Ljubljana–Logarska Valley–Celje–Maribor–Bogojina–Filovci–Ižakovci–Ptuj–Rogaška Slatina–Olimje–Kosta-njevica na Krki–Pleterje–Otočec–Brezje–Bled–Bohinj–Kranjska Gora–Vršič–Trenta–Kobarid–Nova Gorica–Kras–Lipica–Slovenian coast–Piran–Postojna Cave

Day 1: Arrival in Slovenia and an afternoon tour of the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana (Parliament, opera, gallery, university library, Križanke open air theatre and more). Then we will mount the Castle Hill by funicular and return to the Old town on foot to see the Šuštarski Bridge, the cathedral, the marketplace, the Triple Bridge and the Prešern monument. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: After breakfast, departure towards Trojane and the Upper Savinjska Valley to Logarska Valley, one of Slovenia’s most beautiful Alpine valleys, which was awarded the title European Destination of Excellence. After seeing the 295 ft (90 m) high Rinka Falls and some free time for a light meal, we will continue to Celje and climb the Castle hill to enjoy the view over the town and see the preserved remains of the castle of the only Slovenian Counts. We will continue to Maribor, the second largest Slovenian city, for a city tour: Slomšek Square with the Cathedral and the main university building, Main Square with the Plague Monument and the Drava embankment – Lent, with the oldest grape vine in the world. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Breakfast and departure for Prekmurje via Murska Sobota and past the Moravske spa for the first stop in Bogojina, where we will enter an unusual church designed by Jože Plečnik. Then we will visit a pottery workshop in the nearby village of Filovci and then cross the Mura river by a “brod” (a wooden raft built for crossing a river where there is no bridge) in Ižakovci. After trying a traditional local game dish – bograč, we will continue to the winegrowing region of Slovenske gorice to visit a wine cellar and taste local wines. In the afternoon we drive to Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian town, visit the castle museum and walk through the old town. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Breakfast. Departure for Rogaška Slatina, one of the oldest spa towns in Slovenia for a brief stop, then on to the old apothecary in Olimje. After a light meal at one of the local agritourism farms, we will travel towards the Dolenjska region. There will be a brief stop in the “island town” of Kostanjevica na Krki and a visit to the Carthusian monastery in Pleterje. We will be shown a video presentation about the life of the “White Monks” and get a chance to taste the famous Williams pear brandy. The last stop will be at Otočec, the only Slovenian castle situated on an island. Some free time for taking a swim in one of the spa resorts. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: After breakfast, we will drive past Ljubljana to Gorenjska and make a stop at Brezje with the largest Slovenian pilgrimage church of St. Mary’s. Then, we will continue to Bled and after a panoramic drive alongside the lake, a “pletna” (a traditional boat) will take us over to Bled Island. On the return, there will be free time to have a light meal and to try a “kremšnita”, a type of traditional Bled flaky pastry. We will continue to Bohinj, and drive along the bank of picturesque Lake Bohinj to the Savica Falls (a 25-minute walk each way). In the late afternoon we will drive to Kranjska Gora for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: After breakfast, we will head for the mountains, towards the Vršič pass (5 285 ft, 1161 m) and enjoy stunning views of the Julian Alps. We will briefly stop at the Russian Chapel and at the pass, and then we will continue on through the Trenta valley to Kobarid for a visit to the Kobarid Museum dedicated to the battles on the Isonzo front. After a light meal somewhere along the way, we will drive through Nova Gorica to the Slovenian Karst, where we will learn how prosciutto is dried; we will also try it along with the typical local wine, teran. To conclude the day, we will stop in Lipica, world famous for its white Lipizzaner horses. Dinner and overnight on the Slovenian coast.

Day 7: Breakfast and a short panoramic bus ride along the Slovenian coast: through Portorož to Piran with a walk to the old town Tartini Square. In Postojna, we will visit one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist gems, Postojna Cave. After an underground tour, we will return towards Ljubljana or to the point of departure.