Wine & Culinary Delights of Slovenia

Highlights

  • Enjoy a wine tasting in the oldest wine cellar in Slovenian
  • Explore the local delicacies of the beloved capital city
  • Admire the stunning landscapes and rolling hills
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What you'll do

Overview

This 9 day trip around Slovenia is sure to amaze you with its exquisite wine, delicious food and beautiful landscapes.

Enjoy a guided tour of Bled. Famous for its blue-green alpine lake, the picturesque church on its own island and the medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff, Bled is a true wonder in Slovenia.

Embark on a Pletna (traditional wooden boat) to the island in the middle of Lake Bled, climbing the iconic stone steps to reach the beautiful Assumption of Mary Church.

A wine tasting in the Castle Bled is a true highlight of this trip, allowing you to try top-quality wines as well as watch a demonstration of bottling of wine from oak barrels.

Get a taste of traditional Slovenian cuisine with this guided tour through Ljubljana restaurants. Enjoy this amusing, educational and above all tasty tour of the Slovenian capital.

Enjoy a boat ride with a wine tasting on the river Ljubljanica. This truly authentic experience is sure to be both delicious and beautiful, riding down the river whilst tasting exquisite wines.

Immerse yourself in Ptuj’s culture, visiting the oldest Slovenian wine cellar and tasting the exquisite wines! This is sure to amaze you.

A local truffle hunting and tasting will refresh you, guided by a local truffle hunter and his dog you are sure to learn about the fine art of culinary whilst tasting this delicacy.

Admire the stunning view of the Branica Valley and the picturesque landscape from the Ferrari Garden in Štanjel.

Dine in Michelin Star restaurants, providing comments and feedbacks on the newly created dishes by local chefs. This off the beaten track experience is extremely unique and allows you to experience fine dining like never before!

Arrival Day

After arriving in Ljubljana Airport, you will be privately transferred to Bled (transfer from Venice airport is available for a supplement). You adventures in Slovenia will begin here!

In the afternoon you will be taking a guided tour of Bled. Bled is famous for its blue-green alpine lake, the picturesque church on its own island, the medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops.

Immerse yourself into the culture by touring this beloved city with a local tour guide, ensuring you have the best experience possible. Bled is definitely a must visit place while in Slovenia and you are sure to enjoy your time here!

After the tour, it’s time to try worldwide known cream cake called Kremšnita! It has been a symbol of Bled for a long time and every person that visits Bled should try it, it is a true delight. You will taste it at the lovely renovated restaurant, where kremšnita has its origins.

To complete the first day you will enjoy Pletna boat ride. A traditional wooden boat known as ‘pletna’ will take you to the island in the middle of the lake. After arriving here, climb 99 stone steps to reach the Assumption of Mary Church, where you can listen to the church bell and ring it yourself. Legend has it that this will make your wish come true!

You will then return to your beautiful accommodation for the evening.

 

Accommodation

The Hotel Park Bled, in Bled.

The recent renovation of Bled’s largest hotel focused on highlighting the natural features of its surroundings. Situated just a stone’s throw from the Bled promenade, the Hotel Park is extremely popular with guests who like to stay in the heart of the action.

The rooms with views of the park have been redesigned to reflect the beauty of nature in the area. Enjoy the indoor thermal pool on the top floor of the hotel, which boasts breathtaking views of Lake Bled.

Enjoy the Local Products and Bled Castle

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, begin today’s adventures in Bled!

Start your day with a visit to the Beekeeping family Ambrozic where their brand Kralov Med guides their everyday life. This is one of most successful Slovenian beekeeper who has earnt many awards.

This local experience is also particularly interesting as he attracts bees in a particularly unique manner, catching a swarm of bees on snow white honey combs. Learn about this local delight before trying their great honey.

Next, your local guide will take you to Bled Castle: the oldest castle in Slovenia. Perched atop a steep cliff rising 130 meters above the glacial Lake Bled is a symbol of Bled and Slovenia – Bled Castle.

The castle forms a dramatic backdrop to the romantic island with the iconic church, earning Bled immense recognition through the centuries. The beautiful castle terraces offer spectacular views of the lake and the island.

After this, another lovely surprise awaits you, a delicious wine tasting! The castle wine cellar allows you to taste its top-quality wines as well as offers a demonstration of bottling of wine from oak barrels.

You will have the chance to fill a bottle as a souvenir, cork it and wax it, earning yourself a certificate. The blend of colours, smells and tastes will bring you utmost delight and enjoyment.

Rest of the day at leisure to explore Bled on your own. Draw the day to an end by returning to your beautiful accommodation for the night.

