A Signature Villa Retreat in Croatia 2027

An Istrian journey Of Cuisine, Wines And Culture

Featuring the luxury comforts of a Thirdhome Villa property – the lovely Seven Hills Pula Villa

This Villa Adventure will operate back-to-back weeks – choose your desired week

SEP 18-25, 2027 (OR) SEP 25-OCT 2, 2027

This tastefully immersive Authentic Istria experience will provide guests a memorable journey with unique regional experiences in an idyllic coastal setting, while showcasing the genuine spirit of Croatia woven into the tapestry of our small-group itinerary. The Adventure includes a marvelously hosted week experience with the Villa owner and her team.

Come discover Istria (known as “The Croatian Tuscany” of Europe) – the world of magical landscapes and lush valleys has inspired many authors and artists. Journey within this coastal gem to explore historic charming small towns on the hillsides of central Istria; discover a unique National Park island excursion by luxury speedboat; experience truffle hunting and delightful tastings; savor olive oil and boutique wines at regional estates, and so much more. Marvel in the breathtaking views, divine fragrances and culinary delights of this magical land that is bursting with countless experiences and tastes just waiting to be discovered. Experience an Adventure immersed in authentic Istrian culinary platters of wonderment!

The ThirdHome Signature Adventure Blueprint

Escape into a memorable luxury lifestyle travel experience on a small-group club Villa Adventure with fellow members, expertly designed to WOW you!

This curated Adventure experience offers members a rare opportunity to stay at the marvelous ThirdHome Club residence – the Seven Hills Villa in Pula, the Istria peninsula region of Croatia.

Join us on this scenic small-group journey with a meticulously curated memorable itinerary infused with scenic towns, cultural moments and delicious culinary delights. Personally designed by ThirdHome Adventures’ Director Liz Bates and curated with the Seven Hills Villa, we have expertly crafted every little detail that will delight and wow you beyond belief.

Enjoy the camaraderie offered on this journey with other ThirdHome Club members, while spending days together exploring historic places with daily guided excursions, sipping delightful wines and tasting traditional Croatian cuisine specifically within Pula and the Istria peninsula region, the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea – affectionately referred to as “Croatia’s Tuscany”. Come experience with us the Good Food-Good Mood of Authentic Istria!

We invite you to discover the Good Food Good Mood movement of Authentic Istria

About this adventure

Adventure highlights

• Accommodations in the Seven Hills Villa Pula
• Escape into the serenity and natural beauty surrounding of Pula town
• Enjoy a mix & mingle with welcome cocktails on arrival and forge new club friendships
• Relax in this idyllic slice of paradise, swimming, sunning, sipping and dining
• Explore historic charming towns showcasing the best of the Istria’s diverse region
• Savor delightful Croatian bites each day throughout the journey
• Taste authentic Croatian & Istrian cuisine including memorable local dining
• Visit small boutique wineries in the region with included varietal tastings
• Immerse yourself into the culture & cuisine of Istria on the below regional experiences:
• Day 2 – discover Pula town with strolling and shopping
• Day 3 – explore the beautiful town of Rovinj (The Pearl of the South) & wine tasting
• Day 4 – experience Truffle Hunting, boutique wine tastings and visits to the towns of Tomaz, Motovun & Groznjan
• Day 5 – visit the historic smallest town of the world in Hum, Kotli and Bale with wine tastings
• Day 6 – enjoy tastings at the Museum of Olive Oil with a “Tavolata” – a communal slow-food dining experience centered around a table sharing together the tasting of various culinary treats
• Day 7 – journey to beautiful Brijuni (Brioni) Island National Park by ferry with a delightful dinner in Fazana

The small-group size

This is a private ThirdHome small-group tour with a minimum occupancy of 10 people, and a maximum occupancy of 12 adults.

The Villa has 7-bedrooms each with private baths; 5 bedrooms are ideal for couples and 2 bedrooms are best for Singles.

Please Note: This Adventure requires the participation of 10 people minimum (and up to 12 people maximum) in order to operate.

