6 spots still available on this tour. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Ljubljana, Slovenia Our tour begins with a with an evening walking tour in Ljubljana, the charming capital of Slovenia. Our guide will give an in-depth view of life and history in Slovenia and Ljubljana. Learn about the history, architecture and people from early inception during the Roman empire, its development under under the Habsburgs for over many centuries and it’s recent transformation after leaving Yugoslavia. Dinner at the Pr’Potic restaurant followed by a nightcap at a wine bar in the old town. Guests with a sweet tooth should head to the hotel’s Cafe Zvezda for some of the city’s most heavenly cakes. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Slon in Ljubljana’s old town. Day 2: Ljubljana, Slovenia Morning at your leisure to explore. Some of Ljubljana’s highlights include walking up to the castle overlooking the city, browsing the outdoor market alongside the Ljubljanica river and sifting through the weekly Sunday antique market. Afternoon excursion to one of Slovenia’s most popular and attractive spots, Lake Bled. First we’ll admire the view onto this fairy-tale setting at the town’s castle, perched high above the lake. Then guests can enjoy a gondola ride out to the lake’s small island. We’ll leave Bled to a nearby nature spot called Vintgar Gorge for an easy and scenic walk. Overnight at Hotel Slon. Day 3: Dolenjska region, Slovenia We depart Ljubljana and head to eastern Slovenia for a tour or the country’s oldest town of Ptuj, founded in Roman times. We’ll take in Ptuj’s castle and its colorful collection of pagan costumes, still used in festivals. Afternoon to explore the wine roads around the vineyards in Jeruzalem, one of Slovenia most stunningly beautiful wine regions. Arguably the country’s best white wines are from here. Enjoy tastings of its golden, aromatic Beli Pinot and a dry Sipon wine. Our day ends at the Pudvoi farmhouse where we'll tour this region's most enticing attribute, the repnice. Repnice are cellars carved into the sandstone ground, which make up the micro-region of Bizeljsko. 200 years ago these were used for the storage of turnips but are now used for wine storage. There are approximately 30 of these caves in use and the Pudvoi family has two of them. Dinner, wine and overnight at Pudvoi Farmhouse. Day 4: Dolenjska region, Slovenia Relaxing morning at the Spa Armonia. Guests will be treated to a massage using honey and herbal oils. After being refreshed at the spa, guests can choose to spend the remainder of the day at the wellness spa access to sauna, pool and additional massages (not included in tour price). For those more adventurous, we’ll check out the 16th century monastery at nearby Olimje, taste some heavenly chocolates at the sweet shop next door, lunch at a micro-brewery and then hop over the border into Croatia to visit the hilltop Veliki Tabor castle. Northern Croatia's largest castle, it was built in the 12th century to protect the region from marauding Turks. Dinner and wine back at Pudvoi Farmhouse. Day 5: Veli Losinj, Croatia We drive down to Croatia’s Kvarner region. Our first stop is the island of Krk where we’ll enjoy a lunch and wine tasting at one of the premier eateries of the region. Restaurant Nada is set in a 100-year-old stone building near the sea and serves fresh lamb, fish and scampi along with their famous white Zlahtina wine. A short ferry ride brings us to Cres Island where we will have a scenic ride down to Losinj Island and a stop at Lubenice, a tiny village which hangs precariously on a cliff overlooking the sea. Lush vegetation, pine trees, crystal-clear sea and beautiful old stone houses on a narrow bay make up Veli Losinj, our home for the next few days. There are ruins of Roman villas, 13th century churches and traces of its shipbuilding glory days to take in on an easy stroll around the harbor. Overnight at Pjacal Guesthouse. Day 6: Veli Losinj, Croatia Today guests explore the Kvarner Bay. First a boat ride along the coves and islets of the Losinj archipelago. We’ll visit Susak island, where much of Kvarner gets its white wine from. Then it’s on to the island of Unije, which has sandy beaches and an exceptional olive oil. After a short tour of these island and lunch, we will return to Losinj and visit Mali Losinj, Veli’s bigger brother on the island. Guests can reserve a spa or massage at one of many the health spas here or