Come hungry. Come curious. Find your pomalo.
8 days. 3 countries. 1 magical peninsula.
Some moments deserve your full attention. The aroma of a truffle freshly uncovered in the forest. The first taste of outstanding virgin olive oil. A winemaker’s story that brings the landscape into focus. A meal so enjoyable that you lose track of time.
Welcome to Istria, and a week designed to savor it.
Pomalo is your invitation to take it slowly and enjoy the moment. It embodies balance, presence, and the freedom to enjoy life without rushing: listening closely, noticing the small things, and giving yourself permission to simply be.
Explore Croatian, Slovenian, and Italian Istria through the people who bring its flavors to life. Walk alongside a truffle hunter and his dogs, taste wine and olive oil where they’re made, and settle around tables where local traditions become something you can taste, enjoy, and share.
With more than a decade devoted to Istria and over 2,500 tours, our relationships shape your journey. Chefs, winemakers, producers, and guides share their knowledge, their stories, and their affection for the places they call home.
Between these encounters, there’s room to breathe. Linger over a coffee by the Adriatic. Wander a hilltop town at your own pace. Let a conversation unfold without watching the clock. Across three countries, discover one connected culinary culture, with time to appreciate the details that make it special.
And pomalo can stay with you long after you return home—in a meal you take time to savor, a conversation you give your full attention, or a quiet moment you allow yourself to enjoy. A week in Istria can become a gentle reminder that this slower, more attentive way of living has a place in everyday life, too.
Come find your pomalo in magical Istria. Breathe slower, laugh louder, and feel more connected—with a pomalo rhythm you can carry home. Choose your departure date and join us.
Accommodation & breakfast.
Including food, tastings & classes
All transportation, including airport transport to and from hotel.
All breakfasts at hotel. All lunches and all dinners at gourmet restaurants.
Tour guide for entire tour. Additional guides at various towns, attractions, and experiences.
This is very STRONGLY recommended.
Any extra you wish to tip on your own for guides, servers, drivers, hosts.
Any other food/drink not provided on the tour.
Any additional experiences outside the tour.
Arrival in Pula, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Trieste airports.
Free transportation from your airport arrival to Pula, Istria.
Settle into Hotel Amfiteatar, a small boutique hotel just a minute’s walk from Pula’s magnificent Roman Arena. Named after its ancient neighbor, the hotel offers comfortable rooms and a taste of local Mediterranean cooking, a welcoming base for exploring historic streets, strolling by the waterfront, and easing into Istrian life.
Family dinner is served at Restaurant La Perla where authentic Istrian and Italian dishes are made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and signature house-made sauces. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with a glass of regional Croatian wine, before returning to the hotel for the night.
In the afternoon we drive north to Vodnjan, known for its cultural heritage, ancient churches, excellent olive oil and the fascinating Vodnjan mummies.
At the Kažun Park you will see the kažuni, traditional Istrian dry-stone shelters built entirely without mortar and once used by farmers as temporary dwellings in the fields.
The afternoon closes with a guided olive oil tasting at Chiavalon, Recognized with Il Magnifico’s “Best Olive Oil Hospitality in Europe” award, where you will learn how Istria's celebrated extra virgin olive oils are produced and how to appreciate their aromas and flavors.
Enjoy dinner overlooking Marina Veruda at Ribarska Koliba, a MICHELIN Guide-selected restaurant with more than a century of history. Known as the “Fisherman’s Hut,” it celebrates the Adriatic’s bounty through local fish and seafood. Settle in for an unhurried evening of coastal flavors, sea views, and conversation around the table.
We return to the hotel for free time to explore Pula on your own.
Enjoy Rovinj at your own pace, following cobblestone lanes past artists’ studios and colorful houses that rise directly from the sea. Wander toward St. Euphemia’s hilltop bell tower, settle into a waterfront café, or simply watch the boats drift by. Leave room for whatever catches your eye.
Relax in Bale, where stone lanes wind around the Gothic-Renaissance Soardo-Bembo Palace. Local lore links the palace to repeated visits by Venetian adventurer Giacomo Casanova, drawn back by a romance with a noblewoman. Linger over a coffee, wander the quiet streets, and let the town’s stories become part of your afternoon.
Join chef-owner Deniz Zembo at Amfiteatar Restaurant for a hands-on cooking lesson blending Istrian ingredients with his inventive approach to Mediterranean cuisine. Learn techniques, share stories, and discover new possibilities in familiar flavors. Then settle around the table for dinner, savoring the dishes you helped bring to life.
After dinner we return to the hotel for free time in Pula.
Step through the gates of Hum, known as the smallest town in the world, and explore stone lanes steeped in Istrian history. This tiny settlement is also celebrated for biska, the region’s traditional mistletoe brandy. Pause, take in the quiet surroundings, and discover how much character a small place can hold.
Stop at family-run Aura Distillery in Buzet for a taste of Istrian spirits and liqueurs crafted with handpicked wild herbs and fruits. Housed in a former wine cellar dating to 1907, Aura captures the region’s aromatic character in every sip, a small stop worth savoring.
Follow a local truffle hunter and trained dogs into the woods near Buzet, watching as keen noses search beneath the soil for Istria’s hidden treasures. Depending on availability, your hosts will be the Karlić, Prodan, or Zigante family. Hear their stories, breathe in the woodland air, and discover the patience and human-dog partnership behind every find.