Who Can Participate

All Club Members including their Family or Friends can join into this exclusive Adventure.

Activity Level

To experience this unique destination, you will need to be able to walk or hike at least 1-2 hours at a time over a variety of terrains on guided excursions; must be able to walk steep or stone stairs included cobbled-stone streets; including being physically able to swim and/or snorkel if you choose to participate in water activities and boating. Participants must be comfortable sharing a villa together with others, dining outdoors and in open-air Mediterranean living within the Villa and/or in the various destination excursion experiences. You can expect some guided group activity days, balanced with quality relaxing time throughout this Adventure journey.

small-Group expectations

This small-group journey along with its itinerary is purposefully crafted as a small-group experience for a more engaging and rewarding experience. Touring days have been pre-planned with included group activities in addition to group gathering dining times. Participants must be adaptable to the pace and flow of the required pre-planned group sightseeing and regional activities that are scheduled in this adventure. Touring days have been pre-planned with included group activities in addition to group gathering dining times on some days/and some itinerary meals.

Guests may choose to opt-out of any day’s planned activities or scheduled meals should they not wish to participate in what has been scheduled for that day with the group, but please note that there are no price-reductions nor refunds offered for missed activities or meals that are part of the overall scheduled group experience of this Adventure journey. Some optional activities and personally elected add-ons that are not part of the overall organized group itinerary do have some flexibility in being changed, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis and/or circumstances.

Villa Adventure Guest/Participant Responsibility

ThirdHome requires a “Travel Respectfully Together” mind-set for this Villa Adventure; therefore Guests who opt-in to participate on this journey must be open-minded, understanding that everyone is sharing the beautiful villa’s interior and exterior living areas together as a group; however each couple/participant will have their own private Suites with ensuite bathrooms.

Villa Damages: In addition, each participant joining into this Adventure experience will be held responsible and accountable for any damages that may result, or that are incurred to the property, during the stay if caused by your individual actions and/or fault; therefore, any costs associated or incurred by such personal damages by any club member and/or their guests or family members, would be the responsibility of the participating member and their guests, as per our existing Exchange Club Terms & Conditions.

Accommodations

Seven Hills Villa Pula

Welcome to Seven Hills Villa Pula in Istria and experience its coastal charm

The luxuriously designed Seven Hills Pula will be your home base on this Adventure – it is an architectural masterpiece created by a Swiss award-winning architect, Armand Rebsamen (the owner of the Villa, along with his lovely wife Paola). Nestled in a tranquil yet prestigious neighborhood of Pula, this extraordinary elegant villa stands as a testament to architectural brilliance. Designed by an award-winning Swiss architect, every detail reflects uncompromising craftsmanship, blending contemporary elegance with timeless sophistication offering guests a modern design with creature comforts ensuring an unforgettable stay. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the villa offers breathtaking vistas, where the shimmering waters merge with the horizon, creating an ambience of refined coastal luxury, and it is just a short stroll from the pristine beaches and vibrant city center of Pula.

Spanning an expansive layout, this private villa retreat is adorned with bespoke furnishings and boasts seven meticulously designed bedrooms, each offers plush King-size bedding, and en-suite bathrooms featuring premium fixtures and rain showers. The heart of the home is a gourmet kitchen, fully equipped for culinary excellence, seamlessly flowing into a grand living and dining area.

Guests can enjoy the stunning luxury pool and inviting outdoor pool area, with stylish loungers set perfectly for relaxing and soaking up the sun. Gather for evening cocktails or morning coffees on the pool verandah and take in the sunrises and sunsets.

Unique highlights include a 2,000-year-old olive tree in the garden; custom made living room bar out of 250-yr old oak tree adds which adds an architectural element of natural rustic beauty by Natu Lifestyle; and a marvelous see-through glass window inside the pool.

