6-Nights Hidden Gems of Trieste and Istria - Tailormade Journeys — CALL
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1677233
Trieste is known for its literary legacy, but its cultural roots run deeper, shaped by centuries of Central European influence and intellectual exchange. Croatia’s Istria peninsula pulls its weight with fabulous winemaking, an artists’ colony and masterful frescoes. Starting in Trieste and ending in Istria, this itinerary allows A&K’s guests to custom-build their trip with coastal bike tours, creative workshops and exclusive access to stunning gardens and villas. You’ll feast on homegrown wine, learn about coffee culture and try local delicacies along the way
6 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
1 Arrive Venice, Italy
Venice — with its Carnival, canals, basilicas and Byzantine relics — enchants from the very first breath. Nowhere else can one turn from a grand marble palace, seemingly adrift on the Adriatic, and wander into a labyrinth of stirring, salt-tinged passageways, where life has followed the rhythm of the water for centuries.
Meals:
2 Venice | Exploring the Hidden Corners
Venice offers a diverse range of experiences, from exploring hidden corners to hands-on workshops. Discover the artistic heart of San Polo, where the Rialto Bridge leads to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco — showcasing Tintoretto’s masterpieces — and the Gothic Frari church. Alternatively, immerse yourself in the city’s artisanal heritage with visits to a textile factory — the Mocenigo Museum’s perfume section — and a personalized fragrance creation workshop led by Mavive Parfums. For a more hands-on experience, participate in a mask-making workshop in San Polo, learning the traditions of Carnivale from a skilled artisan. Perhaps instead, take a guided walking tour through the charming Dorsoduro neighborhood to uncover the traditional craft of gondola building. Or capture the city’s beauty during twilight with a personalized sunset photo walk.
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3 Venice | Venetian Crafts Up Close
The heart of Venice resides within a vast lagoon, its waters dotted with numerous, mostly deserted islands. This extraordinary setting inspired the Venetians to establish their secure and secluded city. A private motor launch journey, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, is a chance to reflect on the lagoon’s beauty. A stop in Burano — famed for its lace and architecture — offers a glimpse of island life. In Murano, observe the time-honored art of glassblowing firsthand. An unforgettable Chef’s table dining experience ends the day.
Meals:
4 Istria, Croatia | Habsburg History
The journey from Venice to Istria begins with a private drive that reveals the hidden charm of Trieste, once the main seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Elegant 18th and 19th-century buildings line the waterfront, while Piazza dell’Unita’ d’Italia, one of Italy’s largest squares, captivates with its dramatic history, framed by the Palazzo del Comune and its iconic Moors who chime the hours. A climb to San Giusto hill, the city’s historical heart, reveals the Cathedral of San Giusto, built on Roman ruins. A coffee tasting in a historic café provides a moment to savor local culture before continuing to Istria.
Meals:
5 Istria | Adriatic Villages and History
A day of exploration begins in Rovinj, a picturesque Adriatic headland. Terracotta roofs top the village, nestled among vineyards, olive groves and Roman ruins. Once Venetian-ruled, the town’s limestone alleyways now host galleries, restaurants and bars, all leading to the hilltop Cathedral of St. Euphemia. From the bell tower, panoramic views extend over the city, islands and secluded coves. The colorful streets invite strolls, encounters at the bustling market and moments of relaxation in charming cafes. Your journey continues to Pula, renowned for its harbor, beaches and Roman monuments.
Meals:
6 Istria | Fruits of the Vine
Istria’s rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves and terracotta-roofed villages set the stage for a wine tour. Groznjan, an artists’ colony, invites exploration through gallery-lined alleyways, where jazz and classical music fill the air. A visit to a Momjan wine estate introduces local grape varieties and their wines. Istria’s prized truffle is unveiled during a hunting experience, followed by a truffle-centric lunch. The medieval hilltop town of Motovun offers breathtaking views over the Mirna Valley, concluding the day with exploration before returning to Rovinj.
Meals:
7 Depart Rovinj
Depart Rovinj.
Meals:
Excursions
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Highlights:
- Admire the wonderful architecture of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica
Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all named sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs.
