Self-Launched: Hike & Feast Across Croatia's Istrian Peninsula

Fly into Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) — well connected from across Europe. Pick up your pre-booked rental car at the airport (book in advance via Rentalcars.com or similar; a small automatic for 7 days typically costs ~£180–220 split between travellers). Drive the 25 minutes into the city centre and check into a central hostel or budget guesthouse. Spend the afternoon wandering Ljubljana's gorgeous old town — the Triple Bridge, Prešeren Square and the riverside are all free. In the evening, head to a local restaurant for dinner; try Gostilna na Gradu or similar for Slovenian cuisine. Budget around £15–20 for a two-course dinner with a glass of wine.

🚌Fly into Ljubljana LJU. Rent a car at the airport for ~£180–220 total for 7 days (split between travellers). Drive 25 min to city centre.

🛏Hostel Tresor or similar central Ljubljana hostel/guesthouse (~£25–35pp for a private twin room)

• →Self-guided walk along the Ljubljana Riviera and old town
• →Visit Prešeren Square and Triple Bridge (free)
• →Welcome dinner at a local Slovenian restaurant (~£15–20pp)

After breakfast at your accommodation, drive south across the border into Croatia (~2 hours to Hum). Park below the walls and walk up into Hum, officially the world's smallest town — entry to the tiny museum costs just a few euros. Pick up a bottle of biska (mistletoe grappa) from the local konoba. Drive on to Humska Konoba for a traditional Istrian lunch (truffles, prosciutto, fuži pasta; budget ~£18–25pp). Continue through truffle country to Motovun — park in the lower car park and ride the free shuttle or walk up to the medieval walled town. Check into a guesthouse or B&B within or just below the walls. Explore the town at leisure and pick a local konoba for dinner.

🚌Drive from Ljubljana to Hum (~2 hrs), then on to Motovun (~30 min). Total ~140 km.

🛏Guesthouse Kastel Motovun or Agriturismo Bastia near Motovun (~£40–60pp for a private twin room)

• →Visit Hum — world's smallest town, museum entry & grappa tasting (~£5pp)
• →Lunch at Humska Konoba (~£20pp)
• →Explore Motovun's medieval walls and views (free)
• →Self-guided walk around Motovun old town

Drive the short distance to Zavrsje village (15 min) and set off on the day's main hike — approximately 16km with 580m ascent and 500m descent, taking 4–5 hours at a gentle pace. The route follows old paths through rolling Istrian hills to the village of Oprtalj, where you can stop at a local agritourism spot for coffee and a snack. Continue down to Livade, where you'll visit the Visintin Winery (book directly at vinarija-visintin.hr or similar family wineries in Livade; tasting + light lunch of local cheese, prosciutto and olive oil typically ~£20–30pp). Walk the final kilometres back up to Motovun. Tonight, pick one of Motovun's excellent konobas for dinner — Konoba Mondo or Zigante Tartufi restaurant are local favourites.

🚌Short drive to Zavrsje trailhead (~15 min). Hike back to Motovun on foot.

🛏Same as Day 2 — Guesthouse Kastel Motovun or nearby agriturismo (~£40–60pp)

• →Hike Zavrsje–Oprtalj–Livade–Motovun (~16km, 4–5hrs, free)
• →Snack stop at Oprtalj agritourism (~£5pp)
• →Wine tasting & light lunch at Visintin Winery or similar in Livade (~£25pp)
• →Self-guided evening in Motovun

Set off on foot from Motovun, descending through vineyards and quiet village tracks towards Spinovci (~10km, 3–4 hours). At Spinovci, lunch at Agroturismo Pintur or a similar family agritourism restaurant — truffle pasta, wild game, homemade prosciutto and local wine (~£25–35pp). Walk or catch a short lift to the hilltop village of Vizinada for the views. Then drive south towards the coast, stopping at Jola Olive Farm near Tar-Vabriga (book a tasting visit via their website or call ahead; olive oil tasting typically free or ~£5pp). Check into your coastal accommodation near Novigrad or Poreč — a guesthouse or apartment with sea views.

🚌Hike from Motovun, then drive south ~45 min to Jola farm and on to coast. Check out of Motovun accommodation before hiking.

🛏Guesthouse or apartment near Novigrad or Tar on the Adriatic coast (~£35–50pp for a private twin/double)

• →Hike Motovun to Spinovci (~10km, 3–4hrs, free)
• →Truffle lunch at Agroturismo Pintur or similar (~£28pp)
• →Stop in Vizinada for views (free)
• →Olive oil tasting at Jola Olive Farm (~£5pp)

Drive north to Buje (~30 min), a characterful hilltop town with sweeping views over Istria's vineyards. Set off on the gentle hike to Groznjan (~9km, 3 hours, mostly easy paths with some uneven sections). Arrive in Groznjan — the famous 'town of artists' — where galleries, music studios and artisan workshops fill the narrow medieval lanes. Browse at leisure, grab lunch at a local konoba (~£12–18pp) and explore the galleries (mostly free to enter). When you're ready, drive back down to the coast for a relaxed afternoon — seek out a beach near Novigrad or Poreč for a swim, or simply enjoy your guesthouse terrace.

🚌Drive to Buje trailhead (~30 min). Drive back to coast from Groznjan (~40 min).

🛏Same as Day 4 — coastal guesthouse or apartment near Novigrad (~£35–50pp)

• →Hike Buje to Groznjan (~9km, 3hrs, free)
• →Explore Groznjan galleries and artisan studios (mostly free)
• →Lunch in Groznjan at a local konoba (~£15pp)
• →Afternoon beach or coastal swim near Novigrad (free)

Drive to Rovinj (~45 min south) — one of Istria's most beautiful coastal towns. Book a guided walking tour of the old town via GetYourGuide or directly with a local guide (~£15–20pp), covering the Venetian architecture, the hilltop Church of St Euphemia, colourful harbour-front houses and hidden squares. Alternatively, self-guide with a free map from the tourist office. Enjoy free time for lunch by the harbour (~£15–20pp), browse boutiques or take a boat trip to the Rovinj archipelago islands (~£10–15pp via local operators at the harbour). Drive back north and check into accommodation near Savudrija for the final night. Head to a seafood restaurant in Savudrija for a farewell dinner — fresh Adriatic catch, local wine and a sunset view (~£25–30pp).

🚌Drive Novigrad to Rovinj ~45 min. Drive back to Savudrija/Umag area ~30 min.

🛏Guesthouse or B&B near Savudrija or Umag (~£35–50pp)

• →Guided walking tour of Rovinj old town via GetYourGuide (~£18pp)
• →Visit Church of St Euphemia and harbour viewpoint (free–£3pp entry)
• →Optional boat trip to Rovinj islands (~£12pp)
• →Farewell seafood dinner in Savudrija (~£28pp)

After breakfast, check out and drive back across the border to Ljubljana (~2 hours). Return your rental car at Ljubljana Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, drop into Ljubljana city centre for a final coffee or light lunch before heading to the airport. The drive from Savudrija to LJU is well signposted and straightforward via the A1/E70 motorway. Budget for Croatian and Slovenian motorway tolls (~£10–12 total for the trip).

🚌Drive Savudrija to Ljubljana Airport ~2 hrs (~160 km). Motorway tolls ~£10–12 total for the trip.

🛏None — departure day

• →Scenic drive back through Istria and Slovenia (free)
• →Optional final coffee stop in Ljubljana city centre
• →Return rental car at Ljubljana Airport