Best of Slovenia
8 Day Land Tour
VISITING: LJUBLJANA – POSTOJNA – LIPICA – PIRAN – PORTOROŽ – SEČOVLJE – VIPAVA – NOVA GORICA – KOBARID – BLED – RADOVLJICA – CELJE – PTUJ – MARIBOR – SEVNICA – OTOČEC
Stunning Slovenia – this small country packs a powerful punch – ranging from the glorious Julian Alps with verdant alpine hiking, famous gorgeous lakes, and rivers to its forested and pastoral countryside with world-class fishing and renowned vineyards to its shimmering, but small, Adriatic coastline. Blessed with magnificent scenery and incredible history, enriched with folk traditions, delicious cuisine and wines, natural thermal springs and spas, and amazing outdoor adventure activities, here is a land so divine that it is on the rise to becoming one of the top travel destinations. Austro-Hungarian, Mediterranean, and Balkan influences have formed an ancient and distinctive cuisine and culture. Fairy tale castles, Hapsburg palaces, and small former Yugoslavian villages stand as a testimony to its tumultuous past. Once the site of one of the bloodiest crossroads between Europe and Asia, it gained international recognition and independence in 1992 and today is a gorgeous and peaceful land that beckons passionate travelers from all over the globe. A journey to Slovenia and its surrounding countries is a lovely and indelible memory that lives with you forever.
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Day 1 - LJUBLJANA
- Arrival to Ljubljana (TBC)
- Upon arrival meeting with your driver and a private transfer to your centrally situated hotel in Ljubljana
- Meeting with your guide for a walking city tour of Old Town Ljubljana
- Soak in the atmosphere, sample foods from street cafes, and make your way from one square to another.
- Wrap up your night with dinner and people-watching along the riverbanks, which come alive after dark on warm weekend evenings.
- Time at leisure and an overnight
- Private transfer in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle (one way)
- English speaking guide for a private walking city tour of Ljubljana
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Ljubljana, double room, BB basis
- OPTIONAL: Take a river cruise under the many bridges, shop in the market, and go bar hopping in Metelkova street
Day 2 - LJUBLJANA – POSTOJNA – LIPICA – PIRAN – PORTOROŽ
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- On your way to the coast, you’ll be passing right through Karst area
- There are three main attractions in this area (listed in the order you’ll pass them from Ljubljana): Predjama Castle, Postojna Caves, and Lipica Stud Farm.
- Focus on a photo stop at Predjama Castle and Postojna cave prior to an organized visit.
- Onward drive to Lipica with a stop for a visit to the stables.
- We continue towards the coast and stop in Piran, a quaint Mediterranean town for a visit. The town of Piran is fairly small but is worth a few hours to visit. Walk through town, making sure not to miss Tartini Square, the piers, and the view from the bell tower.
- A drive further down the coastline of Slovenia and stay in Portorož, time at leisure and an overnight
- Private transfer from Ljubljana to Portorož/Piran with an en-route stop in Postojna & Lipica in a modern, air-conditioned car (English speaking driver with entrance fees)
- English speaking guide for a walking tour in Piran
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Portorož, double room, BB basis
Day 3 - PORTOROŽ – SEČOVLJE – PORTOROŽ
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Meet your driver and head to the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park to see how salt has been harvested here for centuries. Along with the museum, you’ll find a guided tour.
- Return to Portorož and spend the remainder of your day sunbathing, swimming from pebbly beaches, and indulging in the local gelato or head back to your resort for fun in the sun if that’s more your speed.
- Private half-day excursion from Portorož to Sečovlje Salina Nature Park in a modern, air-conditioned car (English speaking driver and entrance fees included)
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Portorož, double room, BB basis
- OPTIONAL: Spend an afternoon at Thalasso Spa at the Piran Saltpans (Salt-pan mud wraps, Sea salt scrubs, manual body massages, Kneipp walking pools, bath in brine – mother water) Please keep in mind: Spa Closed: October-May
Day 4 - PORTOROŽ – VIPAVA – NOVA GORICA – KOBARID – BLED
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Meeting with your guide for a private transfer from Portorož to Bled with en-route stops in Vipava Valley, Nova Gorica, and Kobarid
- In Vipava, you will meet a local guide for a private tour of sights, the oldest one is Stari grad (Old Castle), which stands on top of a steep hill above the square and dates back to the 12th century.
