Arrive at the airport where you will be met and transferred to the farm/ranch, or alternatively arrive by your own car. Settle into your accommodations in the small village of Hrboki, which is 25km from Pula. Once you are settled in, you will enjoy your first evening meal and be introduced to your host family, fellow riders and a riding plan details. Schedule permitting, we may already visit the stables and look around the ranch in the afternoon/evening.

After a traditional breakfast of fresh bread/rolls, ham, cheese and home-made preserves, we will go to the ranch where a horse will be selected for you. Today is an easy riding day through open countryside. The first day’s riding will ensure that you are suited and happy with your mount.

The first stop, mid to late morning, will be at the small but fascinating caves of Feštinsko Kraljevstvo, which were accidentally discovered in the 1930’s underneath a vineyard, and are now open to the public. A 20-minute visit (entrance fee included) in the ‘Kingdom of Feštini’ will help show what forms the foundations of the Istrian Peninsula. A complimentary Medica (honey-flavoured grappa) will help to enhance the illusions and treasures that this underground little world has to offer. We shall continue the leisurely ride heading closer to the central Istra. Along the way there are some amazing views of the peninsula, especially from a pilgrimage cross near village of Orihi, where we also stop for picnic lunch. Here, on a clear day, sea can be seen both east and west. Each season’s colours contribute to an ever-changing landscape. Although more and more visitors are drawn to discover the Istrian hinterland, it is still a unique pleasure to meander along the rural back roads. Late afternoon we shall arrive to a horse ranch in the village of Karnevali, where we shall have a well-deserved evening meal and accommodation with a possibility to use the swimming pool for the ones that wish to relax in the pool before bed.

This morning after a good night rest and a delicious home made breakfast we shall traverse central Istra - the charming countryside, alongside ancient stone walls, with rich red soil adding to the colour and a contrast to the karst rock formations. Country roads will bring us to the ruins of the ancient town of Dvigrad. After a rest, walk trough the ruins of this medieval town and a picnic lunch we continue through fields of the valley that used to be covered with the sea. Riding along the slow and windy roads towards Karojba we can enjoy the nature as we pass the valley and start to climb to Tinjan.

This day we shall finish at the Rafo Ranch near Karojba where the horses are going to spent their night and from where we are going to (5 min drive) a tipical ‘’konoba’’ – tavern for a traditional dinner with high quality truffles picked from the Motovun woods. Owner of the Rafo ranch is also a knowledgeable dog trainer for dogs that seek truffles so you are sure that the mushrooms you will have for dinner are locally picked.
Afer dinner we shall head to your accommodation for the night at Cassa Rossa which is approximately 5 min drive from Konoba.

In the morning, breakfast at the hotel and drive to the horses at the ranch. Saddling up and heading to explore more of the beautiful Istra. This day will bring us magnificent views of the biggest acropolis type town in Istra – Motovun. Motovun is a monument of history situated on a 277m high hill overlooking Mirna river, Livade and woods rich with truffles. We ride in the foothill of Motovun just to come to the Mirna river that leads us upstream to the Butoniga lake. Here we shall have picnic lunch and, after a short rest, start to climb uphill. The path takes us trough vineyards, fields and small villages. This day is indeed full of beautiful sight seeing points and opportunities to take home unique photographs of the ever changing scenery. As the ride is coming to an end and as we are closer to our destination for the day we reach top of the peak and start our descent to the small village of Kotli famous for the old stone mill on a river. Reaching Kotli and passing a bridge we shall see if we have luck to see a rushing water beneath us or the stony river bed with small falls and characteristic ‘’kotli’’ meaning holes in the stones that water crafted into small pools great for summer enjoyment in natures little Jacuzzis. Water level here is very dependant on the quantity of rain so we can never predict river’s appearance but both experiences are equally interesting.

Horses are going to have their well deserved rest as we drive (5 min drive) to refreshing dinner at a local tavern in Kolinasi, again, made with locally produced ingredients accompanied with vine and famous mistletoe grappa, medica or any other nice grappa with medicinal herbs or fruit of your choosing. You will also have the privilege to taste ‘’kroštule’’, sweet pastry made from an old recipe handed out from generation to generation and sleep in nearby rustically decorated appartments.

After breakfast, we start our journey again. Yesterday we left red Istra and entered gray Istra. Clay is visible in the little streams, surroundings are spotted with dune like forms that give this area mystical appearance. We are close to town Roč with it’s five towers that is situated on the foothills of the mountain, famous for the traditional instrument Triestina, a type of an accordion. Biggest town near us is Buzet whose history is dated from prehistoric times and is also an acropolis type town.

Riding, heading to Draguć we shall ride trough a part of the Glagolitic Alley, a 7 km long monumental road leading form Roč to Hum that has 10 monuments dedicated to the Glagolitic alphabet. On the end of the path there is Hum – with the title of the smallest city in the world and a rich history dating from 11th century onwards.

