Discover Slovenia: A Small-Group Luxury Gourmet Tour

Journey through Slovenia, an up-and-coming destination quietly referred to as ‘Europe’s best-kept secret’. Discover the serenity of Lake Bled’s landscape with its storybook castles and churches, explore the verdant landlocked springs of the **Soca River **and discover the largest underground chasms in all of Europe at the Skocjan Caves in a country still relatively hidden from bustling tourist crowds.

Stay in the region’s best hotels, enjoy daily breakfasts with** hand-picked dining experiences** and** wine tasting** plus private airport transfers upon arrival and departure, the services of an expert local guide, private ground transportation and more

What You’ll Love

World-Class Food – Once-in-a-lifetime culinary experiences

Grant yourself an indulgent taste of** Slovenia’s exciting culinary scene**, taking the best flavours from Italy, Hungary and the Balkans. The true highlight is a sumptuous dinner at the **Hisa Franko restaurant, **prepared by the **world’s best female chef, Ana Ros. **Ros is highly credited for putting Slovenia on the gastronomic map with her talents, especially due to her dedication to using home-grown ingredients to enrich the flavour of her dishes.

Full of wine, fruit, olives and art – **Goriska Brda **is known as the “Tuscany of Slovenia” for good reason. Travel from village to village in this sun-drenched region, spying groves and castles as the scenery passes by. Spend some time in one of Slovenia’s most renowned private vineyards for a drink with one of the country’s finest winemakers.

The Sights – Explore Slovenia’s stunning natural beauty, ancient architecture and hidden cultural treasures

Get acquainted with the nature of** Slovenia**, a country whose capital won** ‘Green Capital of Europe’ for 2016. Wander along the leafy banks of the Ljubljanica River** in Ljubljana, search for hidden pools by the stunning** Soca River**, discover the Secovlje saltpans by the Adriatic Sea and more. Of exceptional mention is scenic** Lake Bled **– a postcard-perfect location dotted with castles and trees on the banks of a serene body of water. It’s often thought of as Slovenia’s quintessential landscape.

Where You’ll Stay – Stunning luxury accommodation for the entire duration of your tour

Start your adventure in style with a stay at** TripAdvisor’s #1 ranked hotel in all Ljubljana – Hotel Cubo. Not only does the hotel sport a sleek, modern look, but the inclusions are equally as impressive. A complimentary mobile phone you can use during your stay allows for international calls home, the minibar in your room is complimentary and restocked daily**, and the staff stop at nothing to ensure you make the most of your time in Slovenia’s capital. It’s the ultimate in customer service – the perfect headquarters to begin exploring this beautiful country.

Spend an evening next to the most beautiful place in all Slovenia, Lake Bled, during a stay at Vila Bled, a boutique 1950s-style hotel that once served as home to President Josip Tito. Not only is the hotel itself steeped in history, with places such as the Concert Hall, adorned with a mural dedicated to Yugoslav struggles in WWII, or at the Belvedere Pavilion where Tito held tea parties for his esteemed guests – kings, presidents and dictators alike – but it contains exceptional facilities such as the lakeside terrace sporting views of Slovenia’s emblematic Bled region.

Your final stop on the tour takes you to Hotel Kempinski, widely regarded as the most prestigious hotel on Slovenia’s coastline. This former palace retains enough of its old charm to make each night feel like a stay for royalty – along with the plush furnishings, high ceilings and exceptional views of the Adriatic Sea. Wrap this up with a central location in the centre of Portoroz, Piran and you’ve got unmatched levels of style and convenience.

Your Package Includes:

• Seven nights of luxury accommodation
• A one-of-a-kind degustation dinner at the award-winning Hisa Franko restaurant, prepared by Ana Ros – voted the world’s best female chef.
• Daily breakfasts and hand-picked meals plus non-alcoholic beverages, local wines and beers during dinner on the tour. See the ‘Itinerary’ tab for more details.
• **Private wine-tasting experiences **with local winemakers.
• A visit to a rural olive oil producer followed by a** tasting.**
• Visit a local cheesemaker and enjoy complimentary cheese tasting and a light lunch.
• Local expert guides, private transportation, sightseeing and entrance fees throughout the tour itinerary.
• Private airport transfers upon arrival and departure.