Villa Bedrooms & Interior Comforts

The Bedrooms: Seven Hills Villa has 7 architectural modern-chic bedrooms. All bedrooms are a private sanctuary with unique design elements, offering plush King beds, high-end linens, and natural decors. Every bathroom features premium fixtures, rain showers, and designer touches for a spa-like experience. Due to the architectural layout, the villa is two-story and as such, 3 bedrooms are downstairs and 4 bedrooms are upstairs. All bedrooms have the same decor/style but are slightly different and all have various views. View the architectural drawing lay-outs below.

Villa Lower Level

Villa Upper Level

Villa Bedrooms Defined

The Villa has 7-bedrooms each with private baths; 5 bedrooms are ideal for couples and 2 bedrooms are best for Singles.

• SINGLE Room 1 (Downstairs) – with a large terrace and garden view / slightly smaller
• SINGLE Room 2 (Downstairs) – with a large terrace and garden view / slightly smaller
• COUPLE Room 3 (Downstairs) – with a large terrace and garden-neighborhood views
• COUPLE Room 4 (Upstairs) – with large windows and garden view, no balcony
• COUPLE Room 5 (Upstairs) – with a large balcony and views of garden with distance sea
• COUPLE Room 6 (Upstairs) – with large windows and pool view, no balcony
• COUPLE Room 7 (Upstairs) – with a large balcony and pool/sea views

A/C & Fresh Ocean Air: The entire villa and all bedrooms are comfortably Air-Conditioned and guests can also enjoy fresh air by opening windows and/or patio doors in the living and lounge areas (however if you open the windows or doors the air-conditioning will automatically shut-off).

Housekeeping Services: The Villa provides a part-time housekeeper; Cleaning Service will occur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with towel replacements and bedroom tidying. Bed linens/sheets will be changed once during stay (mid-week).

WiFi Service is provided throughout the villa

Getting to the Villa

Adventure participants can choose the type of transportation option they would prefer from the airport to the villa (and return); choose either an arranged private transfer, or you may opt to take a cab on your own, or rent a car. The distance is very short between airport to villa – approximately 10-15 minutes. The options are as follows:

• Arranged private airport to villa transfer – cost approximately 80 Euros (arrival/departure roundtrip)
• Taxi cabs from Pula airport – cost approximately 30-40 Euros each way
• Rental Cars – several rental car companies operate at Pula Airport (PUY) in Croatia, including Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Europcar and AutoEurope. Their representative desks and vehicles are directly at the Pula airport terminal. Booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak season, to secure your preferred vehicle and potentially get better rates.
• Parking at the Villa – the property has ample space for 5-7 rental cars

The villa adventure dining experience

Istria, also known as “Croatian Tuscany”, offers remarkable palate pleasures from fish and meat dishes to home made pastas, cheeses, stews as well as truffle-infused delicacies and of course delicious olive oils. Guests on this Adventure will experience authentic Istrian culinary platters of wonderment!

Cuisine at the Villa showcases farm-to-table and locally sourced fresh ingredients with an ocean-inspired menu, including a delicious variety of seafood, meats (beef/chicken), along with vegetarian or other dietary restriction meals. Meals are served Family-style al fresco or indoors as a shared group gathering. When off-site exploring the charming towns, guests will have the opportunities to savor authentic tastings within some of the best local restaurants, taverns and wineries.

The Villa Dining Defined

The Seven Hills Villa’s emphasis is the quality of the food they put on the table, as they source almost entirely everything from the local farmers and producers. The villa’s olive oil is organic and of highest quality. The salt is freshly sourced from the Adriatic sea. The olives are picked from their very own 2000-year old tree in the garden (one of the oldest if not the oldest olive trees in the whole of Istria). Certain items like fish and shrimp are sourced from local salt-water farms; and the meats are all sourced from local Croatian farms. All breads, pastries and desserts served are locally baked from the best artisan bakeries. All vegetables and truffles are locally sourced and our menus are seasonally inspired.

