At the top of the Adriatic, where Italy, Croatia and Slovenia jostle for coastline, you'll find a stretch of Istria that's dedicated to the ancient art of olive growing. Your tour at the stylish Lisjak Estate in Koper blends the heritage of premium olive oil with lashings of tastings and a dash of vintage flare. You'll travel through the estate in lovingly restored vans, as Marko, a local expert guide explains, “These 1970s vans may look nostalgic, but they tell a real story – this was how families moved olives from grove to mill before technology did the heavy lifting.”
You'll begin your day crossing the border from Croatia to Slovenian Istria, where the coastal landscape shifts to a sea of olive groves and vineyards. First up, there's a guided tour of the olive mill. It's a surprisingly modern space, given its rustic surroundings, but it takes technical precision to create their award-winning olive oil. The proof is in the tasting, which you'll do plenty of with a professional guide explaining the oil's signature peppery flavour.
The highlight of the tour is the 60-minute safari through the rolling olive groves and coastal vineyards. You'll travel in a fleet of beautifully restored vintage vans that help transport you back to the glamour and style of the 1970s. Round off the tour with a platter of local delicacies in the grounds of the estate. Istrian prosciutto, air-dried by the bora wind, and artisan cheeses are perfectly paired with chilled local Malvasia wine. On your journey back to Croatia, make sure you bag a window seat to squeeze every last drop out of your Istrian adventure.
