Istria activity vacation in Croatia

Planet

This tour features low-impact outdoor activities including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, biking, and hiking. We stick to marked trails when biking and hiking and avoid disturbing wildlife both on land and in the sea.

The itinerary is mainly within the Istrian peninsula, and the destinations we visit are relatively close together compared to the total geographic area of Croatia. By designing the itinerary in this way, we seek to minimize the carbon footprint from driving between locations. We also plan multiple nights in each destination whenever possible (this tour features 3 nights in Porec, 3 in Motovun, and 1 in Plitvice Lakes) to avoid the excessive washing of towels and linens that comes with single-night stays.

We discourage single-use plastics, request that all guests pack a reusable water bottle, and suggest stops where you can refill your water bottles with clean drinking water during the day.

We have meals in restaurants that source as much of their menu as possible from local producers, which reduces food miles and supports local agriculture.

People

On this tour, we seek to share authentic Istrian and Croatian culture, cuisine, and history. We direct travelers to historical and cultural sites in Porec, Rovinj, and Motovun, and we will inform you if there are any local cultural events happening in the areas we visit during your trip.

The area around Plitvice Lakes was severely affected by the war in the 1990s. In many ways, the region is still recovering from the aftermath and economic impacts of the war. We stay in and dine in small, family-owned hotels and restaurants, visit local farmers’ markets, and encourage guests to purchase local products from Plitvice area farmers and artisans. In doing so, our groups are providing economic benefit to a region highly dependent on income from tourism.

Visiting small, locally-owned businesses and farmers’ markets not only supports the local economy, but also fosters cultural exchange and provides our guests with the chance to meet and talk with community members.

To ensure you get the warmest welcome possible in Croatia, we provide all our guests with a detailed pre-departure packet. The packet is designed to help you prepare for your trip and make sure you know what to expect on arrival. From information about tipping etiquette and safety to essential vocabulary, such as “please” and “thank you,” we want to make sure our guests feel comfortable when they arrive and are welcomed warmly in Croatia.