SLOVENIA

THE MAGIC OF SLOVENIA

9 days/8 nights

Breathtaking scenery, a vibrant capital, warm people, mountains to oceans, Slovenia is a dream destination. Only the size of Massachusetts, traveling around is a breeze.

This itinerary can be done as a self-drive with a rental car or if budget allows, with a private driver-guide.

Day 1  Arrive Ljublijana – Portorož

Fly from your nearest international airport to Ljubljana. Meet & greet by your personal guide and private transfer to the Slovenian Riviera. Check-in to your hotel followed by a welcome dinner. In Portorož, we have been throwing the dice of luck for more than a century. You can test your luck in one of the three casinos. Sweet dreams in your luxury hotel, e.g. the Kempinski Palace Portorož.

Day 2  Portorož

After a gorgeous breakfast in the morning visit the Soline Salt Pans. The salt is produced in a traditional way based on a 700-year- old method that harmonizes man and nature. Over the centuries, a unique habitat has formed for halophytic plants and animals and migrating birds. Free afternoon at leisure or take time to enjoy a private sailing trip along the Slovenian Riviera. Evening private guided tour of nearby town Piran, one of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean. Piran has preserved its unsurpassed charm and a delicious seafood dinner will finish off this wonderful day. Short walk or drive back to your hotel in Portorož. 

Day 3  Portorož -Brda

In the morning, we suggest a visit of the Hotel Spa. Afternoon departure to Goriška Brda wine region, land of the best Slovenians wines. Start with lunch at a privately owned farm and try some of the best Slovenian homemade wines. Short drive to your hotel followed by check-in then a visit to old town of Šmartno, the picturesque walled village with five preserved towers, perched on a panoramic hill like an eagle’s nest which can be seen from every corner of Brda. Evening is reserved for private Slovenian wine tasting followed by gourmet dinner at the amazing Gredič Castle.

Day 4 Brda-Otočec

After breakfast you will have time to set off to one of the world’s famous Slovenian attractions. You can start your day by visiting the Lipica Stud Farm to enjoy a private tour of the estate and get familiar with the grandiose Lipizzan horses. If you strive for a more mystical feel to your vacation, you may prefer a visit to yet another highlight this country has; the magical Karst caves – UNESCO protected Škocijan Cave or Postojna Cave and Predjama castle.

For an even more memorable experience, these tours can also be privatized. Explore the fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, the astonishing diversity of Karst features as well as easy access are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave and its large number of visitors, which has already reached 36 million in 200 years. Afterwards continue your way to Relais & Chateau Castle Otočec, the gem of tourism in the region, which lies on a small island in the middle of the Krka river, where its beauty has impressed passer-by’s for eight centuries. Rebuilt into a luxurious hotel, it has preserved the beauty of the past and has sensitively woven it into top-of-the-range contemporary offer of castle tourism. Gourmet dinner with a modern twist at the castle’s restaurant could not be a better choice. 

Day 5 Otočec

After breakfast you have some free time to explore the castle surroundings or if you like you can go play golf at the nearest golf course. The first visit in the afternoon is a local home made cheese production farm with private degustation. Next stop is Kostanjevica na Krki, Slovenia’s smallest town and one of the oldest, a true veritable wonder of nature. Today the entire town is protected as a cultural monument of the highest category. As a result of frequent floods in the past, when the only way to get around was by boat, the town became known as the “Venice of Lower Carniola”. Kostanjevica na Krki is a living town on an island. Here you can take the opportunity to experience some artistic heritage: at the Božidar Jakac Gallery and the Forma Viva sculpture garden, at the Lamut Art Salon or at the Gorjup Gallery. Finish the day with local dinner at the nearest local restaurant which stands on the edge of vineyards. Here you will enjoy wonderful views and sample local food and drink, including Cviček, one of Slovenia’s most distinctive wines. Drive back to Otočec castle hotel.

Day 6 Otočec-Ljubljana

Breakfast at the hotel and time for optional helicopter tour or round of golf. Drive to Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana’s surrounding areas, packed with natural beauty and cultural sights bearing witness to the city’s dynamic history, are well known for their walking, hiking and cycle trails and traditional culinary delights. As distances within Slovenia are short, Ljubljana is a perfect base for exploring Slovenia’s diverse beauty. Check in to a centrally located hotel and enjoy lunch in the old town restaurant. Free afternoon to explore the city or time to visit one of privately owned fine art galleries. Evening starts with a bubbly boat ride passing under all of Ljubljana’s bridges and then to AS Aperitivo, the best place for a tasty, trendy dinner in the city. Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 7 Ljubljana

After buffet breakfast at the hotel your “old town” guided walk starts with a visit to the Ljubljana open market and continues through the historical city centre, well known for its unique architectural appearance, which is the result of the legacy of the Baroque and Art Nouveau periods and, most notably, the work of the famous 20th century architect Jože Plečnik. You will get the best view and pictures from Ljubljana castle, your next stop. At the end of the tour your table is ready at the castle restaurant for Taste Ljubljana culinary experience. Free afternoon for private shopping experience or time to explore the galleries of Ljubljana. Gourmet dinner in JB, one of best Slovenian restaurant with an optional private concert. Overnight in Ljubljana. 

Day 8 Lake Bled and Bohinj day trip

After breakfast and a short drive, you will arrive to the magnificent Bohinj valley. The area around Lake Bohinj features a wonderful mixture of mountains, water and forests. This magnificent “Kingdom of the Zlatorog” will make your heart leap in every season of the year. On the south side, Lake Bohinj is enclosed by the Lower Bohinj Mountains, which rise to 2,000 meters, and on the north by the Triglav mountain range with Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain (2864 m). You will ride with a cable car to mount Vogel, where local homemade delicacies are ready for you. Next stop is lake Bled, where you will board traditional Pletna boat and ring a wishing bell in the church on the island. At the end of the day, you will visit the mighty Bled castle which offers the finest views of Bled island, the town of Bled and the wider countryside of Upper Carniola region. Drive back to Ljubljana for the last night of your Slovenian fairy tale.

Day 9 Depart Slovenia

After breakfast free time until transfer to Ljubljana Airport. End of your itinerary.

Contact us if you would like to work on a customized itinerary for your clients.