Castles to Coast Self-Guided Walk
Castles to Coast Self-Guided Walk
Castles to Coast Self-Guided Walk
8 Days Starting in Motovun and ending in Opatija
Visiting: Motovun, Grožnjan, Buzet, Opatija
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W07IS
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This walking holiday opens up a timeless world that in the oldest towns takes you back 2000 years. The coastline sparkles with bays and inlets, while inland, castles and palaces in hilltop villages float in the early morning like stone battleships on a swirling sea of valley mist.Enjoy on this tour.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Motovun
Location: Motovun
Accommodation: Hotel
Arrive at your hotel in hilltop Motovun.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 2 : At Motovun - Circular Walk
Location: Motovun
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Kaldir Valley below Motovun is well known locally for fruit, and your
ascent through orchards of apples, peaches, cherries and plums passes country
shrines and tiny hamlets. A high ridge affords excellent views east to Mt
Vojak and west to the sea. Picnic amid olive groves; look out for honey
buzzards and listen to lesser spotted woodpecker rattling the pines as you
descend back into the valley. Stroll along the castle sentry's walkway around
the ancient city walls before dining out in the village.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 3 : At Motovun - Motovun To Groznjan
Location: Motovun, Grožnjan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today's shorter option starts with a transfer (10 mins) to Livade; the longer
option departs from the hotel with a steady descent through vines before
reaching Livade from where a panoramic walking track (originally a railway
abandoned in 1935) leads over aqueducts and bridges. Then it's on through
apple orchards and smreka bushes - the berries are used to make local raki -
to reach the artists' village of Groznjan. Time to relax, soak up the
atmosphere and enjoy the views as far as Slovenia's Julian Alps and Venice
whilst waiting for your transfer back to Motovun (20 mins).
Walking distance either 20km/12.5mi/5hr or 25km/16mi/6hr
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 4 : Motovun To Buzet
Location: Buzet, Motovun
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a transfer (10 mins) to the ghost village of Bentonici, a winding
ascent on a forest trail sprinkled with green-winged orchid leads you high
above the clear Mirna River. Church bells chime across valleys of beech from
pointed steeples that crown every hilltop. Blue rock thrush flit between
branches as you ascend an amazing stone-slab trail used since the Middle Ages
by traders and travellers, before descending to Buzet, a Roman settlement on
a hilltop with intact 18th century Venetian fortifications.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 5 : At Buzet - Circular Walk
Location: Buzet
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
High above Buzet, a limestone escarpment runs east to west above shady oak
woods peppered with smallholdings. Chickens scatter as you pass through
villages leading up onto the ridge for uninterrupted views back to Motovun.
You follow the escarpment edge across wind-scoured limestone as Buzet floats
on a blanket of cloud below, and paragliders launch themselves into the sky.
A descent past country churches and tumbledown villages leads back to the
hotel.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 6 : Buzet To Opatija
Location: Opatija, Buzet
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Mt Vojak, Istria's highest peak, towers 1401m over the east coast in Ucka
Nature Park, a haven for many protected flowers and plants. After a transfer
(40 mins), you zigzag to the summit for 360° views of Croatia's islands and
Alpine peaks in Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. Look out for orange fire
lily, amethyst sea holly and bee orchids on the descent. It's then a short
transfer (20 mins) to Opatija, where your waterfront hotel in a converted 9th
century villa awaits.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 7 : Opatija
Location: Opatija
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Adriatic Riviera was a playground for the social elite in the 19th
century. Impressive villas with opulent gardens rich in local and exotic
plants line the waterfront with views over to the Velebit mountains. A
panoramic walkway leads along the sea between yachting marinas and swimming
platforms, pretty coves, sea cliffs and azure bays for 6km into Lovran. Enjoy
lunch (payable locally) on the waterside with a view over to Cres Island,
then either catch the local bus back or stroll home above the waves.
Walking distance either 6km/4mi/2hr or 12km/7.5mi/4hr
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 8 : Leave Opatija
Location: Opatija
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave Opatija
What's Included
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Luggage transfers
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All accommodation
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All continental breakfasts
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Route directions and maps
What's Not Included
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Visas and vaccinations
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Single supplements
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Travel insurance
Food
All continental breakfasts.
Accommodation
You'll spend three nights in hilltop Motovun in a converted 17th century palace with a stunning spa and indoor pool. In Buzet, your accommodation for two nights is a beautiful converted townhouse with indoor pool, set within the original 18th century Venetian battlements. Finally in Opatija, your stay is in a waterfront property. Dining options are excellent and varied so you are free to enjoy local restaurants.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
5 star
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
12+ age people can go on this tur.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Only Luggage transfers between hotels
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.