Slovenia – 7 days

DAY 1: LJUBLJANA AIRPORT-PTUJ-ORMOŽ-VERŽEJ-GORNJA RADGONA-MARIBOR
Arrival at Ljubljana International Airport, transfer to PTUJ, the oldest town in Slovenia, mentioned for the first time by Tacitus in his Historiae as early as 69 AD. At every step, its monuments testify to the far past, traces from Roman Poetovio and the periods which followed. We will walk on beautiful castle, which dominant over the city. Afterwards visit of wine cellar where we will taste good wines.  The journey will continue in ORMOŽ where the Jeruzalem-Ljutomer “wine road” begins. After lunch in one of the taverns on JERUZALEM’s scenic wine route we will proceed to VERŽEJ, where the only still working watermill on the Mura river stands. For this day the excursion will end in GORNJA RADGONA, in its famous wine cellar where we will taste the best sparkling wine in Slovenia. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Maribor.

DAY 2: MARIBOR-OLIMJE-OTOČEC

After breakfast a morning walk through the old town of MARIBOR, reflecting centuries of Maribor’s history from the Gothic to the Baroque, will lead us from the Maribor castle, which contains exhibits of the Maribor Regional Museum, to the Old Vine in the district of Lent, the oldest known vine in the world (more than 400 years old), still offering its juice. We will taste quality wines from the hills surrounding Maribor. Our next stop will be in OLIMJE where we will visit the church and a part of the former castle, later turned into a monastery of the order of Paulists and the famous apothecary shop, the third oldest in Europe. Good lunch in Olimje. Afterwards we will drive to OTOČEC (Islet), the castle in the middle of the Krka river, a “water” fortification from the 13th century which is converted into luxury hotel. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in castle  OTOČEC.

DAY 3: OTOČEC-LJUBLJANA-BLED
After breakfast we will visit the Slovene political and cultural centre LJUBLJANA. A walk through the old part of the town, which lies between the castle hill and the Ljubljanica river, where we can admire the Baroque and Secessionist period buildings, as well as the works of the great Slovene architect Jože Plečnik. Lunch in Ljubljana. After lunch we will drive to BLED. Checking in to your hotel. Afternoon visit of Bled, its medieval castle, which stands firmly and proudly high on the cliff above the lake. We will try the unique experience of making a boat trip with »Pletnja« to the island in the middle of the lake. Time permitting we will drive to the NATIONAL PARK of TRIGLAV and have a walk through the VINTGAR GORGE, one of the most beautiful and spectacular gorges in our country. Dinner. Overnight in hotel. 

DAY 4: BLED – BOHINJ – SAVICA WATERFALL – KRANJSKA GORA – VRŠIČ-BOVEC
In the morning after breakfast our route will lead us to BOHINJ with its beautiful BOHINJ LAKE. Many people justifiably think it is one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes near and far. On the upper part of the lake a hiking tour will lead us to the SAVICA WATERFALL, where the magnificent 60-metre waterfall cutting deep into a gorge offers one of the most impressive sights in the Julian Alps. We will set forth to the pleasant Alpine resort and ski centre KRANJSKA GORA. Indeed, an Alpine Skiing World Cup event takes place here annually, as does the Snowboarding World Cup. Afterwards a trip over the Vršič Pass, Slovenia’s highest mountain pass, will follow. This scenic road offers breathtaking views of the fantastically shaped mountain peaks and ridges of the Julian Alps. After crossing the Vršic pass we will enter into the SOČA VALLEY. Its dominant feature is the Soča river. With its deep aquamarine colour the Soča winds through an extremely picturesque and diversified landscape. We will stop in BOVEC, the largest tourist resort in the Upper Soča Valley. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 5: BOVEC-TOLMIN-GORIŠKA BRDA (BRDA HILLS)- NOVA GORICA

After breakfast we will be on our way to TOLMIN we will visit the famous Tolmin Gorges that reach depths of up to 60 metres in some parts. Once Dante, the famous poet, visited Tolmin and the nearby Dante’s Cave is named after him, since there is a legend that it was right here that Dante obtained the inspiration for his description of Hell in his Divine Comedy. Afterwards to the Brda hills which are known by good food and wines.  Lunch in the Brda Hills. We will set forth to the Nova Gorica, one of the youngest cities in Slovenia. Checking in to your hotel PERLA, where is the biggest CASINO in Slovenia. Good night we will say little bit later. 

DAY 6: NOVA GORICA-KRAS-KOBJEGLAVA-ŠTANJEL-LIPICA

After breakfast we will drive to the Kras. Little villages, nice people, smoked ham, Teran (wine)… are the main characteristics of this beautiful limestone region. In village KOBJEGLAVA we will see how they preparing this speciality, of course we have to taste smoked ham and Teran. Afterwards short walk through small interesting village-ŠTANJEL. Štanjel was inhabited from roman period, today is because of architectural plan one of the most interesting villages in Slovenia. The last visit this afternoon will be dedicated to the famous Lippizaner horses in LIPICA. According to its more than 400 year old tradition the stables even today raise pure-bred Lippizaners for training and riding. Check in to your hotel in Lipica. Dinner we will have on tourist farm in Tomaj. Overnight in Lipica.        

DAY 7: LIPICA – ŠKOCJAN – PIRAN -LJUBLJANA 

After breakfast the day will be dedicated to discovering the Slovene coastal area. First of all  we will set forth to the ŠKOCJAN CAVES, a world of stalactites and stalagmites, large subterranean halls and the wild river Reka. For its unique beauty it was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The visit will start in the village of Matavun, then we will descend through an artificial tunnel into the Silent Cave. Immediately after the tunnel appears the wonderfully sintered Paradise, followed by the Great Hall, Dead Lake, Hall of Pans and Big Valley, from where we’ll take the route back to the village.  Afterwards to the most beautiful city on slovenian coast-PIRAN. Walk through the old part of PIRAN, and visit to the cathedral with its campanile which reminds us of the period of the long Venetian reign over this part of the country. After  lunch transfer to the airport for departure.