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Peregrine Travel Centre

Idyllic Istria

Idyllic Istria

From £2,995 GBP

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Description

For those who enjoy discovering Medieval towns, exploring Roman sites, cruising amongst some of the world’s most beautiful coastal scenery whilst accompanied by a small group of like-minded travellers, our new journey along the Istrian Coast which we have combined with a three night stay in the charming Kempinski Hotel in Portoroz will surely appeal.

With just 36 guests on board, the charming Princess Eleganza is able to dock in towns and cities and explore parts of the Istrian coast that passengers aboard the large cruise ships in the region rarely get to visit. During our voyage we will moor each night allowing for the opportunity to experience the atmospheric ports in their evening splendour.

We will explore the natural beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Brijuni Islands and Lake Bled and also travel inland to an area of disarming beauty characterised by fertile valleys with hilltop villages. Here we explore the charming village of Motovun in the middle of truffle territory, which has arguably the best views of the Istrian interior from its ramparts. Whilst in Pula, we will explore what is arguably one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world and the strong Venetian influence on the region will be evident during our exploration of Cres and Piran.

Istria is often acclaimed for its gastronomy and we will enjoy some lunches ashore to experience the local cuisine as well as visits to some vineyards to taste the wines typical of the area. There are also opportunities to dine ashore independently on some evenings.

