Dotted with olive groves and vineyards, the rolling hills of Istria are the epitome of rural idyll. This small group tour takes you to four of the prettiest towns in the peninsula, both inland and on the coast. Bale, Rovinj, Grzini – where you'll enjoy a traditional local lunch – and Porec are the stars of this show.
Your adventure kicks off in Bale, a hilltop village of narrow cobbled alleys lined with medieval stone houses and Venetian palaces and churches. Find your inner compass in its mazy old town before heading to Rovinj on the Adriatic. Occupying an egg-shaped peninsula, it's a treasure trove of winding streets that lead to the baroque Church of St Euphemia, whose Venetian belfry dominates the skyline.
Then it's on to the hamlet of Grzini to feast on a typical Istrian lunch. From here, it's back to the coast to Porec. This ancient town on a headland is now as famed for its modern bars and clubs as its Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.