5-Day Croatia Extension:

Follow the tasting trail on through to Croatia on a journey filled with delectable cheeses, fragrant olive oils, freshly shucked oysters, seafood, earthen truffles and wine-tastings while meeting master artisans, visiting esteemed cellars and top-of-the-line producers along the way.

The Sights - Uncover rural Croatia, preserved ancient streets and more

Witness Croatia’s old Roman and Italian influences first hand. The city of Porec is steeped in cultural treasures including entire streets preserved since ancient times while Rovinj’s Italian influences have resulted in some of the finest Baroque structures in all Europe. Experience a taste of rural Croatia at villages such as Piran and Groznan, filled with art, delicious local produce and warm local hospitality.

The Food - Our most indulgent culinary experiences to date

Croatia is slowly getting recognised for its culinary scene, and this adventure will put you ahead of the trend with exclusive insider access to a variety of artisanal food producers. You’ll learn how to make delicious Istrian pasta in a hands-on cooking class, tempt your taste buds with the subtle flavours of Croatian cheese on a visit to a cheese process, hunt and taste truffles next to experts with generations worth of experience, shuck oysters on board a boat before tucking into a fresh three-course seafood lunch, sample freshly pressed olive oil and toast your glass during several private wine-tasting sessions.

Where You’ll Stay - Four nights in the stylish Hotel Lone

Experience Croatia while staying at the Hotel Lone in Rovinj. As the only Croatian member of the Design Hotel group, no expense has been spared to make this a flagship stay. Stylish architecture, installations from conceptional artists Silvio Vujicic and Ivanka Franke, a brilliant coastal location and facilities such as a well-furnished pool-area, six bars and restaurants along with a vast spa promises a stay both as comfortable as it is stylish.

See the ‘itinerary tab’ for full details.

Flights to Ljubljana from Australia will typically take a minimum of two stops and approximately 28-32 hours, departing from most major cities with Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Adria, Air Serbia and various other airlines.

Book your flight through us. First, confirm your tour booking dates. Our Tours Concierge will then be in touch within 24 business hours to assist with additional arrangements, with no booking fee to you.

Please note: flights are not included in your package.

A visa may be required to the destination you are visiting. It is each travellers responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visa’s Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit their website.

DAY 1 – Ljubljana

On arrival in Ljubljana, meet up with your tour representative at the airport before transferring to your hotel in the city’s quaint old district. Depending on what time you arrive, the day is yours to enjoy however you please. In the evening, meet up with your guide and the rest of the group for your first taste of Slovenian cuisine. Incorporating some of the most crucial elements of European dining, Slovenia’s gastronomical scene takes sausages from Austria, pastas, pizzas and gnocchi from Italy, goulashes and braised chicken from Hungary along with apple pies and meat double-cakes from the Balkans. A tasting tour through Slovenia is essentially an intercontinental banquet with their own unique twist on these different cuisines.

Accommodation: Cubo Hotel

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2 – Ljubljana

Begin exploring Ljubljana with your guide after breakfast, known as one of Europe’s most liveable and greenest capitals. Start off by exploring the regions unique take on architecture during trips to the City Hall by the Robba Fountain, Tromostovje (three bridges), Presern Square and the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most), a mastercraft Art Nouveau structure adorned with bronze dragons that symbolise the city. Remember to spend some time enjoying views of the Ljubljanica River’s leafy banks as you stroll along, a hallmark of this stunning city.

In the afternoon, travel to Lake Bled and check in to your charming hotel – the former summer residence of the Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. President Tito hosted numerous official state visits here including Nikita Khrushchev, King Hussein, Indira Gandhi, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kim Il Sung, and many others. After a chance to walk the grounds after checking in, enjoy a scenic dinner with views over Lake Bled.