Now we are starting to head back to the starting point of our journey but we still have lots of exciting places to ride trough and things to see. On our way to Gračišće we ride past Draguć. This little town, literally in the middle of nowhere, half way from Buzet to Pazin will take your breath away. Known under the nick name of Istrian Hollywod, because of the numerous film projects that were filmed here. Draguć overlooks beautiful valleys, woods, from there you can see lake Butoniga and part of the path that we rode the day before from Motovun tracing Mirna river and on our way to Kotli giving you a different perspective on the riding trail. Here we have to mention that Draguć is not only Hollywood beauty but town of exceptional historical importance with it’s churches, frescos, chapel and a stone houses. Picnic lunch break will give you time to take a breath and admire the untouched nature with a view on the little hamlets, churches and villages on the small peaks in the distance. Off to Gračišće trough beatifull vineyards we shall find a paddock for the horses and head for the wine tasting. Vine tasting at the vinery Bažon is again one of the great opportunities to taste the high quality products that are made from the grapes of the vineyards we rode trough. wine is also accompanied with home made prosciutto and cheese.

Later we will head to Gračišće for dinner in a tavern and accommodation in beautiful rustically decorated rooms at the centre of this small town. This little town is pawed with stone and everywhere you look the main thing you notice is architecture from beautifully crafted stone. Gračišće lays on a bluff overlooking Čepič field that was a former lake, and now a very fertile soil. From here you can see mount Učka, Dolomites and Julian Apls. It is also famous for its wine tasting manifestations when the whole town is open to public wanting to taste various kinds of wine. During these days it is a tradition that on the entrance you receive your glass with which you can enter small cellars and vineries in the city and taste the vine. Our suggestion is that you take a stroll trough the town before finally going to your accommodation for the night.

Today we head to the white Istra. Once again we have opportunity to witness stunning views before starting our descent heading to Raša valley where we will follow Raša river riding it’s banks to the sea. We shall dismount at the beginning of the descent and walk approximately for one kilometre before we ride again. Off course we will be surrounded with beautiful nature and pass some more historical little towns like Pićan that has architecture from 14th century. We have the opportunity to notice changes in the nature’s flora and fauna as we descend more and more to the Raša valley. When we reach the banks of the river and have picnic we will have nice opportunity to let our horses canter on the soft flat ground and take us downstream in the directon of the sea. In this part of the Istra, not only flora is different, also we are in a part that built it’s industry around mines and with a youngest town in Istra. Famous for it’s typical architecture Raša town. Raša is built 1937. in exactly 547 days as part of the Mussolini project of 12 foundational industrial cities. It is built around a mine and architecturally designed to accommodate workers and their families. Now, Raša is a sleeping town that started deteriorating when last mine in Labin was closed. Unlike Raša Labin, a town on a steep hill over Raša, has its historical parts and gives us two polarities and a mixture of old and new.

Today our stop is at the paddock near the river where we shall leave our horses and take a car (15 min drive) to Hrboki for dinner and accommodation.

Today we head to the white Istra. Once again we have opportunity to witness stunning views before starting our descent heading to Raša valley where we will follow Raša river riding it’s banks to the sea. We shall dismount at the beginning of the descent and walk approximately for one kilometre before we ride again. Off course we will be surrounded with beautiful nature and pass some more historical little towns like Pićan that has architecture from 14th century. We have the opportunity to notice changes in the nature’s flora and fauna as we descend more and more to the Raša valley. When we reach the banks of the river and have picnic we will have nice opportunity to let our horses canter on the soft flat ground and take us downstream in the directon of the sea. In this part of the Istra, not only flora is different, also we are in a part that built it’s industry around mines and with a youngest town in Istra. Famous for it’s typical architecture Raša town. Raša is built 1937. in exactly 547 days as part of the Mussolini project of 12 foundational industrial cities. It is built around a mine and architecturally designed to accommodate workers and their families. Now, Raša is a sleeping town that started deteriorating when last mine in Labin was closed. Unlike Raša Labin, a town on a steep hill over Raša, has its historical parts and gives us two polarities and a mixture of old and new.

Today our stop is at the paddock near the river where we shall leave our horses and take a car (15 min drive) to Hrboki for dinner and accommodation.

On our last riding day, we shall have a leisurely morning ride, and finally reach the sea. The path will take us trough the rich fields of ecologically grown alfalfa crops, small canals full of fish, frogs and wild ducks to the sea shore. Here we shall witness Raša river fusing its power with the sea. We shall ride near the sea and follow the costal lines just to enter the woods to reach the path that will lead us uphill trough narrow passages in the woods. This path was used to be a main road for the villagers to go with their cattle, goats, sheep donkeys to their meadows and access the fresh spring water. It is hard to believe that the thick forest once was a place for pasture and meadow for hay. Steep and, on horseback, inaccessible part of the shore we have to leave behind us to head for the highlight of the day – a beach where we are going to have the opportunity to swim with the horses (weather permitting). Heading up we pass close to Barban, a small town known for the Race of the Ring. This ancient tradition is cherished to this day and it is a great honour to be able to ride the race. Before we finally see the sea again when we reach Hrboki we will stop for a rest and lunch. After lunch, rested, we are back on our mounts heading to the Bay Blaz where, if we are lucky and the weather is nice, can take a swim with our horses. Going back, when you notice the rich pines, don’t forget to notice their magnificent smell.

After the arrival in the village we will have BBQ dinner in the garden and a chance to go trough the experiences from the last days.

Breakfast and departure.