- A drive to Vipava Valley will follow so kick back and enjoy the hospitality and scenery in the Vipava Valley, you will visit 2 tourist farms, wine cellars or osmice (tasting rooms) and enjoy tasting home-made and locally produced food and drinks.
- Onward drive to Nova Gorica for a tour of the city, Corinini Cronberg Palace with its English style garden or the medieval Gorizia castle which dominates the town. After stopping at the monastery where the last French Bourbon kings are buried we proceed towards Solkan to admire the Soča valley with its railroad bridge, originally built in the time of the Secession, between the 1900 and 1905, with an arch span of 85 meters (279 ft.), it is the second-longest stone bridge in the world and the longest stone bridge among railroad bridges. The bridge was very important during the WWI.
- We cross the road bridge over the Soča river that opens a stunning view on the stone bridge, towards Goriška Brda (hills) that are frequently compared to Tuscany because of the many vineyards and the countless hills framed north by the beauty of the Julian Alps.
- After a drive, we reach Kobarid, known for the famous Battle of Caporetto, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel »A Farewell to Arms«. We visit the Museum in the center of Kobarid where the battle is well documented.
- Finally, we arrive in Bled for an overnight stay
- Private transfer from Portorož to Bled with en-route stops in Vipava Valley, Nova Gorica, and Kobarid in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guides in Vipava, Nova Gorica and Kobarid with entrance fees
- Wine tasting in 2 wine cellars in Vipava Valley area and a home-made, locally lunch
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Bled, double room, BB basis
Day 5 - BLED – RADOVLJICA – BLED
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Meeting with your guide for a half-day tour of Bled. Take a walking tour of Bled town with a visit to Bled Castle, pletna boat ride and a visit to the Church of the Assumption of Mary that you reach after 99 steps. The wishing bell is another attraction because when you ring the bell, make a wish and it will be granted.
- A short drive away, you will reach Radovljica for a visit to the Beekeeping museum (this apiculture museum takes a closer look at the long tradition of beekeeping in Slovenia). The museum's collection of illustrated beehive panels from the 18th and 19th centuries, a folk art unique to Slovenia, is the largest in the country, and there are some rather astounding beehives in improbable shapes: (life-sized) people, a miniature mansion, even a lion. You can also observe a live beehive in action, filled with a family of indigenous Carniolan bees.
- Bees are still kept in Slovenia for their honey and wax but much more lucrative are such by-products as pollen, propolis, and royal jelly) or Gingerbread Museum (In the cellar of Gostilna Lectar is this small, super-sweet showroom, which demonstrates in living color the particularly Slovenian art of lectarstvo, the making, shaping and decorating of honey dough into hearts, figures and so on. It's cute as a button, with plenty to buy and even have your custom messages made.
- After a hearty meal and a traditional Slovenian lunch at Lectar restaurant, you will be driven back to Bled for an afternoon at leisure.
- Overnight in Bled.
- Private tour of Bled & Radovljica (English speaking driver/guide with entrance fees)
- Traditional Slovenian lunch at Lectar restaurant (drinks included)
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Bled, double room, BB basis
Day 6 - BLED – CELJE – PTUJ
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Meeting with your driver for a private transfer from Bled to Ptuj with an en-route stop in Celje
- In Celje, you will enjoy a private tour of the city with a visit to the Old Castle Celje or the exhibitions on display at the Regional Museum and the Museum of Contemporary History.
- Onward drive to Ptuj where after you settle in the hotel, you will enjoy sightseeing of Ptuj
- Ptuj has a castle with a wide museum collection, featuring everything from portraits to carnival masks to musical instruments. See the castle, stroll through town, sample something at the wine cellar, and soak in the thermal springs at one of the several wellness centers.
