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Slovenia is perhaps a country you’ve never considered as being an innovative culinary destination but thanks to its incredible farm-to-table cuisine, wine scene, and chefs focused on locally sourced produce, it is emerging as one to rival traditional European destinations.

This private tour brings you into the heart of Slovenian food and wine, where you will be brought around Slovenia, sampling the best it has to offer. From the Secovlje saltpans to cheese making in the Alps, you’ll explore and learn all about traditional techniques. This itinerary also offers you the chance to put your chef’s hat on and get up close and personal with typical Slovenian ingredients.

 

Your Itinerary

Day 1. - Welcome to Slovenia and Piran.

Begin your gastronomy journey in the Venetian style seaside town of Piran with your private guide.

Wander the charming alleyways and stroll around the main plaza, Tartini Square. Bask in the Mediterranean sun and climb up to the city walls for mesmerizing sea views.

From Piran we will go along the seashore through the cosmopolitan resort of Portorož and enjoy lunch in the village of Korte, featuring the local specialty cuisine from coastal Slovenia.

After lunch we will visit the Secovlje saltpans. Active since the 13th century, the Sečovlje Salt Pans salt is still produced using traditional methods,  giving it a very special taste.

Afterwards we will move on to the town of Nova Gorica for the evening and overnight stay.

Included: Professional guide/driver, accommodation, Piran Tour, Secovlje saltpans.

Not included: Piran wall (optional), lunch at Kuzina (Korte) restaurant, dinner.

Day 2. - Views, Vintage Cars and the Vipava Valley

Todays trip will include visits of neighbouring country. From the hotel in Nova Gorica we will first pay a short visit to the centre of Nova Gorica, then pop across the border into Italy for a quick stroll through Italian Gorizia to its castle on the hill.

Afterwards we will return to Slovenia for a special lunch at the Cebron family estate in the beautiful Vipava Valley. After lunch you’ll take a drive through the vineyards to Vipavski Kriz in vintage cars.

This beautiful village  is situated on a hill in the central part of the Vipava valley, offering stunning views.

We then return to the hotel in Nova Gorica for a good night’s rest.

Included: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accommodation, lunch with tasting at Cebron Estate, Vintage car ride.

Not included: Gorizia castle (optional), dinner.

Highlights of Slovenia. Postojna Caves

Day 3. - Postojna cave

After a plentiful breakfast we will make our way towards the capital of Slovenia – Ljubljana. On the way we’ll stop to visit best known attraction in Slovenia country, the incredible Postojna caves.

Not to far away is another favourite for visitors. Predjama castle, the biggest castle built inside a cave in the world!

Lunch today is at the Smrekar Homestead. Set inside their renovated barn,  enjoy local cuisine made with ingredients grown at their organic farm.  After lunch we will continue towards Ljubljana.

After we check into the hotel you’re free to explore the city for the rest of the day and evening.

Included: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accommodation, Postojna cave tour, Smrekar Homestead lunch.

Not included: Dinner.

Day 4. - Explore Ljubljana

Discover this charming city with a fascinating walking tour after breakfast. Explore Ljubljana castle, outdoor markets and stunning architecture.

After lunch you have the afternoon to relax or continue exploring by yourself.

In the evening we learn all about Slovenian beer at Pivovarna Union (Union Brewery) the largest in the country. A tour of the brewery will be followed by a beer tasting and dinner.

Included: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accommodation, Ljubljana tour, castle, Union brewery tour and dinner.

Not included: Lunch.

Day 5. - Chocolate and Bled

A busy day lies ahead! Time to move out of the city and onto everyones favourite  Lake Bled. On the way we will stop off  in the beautiful medieval town of Radovljica. Renowned for its excellent chocolate and world famous Chocolate Festival. Have a quick stroll through the town and a cup of fine coffee at Restaurant Lectar.

Then it’s on to Lake Bled. Where we will take a ride on a”pletna”, Bled’s flat-bottomed boat, to the  famous island. After visit to Bled castle with its idyllic views.

Our next stop is Lake Bohinj. It may be not as well known as  Lake Bled but it’s just as beautiful.  Ands even more stunning are the views from the top Vogel cable car where we will be stopping for lunch.

After some rest we head back down through the valley and our accommodation for the night. Jezersek Guesthouse, is renowned all over Slovenia for one of the best gourmet experiences. Dinner is at your leisure.

 

Included in price: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accommodation, ride with pletna, Bled castle, two-way ticket with lunch on Vogel.

Not included: Coffee in Radovljica, dinner.

Day 6. - Cooking and Cheese workshops

Today we will take part in an extensive cooking workshop where we will prepare a typical Slovenian lunch and dessert under the guidance of some of the best chefs in Slovenia. You will then have the chance to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch.

After lunch we will make our way towards Velika planina mountain plateau. The traditional herders settlement is one of the most stunning sites in Slovenia.

Here the herders have been making cheese for generations. And you get to learn all their secrets with a cheese making workshop.

