Best of Slovenia – Custom Private Tour

Ljubljana is classified as a mid-sized European city, but it has preserved its small-town friendliness and relaxed atmosphere while providing all the facilities of a modern capital. It is a very unique city dotted with pleasant picturesque places where you can expect all kinds of nice little surprises. Itinerary

• 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

A trip around the Postojna Cave can be an all-day adventure, brimming with surprising discoveries. Decide which of the numerous adventures inside the Postojna Cave and the surrounding area you would like to take part in. Postojna Cave is the best-known cave in the world. It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world's largest karst monuments. The Lipica Stud Farm is one of the most beautiful cultural-historical monuments in Slovenia, not far away from Koper. A tradition of over 430 years can be found in the rich offer of various unforgettable experiences. Enjoy a guided walk beneath the crowns of mighty trees, enter the world of Lipica through the Museum of the Lipizzaner or take some rest in elegant style. One of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean, Piran has preserved its unsurpassed charm. In Piran, you will feel as though you have stepped right into a picture postcard. You will be charmed by the narrow streets within the old town wall. In the main square, you will be greeted by the statue of the most famous man in Piran, the well-known Giuseppe Tartini, composer and virtuoso violinist who was born in a house just steps from the square. On the pier, you can catch sight of fishermen unraveling a fishing net. A market woman from Piran will have just delivered vegetables, fresh from her garden, to the market. Itinerary 

• 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

Slovenia has a coastline, specifically a 47-km long one, wedged between the better-known ones of Italy and Croatia. Slovenia has only 29 miles of coastline, so a single day on the Adriatic isn’t unheard of. The Sečovlje salt flats are the northernmost salt flats in the Mediterranean. The salt is produced in the traditional way based on a 700-year-old method that harmonizes man and nature. Over the centuries, a unique habitat has formed for halophytic plants and animals and migrating birds. The cultural heritage, which reflects centuries of work by salt makers, is extremely rich. The park offers you: an opportunity to witness the salt production that runs year-round. Most interesting from June to September when the crystallized salt is collected from the saltpans. Itinerary

• 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.

The Vipava Valley is a lush green expanse, with rich soils and moderate rainfall, that straddles the Vipava River on its way to the Adriatic. This wonderful natural heritage is enriched by cultural attractions, especially the castles. Itinerary

• 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

Bled, the town that exists for thousand years, is sheltered by picturesque mountains, with an Alpine lake and the only Slovenian island that reigns in the middle. Lake Bled is truly the jewel of Slovenia with its legendary island in the middle of the lake, castle, and hot springs. The town of Radovljica (sometimes shortened to Radol'ca) is filled with charming, historic buildings and blessed with scenic views of the Alps, including Triglav. It was settled by the early Slavs, and by the 14th century had grown into an important market town centered on a large rectangular square, today’s Linhartov trg, and fortified with high stone walls. Much of the original architecture, amazingly, is still standing and looks remarkably unchanged from those early days. It's an easy day trip from Bled, just 7km away. Stroll the medieval streets together and learn about life almost 500 years ago. Most of the towns have grown in the meantime, but if you know where to look you will find some interesting medieval sights. Itinerary

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Meeting with your guide for a half-day tour of Bled.
• 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).
• Overnight in Bled.

The most prominent feature of Celje is the old medieval castle, once home to the Counts of Celje. It lies southwest of the town and it is currently being restored. The castle is on the top of the hill that offers a good hike and an excellent view of the area. Another historic site is The Temple of Heracles just above the city park. Another point of interest is The prince's mansion, a residence for counts and later The Princes of Celje during the 14th and 15th centuries. The building has undergone many changes since, most of them during the reign of Austrian Empress Marija Terezija. Itinerary

• 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

Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia, is pleasantly small and set in the wonderful, natural surroundings of Pohorje on one side, and wine-growing hills on the other, with the Drava River winding its way through. During midwinter; the city is host to the Golden Fox Women’s Ski Championship, in summer; the Lent riverside is taken over by musicians and street performers, and in autumn; the surrounding vineyards celebrate their harvest. Itinerary

• 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

The quiet, industrial town of Sevnica on the banks of the Sava River in central Slovenia was Melania Trump's childhood home before she moved to the capital city of Ljubljana. With a population of 5,000, Sevnica has two wine roads and is one of the main wine-growing regions in Slovenia, and has numerous beautiful castles and churches and other sights of interest. The town’s star attraction is undoubtedly Sevnica Castle, set on top of a small hill above the old town center. Itinerary

• 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.

Itinerary

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out
• Private transfer from your hotel to the Airport
• Say goodbye to Slovenia and head home

Service

• 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!)