• Welcome Apero (Apero is short for “apéritif” in French or “aperitivo” in Italian) upon arrival, with local specialties (selection of salamis and cheeses)
• (7) Continental style Breakfasts (self-service) – enjoy fresh baked variety of pastries and breads, muesli, cheeses, salamis/ham, homemade jams, local honeys and butter as well as local specialties each day
• 2 Lunches in the Villa (2-courses consists of a salad and a main course)
• 2 Dinners in the Villa (3-courses) – one Welcome Dinner, and one Goodbye Finale Dinner
• 1 speedboat adventure to Brioni Island National Park with nibbles and drinks & a 3-course lunch at a fish restaurant in Farzana afterwards
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages – the Villa is focused on healthy beverages and serves water, fruit juices and refreshing homemade lemonades and other house-infused fruit flavored drinks. The Villa does not stock nor serve soft-drinks like Coca-Cola, so guests can purchase these locally at the nearby grocery stores and keep them in the refrigerator.
• OPTIONAL Alcoholic Beverage Package (with local wines and beers only) – the Villa has curated a package for our group consisting of 4-5 drinks per person per day of stay, showcasing local beers and wines – Additional Cost is: $170 USD per guest

Please note: Villa does not offer a full-service personnel staff 24/7 nor a bartender, as such guests can purchase alcoholic spirits of their choice in local grocery markets or liquor stores, to keep at the villa as desired for personal cocktails, along with any other mixers/beverages preferred. The Villa provides a part-time staff housekeeper and cleaner; kitchen and dishes will be cleaned daily.

The Local Dining Defined

Please Note: All group off-site dining will be served with a set group menu

• One Truffle Hunting Tasting Lunch
• 1 speedboat adventure to Brijuni (Brioni) National Park, with a 3-coure lunch at a fish restaurant
• 1 Dinner at San Tommaso
• 1 Dinner at Meneghetti Winery
• 3 Wine Tastings and visits to local wineries (in Meneghetti, Tomaz and San Tommaso)

Meals & Beverages Not Included (on your own to enjoy the local establishments): 2 local Lunches on your own; 3 local Dinners on your own; alcoholic beverages are not included in any of the planned group dining meals and are also self-pay when on your own. When dining locally, restaurant beverages are not included and are self-pay.

Adventure Pricing

Adventure pricing excludes “Not Included” items as noted above

$6095 per person based on Double Occupancy

Single Supplement $1200 additional to above cost

Deposit Required: $3095 per person (non-refundable)

Final Payment Due:  MAY 14, 2027

This Adventure requires a minimum of 10 people to operate as quoted; or a maximum of 12 people.

Adventure Terms & Conditions

Adventure is non-refundable (this applies to all deposits and final payments).

This Adventure requires 10 people minimum to operate at the price quoted (maximum of 12 people); if less participants join this adventure then an increase and/or decrease in cost would occur, which ThirdHome will advise all participants.

ThirdHome strongly recommends that all participants purchase travel insurance in order to participate in an Adventure. Travel Insurance is required to be purchased at the time of deposit should you wish to be covered under the “Cancel for Any Reason” plan.

ThirdHome has partnered with USI Affinity Travel Insurance providing members full travel coverage with a discount – Click here to obtain a quote. Cancel for Any Reason insurance is required to be purchased within 14-days of confirming your participation (your paid Adventure deposit); otherwise Standard Insurance can be purchased at any time prior to your departure.

ThirdHome Adventures reserves the right to modify, change or cancel itinerary accommodations and/or alter tour routing and operations, if conditions beyond our control and that of our travel partners who operate our journeys, require such alterations thereof due to any unforeseen circumstances.

Any traveler that elects not to purchase travel insurance, agrees to release ThirdHome and its tour operation partners from liability for any loss of funds incurred due to the cancellation of a specific ThirdHome Adventure as a result of, but not limited to, an act of God, a failure to purchase travel insurance, the cessation of business with respect to a tour operator/ground operator partnered services, and/or the failure of a tour operator/ground operator to refund consumer deposits or payments following the cancellation of a ThirdHome Adventure or a material failure to complete the operation of any ThirdHome Adventure.

Click here to view the ThirdHome Adventures Terms and Conditions