Trip Name
Idyllic Istria
Days
13
Overview
Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 40m Passenger Capacity: 36 Built/Refurbished: 2015 Built in 2015, this beautifully crafted vessel sails the Adriatic coast from Opatija to Kotor taking in the highlights of this stunning area. If you are looking for an escape from the formalities of the larger ships, then look no further than the Princess Eleganza. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with the dress code reflecting this. With just 36 like-minded passengers, the mood is intimate, and what better way to enjoy the views of magnificent islands and cities, than sitting on the Sun Deck watching the world pass slowly by. Part of the joy of a cruise aboard this vessel is its capability to dock in small ports or drop anchor in any suitable spot. Being such a small operation, the close knit team work excellently together and will enrich your overall enjoyment of small ship cruising. The 19 cabins are finished to the highest standard with sleek lines and neutral colours. All are equipped with a safe, air conditioning/heating, hair dryer, and flat screen TV. Each cabin also has an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet, and basin. Most cabins also feature a dressing table and chair. Main Deck cabins have port holes, whilst Upper Deck cabins have small windows. The Promenade cabins have larger picture windows which offer panoramic views.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - Opatija, Croatia.
Fly to Zagreb independently, if you arrive close to the group flight from London you can enjoy a brief city tour of Zagreb before transferring to the Princess Eleganza moored in Opatija. OR make your own way to Opatija.After settling in to your cabin the crew will welcome us on board with the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. We will moor overnight allowing time to enjoy an after dinner walk in this genteel resort.
Day 2 - Day 2 - Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Over breakfast we sail to Senj where we arrive in the late morning and disembark for our excursion to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is an area of extraordinary natural beauty with sixteen lakes interconnected by a series of waterfalls set within forested hills. There are a number of paths along the wooden walkways that surround the lakes that we can explore this afternoon to enjoy the stunning views. Return to the ship for dinner as we moor overnight.
Day 3 - Day 3 - Rab.
Enjoy a morning at sea as we cruise Kvarner Bay arriving in Rab at lunchtime. Rab is one of the most beautiful Croatian islands, well known for its natural charm and pretty harbour. On our afternoon walking tour we will explore the narrow alleys of Rab Town, a perfectly preserved late Medieval Adriatic settlement squeezed into a slender peninsula along which are dotted a sequence of Romanesque campaniles. We have the opportunity this evening to dine ashore at one of the many local restaurants as the vessel will moor overnight in the harbour.
Day 4 - Day 4 - Rabac & Labin.
Spend the morning cruising back towards the mainland arriving in Rabac, ‘The pearl of Kvarner Bay’, in the late morning. After lunch on board we will travel inland to the attractive hilltop Medieval town of Labin. On an afternoon walking tour we will explore the labyrinth of cobbled alleys in the old town seeing the pastel houses, Baroque architecture and town museum before enjoying the wonderful views over Rabac, the Istrian coastline and the island of Cres. We will return to the Princess Eleganza via a local vineyard where we will enjoy a sample of Istria’s famous wines. This evening we will dine on board whilst moored overnight in Rabac.
Day 5 - Day 5 - Cres.
During breakfast we cruise the short distance to the nearby island of Cres mooring in the sheltered scenic Medieval harbour at Cres Town. Enjoy a walk through the atmospheric streets which have a strong Italian feel having been under Venetian rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. After a lunch of local specialities at a traditional restaurant we will continue to the former fort city of Lubenice. Situated on a cliff 378 metres above the sea we will explore the fortress, city gates, houses, chapels and winding streets of this evocative site and enjoy the stunning views over the bay below. Dine ashore this evening and perhaps take a stroll along the seaside promenade.
Day 6 - Day 6 - Pula.
Today we arrive at the tip of the Istrian Peninsula and the former Roman settlement of Polensium, now known as Pula. On an afternoon tour we will discover one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres left in the world. The Arena, built in the 1st century A.D. was designed to host gladiatorial contests with seating for up to 20,000 spectators. Exploring the town further we will see the varied architecture from Baroque palaces, Christian churches and Austrian villas. Enjoy dinner on board tonight as we moor overnight.
Day 7 - Day 7 - Brijuni Islands and Rovinj.
The 14 islands of the Brijuni comprise one of Croatia’s National Parks and were once the summer retreat of former Yugoslav leader, Tito. Between 1947 and 1980 he spent up to six months a year in the islands. A morning excursion will explore Veliki Brijun including the 1st century Roman Villa, the nine hectare safari park created by Tito to house the exotic animals gifted to him by world leaders and the Church of St Germain. Sail over lunch to the atmospheric town of Rovinj where the houses inside the old town are small and lean to each other creating a unique atmosphere. Our guided walking tour will include a visit to the town’s main landmark, St. Euphemia church, which is built on the top of a small hill. This Baroque building built in Venetian style was dedicated to the saint and martyr whose sarcophagus, according to a legend, was miraculously washed ashore somewhere around 800 A.D. Tonight enjoy the opportunity to dine in one of the local restaurants.
Day 8 - Day 8 - Motovun & Buzet.
Today we will travel to the Istrian interior and the hilltop towns of Motovun and Buzet. The area is famed for its picturesque villages, vineyards producing fine Malvasia and Teran wines and the forests that produce Istrian white truffles. A morning walking tour will explore Motovun which is perched on a hill in the Mirna River Valley with its Romanesque- Gothic bell tower, the Renaissance Church of St Stephen designed by Andrea Palladio and the charming central square. After a lunch of local specialities we will spend the afternoon in Buzet wandering the maze of cobblestone streets and admiring the Venetian architecture in the houses, gates and churches ending with a tasting of local brandy. We will return to the vessel which will have sailed to Novigrad to meet us, and enjoy the chance to dine ashore in this pretty fishing village this evening.
Day 9 - Day 9 - Momjan.
We will sail over breakfast towards Umag and if weather permits we hope to offer the opportunity to swim from the vessel before lunch on board. This afternoon we will head into the agricultural area around Momjan where some of Croatia’s finest olives and vines have been grown for thousands of years. We will visit a local vineyard and enjoy a tasting of the Muscat and Malvasia wines which are typical of the region before sampling the olive oil. Return to the Princess Eleganza for a Farewell Dinner on board tonight.
Day 10 - Day 10 - Piran & Portoroz, Slovenia.
Disembark this morning in Umag and drive the short distance to Piran, one of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean. Influenced by the Venetian Republic, which left its mark on most Istrian towns, Piran has maintained the clustered Medieval structure of narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together and numerous squares and churches. Tartini Square is the gem found in the very centre of the city and was named after the famous violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini whose statue is located in the centre of the square. We will enjoy lunch in the town before transferring to the Kempinski Palace Hotel in nearby Portoroz for a three night stay. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
Day 11 - Day 11 - Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
Today we will explore Slovenia’s best known sites; the capital city and Lake Bled. Both are a wonderful gateway to Slovenian heritage with Ljubljana being one of the best preserved and green capitals in Europe. We will be introduced to its rich past and influences that are still present and will see symbols of socialism in the architecture, although far more of the Baroque era is evident, including beautiful ceramic tiles covering the buildings which snake along Ljubljana’s river. After some free time, lunch will be served in a traditional Slovenian inn before we continue to the mountain resort of Lake Bled where we will have some free time to explore the area known for its glacial lake and Medieval castle.
Day 12 - Day 12 - Portoroz.
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore independently and enjoy the wonderful facilities of the hotel before meeting this evening for our Farewell Dinner.
Day 13 - Day 13 - Portoroz.
Check out this morning after breakfast and transfer to Venice where you can go to the airport with the group or stay in this beautiful city.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
23-06-201805-07-2018£3,195Category 2
23-06-201805-07-2018£3,395Category 3
23-06-201805-07-2018£3,795Category 4
23-06-201805-07-2018£2,995Category 1
23-06-201805-07-2018£3,395Category 5 - Single
29-06-201811-07-2018£3,795Category 4
29-06-201811-07-2018£3,395Category 5 - Single
29-06-201811-07-2018£3,395Category 3
29-06-201811-07-2018£3,195Category 2
29-06-201811-07-2018£2,995Category 1
15-09-201827-09-2018£2,995Category 1
15-09-201827-09-2018£3,795Category 4
15-09-201827-09-2018£3,395Category 5 - Single
15-09-201827-09-2018£3,195Category 2
15-09-201827-09-2018£3,395Category 3
21-09-201803-10-2018£3,795Category 4
21-09-201803-10-2018£2,995Category 1
21-09-201803-10-2018£3,195Category 2
21-09-201803-10-2018£3,395Category 3
21-09-201803-10-2018£3,395Category 5 - Single

Inclusions

    • See the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park
    • Explore the narrow alleys of Rab Town, a perfectly preserved late Medieval Adriatic settlement
    • Discover Rabac, ‘The pearl of Kvarner Bay’
    • Visit a local vineyard where you can enjoy a sample of Istria’s famous wines
    • In Pula discover one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres left in the world
    • Travel to the Istrian interior and the hilltop towns of Motovun and Buzet

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