Tour Overview
Spend four days in Quatro Terre, the lovely central region of Istria, exploring ancient towns, tasting local wines and visiting their places of production on this 4 day, small group tour.
You will discover Quatro Terre and its four towns of Pinguente, Montona, Grisignana and Buie; dine on delicious food, sample the local wines, learn how to cook traditional meals and go truffle hunting.
Some people fall in love with Istria’s wines, some with its pastas and truffles, some with its scenery. Quatro Terre catches the fascination of travellers from every corner of the world.
Itinerary:
Day 1: You will be picked up in Koper and transferred in an air conditioned minivan to the charming boutique hotel Vera Vrata in Pinguente.
After settling in the hotel, gather for a friendly welcome drink to meet your fellow travel companions and tour leader and chat about the days ahead.
Head out to explore the old town of Pinguente and enjoy a special visit to the Istrian Konoba where a typical Istrian dinner will be served accompanied by a wine tasting of the excellent wines.
Day 2: After breakfast, your guide will take you to one of the most famous and attractive towns of Quatro Terre, Montona (Motovun in Croatian). Located on top of a steep hill and surrounded by medieval atmosphere its marvelous view spreads over centenary vineyards and fields of the Montona forest.
After discovering the town you'll enjoy some hours walking through the woods with an expert truffle guide and his dog finding truffles. The demonstration is held in cooperation with a famous truffle hunting family which has been involved in the truffle seeking business for many generations. After this wonderful experience you'll enjoy a special truffle lunch paired with excellent local wine in order to further savor this unique natural product.
Following the lunch and the exciting truffle hunt indulge yourself with a wellness treatment in the nearby Istarske Toplice spa resort.
Day 3: This is a long day with a lot of diverse sights! Today’s scenery in Quatro Terre includes vineyards and the tranquil Grisignana village.
You will depart from your accommodation in the morning and head towards the heart of Istria wine growing subregion. Along the way your guide will tell you of the history, appellation regulations and all the juicy inside stories of this land. The area is incredibly beautiful and it'll be possible to stop along the way to admire vineyards, view the countryside & take plenty of pictures.
Start the day with a winery tour in an iconic winery of the region. Walk the fields, see the cellars and learn all about the winemaking process in Quatro Terre. After a substantial wine education you'll be able to sample the fruit of the winemaking, so typically 3-4 wines will be served up. Should you like to purchase wine or olive oil either to take with you or to ship you have time to do so.
Then, enjoy a homecooked lunch by an Istrian mamma or, if she is not available, head for a lovely lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch there'll be time for a leisurely walk around the village of Grisignana, one of the Quatro Terre villages, so you can enjoy a stroll around, know the village, its history and lovely little store fronts.
Before returning to your accommodation, head on to a second winery where you will have a tour and wine tasting.
Day 4: In order to expand your culinary horizons, you'll spend a relaxing morning in the heart of the Quatro Terre countryside learning everything this land has to offer and enjoy the delicious dishes you are going to prepare.
The cooking course will take place at a rural villa not too far from Buie, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Quatro Terre, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. Here you will learn how to create authentic Istrian starters, antipasti, homemade pasta with two different sauces, second courses, dessert, and lots more from a funny and knowledgeable chef.
During the meal you will also taste 3 different types of wines produced in the region by a local winery that you will be able to buy before returning back home. At the end, your chef will give you a recipe book so you can remember your truly hands on cooking experience in Quatro Terre.
After lunch continue on your road to Buie, the last of the Quatro Terre towns on your itinerary. Stop for a much needed walk around before finishing the tour in Quatro Terre. There will be a little free time to visit the village for a stroll or shopping.
When it’s time to depart, you will be transfered to the initial meeting point in Koper where it all started. From there you can catch a flight/train home or continue your travels. If you wish to spend more time in Istria or Slovenia before or after the guided tour, please get in touch here about adding extra nights or services, such as private airport transfers or other guided tours.
What’s included
- Transportation in air-conditioned minivan
- Truffle hunting experience
- Guided visit of Pinguente, Montona, Grisignana and Buie
- Experienced local guide
- Wellness treatment
- 3 nights accommodation in double room with breakfast
- All winery visits and wine tastings
- Istria ooking class
- Typical goourmet meals paired with local wines
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Meeting point
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation
For all cancellations, we will make every effort to ensure you the best protection. However, late cancellation can result in compensation claims from hotels and other service providers. All cancellations must be sent in writing, by fax, post or e-mail.
Cancellation charges:
- 20% of the confirmed price if you cancel more than 72 hours before the beginning of the service.
- 30% of the confirmed price if you cancel between 72 and 48 hours before the beginning of the service.
- 50% of the confirmed price if you cancel between 48 and 24 hours before the beginning of the service.
- 75% of the confirmed price if you cancel 24 hours and less before the beginning of the service.
- 100% of extra tickets we have already bought for you, which are not refundable.
- 100% in case of no-show without previous notice.
Non-refundable services: Please note that cancellation rules are stricter than normal for the following services: international and domestic flights, day tours that include flights, accommodation at hotels, train tickets and cruises. Therefore, we cannot refund any of these services booked through us.
In the event some of our tour packages have stricter cancellation rules, the information will be stated in the package details online.