Before you turn in for the evening in your traditional Alpine hut And tonight you’ll stay in a Alpine Hut we suggest you try an authentic Slovenian shepherd’s dinner in a nearby guesthouse.

 

Included in price: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accommodation, cooking workshop & lunch, Velika Planina cable car, Cheese-making workshop.

Not included: Dinner.

What to do in Slovenia

Day 7. - Velika Planina

Good morning on Velika planina! Another busy day but the fresh mountain air have you wide awake! After breakfast we will be taking the cable car back down into the valley and make our way to Zalec, home of the Hops Research and Brewing Institute of Slovenia. We will visit EcoMuseum and nearby Beer Fountain – the first fountain of its kind in the world!

You can opt to have lunch at the exquisite Francl restaurant near Celje before we continue towards Ptuj, the oldest city in Slovenia. Short stroll through the town follows after which we travel to Ivanjkovci, where we will be served an induglent feast for our last dinner and stay the night at Guest House Bogsa.

 

Included: Transfer, professional guide/driver, accomodation, Velika planina cabin-lift, Zalec EcoMuseum, dinner.

Not included: Beer fountain, lunch.

Day 8. -

On our last day in Slovenia we will create lasting memories of our  journey.

The first stop of the day is a unique, well-preserved floating mill on Mura river (the Babic mill). We then continue to Vinarium tower near Lendava from which you will be able to see observe the plain on one side and low hills, seeded with vineyards on the other. Here wine tasting can be organised before we proceed to Murska Sobota for lunch at Kodila restaurant.

After some rest we must head back to Ljubljana to finish with our trip.

 

Included: Transfer, professional guide/driver,  Babic mill, Vinarium tower.

Not included: Wine tasting (optional), lunch.

Details -

This tour includes a guide a driver and is best to do in a small group. Prices are subject to change and dependant on the time of year, requirements and the number of the group.

Prices start from £2400 per person for a group of two.

£1700 per person for a group of two.

£1460 per person for a group of six.

What's included?

What's Included
  • Accommodation on B&B basis
  • All excursions and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
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Lake Bled
Lake Bled is one of the most visited attractions in Slovenia. The beautiful views of the lake and the small island it surrounds brings thousands of visitors every year. The best way to reach the island is taking a pletna, a traditional gondola in the Bled area. Once on the island, visitors must walk up ninety-nine steps to reach the island’s church. It is considered good luck to ring the church’s bell when visiting the island.
Ljubljana
Slovenia's capital city is as romantic and charming as they come—and clean, having been named the “Green Capital of Europe 2016” by the European Commission. Stroll through the pedestrian-only Old Town, sip coffee by the leafy banks of the Ljubljanica River, or take in the baroque architecture and hilltop sixteenth-century Ljubljana Castle.
Maribor
Slovenia's second-largest city is provincial and charming, with a medieval Old Town, pedestrian-only central streets, and a skyline defined by orange roofs and rolling hills. The town is also the site of a glorious landmark: "the oldest vine in the world." Stara Trta (literally "Old Vine") is more than 400 years old, and is a symbol of the rich wine culture in Maribor.
Piran
Situated on a picturesque peninsula on the Adriatic coastline, Piran is one of Slovenia's most beautiful cities. Its pedestrian-only Old Town is reminiscent of Venice in miniature, with Gothic architecture, alfresco wine bars, narrow alleyways, and glowing sunsets.
Lipica Stud Farm
Lipica Stud Farm has been breeding Lipizzaner horses since the sixteenth century. Once used by royals for their private stables, the farm is now open to visitors and allows them to admire this beautiful breed of horse. When visiting the Lipica Stud Farm, guests can stroll through the barns and join one of the farm’s guided tours. Three times a week the Classical Riding School performs, and guests can see the Lipizzaner horses in action.
Triglav National Park
The Triglav National Park, named after the country’s tallest mountain, is the only National Park in Slovenia. With beautiful views of the mountains, hills, lakes, rivers, and pastures, this park is a nature lover’s paradise. Aside from hiking, Triglav National Park offers great activities such as kayaking, rafting, skydiving, and parasailing.
Ljubljana Airport
Slovenia main airport, Jože Pučnik Airport, is located just outside its capital city and is well served by international airlines.

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Trieste Airport
A small regional airport, Trieste in Italy is located about an hour away from Slovenia’s seaside resort town of Portoroz. Ryanair flies to and from Trieste multiple times a week from Stansted Airport.

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Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
The Salt pans in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park are one of the few places in the world where sea salt is still produced by using a centuries-old method. When walking on the park trails, visitors can observe salt being harvested manually by local workers.
Planica Nordic Centre,
Planica is home to the biggest ski jumping hill in the world. For over twenty years it has hosted one of the most important ski jumping competitions in the world. In 2015 Planica received a much-needed update, and the new Planica Nordic Center was built. Aside from the ski jumps the center also features an athletics stadium, a zipline, a wind tunnel, cycling and walking paths, and a visitor’s center. Planica zipline has the steepest descent in the world, which creates the sensations that ski jumping champions feel when flying through the air.

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