After breakfast, travel south towards the Adriatic coast. On arrival in Rovinj, take time to wander through the old town’s narrow streets, browse small galleries and enjoy views across the water from the hilltop church. The evening is free for dinner by the sea, with plenty of relaxed restaurants showcasing local seafood and simple Istrian cooking.
Your Itinerary
1 - Sights and Tastes of Zagreb
Arrive in Zagreb, where a private driver will take you to your hotel in the city centre. Later, meet your local guide in the main square for a walking tour of the Upper Town, exploring its historic streets and everyday food culture. Along the way, you’ll stop at a small selection of local restaurants to sample traditional dishes, offering a relaxed and flavourful introduction to Croatian cuisine.
2 - Zagreb to Rovinj
3 - From Pula's Market to Table in Istria
Begin the day in Pula, starting at the city’s lively green market where locals gather to shop for the day ahead. Together with your host, you’ll explore the stalls, learning how to choose seasonal produce and key ingredients that form the backbone of Istrian cooking.
From the market, continue to a peaceful olive grove in the countryside, where the cooking workshop takes place in a relaxed, outdoor setting. Using the ingredients you’ve gathered, you’ll prepare a selection of traditional dishes, guided by local cooks who share simple techniques and stories behind the food. The experience ends with sitting down together to enjoy the meal you’ve created, accompanied by local wine and the gentle rhythm of rural Istria.
4 - Hunting for the Istrian truffle
Head into the forest with a local family of truffle hunters and their trained dogs to learn how one of Istria’s most prized ingredients is found. After the hunt, continue to a peaceful rural setting for a hands-on cooking experience, preparing a traditional Istrian dish using seasonal ingredients. The day ends with sitting down together to enjoy a relaxed three-course lunch made from what you’ve prepared.
5 - From Istria to the Karst
Leaving Rovinj behind, travel north towards Slovenia, stopping en route to visit Postojna Cave and the dramatic cliff-set Predjama Castle. By late afternoon, arrive at a family-run guesthouse in Slovenia’s Karst region. The evening is spent enjoying a tasting-style dinner that highlights local produce and wines, often served outdoors beneath the open sky.
6 - Lipica and Štanjel
This morning visits the Lipica Stud Farm, home of the Lipizzaner horses, before continuing to the fortified village of Štanjel. There’s time for a wine tasting along the way, followed by lunch in a historic setting at Štanjel Castle, where food, architecture and landscape come together.
7 - Vineyards and on to Ljubljana
Continue towards Ljubljana, with the option to detour through the Vipava Valley or Goriška Brda, two of Slovenia’s most respected wine regions. Meet small producers and sample local wines before arriving in the capital for your final evening.
Once settled, you may choose to explore the city’s food markets, visit the castle overlooking the old town, or enjoy a memorable final dinner at one of Ljubljana’s well-regarded restaurants.
8 - Time to Depart
After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to the airport for your onward journey home. If time allows, there may be an opportunity for a final walk through Ljubljana’s old town or a coffee by the river before you leave, bringing your food-led journey through Croatia and Slovenia to a relaxed close.
What's included?
Price and Inclusions:
From £1,800 per person, based on two people travelling in the low season.
Includes:
- Hand-selected boutique accommodation with breakfast
- Private transfers and guides
- Zagreb food walking tour
- Wine tastings
- Truffle hunting experience and 3-course lunch
- Gnocchi workshop
- Tailored cooking class
- 5-course tasting dinner and wine pairing
- Restaurant recommendations & bookings
- Entrance tickets
- Recommendations and travel app
- Carbon offsetting
- ATOL or ABTA protected
Flights are not included.
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