Join us for 8 days in one of Europe’s most up-and coming regions. What Slovenia and Istria lack in size, they make up for in beauty, culture, history, and gastronomy. With just a few hours drive between regions you can explore the Alps, crystal clear lakes, diverse cities, the breathtaking Adriatic Sea, and some of the oldest and most unique winemaking regions in Europe. In addition to learning about the diverse cultures of these fascinating countries, we have planned some extremely special opportunities to sample the best flavors this region offers. From local produce and rich truffles from the forests to the freshest-caught seafood, this region has so much to offer and will delight your pallet as we taste our way through the region alongside 8 other in this small group tour.
Beginning in Ljubljana, Slovenia August 28th, 20203 and ending in Rovinj, Croatia September 4th, 2023.
Arrive at hotel Cubo in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana, like the rest of Slovenia, is what you can describe as small but mighty. It is a food lover’s paradise with a plethora of local cuisine, Michelin restaurants, and international curations. It sits nestled between the Alps and while it has some rich history, it is also uniquely modern and committed to sustainability. For our trip kickoff, we will settle into the hotel, and begin night one with a welcome dinner where you will be able to meet our other travelers.
Airport transfers can be arranged per request upon booking.
We will begin with breakfast at the hotel before setting out for a walking tour with a local Slovenian guide in order to learn the vast history of the capital of Slovenia, and you can begin to fall in love with the culture, people, and architecture. After our tour, you will have a few hours of free time to explore the city center at your leisure. Stroll along the river, explore the botanical gardens, or do as the locals do and bike through the green streets and many parks. Later in the afternoon, we will rejoin as a group to journey up to the famous Ljubliana castle, explore its history, and take in the breathtaking views of the city and surrounding Alps. For dinner, we will be exploring some of the best cuisine that Ljubliana has to offer at an exclusive Michelin star restaurant located inside the castle, with a view that can’t be beaten.
Pack your bags, as we will begin our journey across the small but mighty country of Slovenia with a day trip to the picturesque “Lake Bled” where we will explore the breathtaking crystal clear alpine lake and enjoy a scenic boat ride to the church on the lake’s iconic island. After our tour, we will relax lakeside to take in the serene views with a slice of Lake Bled’s famous “Crem Schnitta” cake and a coffee or glass of local wine, before heading to a local lunch in a nearby medieval town. After lunch we will travel to the second location of our trip, the Lipizzanerl Lodge, a lovely luxury lodge nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean. We will settle in, unpack and relax while enjoying the peaceful tranquility of the lodge before being welcomed by a memorable evening of local flavors. Taking place at our accommodation, the evening will begin with wine tasting from the local Goriska Brda wine region, followed by five unique courses created by our own private chef.
For our first day exploring from the lodge will begin by visiting the fairytale hilltop city of Stanjel, a medieval village in the Karst Wine Region, where you will be able to explore a unique part of Slovenia’s history. After taking in the hilltop views our group will visit a family-owned winery in the Teran Kras, where we will learn all about this prestigious wine region and its history. Alongside our tasting you will be able to sample some typical Slovenian Tapas. Following our vineyard tour we are off to search out one of this region’s specialties – truffles! Our local guide will give us the background of how they find the best truffles in the area, using their traditional methods, and following will whip us up a fantastic truffle-filled meal with our finds.
Since we could spend weeks alone exploring the region surrounding the lodge, our third day in Green Slovenia will be up to you to decide! We will offer a variety of options for the day including e-biking through the picturesque hills of Green Slovenia, visiting a local castle, or visiting one of Slovenia’s best kept secrets: the Postojna Caves. We will meet again in the late afternoon for a short visit to the Kriz Hilltop Village where we will visit a local tasting room to taste the valley’s many varietals and the unique white Vipavec blend. After sipping on white wine and enjoying the scenery, we will head to dinner to sample some authentic Slovenian Cuisine.
We are headed to the Adriatic Sea! We will depart the Lodge after breakfast to head to our final destination: Rovinj. On our way, we will stop at the UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves to tour the inside of the magnificent cave system, the largest in all of Europe. After resurfacing, we will head to enjoy a tasting menu at true a hidden gem listed on Michellin’s Bib Gourmand and with a green star for sustainability. From here we have a short scenic drive across the Croatian border to Rovinj, where we will check into the luxury boutique hotel Melegran located in the heart of the peninsula. After a busy few days, you can take a free evening to get lost in the picturesque streets of Rovinj and enjoy the stunning sunset over the Adriatic (hopefully with a glass of wine in hand).
For our final full day as a group, we will begin with a half-day trip to Pula to see the iconic Roman Coliseum built in 27 B.C. We will explore the vast Roman history of the Istrian peninsula, while we take in more phenomenal views of the Adriatic Sea. In Pula, we will explore a bit more of the city before having a light local lunch and heading back to Rovinj. We will stop along the route to enjoy a tasting of one of the Istrian Peninsula’s most important products – Olive Oil. In our brief stop, you will be able to determine for yourself if Croatian Olive Oil is truly superior to that of Greece, Italy, or Spain! After a few hours of downtime in Rovinj, we will meet again for our final group dinner, at an iconic Michelin-listed restaurant, where we will reflect on our trip together while sampling some of the freshest seafood in Istria and sipping on local Croatian wines, from their seaside deck.
Breakfast at the hotel before departure, scheduled according to your wishes.
Extensions and airport transfers can be arranged per request upon booking.