Peter Sommer Travels is excited to announce a new Exploring Istria tour in 2026 that will immerse travelers in the Croatian peninsula’s endless variety, from its curving coast dotted with port cities to its gentle slopes with groves of olive trees and its medieval hilltop towns. An expert guide will illuminate its Roman amphitheaters, Byzantine mosaics, Venetian outposts and Habsburg ambitions, and its world-class olive oils, celebrated wines and truffle-filled forests will serve as accompaniments. While the influences on Istria’s landscape, culture and history are many, the mix is unmistakably Croatian. The eight-day Exploring Istria tour departs Sept. 29, 2026, starting at £3,895 per person based on double occupancy. For more information, visit https://www.petersommer.com/tours/istria-croatia.
“Thanks to Istria’s location at the head of one of the great seaways – facing Venice with the expanse of ancient Illyricum and continental Europe behind it – there are many strands to its history, culture and landscape,” said Peter Sommer, founder of Peter Sommer Travels. “On this new tour, we’ll weave those strands together as we take in its natural splendor, array of ancient sites, wonderful gastronomy and welcoming people.”
The Exploring Istria tour begins in one of the Adriatic’s great classical cities, Pula, near the southern tip of the peninsula. There, discover the immense Roman amphitheater, the temple dedicated to Augustus and fragments of former houses and markets.
At the ancient settlement of Monkodonja, see the Iron Age stone ramparts that still stand against the sea breeze, then walk Rovinj’s narrow lanes to pastel façades and the church of St. Euphemia. Ferrying to the Brijuni Archipelago, find traces of dinosaur footprints, Bronze Age hillforts, Roman villas and Byzantine basilicas.
Returning to Pula, take in the stone walls, observation towers and ghosts of a once-mighty fleet from its time as the principal naval base of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Moving north, stay in a boutique hotel in Buzet amid the rolling countryside’s vineyards and olive groves, and look out over the Mirna River valley at the medieval castle of Petrapilosa. Back on the Adriatic at Poreč, visit Venetian houses that line the waterfront and the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO world heritage site with glittering golden mosaics.
And as a finale, ascend to the hilltop town of Motovun, beautifully preserved with its massive medieval gatehouse and walls, then venture into the woods for a truffle-hunting experience and savor a farewell dinner that celebrates the flavors of Istria.
Sharing his knowledge along the way will be expert guide Mislav Fileš, who has continued his education through graduate levels to Ph.D. studies in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Zagreb, and participated in and led numerous archaeological excavations in Croatia and internationally.
The Exploring Istria tour includes all accommodations, all meals except one lunch and one dinner, excursions with an expert tour leader, transportation by private minibus, entrance fees, airport transfers and more. Maximum of 18 guests.
Eight-time United Kingdom Tour Operator of the Year award-winner Peter Sommer Travels specializes in expert-led archaeological and cultural journeys with a personal touch. Founded in 2002 by British archaeologist Peter Sommer, who retraced the route of Alexander the Great in a 2,000-mile trek across Turkey, the company hosts groups of 10 to 18 guests on cruises aboard traditional wooden gulets in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Turkey, as well as land-based tours in these countries, Italy and the U.K. For more information, visit https://www.petersommer.com/.
