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Slovenia

Code: LE01SL
From: 1990.- EUR
Wine and regional food dinners included.

DAY 1:

LONDON - TRIESTE - PORTOROZ

We pick you up at your selected hotel in London and drive you to the airport from where we take the morning flight to Trieste. You meet your DG at the airport where you board your maxi-van and start the expedition. Soon we arrive to Slovenia and drive to the coastal resort of Portoroz. Dinner and overnight in Portoroz.

DAY 2:

SLOVENIAN COAST

Breakfast. The coast of Slovenia is about 25 miles long. We see the beautiful town of Piran with its Venetian architecture and overall impression. We drive to Secovlje and visit the museum of Salt and then take a boat and drive to the biggest port Koper, which has a very nice central square. Dinner and overnight in Portoroz.

DAY 3:

POSTOJNA - PREDJAMA - LIPICA

Breakfast. Today we explore the underworld of Slovenia in Postojna Cave where you have to ride a train to fully appreciate the grand scale of it. The near-by Predjama Castle is practically built into the rock. In the karst region of Kras we stop at the Lipica Stud farm where the famous Lipizzaner horses got their name. We watch a presentation from the riding school. Dinner and overnight in the Lipica area.

DAY 4:

KRAS

Breakfast. The Kras has many interesting features and small villages with long histories such as Stanjel, Kobjeglava and Kostanjevica. We make a few stops, try the local wine and prsut (smoked ham). Once in Nova Gorica, we do some more back road exploring in the part of Slovenia which is actually surrounded by Italy - Brda, well known for its local wine. Dinner in Brda. Accommodation in the area.

DAY 5:

SOCA - VRSIC

Breakfast. Today, we explore the valley along one of the clearest European river - Soca. It is also known as a battle front in WWI. We make stops and visits along the way like the Tolminka ponds, The Museum of WWI. in Kobarid, the Trenta valley in the only National Park in Slovenia - Triglav NP. We have some steep driving today, as we go over the Vrsic Pass and drive towards the valley of Sava, the largest Slovenian river. Dinner and overnight in the Kranjska Gora/Bled area.

DAY 6:

BLED - BOHINJ

Breakfast. Today we explore the two alpine lakes of Slovenia - Bled and Bohinj. The first one is much more exploited because of its picturesque castle and the church on the island in the middle of the lake. The second one is much quieter and more primal, closer to nature and with a few more natural sites. Dinner and overnight in the Bled/Bohinj area.

DAY 7:

RADOVLJICA - LJUBLJANA

Breakfast. Before reaching the capital city, we visit Kropa, the old blacksmith village and the Beekeeping Museum in Radovljica. Once in Ljubljana, we take a panoramic tour and stroll around the old town and the wonderful bridges over the Ljubljanica river. Dinner and overnight in Ljubljana.

DAY 8:

LJUBLJANA

Breakfast. In the morning we walk to the Old Castle for an overview of the city. We see the main sights of the old town - from the Town hall, to the many colorful churches and squares. Ljubljana is also a university town and has a lively student population. Dinner and overnight in Ljubljana.

DAY 9:

KRKA VALLEY - MIRNA VALLEY

Breakfast. We hit the back roads where there is no special sights, just some quiet villages, valleys, vineyards and fields. We follow the course of two small rivers Krka and Mirna and later two bigger rivers Sava and Savinja. We arrive in the old town of Celje. The Counts of Celje were once serious rivals to the Habsburgs before their luck ran out. Stroll around the town followed by dinner and overnight in the Celje area.

DAY 10:

CELJE - PTUJ

Breakfast.As we travel to the northeast of Slovenia, we can appreciate the way the landscape changes. We started with the Adriatic coast and the karst region, drove over the Alps and into the hills of pre-alpine country toward the Panonia plains. But just before we reach the lowland, we stop at the oldest town in Slovenia - Ptuj and check out its castle. We also enjoy the wine-cellar and some local food. Dinner and overnight in Ptuj.

DAY 11:

ORMOZ - MURA

Breakfast. More local wine is tasted in in the wine region between Ormoz and Ljutomer, close to the Croatian and Hungarian borders. There are interesting sights along the river Mura, like the old mill or taking a raft trip on the river. Dinner and overnight in Moravske Spa.

DAY 12:

RADGONA - MARIBOR

Breakfast. Maribor has a nice center close to the river Drava, with many old streets, squares and buildings. We take a cable car to the Pohorje skislope, where the world championship ski-races for women are held ever year. Dinner and overnight in Maribor.

DAY 13:

MARIBOR - LONDON

Breakfast. Drive to the airport and fly to London. End of our expedition.