dossier

Highlights of Slovenia

Day 1: Arrive in Ljubljana

We take to your hotel (45mins) in time for dinner in a local restaurant in the old town.

Day 2: Ljubljana and the Skocjan Caves
We discover the Italianate cathedral, Art Nouveau arcades, shady riverside cafés and curious Shoemakers’ Bridge (a medieval tax haven for “cobblers”!) of Slovenia’s beloved capital. After lunch, we visit the UNESCO listed Skocjan caves, where stalactites and stalagmites glisten in 100m high caverns. We arrive in Piran, the Adriatic’s best preserved Venetian town, in time for a dip in the roof- top pool before dinner.

Day 3: Piran to Izola 8km/5mi/3hr
We climb St George’s bell tower for harbour views, before leaving Piran’s pastel   overhanging houses and arcaded squares to follow a coastal path past Strunjan’s ancient salt pans to Cape Ronek and a breathtaking panorama from Trieste’s castle in Italy to the Croatian coast. We finish in Izola famous for its seafood for a late lunch here, before returning to Piran and dinner by the sea.

Day 4: Vipava Valley Vineyards Walk 8km/5mi/3hr
On to Vipava valley. Slovenia’s wine cellar, its south facing hills are terraced with vines and crowned with medieval castles built by wealthy vintners. Our walk starts in Goce (a well preserved medieval town with over 60 vaulted wine cellars!) along a path that gently climbs to pretty Marija Snezina chapel, descending through fig and cherry trees into Stanjel where we’ll lunch in a gostilna (inn) and taste the local wines.  We reach Kobarid, where we're warmly welcomed by the Hvala family before dinner at thier nationally acclaimed restaurant.

Day 5: Kobarid and the Soca River Walk 8km/5mi/3hr
Hard to imagine this pretty Alpine town witnessed the largest battle in history that inspired Hemmingway’s Farewell to Arms. We follow a woodland path past the Italian defences - superb open valley views - then drop beside the azure waters of the Soca River to reach stunning Veliki Kozjak waterfall, a 15m high cascade down a limestone cavern.   We return by the Napoleonic Bridge that marked the Slovenian/Italian border to Kobarid.

Day 6: Vrsic Pass and Lake Bled 7km/5mi/3 hr
First stop the Trenta valley where we explore the excellent Alpine Botanical Garden. Then by minibus up awe-inspiring Vrsic pass (1611m) for lunch in a mountain hut. In the afternoon, we walk through pine-shaded cliffs to dramatic Pericnik waterfall. Then a 45 min drive with thrilling views over Mt. Triglav (2864m), Slovenia’s highest peak, gets us to our sssshotel by beautiful Lake Bled in time for a dip in the pool before dinner.

Day 7: Vintgar Gorge and Bled Island 9km/6mi/3 1 /2 hr
Walking through flower filled meadows, we reach the oak dappled shade of Vintgar Gorge, where wooden bridges over rock pools and rapids lead to the sparking Sum Waterfall. The return offers high meadow views over Lake Bled. Then after lunch, we visit Bled Island and its Baroque Church by pletna(Slovenian gondola) and watch the sunset from the terrace of Bled’s 1000 year old castle before our final dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Return Home
We take you back to the airport after breakfast.