A Family Adventure Through Slovenia and Croatia

Day 1 - Welcome to Slovenia

Touch down in Slovenia’s understated capital, often described as one of Europe’s most liveable cities. A private transfer will take you from the airport to a carefully chosen boutique hotel in the centre of Ljubljana. Once settled, the city reveals itself at an easy pace: pedestrian streets, green spaces and a lively yet relaxed atmosphere make this an ideal introduction for families travelling with older children.

Day 2 - Sights and Tasts of Ljubljana

This morning, explore Ljubljana on foot with a knowledgeable local guide, combining a gentle walking tour with an introduction to Slovenian food culture. Along the way, you’ll sample local flavours while discovering the city’s key sights and stories. Later, make your way up to Ljubljana Castle, set high above the old town, for wide-ranging views across the city and surrounding countryside.

Day 3 - Lake Bled and onto Lake Bohinj

After breakfast, depart from Ljubljana and travel onwards to Lake Bled, one of Slovenia’s most recognisable landscapes. Set against forested hills and alpine peaks, the lake lends itself to an unhurried day outdoors. Time is left to swim in the clear water, sample Bled’s traditional cream cake, or simply enjoy the views from the shore.

A traditional rowing boat trip takes you across the lake to St Mary’s Island, where ringing the church bell is a time-honoured local custom. Later, visit the medieval castle perched high above the water, offering sweeping views across the lake. After lunch or an early dinner, continue on to your accommodation in the peaceful setting of Lake Bohinj.

Day 4 - Discover Bohinj

Today is devoted to exploring the natural surroundings of Lake Bohinj at your own pace. A network of well-marked walking trails circles the lake and leads into nearby woodland and waterfalls, offering options to suit different energy levels. For those inclined, the clear lake waters invite a swim, or kayaks can be hired for a closer look from the water.

Later, consider taking the cable car up to the Vogel plateau, where wide-reaching views open out across the Julian Alps for a memorable perspective for families.

Day 5 - Triglav National Park and the Soča River

Today’s journey takes you deep into the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park, one of Slovenia’s most striking landscapes. With a private guide, you’ll explore the region through scenic drives, short walks and carefully chosen viewpoints, giving a real sense of the scale and variety of the landscape.

In the afternoon, head to the emerald waters of the Soča River for a guided white-water rafting experience. Suitable for families with older children, it offers an exhilarating yet accessible way to experience the river and is often a highlight of the journey.

Day 6 - Lake Bohinj and Canyoning

The morning is left free to enjoy the calm setting of Lake Bohinj, whether that means a lakeside walk, a swim, or simply time to relax. In the afternoon, take part in a guided canyoning experience, navigating a natural gorge shaped by water over time.

Using a series of slides, jumps and short abseils. This is a fun and active way to explore the landscape, and a real favourite with families travelling with older children. You’ll have plenty of photos to look back on.

Day 7 - Onto the Karst

Leaving Lake Bohinj behind, travel south towards the Karst region, with time en route to visit two of Slovenia’s most distinctive sights. Begin at Postojna Cave, exploring its vast underground chambers and formations, before continuing to Predjama Castle, dramatically set into the mouth of a sheer rock face.

Later in the day, continue on to your accommodation in the Karst region, where you’ll spend the next three nights in a peaceful rural setting at a charming, family-run property. The evening is left free to relax, settle into your surroundings and enjoy a leisurely dinner at the property, often served outdoors beneath the Karst stars.

Day 8 - From the Karst to Italy by ebike

Set out this morning on a guided e-bike ride from the heart of the Karst region towards the Italian port city of Trieste. The route winds through vineyards and small villages, with wide views opening out towards the Adriatic, combining gentle exertion with time to take in the changing landscape.

Once in Trieste, the afternoon is yours — whether that’s exploring the city’s lively streets and cafés or heading along the coast to Miramare Castle.

Day 9 - Meet the famous horses

Today is spent at the historic Lipica Stud Farm, set amid the open landscapes of the Karst. A guided visit offers insight into the long traditions of the stud and the care of its famous horses, followed by a graceful performance in which music and movement are set against the surrounding countryside.

Riding can be arranged for confident, experienced riders, while a horse-drawn carriage provides a slower, more reflective way to take in the grounds and nearby parkland.

Day 10 - Truffle hunting in Istria

After breakfast, continue south into Croatia, travelling through the Istrian peninsula, a region shared by both Slovenia and Croatia. Here, the landscape softens into rolling vineyards, olive groves and stone hill towns, and the pace of life begins to shift. Food and wine are central to the region’s identity, with local varieties such as the gently aromatic Malvašija widely produced.

Later, you’ll spend time with a local family of truffle hunters, heading into the woods with their trained dogs before sitting down to a relaxed meal featuring the day’s finds. The day ends on the coast, arriving in the historic harbour town of Rovinj, where you’ll spend the next few nights unwinding by the Adriatic.

Day 11-13 - Rovinj and the Adriatic Coast

Spend the next few days unwinding at a stylish base on the Croatian coast in the beautiful harbour town of Rovinj. With no set schedule, these days are about enjoying time together as a family — swimming in the clear waters of the Adriatic, wandering through nearby nature parks, or exploring Rovinj’s old town at your own pace.

Evenings are ideal for relaxed meals, whether that’s seafood by the water or simple local dishes in one of the town’s many welcoming restaurants.

Day 14 - Time to depart

After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to the airport for your journey home, bringing your time in Slovenia and Croatia to a close.