Publisher Description

Written by two Croatia experts, this new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's Croatia: Istria, with Rijeka and the Slovenian Adriatic remains the only full-length guide to this well-heeled, varied part of former Yugoslavia to include detailed background and practical information. Catering for all types of travellers (from outdoors enthusiasts to culture vultures, foodies to oenophiles) and budgets, the guide offers revised listings for accommodation, restaurants, and what to see and do. Istria crams remarkable diversity in a conveniently compact region: it takes under an hour to drive almost anywhere on the peninsula. The region boasts some of Croatia's most famous sites, including Pula's spectacular Roman amphitheatre, Porec's UNESCO-listed Byzantine mosaics (every bit as good as Italy's Ravenna and Istanbul's Aya Sofya), picturesque medieval hill towns (such as Motovun and Draguc) and frescoes, and the Brijuni Islands National Park. In 2020, the transport hub and carnival city of Rijeka in the Kvarner region became Croatia's first ever European Capital of Culture. Istria is renowned for its cuisine, particularly pasta, game, seafood and truffles (until recently Istria held the world record for the world's largest truffle), and also produces fine wine and world-class olive oil. There is plenty of pampering on offer, too, with luxury and boutique hotels, excellent restaurants and inexpensive spa treatments. Istria makes a great base to explore nearby Capodistria on Slovenia's coast, and karst limestone areas with beautiful and uncrowded coastal towns, castles, Lipizzaner horses and the UNESCO-listed Skocjan cave. New or expanded coverage in this edition include advice and information on the Vivapa Valley, Slovenian wines, recently opened hotels, travelling to Istria by rail, and vegetarian or vegan restaurants. With extensive sections on trekking, cycling (including the Parenzana long-distance cycling route) and diving, plus information on windsurfing, paragliding, wreck diving (including sites such as the Coriolanus and the Baron Gautsch) and sailing, and detail on wildlife (30 species of orchid grow on Cape Kemenjak alone), numerous festivals (including celebrations of film, fish, truffles and prosciutto), music, travelling with children and ancient history, this Bradt guide provides everything you need to plan and enjoy a visit. AUTHORS: Rudolf Abraham is an award-winning travel writer and photographer who specializes in Croatia and Eastern Europe. He is the author of a dozen books, many on Croatia and surrounding countries, and his work is published widely in magazines and online. He first visited Croatia in the late 1990s then returned to live in Zagreb for two years. A fluent Croatian speaker, Abraham continues to spend several weeks a year in his favorite country in Europe. Thammy Evans first traveled to Istria in 1989 when it was a part of Yugoslavia. She later learned the language, serving with NATO in Dalmatia and Republika Srpska. In 2003, she and her husband, both of mixed heritage, settled on the minuscule peninsula of Istria, attracted by the duality of its cosmopolitan and secluded nature. As a keen hiker, diver, an aspiring archaeologist and a big foodie, the immediacy of the Istrian outdoors, vineyards, underwater world and sunshine are an Adriatic home away from Evans' childhood home in Wales. Involved with local friends in nature conservation and the local green agenda, Evans contributes to moving Istria to a renewable and regenerative future, and annually tracks the effects of climate change and warming seas in her diving endeavors there. As a travel writer, her other Bradt guides cover North Macedonia and the Great Wall of China. 40 colour and 2 b/w illustrations, 32 maps

Author Biography

Rudolf Abraham is an award-winning travel writer and photographer who specialises in Croatia and Eastern Europe. He is the author of a dozen books, many on Croatia and surrounding countries, and his work is published widely in magazines and online. He first visited Croatia in the late 1990s then returned to live in Zagreb for two years. A fluent Croatian speaker, Abraham continues to spend several weeks a year in his favourite country in Europe.Thammy Evans first travelled to Istria in 1989 when it was a part of Yugoslavia. She later learned the language, serving with NATO in Dalmatia and Republika Srpska. In 2003, she and her husband, both of mixed heritage, settled on the miniscule peninsula of Istria, attracted by the duality of its cosmopolitan and secluded nature. As a keen hiker, diver, an aspiring archeologist and a big foodie, the immediacy of the Istrian outdoors, vineyards, underwater world and sunshine are an Adriatic home away from Evans' childhood home in Wales. Involved with local friends in nature conservation and the local green agenda, Evans contributes to moving Istria to a renewable and regenerative future, and annually tracks the effects of climate change and warming seas in her diving endeavours there. As a travel writer, her other Bradt guides cover North Macedonia and the Great Wall of China.