- Gratuities
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Highlights:
- Admire the many art treasures on display in the Frari Church
- See the masterpieces on display in the Accademia Gallery
Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Highlights:
- Visit Verona's impressive Amphitheatre
- See Juliet's House and its famous balcony
Tour Can Operate: Mornings
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Luxury car or minivan transfers between Venice cruise terminal and Verona
- An expert English-speaking guide in Verona (3 hours)
- Entrance fees to the stated sightseeing
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours
Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours
- Introduction to the history of Venice
- Visit to private glass producer in Murano
- Tour of Grand Canal by private boat
- Reservations to St.Marks and Doge's Palace - no lines
Included:
- Private English speaking guide for the day and private boat.
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Meals
Venice in a Day - 8 hours
Meet your private English-speaking assistant and private boat at the pier side of Venice port.
The tour will start with an hour cruise by private boat along the Grand Canal to see its beauty as it was intended to be seen by boat. Continue visiting the island of Murano: you will enter into a real working studio and see how the glass is blown and shaped with the original tools which have been used throughout history.
Next, you will come back to Venice and enjoy a ride by gondola: the symbol of Venice. Both if you are honeymooner or young people or well travelled tourist, you will be captured by the elegance and charm of this experience.
After lunch your private English speaking guide will meet you and take you on a walking tour, explaining the historical background of Venice, its origin and development. Visiting St. Mark's square with the Golden Basilica and the Doge's palace, you will come in touch with the most admired and well known artistic jewels, especially from a monumental & architectural point of view. The past splendours of the Serenissima will appear through palaces, churches, bell towers, well curbs, elegant renaissance and baroque facades.
Also worth a detailed visit is the lively area of Rialto's market, connecting the famous bridge to St. Mark's square through the well known Mercerie street: the remnants of Venice's magnificence will fascinate you.
We will ensure your timely return transfer to the Venice Port
Highlights:
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Grand Canal, Murano island, Golden Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Bell Tower, main and -off the truck- highlights
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
· 3 hours Luxury private boat at disposal for the entire day
· English-speaking assistant at disposal for the entire day
· 4 hour private English-speaking guide
· No Line entrance fees for Basilica and Doge’s Palace
Exclusions:
· All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
· Gratuities
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.
Highlights:
- Cruise across the lagoon to Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years using the same techniques
- Explore Torcello and Burano, a colourful fishing village famous for its lace and charming architecture
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
• Return private motorboat transfer between the harbour and the islands
• An expert local guide (7 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
The story of Murano and Burano
The story of Murano and Burano
Hop on a private boat and start sailing through the Venice lagoon! This unique tour will let you discover the authentic side of Venice by exploring two famous islands – Murano and Burano. First stop, Murano – an epicenter of the most sophisticated glass production in the world. “Il vetro di Murano”, the glass of Murano, is a special type of glass made for decades. You will visit one of the traditional factories and take part in a glass-blowing demonstration. Pretty exclusive, don’t you think?
Your next stop is Burano – a small, fishermen’s island, famous for its heritage of lace embroidery that it’s still today made by hand only. It is often mentioned as one of the prettiest towns in Italy and also one of the most unique thanks to two characteristics: its canals and its colorful houses that make the island a real rainbow of colors! This tour will surely let you remember the Venice Lagoon forever.
Highlights:
- Unique island experience
- Personal guide
Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private guide
- Private boat
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- Items purchased for personal use
The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice
The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice
Are you ready to start this tour with a private boat cruise down the most spectacular “boulevard” in the world? Yes, we are talking about The Canal Grande, Venice’s main artery. Just hop on your private boat and enjoy the scenic views of all the marvelous palaces and side alley’s canals. Sit back and relax while you absorb the breath-taking beauty and uniqueness of Venice. After the ride, the guide will take you through Calli, Callette, Ponti, Campi and Campielli. You will reach Rialto bridge, that was the only way to cross the great Canal on foot, for centuries. You can indulge in great experience of the famous local market filled with interesting products and learn more about the area that was once a significant place for trading goods.
Highlights:
-
unique sightseeing experience
-
Personal guide
Tour Duration: up to 4h
Tour can operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Easy
Inclusions:
- Private guide
-
No line entrance tickets for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark Basilic
Not Included:
- Lunch
- Tips
- Drinks
- Transfers
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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