Daily Itinerary
Travel Dates
$2700 -- 10 days for 2 people
Tour Price
October 5th - October 15th, 2012
Day 1:
Transfer from airport to hotel in Ljubljana. Walking tour of Ljubljana’s old town followed by a welcome diner. Overnight at 2-star hotel in the old town.
Day 2:
Morning at your leisure to enjoy Ljubljana’s riverside market, castle and/or museums. We will set out on a pretty drive past castles, rivers and birch forests through Slovenia’s southern region of Dolenjska. Visit to the Pleterje monastery, a still active 15th century Carthusian monastery, and an outdoor ethographic museum. Overnight and dinner at farmhouse in Dolenjska.
Day 3:
We pop into Croatia’s little-touristed region of Zagorje to visit the rotund castle of Veliki Tabor. Then we will head back into Slovenia to visit the country’s oldest town of Ptuj, see its castle/historic museum and enjoy the old town. On the way back to our farmhouse we will stop at Olimje monastery and chocolate factory. Dinner and overnight at farmhouse in Dolenjska.
Day 4:
Leave Dolenjska region and head west to Slovenia’a Karst region boasting rolling hills of vineyards, caves and pretty hill towns.. Visit to the dramatically situated Predjama Castle as it literally hangs from a cliff. Castle contains a network of underground lairs and folklore regarding the residence of a Slovenian Robin Hood. Walking tour around Stanjel, the region’s most captivating hill town with many lovely old stone houses, an art gallery in a refurbished castle, pretty gardens and views over the Karst. Overnight and dinner with local wine, prosciutto and other regional specialties at the Skerlj farmhouse which has been in the family for over 400 years.
Day 5:
A trip to the fascinating underground world of the Skocjan caves - boasting Europe’s largest subterranean canyon. Visit to the small church in Hrastovlje containing colorful frescoes, including the Danse of Macabre. Enjoy the afternoon at coastal town of Piran with it’s many Venetian buildings and viewpoints over the Adriatic. Dinner and overnight at farmhouse in Karst.
Day 6:
Drive down to Croatia’s Istria region, known for its medieval hill-towns, wine, truffles and other gastronomic delights. First we will visit the charming hill-town of Groznjan, a once ghost town transformed into an artists colony. It’s now bustling with artists galleries, handmade jewelry shops and gourmet food shops. Later we will stop for lunch and interesting medieval history in the tiny town of Hum and then go to Motovun, the region’s most famous hill town, to walk around and have a coffee or snack with views over Isria’s Milna valley. Overnight and home cooked dinner at pension tucked away in the Istrian countryside.
Day 7:
Start our morning with a guided walking tour of Rovinj, Istria’s most charming seaside town. Time after the tour to explore at your the art shops & galleries, outdoor market and labyrinth of cobblestone streets. We’ll stop for lunch in the nearby hill town of Bale and visit its 15th century Venetian palace. As we head down the coast, we’ll stop at Vodnjan to see St. Blaise’s church and mummified saints. By late afternoon we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Pula, Istria’s big port city that is loaded with rich history spanning over two millennia. Included is a visit to its Roman amphitheatre and ancient temple. Dinner and overnight in our Istrian pension.
Day 8:
We drive back into Slovenia and head to the country’s beautiful wine region of Goriska Brda. Enjoy a very special five-course slow-food lunch with wine tasting during each course. We continue heading north through the scenic Soca River Valley and Julian Alps. Visit to an-award winning WWI museum in the town of Kobarid and old Austrian fort. This area is where Hemingway worked as an ambulence drive during the war and inspired his A Farewell to Arms. Arrive to Lake Bled in the evening. Overnight at centrally located pension.
Day 9:
A visit to Bled castle that overlooks the fairy tale setting of the lake and then a gondola ride across Lake Bled and a visit the island’s church. Be sure to ring the bells and make a wish. Afternoon visit to tranquil Lake Bohinj, Savica waterfall and a memorable walk along the scenic Vintgar Gorge. Overnight at pension near Lake Bled.
Day 10:
Our last day of the tour will be driving loop to a trio of cute small towns and some fantastic scenary. We’ll visit the castle at Skofja Loka (2nd oldest town in Slovenia), a few churches nearby then take a scenic drive over the hills and down to the medieval towns Kropa and Radovljica. The bee museum in Radovljica is truly one-of-a-kind with its uniquely Slovenian folk art. We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner at little restaurant next to the museum.
Day 11:
transfer to airport - END OF TOUR
Tour Starts: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tour Ends: Lake Bled, Slovenia
Tour Includes
Private driver/local guide, 10 nights lodging, 8 dinners, 8 breakfasts and one 5-course slow-food lunch, transport by car and entrance fees.