Table of Contents

ContentsIntroductionPART 1GENERAL INFORMATION*= if relevant, so please delete if not usingChapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, CultureChapter 2 Practical InformationWhen to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Health, Security and safety, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Outdoor pursuits, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positivelyPART 2 THE GUIDEChapter 3 Pula and Southern IstriaPula, South from Pula, North from Pula, Brijuni IslandsChapter 4 RovinjHistory, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, ActivitiesChapter 5 Porec and the Northwest CoastPorec, Novigrad, Umag, Savudrija, South to Limski kanalChapter 6 Inland IstriaPazin, Around Pazin, South to Pula, Motovun, Around Motovun, Groznjan, Buje, Buzet, Around BuzetChapter 7 The East Coast and OpatijaOpatija, Volosko, Lovran, Labin and Rabac, South to Pula, Ucka Nature ParkChapter 8 RijekaHistory, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Festivals, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and doChapter 9 The Slovenian Adriatic History, Getting there and around, Tourist information, Koper, Izola, Piran, Portoroz, Skocjan Caves, Lipica, Postojna, Vipava ValleyPART 3ACTIVITESChapter 10 Hiking in Istria Maps, Footwear and clothing, Trail markings, Huts and camping, Water, 1. Lovran to Vojak (Ucka), 2. Raspadalica and Kuk, 3. Pazinska jama, 4. Pazin Waterfalls, 5. Rt KamenjakChapter 11 Biking in Istria Bike rental, service and parts, Routes and maps, 1. Groznjan to Livade on the Parenzana, 2. Coast to the Mirna River and the Parenzana, 3. Decumanus Maximus Agri, 4. Mali Sv Andeo Observatory to the Limski kanal, 5. Groznjan to Koper on the ParenzanaChapter 12 Diving in Istria Planning the dive, Events, Diving centres, 1. HMS Coriolanus, 2. Koversada wall, 3. Baron Gautsch, 4. Banjole Spilja Cave, 5. Rt Peneda, Brijuni National Park, 6. Fraskeric Island, 7. Nikolai's Cavern, 8. Brsec PinnacleAppendix 1 LanguageAppendix 2 Marinas and Sailing ClubsAppendix 3 Further InformationIndex

Review

'Thoroughly researched, with wide appeal to upmarket and budget travellers, the text combines practical advice with extensive background information.'-- "Travel Africa"

Promotional

.The only full-length guide to the region to offer background and practical information.Co-written by Croatian experts, including an Istrian resident.New or expanded coverage of the Vivapa Valley, Slovenian wines, new hotels and vegetarian restaurantsAbout Bradt Travel Guides.Founded in 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UK with over 200 titles in print.Serial WINNER of the Gold award for Best Guidebook Series in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.Bradt guides are written by authors who really know their destinations. Many are resident there, or have been visiting regularly over a number of years.Each new Bradt guide is backed by a dedicated press and social media campaign

Long Description

This new, thoroughly updated ninth edition of Bradt's Tanzania Safari Guide remains the only practical guidebook to the country that reflects tourism's shift away from backpackers and budget camping safaris to upper-end and mid-range safaris and beach holidays. Unlike other guidebooks, the main focus is practical information about Tanzania's peerless collection of national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Ruaha, Katavi, Gombe Stream, Mahale Mountains, and four new national parks designated in 2019, including Nyerere, which encompasses much of the former Selous Game Reserve and is thought Africa's largest National Park. Every major reserve is given a dedicated chapter detailing its ecology, wildlife, accommodation options, game drives and other activities. Written by acknowledged Africa experts and prolific guidebook writers Philip Briggs and Chris McIntyre, Bradt's Tanzania Safari Guide also focuses on other popular and off-the-beaten-track tourist attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar and the mysterious Kilwa Ruins and Kondoa Rock Art (UNESCO World Heritage Sites often relegated to the small print of other guides). Accommodation listings for the safari destinations are the most detailed and authoritative available, the authors weeding through the ever-growing number of lodges and camps to create a critically selective list of the best properties in every price bracket (upmarket, mid-range and budget). Meanwhile, a 48-page wildlife color field guide details all species a visitor can expect to find on a safari. Since the mid-1980s, when only basic camping safaris were feasible, Tanzania has grown to be one of Africa's top safari destinations. This new edition actively responds to this evolution by focusing on the country mainly as a safari and short-stay fly-in holiday destination. It also reflects the growing trend away from large lodges towards small, exclusive eco-friendly camps in remote parts of national parks and bordering community concessions. Beyond spectacular year-round game-viewing , Tanzania is one of Africa's most varied countries, its long palm-fringed coastline offering post-safari relaxation and complemented by the Great Rift Valley, portions of Africa's three largest lakes, and impressive mountains. Use this guide to discover everything Tanzania has to offer.

Review Quote

'Thoroughly researched, with wide appeal to upmarket and budget travellers, the text combines practical advice with extensive background information.'

Description for Sales People

. Theonly full-length guide to the region to offer background and practicalinformation . Co-writtenby Croatian experts, including an Istrian resident . Newor expanded coverage of the Vivapa Valley, Slovenian wines, new hotels andvegetarian restaurants About Bradt Travel Guides . Foundedin 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UKwith over 200 titles in print . SerialWINNER of the Gold award for Best Guidebook Series in the Wanderlust ReaderTravel Awards . Bradtguides are written by authors who really know their destinations. Many areresident there, or have been visiting regularly over a number of years . Eachnew Bradt guide is backed by a dedicated press and social media campaign

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