Accommodation: Vila Bled

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 3 – Bled & Soca Valley

Depart from Vila Bled on an early morning transfer to the town of Bled. Start your journey with a visit to Bled Island sitting quietly in the middle of Lake Bled – undoubtedly one of the most visited sites in the country. Board a Pletna, a traditional wooden oared boat, for a sail along the enchanting waters as you take in forests, mountains and small buildings along the way. A monumental 1655 stone staircase takes you to the Church of Mary’s Assumption situated at the island’s highest point. Make a wish to the sound of the island’s wishing bell and drink from the well built in honour of a princess.

Continue on a leisurely walk to the Bled Castle, perched on a magnificent cliff overlooking the lake. According to written records dating back to 1011, this is the oldest castle in Slovenia. These former residential quarters now hosts a restaurant and a museum with objects depicting the region’s historical development from the Bronze Age to present day.

After lunch, continue towards the beautiful alpine world of the Slovene Northwest. After crossing Vršič, Slovenia’s highest mountain pass, a magnificent view of the Julian Alps opens up before you. Arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon before indulging in a beautiful dinner designed by acclaimed chef, Tomaž Sovdat.

Accommodation: Dobra Vila

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 – Kobarid

Start off the day with a visit to the Soca River, an emerald green stretch of water considered to be the most beautiful river in Slovenia, if not Europe. Stop by one of its landlocked springs during your stay here, then continue on for a private tour of the Kobariski World War I Museum. Following that, explore the secluded waterfall of Kozjak before a leisurely afternoon at Dobra Vila.

As the evening swings in, enjoy a feast of locally grown ingredients at the award-winning Hisa Franko restaurant, prepared by the capable hands of Ana Ros. Ros was previously voted as most talented chef in the world in 2016 and has recently claimed an award for best female chef in the world in 2017.

Accommodation: Dobra Vila

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 – Brda

After breakfast, depart for the Kolovrat range where structures of the third Italian line of defence are densely placed on both sides of the state border. A special approach to the restoration of these positions came from the use of original building materials (wire nets for fortifying slopes, corrugated sheets, slates, etc.) dating from the First World War.

Continue to Goriska Brda, known as the “Tuscany of Slovenia”, where you’ll travel from village to village to experience the nature and culture of a region with a turbulent past and interesting present. Brda is a land of castles, vineyards, and small white churches, often situated on the top of hills overlooking the villages. Stop for a wine tasting in one of Slovenia’s most renowned private vineyards, where a famous Slovenian winemaker treats you to the tricks of the trade.

Accommodation: Castle Gredic

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 – Skocjan Caves & Piran

Travel to the town of Skocjan before descending into the fascinating network of tunnels that make up the Skocjan Caves. Shaped by the Reka River over centuries, these tunnels sit as part of one of the largest underground canyon networks in Europe. The Skocjan Caves are a remarkable natural phenomenon whose global significance was recognized by their inclusion in UNESCO’s list of world cultural and natural heritage sites.

After exploring the caves, continue to Slovenia’s coast for a walk through the old town of Piran. Featuring a beautiful old Mediterranean harbor, Piran sits in the Istria region of Slovenia. The entire town is its own museum, featuring well-preserved medieval structures, fascinating architecture and a rich cultural heritage. The narrow streets and closely built old houses add to the town’s special charm.

Situated at its very centre, the famous Tartini Square is a tribute to the prominent Piran‐born violin player and composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692–1777). The Square also boasts a monument in the musician’s honour. Another treat for the eyes is the “Venetian” – a mid-15th century building considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Venetian gothic architecture in Slovenia. After strolling along the narrow streets typical of Istrian coastal towns, climb the hill overlooking Piran to reach the Church of St George where beautiful views of the harbour await. When the evening arrives, wander into the old town for a delicious group dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Kempinski

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 – Secovlje Nature Park

After late breakfast, visit Secovlje Salina Nature Park. The saltpans of Secovlje are the only ones of their kind in this part of the Adriatic Sea – you’ll get to witness salt being harvested using 14th-century techniques as part of a visit to the Museum of Salt-making. In addition to playing an important role in the preservation of cultural heritage, the Secovlje Salina Nature Park is also home to more than 270 bird species, numerous marine crabs, and even the second smallest mammal in the world: the 2-gram pygmy whit toothed shrew.