just enjoy their afternoon at a cafe. For dinner, guests will dig into some great Italian food at the Bora Bar Trattoria, home to one of the most celebrated chefs in the region. Along with dinner, guests can try a couple of classic Istrian wines, the bold Teran and the dry white Malvazija. Overnight at Pjacal Guesthouse. Day 7: Lovran, Croatia Morning ferry across to the Opatija riveriea and check into our hotel, which overlooks the Kvarner Gulf. We’ll take a short tour around many of the late 19th century Hapsburgs’ villas that line the charming town of Lovran. Then we will head up to Opatija, which once served as the playground for the Austro-Hungarian elite. We’ll tour around the many historic buildings, villas, parks and the Church of the Annunciation. For dinner we will dine at a wonderfully rustic restaurant in Volosko, a sleepy fishing village of old narrow houses and the oldest inhabited spot along the Opatija Riviera. Overnight at Hotel Draga di Lovrana. Day 8: Lovran, Croatia Outdoor excursion to Mt. Ucka. We’ll drive up to the summit that offers breath-taking view in all directions: the Istrian peninsula, the islands of the northern Adriatic, the mountains of Gorski kotar, Venice, the Italian Alps. Enjoy a lunch at a panoramic spot in one of the mountain villages. Return to Opatija where guests can spend a few hours browsing shops and enjoy a coffee at one of the atmospheric cafes. Or guests can choose to stroll down the 5km promenade along the Kvarner Gulf that leads back to Lovran. Overnight at Hotel Draga di Lovrana. Day 9: Istria, Croatia Drive in to Croatia’s Istria region, known for its medieval hill-towns, wine, truffles and other gastronomic delights. We’ve planned our tour to coincide with the region’s truffle festival and will enjoy some music, events and tastings. Afterwards guests will get a special hands-on experience as we join a local couple and their canine friends hunting for truffles (which are burried under Istria’s fertile soil). Dinner and overnight at wonderful B&B in Istria’s interior, La Parenzana B&B. Day 10: Istria, Croatia All day excursion exploring Istrian towns. villages, vineyards and craftsmen. Enjoy delicious regional cuisine for lunch followed by opportunities to taste and buy local truffles, olive oils and wines. Time to browse the charming hill-town of Groznjan, nearly a ghost town twenty years ago, now transformed into an artists colony. It’s now bustling with artists galleries, handmade jewelry shops and gourmet food shops. Guests will also visit an olive mill, learn the process of making extra virgin oil and then join one of the country’s finest producers at a tasting in his home. Dinner and overnight at La Parenzana B&B. Day 11: Karst region, Slovenia In the morning we will take a tour of Secovlje salt pans (just across the border in Slovenia) to see the traditional method of salt-making. Secovlje has been in operation for over 700 years. Then a visit to the Venetian town of Piran, situated along the Adriatic Sea. The remains of old-town walls provide spectacular views to Trieste and Istria. Guests can lunch on one of the many fish restaurants along the boardwalk or grab an outside table on the bustling Tartini Square. Dinner with award-winning Teran wine and overnight at Skerlj Farmhouse. Day 12: Karst region, Slovenia Tour of the pretty little hill town of Stanjel, which boasts an art gallery in a refurbished castle and some lovely gardens with a view of the karst countryside. Lunch in the castle’s courtyard. Afternoon in the Vipava Valley for a wine tasting and tour of the vineyards. Dinner, wine and overnight at Skerlj Farmhouse. Day 13: Goriska Brda, Slovenia We'll start our morning with a ride on a carriage pulled by the famous Lipizzaner horses at the nearby horse ranch in Lipica. Then guests will get to discover Slovenia’s beautiful Goriska Brda wine region, just a stone’s throw from the border with Italy. Visit to the Brda’s main winery, a co-op for more than 500 vineyards, for a tour and tasting. Five-course slow-food lunch and wine tasting in beautifully scenic spot. Late afternoon to relax in Brda countryside or walk through the small villages and hamlets of this wine region. Dinner, wine and overnight at Kobaj Morel B&B. Notes: Price Includes: 
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Also see tour packages in: Europe Slovenia Croatia Local Culture Food & Wine Cultural Journey |
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