Trekking Istria E12

In the morning you take the ferry from Trieste to Muggia (tickets included). The stage begins in Muggia, the only Istrian town in Italy. You hike inland from the sea. After crossing the border with Slovenia, you have a beautiful view of the Muggia valley and the Julian Alps. You descend gently along the Slovenian Alpine Trail. Here the landscape opens up above the Gulf of Koper amidst wooded areas and vineyards. You will walk part of the stage on the Parenzana, the former Istrian narrow-gauge railway that connected Trieste and Poreč until 1935. End the day in the car-free old town of Koper with all its magnificent buildings. It is possible to shorten the route by bus (ticket not included).

Today you will leave Koper and you will cross the border into Croatia. You hike through the inland to Momjan. In Momjan and the surrounding area, the soil is particularly fertile. 23 of Croatia‘s best-known winegrowers cultivate their wines in this area. The town once was a Venetian fortress of strategic importance and dominated the Dragonja Valley. Today, only the ruins of the fortress, the patrician house of the Rota family and the Church of St Martin from the 16th century remain. Wine roads lead you through the vineyards and olive groves around the small town. In the evening, the well-known wine-cellars and restaurants invite you to enjoy the delicacies of Istrian cuisine.

Starting from Momjan, you walk amidst green fields, olive groves and vineyards to Brtonigla. Brtonigla combines typical rural Istrian cuisine with Mediterranean sea cuisine. Worth seeing here are sacred buildings such as the parish church of St. Zenon. Worth a visit is also the Mramornica cave.

The route from Brtonigla to Tar through the Mirna Valley offers a wonderful experience between nature and culture. Starting from Brtonigla, the path winds through picturesque alleys, vineyards and olive groves before entering the Mirna Valley. Finally you reach Tar, a charming village on the western coast of Istria. With its traditional architecture, Tar is known for its cultural heritage and the surrounding natural landscapes. From Tar, you’ll take a transfer to Poreč for an overnight stay.
Day 6: Tar - Porec; Ascent: approx. 10 m, descent: approx. 20 m / approx. 15 km / approx. 4 hours
This morning a short transfer will take you to the starting point of the stage. The last day of your discovery trip in Istria takes you to Porec. Most of your hike will be along the coast. From far away you will see the Euphrasius Basilica, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should definitely be visited. End your hiking tour with a good glass of wine on one of the squares in the old town of Porec.
Day 7: Departure Individual departure or possibility of extending the stay