After returning to the hotel, spend some time in the afternoon exploring at your own pace before sitting down to a final group dinner in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel Kempinski

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8 – Tour Ends

Your tour ends today with a transfer to the airport for your onward journey

Meals: Breakfast

Croatia Extension:

DAY 8 – Piran & Rovinj

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer across the border to Croatia before arriving the city of Rovinj, referred to as the “Blue Pearl of the Adriatic”. This city of romance and art is revered as one of the most picturesque towns in the Mediterranean. Part of the Venetian Republic for over 500 years, the city’s historic Old Town sits perched on an elevated peninsula, surrounded by Venetian terracotta-roofed houses and crowned by the Church of St. Euphemy whose bell tower dominates the air above Rovinj.

Check in and take some time to refresh from the drive before departing for a small village in the foothills, where a local family teaches you how to make Istrian pasta. After this cooking class, sit down to a lunch created by your own hands. You’ll then return to Rovinj where the rest of the day can be spent at your leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel Lone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 9 – Porec & Pula

Drive towards Porec, a city considered to be a monument of culture. The roads of the old city retain a structure of old Roman castrum while the main streets, Decumanus and Cardo Maximus, remain preserved in their original forms. Continuing on, you’ll get a chance to witness the mosaic-ornamented Euphrasian Basilica, one of the most important cultural sites in the city. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed complex dates back to the 5th-century, although it underwent an extension in the 6th-century at the hands of the Byzantium Empire and the bishop Euphrasius.

In the afternoon, take a visit to a 14th-century family homestead situated in Stancija Kumparicka where high-quality cheeses are produced. Their products are made in complete harmony with nature, respecting and promoting sustainable gastronomy. Enjoy a cheese tasting class followed by a light lunch before heading to Pula for a walking tour of this fascinating, antiquated town. To round off a brilliant day of historic and gastronomic treasures, treat yourself to a beautiful four-course dinner with a glass of wine.

Accommodation: Hotel Lone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10 – Rovinj & Lim Fjord

After breakfast, explore the narrow medieval streets of Rovinj – a place where Italian influence shines stronger than anywhere else in Croatia. Discover the main Church of St. Euphemia, one of the most beautiful Baroque structures in Istria which houses relics of the saint. From the church plateau, witness a wonderful view of the open sea and numerous islets in the distance. Continue to the main square, adorned with lively cafes and restaurants spreading out all the way to the charming, boat filled harbor.

Following your exploration of Rovinj, set sail along Lim Fjord. This excellent breeding ground for fish and mussels plays home to an oyster farm, where you’ll get to visit for a taste of fresh shucked oysters before enjoying a three-course fish menu for lunch. After lunch, visit an olive-grove and traditional oil mill where you’ll learn the secrets of olive oil production before savouring a taste of freshly pressed olive oil. As the day comes to a close, spend the rest of your evening relaxing at your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Lone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11 – Istrian Countryside

Today’s adventures begin in a small village in Istria, where you’ll meet a local family who have spent the last few generations perfecting the art of truffle hunting. This rare hidden bulb is very difficult to find, making it an expensive delicacy. During a walk through the forest, learn the secrets of truffle hunting while searching for and tasting different varieties of truffle.

After the truffle hunt, explore the Istrian medieval hilltop town of Groznjan. Groznjan lies filled with spectacular art studios and galleries which you’ll get to explore, followed by a trip to one of the best wineries in Croatia where a meeting with the local vintner is rounded out by a glass of the local drop.

Accommodation: Hotel Lone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 – Tour ends

Your tour ends today with a transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Meals included: Breakfast