- Overnight in Ptuj
- Private transfer from Bled to Ptuj with an en-route stop in Celje in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guides in Celje and Ptuj with entrance fees
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Ptuj, double room, BB basis
Day 6 - PTUJ – MARIBOR
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- We continue the trip to Maribor, the capital of the Styria region. A walking tour of the city includes Liberty Square, the NOB memorial, Castle Square, the Synagogue, the Jewish Tower, the Old Vine House where the oldest recorded living vine in the world grows (around 400 years old), the Defense Towers, the Plague Column, Town Hall, Cathedral, and a visit to one of the biggest Wine Cellars in central Europe, which lies under the city and has a capacity of more than 5 million liters of wine. After the visit and tasting of their best wines, the rest of the day is at leisure
- Overnight in Maribor
- Private transfer from Ptuj to Maribor in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guide in Maribor with entrance fees
- Wine tasting in Maribor with snacks
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Maribor, double room, BB basis
Day 7 - MARIBOR – SEVNICA – OTOČEC
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Meeting with your driver for a drive to Sevnica with a tour of the city, Sevnica Castle with wine tasting and a traditional lunch at a local restaurant topping it up with a dessert named after new First Lady – Melania Trump
- Onward drive to Otočec, time at leisure and overnight stay.
- Private transfer from Maribor to Otočec with an en-route stop in Sevnica in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guide in Sevnica with entrance fees and a traditional Slovenian restaurant (drinks included)
- Wine tasting in Sevnica Castle Wine Cellar with snacks
- Accommodation in a 5* hotel in Otočec, double room, BB basis
Day 8 - OTOČEC – LJUBLJANA (OR ZAGREB)
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Private transfer from your hotel to the Airport
- Say goodbye to Slovenia and head home
- Private transfer from your hotel to the airport in a modern, air-conditioned car
- (Bear in mind – Otočec is an approx 1-hour drive away from Ljubljana Airport but also from Zagreb Airport making it possible to arrange departure from either of the airports!)
- ALL PRIVATE and ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDES AND DRIVERS
- VAT TAX INCLUDED
- 24hr concierge and in Croatia assistance
- English speaking guide for a private walking city tour of Ljubljana
- 1 night in a 4* hotel in Ljubljana, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from Ljubljana to Portorož/Piran with an en-route stop in Postojna & Lipica in a modern, air-conditioned car (English speaking driver with entrance fees)
- English speaking guide for a walking tour in Piran
- 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Portorož, double room, BB basis
- Private half-day excursion from Portorož to Sečovlje Salina Nature Park in a modern, air-conditioned car (English speaking driver and entrance fees included)
- Private transfer from Portorož to Bled with en-route stops in Vipava Valley, Nova Gorica, and Kobarid in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guides in Vipava, Nova Gorica and Kobarid with entrance fees
- Wine tasting in 2 wine cellars in Vipava Valley area and a home-made, locally lunch
- 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Bled, double room, BB basis
- Private tours of Bled & Radovljica (English speaking driver/guide with entrance fees)
- Traditional Slovenian lunch at Lectar restaurant (drinks included)
- Private transfer from Bled to Ptuj with an en-route stop in Celje in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guides in Celje and Ptuj with entrance fees
- 1 night in a 4* hotel in Ptuj, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from Ptuj to Maribor in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guide in Maribor with entrance fees
- Wine tasting in Maribor with snacks
- 1 night in a 4* hotel in Maribor, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from Maribor to Otočec with an en-route stop in Sevnica in a modern, air-conditioned car
- English speaking guide in Sevnica with entrance fees and a traditional Slovenian restaurant (drinks included)
- Wine tasting in Sevnica Castle Wine Cellar with snacks
- 1 night in a 5* hotel in Otočec, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from your hotel to the airport in a modern, air-conditioned car
- Take a river cruise under the many bridges, shop in the market, and go bar hopping in Metelkova street
- Spend an afternoon at Thalasso Spa at the Piran Saltpans (Salt-pan mud wraps, Sea salt scrubs, manual body massages, Kneipp walking pools, bath in brine – mother water)
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Airfare, Travel Insurance
- Additional excursions and / or services not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses (internet, telephone, mini bar etc.)
- Tips and porterage services