With an area of less than 21.000 square kilometres (roughly the size of Wales) and a population of just two million, Slovenia is one of Europe’s smallest nations. Forty percent of the country is mountainous, around a quarter of which is alpine, with three major mountain groups. The remainder of the country is comprised of subalpine hills, karst plateaus, forests and plains, whilst the coastline, facing the Adriatic, is just 47 km long.
(Source: the internet)
ITINERARY
- Day: Ljubljana
After landing, you will be met and greet by a driver/guide and transferred to your hotel in Slovenia’s capital city Ljubljana – European Green Capital for 2016. After quick refreshment in your hotel, you will be guided on a historical city center tour (optional), or have some time to relax and enjoy the town. Dinner and overnight.
The city center tour begins in front of the Town Hall and then takes you through the historical city center, whose unique architecture is the legacy of the Baroque and Art Nouveau periods and, most notably, the work of the famed 20th-century architect Joze Plecnik. The tour includes a stop at one of Ljubljana’s traditional restaurants, where you will have an opportunity to taste local Slovenian dishes as part of a short tasting session. Next, the tour continues up to Ljubljana’s castle via the funicular railway. You will learn about the castle’s fascinating history and get to enjoy beautiful city views from the ramparts.
- Day: Kamnik – Velika Planina – Ljubljana
After breakfast a ride to Kamnik, a gem in the foothills of the Alps. Walking tour to the city center and Mali Grad (Little Castle) the 11th or 12th-century castle. A stop in the town’s craft brewery- Mali Grad, to try a great label and even better brews, such as its Black Magic Woman dark IPA. In the early afternoon, you will visit a hiker’s paradise Velika Planina- a catchall name for a number of plateaus that come together to make the highest alpine pasture plateau in Slovenia- an altitude of over 1500 meters. From June until September, Velika Planina acts as a home for around 30 herdsmen, who slowly move up the mountain to their settlement and continue the tradition while tending to their cattle. In the summer, you can treat yourself with delicious milk products and cheeses, that are made here, as well as with the variety of local simple food.
If you do not wish to visit Velika planina, you can stop at Volcji potok – Slovenia’s largest arboretum, with masses of vibrantly coloured flowers, and an 18 hole golf course, tough enough for even the most avid golfers. Dinner in the traditional Slovenian restaurant in the old center of Ljubljana.
- Day: Lake Bohinj- Savica waterfall- Lake Bled- Vintgar gorge –Ljubljana
After breakfast, you will spend a day in Gorenjska region- Slovenia’s north-western part. First stop will be in Bohinj, to see the largest, permanent, breathtakingly beautiful alpine lake in Slovenia. A roughly one hour walk up a thickly forested slope to Savica waterfall that drops a towering 78m into a large water sink. Next stop is Bled, the alpine fairy tale with big blue lake, idyllic island with the iconic church, and a domineering castle atop of a hill. A boat ride with the wooden vessel “Pletna” to the island, to visit the church of the Mother of God. Indulge yourself with a cream cake, the town’s culinary symbol, and then a soft trek in one of the most spectacular natural sights in Slovenia- the Vintgar Gorge, which was created during the last ice age when glacial movements forced the crystalline waters of the Radovna river to the northeast, where it was able to slowly cut its way through the limestone terrain, creating sheer canyon walls reaching heights of up to 100 m. Dinner in Radovljica in a quiet and a relaxing medieval town atmosphere. Overnight in Ljubljana.
- Day: Celje – Slovenske Konjice- Zice monastery – Ljubljana
After breakfast a 45 min drive to Celje, a city where history comes alive. You will visit a town beneath today’s town to see the archaeological legacy of the Roman Empire in the cellars of the Princes Palace. Visit of the arguably the grandest castle in all of Slovenia, built in the late 12th century. A 20 minute ride to Slovenske Konjice, the city of flowers and wine that won the Most Beautiful Excursion Destination award from the Tourist Association of Slovenia for many years in a row. A taste of wine and cheese in the wine cellar located at the lower end of the vineyards in a large modern building that is mostly underground. Lunch in the Europe’s oldest inn, famous for its culinary fusion of local ingredients and old monastic recipes in a timeless attraction at the end of a tranquil valley. A guided tour of the Zice Monastery, an important cultural monument dating from 1165 a.d., the oldest Carthusian monastery in Slovenia and the first to be built outside of France or Italy. Inside the monastery is a cellar with sparkling wine- degustation (optional). Dinner and overnight in Ljubljana.
- Day: Sevnica – Kostanjevica na Krki – Ljubljana
The Sevnica municipality is a part of the Posavje region, where the Sava River frees itself from its canyon and flows onwards peacefully in wider and slower bends through the fertile valley between the POsavje hills on the left and the Dolenjska hills on the right side. A half day tour among many old churches and forts with the magnificent Sevnica Castle. Lunch time and a taste of Melania- a dessert named after the first lady of USA.
Afternoon in Kostanjevica na Krki, Slovenia’s most incredible arts center, formally known as the only town in Slovenia to be completely surrounded by water, situated on a man-made island in the middle of the Krka river. A visit to Bozidar Jakac gallery, the largest and one of the most impressive exhibitions spaces housed in what was formerly the Kostanjevica Monastery.
Dinner in traditional Slovenian restaurant, overnight in Ljubljana.
- Day: Postojna cave- Predjama castle – Idrija
After breakfast a drive to Postojna cave- the largest cave in the karst region and most visited showcase in all of Europe. Highlights of the cave include the enormous stalactites and stalagmites, and a sensational concert hall, which can hold 10.000 people. The caves are also home to the olm or proteus (or white salamanders), a blind amphibian endemic to the subterranean waters of caves of this part of Europe. Located some 10km north of Postojna is one of Europe’s finest castles. Predjama castle was built during the 13th century and due to its location, the castle has gained a well-deserved reputation for being virtually impregnable.
Launch in Postojna and the afternoon in Idrija, Slovenia’s town of mercury and lace that is since 2012 part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. A visit to Anthony’s shaft – the oldest part of Idrija’s unimaginably extensive underground world (some 700km of tunnels). After an hour and half of guided tour, we will taste “žlikrofi”, a distinctive ravioli-like culinary specialty that became Slovenia’s first officially protected dish in 2010. Dinner and overnight in Ljubljana.
- Day: Ljubljana- airport
After breakfast a drive to the airport and farewell to S-LOVE-nia.
The price includes:
– 6 nights with breakfast in one of the hotels in the center of Ljubljana
– a licenced guided where needed and all the transfers
– all entrances mentioned in the program or that are part of the program
– lunches and dinners (optional)
The price does not include:
– insurance
– personal spendings
– all the transport tickets except for the transfers
All offers will be considered tailor-made. Contact us for our best prices for this program and information on availability.