Continue to the hilltop town of Motovun for sweeping views from the walls. Wander Motovun’s stone lanes, perched high above the Mirna River Valley, and pause for sweeping views of vineyards and truffle-rich forests.
Pause for a drink at Rossi Winery & Distillery in Bajkini near Vižinada, where five generations have carried on a family tradition dating to 1885. Alongside Istrian wines, the family crafts distinctive spirits and liqueurs, bringing a creative touch to its deep local roots.
Enjoy a leisurely walk at your own pace through Grožnjan, Istria’s “town of artists.” Wander its medieval stone lanes, browse small galleries and artisan shops, and discover how art and music have shaped this hilltop town’s creative spirit.
Enjoy dinner at Konoba Malo Selo near Buje, a rustic Istrian tavern with stone walls and a welcoming fireplace. Known for house-made charcuterie, fuži pasta with traditional Istrian beef sauce, and grilled meats, it offers a hearty taste of the region’s countryside cooking.
Visit Damjanić Winery in Fuškulin near Poreč for a tasting rooted in family heritage. Discover how Damjanić family blends tradition with modern winemaking.
Enjoy a light lunch at JAZ by Ana Roš on Poreč’s waterfront, where the celebrated Slovenian chef brings her creative approach to relaxed dining. Seasonal Adriatic ingredients meet bold, globally inspired flavors in dishes.
Stop for a cocktail at MintIQ bar in Poreč, where house-made liqueurs give the drinks a distinctive local character. Sip, unwind, and discover the flavors and creativity behind the bar’s own creations.
Check in to Roxanich Winery & Design Hotel, nestled beneath Motovun overlooking the Mirna River Valley. Individually designed rooms blend bold Italian ’60s style with Istrian character, while a working winery lies beneath the hotel. Settle in, take in the countryside, and let the unhurried rhythm of inland Istria become your own.
Enjoy dinner at Gourmet & Cardo in Poreč’s historic centre, tucked along Eufrazijeva Street. Savour fish and meat specialities in an atmospheric Old Town setting, rounding off the day with a relaxed evening around the table.
Our first stop is Koper, with free time to explore the town. Enjoy free time to explore Koper at your own pace. Wander the Old Town’s narrow streets, admire the Venetian Gothic Praetorian Palace on Tito Square, or pause for a coffee and soak up the atmosphere of Slovenian Istria.
Discover Slovenian Istria’s “green gold” with a guided visit and tasting at the Lisjak family olive mill. Learn how the family transforms freshly picked olives into oil within four hours, then explore the aromas, flavors and peppery finish that distinguish quality olive oil.
Enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch at Santomas in the hillside village of Šmarje near Koper. Discover the estate’s focus on Refošk and Istrian Malvasia, local grape varieties that reflect Slovenian Istria’s character, while savouring a relaxed meal in the heart of wine country.
Enjoy free time in Portorož, a seaside resort known for its spa traditions rooted in the nearby salt pans. Stroll along the beachfront promenade, browse the shops, or settle into a café and take in the views across the Adriatic.
Explore Piran at your own pace, a coastal town whose prosperity grew from centuries of salt making. Wander its narrow lanes, pause in Tartini Square, or follow the waterfront to enjoy the sea views and Venetian character of this Slovenian gem.
Enjoy dinner at Srebrna Vilica, a MICHELIN Guide-selected restaurant tucked into Piran’s cobbled Old Town lanes. Its open kitchen brings you closer to the cooking, while Mediterranean dishes blend Italian influences with Istrian traditions, including fuži pasta with black truffle and pan-fried octopus.
After breakfast we travel to Muggia in Italy for a free walk just across the border.
Enjoy free time in Muggia, Italy, where narrow Venetian-style lanes lead to lively Piazza Marconi and the small Mandracchio fishing harbour. Wander at your own pace, pause for an Italian coffee, and soak up this coastal town’s blend of Istrian and Venetian character.
Explore Trieste at your own pace, where Habsburg elegance meets the Adriatic. Admire the seafront Piazza Unità d’Italia, browse the city’s shops, or experience its historic coffee culture.
Enjoy lunch at Buffet da Pepi, a Trieste institution serving Austro-Hungarian specialities since 1897 and officially recognised as a historic establishment. Discover its signature “caldaia” cooking, where pork cuts simmer in broth—a hearty taste of the city’s Central European heritage.
Enjoy an olive oil tasting at Mate near Savudrija, where founder Mate Vekić planted his first olive tree at the age of 75. Discover the estate’s organic extra virgin olive oils, awarded a perfect 100/100 in the 2026 Flos Olei guide, and explore the flavours shaped by Istria’s red soil and coastal climate.
Raise a farewell glass at Monte Rosso, where vineyards and olive groves overlook the Adriatic toward the Slovenian and Italian shores. Named for the red hill of Crveni Vrh, this estate offers a fitting setting to savor Istrian wine, share favorite memories, and linger a little longer in your pomalo.
Celebrate the week with a farewell dinner at Restaurant Toni in Zambratija near Umag, recognized by Gault&Millau. Known for its seafood and half-century commitment to quality, Toni offers a welcoming setting to savor Mediterranean flavors and share memories around the table.
Enjoy a leisurely farewell breakfast , then check out of the hotel.
Airport transfers are arranged throughout the day according to each guest's departure to Pula, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Trieste airports.