic lunch), olive oil tasting.
Activity: Bicycle touring (20 km) and walking (1 hour)
Transfer time: 30 minutes
DAY 4. KAYAK TO THE LIM FJORD AND OUTING TO THE ROMUALD CAVERN
After breakfast we will begin our adventure by kayak along the protected area of the Lim Fjord. We will be able to row all along the bay, with its steep shores, passing alongside shellfish and fish farms at the end of the Lim Bay. Along the way we will make a stop at a deserted beach to swim and snorkel. We will walk to the Romuald Cavern, a 105m cave that has various impressive rooms that have preserved evidence from the previous existence of prehistoric life. The entrance to the cave is 47 centimetres high, and the main room is between five and six metres high. Romuald is a speleological phenomenon because the cave’s adornments are found only on the left side, while the right-hand side is bare. Dinner is up to you tonight, and you will therefore be free to explore the town of Rovinj with its fantastic selection of local restaurants.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Rovinj
Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic lunch)
Activity: Kayak (12 km), walking (1 hour) and cavern outing (30 minutes)
Transfer time: 20 minutes
DAY 5. HIGH ROPES CIRCUITS AND PULA
After breakfast we will transfer to Glavani Park (30 minutes from Rovinj), where we will spend a fun morning taking part in a high ropes course. On the way back to Rovinj we will visit Pula, the epicentre of Istria. We are going to “take a walk through time”, from antiquity passing through Roman arches and their coliseum, one of the best preserved amphitheatres, through the renaissance, to finally end up in our current times. Upon our return to Rovinj the afternoon is free for you to swim or shop in the many art and clothes shops.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Rovinj
Meals: Breakfast
Activity: High ropes course and stroll around Pula
Transfer time: 1 hour
DAY 6. HIKING FROM OPRTALJ TO GROZNJAN
After breakfast we go to Oprtalj, a medieval town from where we will begin our 3-4 hour walk through gentle hills and forests towards Grožnjan. Perched on a hilltop above the River Mirna valley, Grožnjan is a Venetian fortress from the XIV century which is today considered to be Istria’s capital of art. Groznjan was almost deserted when, in 1965, the first painters and sculptors moved into its damaged buildings of stone and began restoring them. A few years later, the International Cultural Centre of Croatian Musical Youth established a summer training programme for musicians in Grožnjan and thus began the renaissance of the town. Along the way we will make a stop at a small village to enjoy a home-made lunch. We carry on to another small town where we will spend our two last nights in a rural B&B.
Accommodation: 3 * Rural House in Bacva, close to Poreč
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Activity: hiking (3-4 hours)
Transfer time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
DAY 7. VISIT TO POREČ, FREE TIME AND COOKING COURSE
After breakfast, we will head to Porec, which will take us just a few minutes. We will have some free time to explore the old quarter or to relax on the beach. In the afternoon we will return to our rural B&B and together we will learn how to prepare Istria’s traditional dinner, which will be our farewell meal.
Accommodation: 3 * Rural House in Bacva, close to Poreč
Meals: breakfast, farewell dinner
Activity: hike and cooking course
Transfer time: 1 hour
DAY 8. FAREWELL
After breakfast, we will transfer to Pula airport or the agreed departure point, to thereby bring our tour to a close.