 

Accommodation

The Hotel Park Bled, in Bled.

Food Tour in Ljubljana

After breakfast at your hotel in Bled, you will be privately transferred to your hotel in the beloved capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Check in and unpack your bags before your adventures in Ljubljana begin!

Today you will be enjoying a food tour, taking approximately 3 hours. Get a taste of traditional Slovenian cuisine with this guided tour through Ljubljana restaurants. Enjoy this amusing, educational and above all tasty tour of the Slovenian capital.

Discover the best local food, delicious wines from various regions, learn about Slovenian traditions and explore the city’s rich cultural heritage. This is sure to amaze you!

After the food tour you will enjoy a boat ride with a wine tasting on the river Ljubljanica. This truly authentic experience is sure to be both delicious and beautiful, riding down the river whilst tasting exquisite wines. What could be better than that!

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You will then return to your beautiful hotel for the evening.

 

Accommodation

The Best Western Premier Hotel Slon, in Ljubljana.

With a stay at Best Western Premier Hotel Slon, you’ll be centrally located in Ljubljana, steps from Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and minutes from Preseren Square. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of Triple Bridge and Ljubljana Opera House.

Make yourself at home in one of the 170 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LCD televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Complimentary Wifi keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature rainfall showerheads and designer toiletries.

Enjoy an Authentic Wine Experience

After dining on breakfast at your hotel in Ljubljana, you will be taken to Ptuj for a wine tasting in the oldest Slovenian wine cellar!

The valuables of the Millennia Treasury can be found below the town floor and we are not only talking about the undiscovered archaeological remains. One of the most important stories that helped shape the image, character, the past and the present fame of Ptuj and its surroundings is preserved in the Ptuj Cellar.

You can not only experience this story in the Ptuj Wine Cellar, but also enjoy it with all your senses! The beginnings of viticulture and cellaring in the Ptuj area reach back at least two millennia.

Memories and the spirit of the past are preserved in the bottles kept in the Ptuj wine cellar, representing an admirable and the most important collection of archival wines in this part of Europe. Among them there is a true wine memorial, including the oldest archival wine in Slovenia, Zlata trta (Golden Vine), from 1917.

Ptuj is particularly proud of its 700 year old tradition of wine production and cultivation, making this a truly wonderful experience.

You will then continue to one of most remarkable wine regions in Slovenia, Jeruzalem. These hills have been growing grapes since well before Roman emperor Probus declared the province ‘Vinea nobilis districts.’ When Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, these hills produced 7 million bottles of Laški Rizling for the UK market alone.

Here, you will try wine from the renowned wine producer (Hlebec or Kupljen Wine Estate) before returning to Ljubljana.

Enjoy the evening at your leisure, before returning to your accommodation for a well earned rest!

Accommodation

The Best Western Premier Hotel Slon, in Ljubljana.

Try the Local Delicacies

Breakfast will be spent at your accommodation, before your embark on a great unique experience in traditional Istrian village.

Today you will be real truffle hunting and enjoy a truffle tasting. Truffle is a king in the culinary world, and Slovenian Istria holds numerous spots where this precious specialty is growing.

You have the chance to take a look into the world of professional truffle hunter Dejan and his dog. This off the beaten track experience is truly sensational!

Next, you will continue to the Kras (Karst) region where you will enjoy a wine tasting at Štoka Vinecellar, one of the best wineries in the whole region.

Štoka family has been making wine for five generations. The farm covers an estate of 30 hectares, 7 of which are vineyards, including around 30,000 screws.

End your day with the wonderful culinary experience of a slow food menu with wine pairing in Cejkotova home. On your way you will be visiting the fantastic village Goče.

This slow food menu is hosted at Cejkotova home, hidden in the narrow streets of the village and protected as a monument of the cultural heritage.

Here, Davorin and his wife Jelka will prepare a delicious meal and take you to a wine cellar with an extremely mysterious atmosphere. This is sure to be the perfect end to your busy day.

Finally, you will transfer to your new accommodation for a restful night.

Accommodation

The Casa Krasna Guesthouse, in Kras.

Casa Krasna Guest House features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in Lokev. This 4-star guest house offers room service and a tour desk. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi and free private parking. All rooms come with a desk and a private bathroom.

Explore Štanjel

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel before embarking on today’s adventures.

In the morning you will visit a near-by charming village of Štanjel.
Štanjel is one of the oldest settlements in the Karst Region, known for its old village centre.

Due to its strategic location, the hill was already populated in prehistoric times and was fortified in antiquity. The characteristic defensive wall from the 15th century protected the inhabitants during the Turkish invasions. Learn more about its dense history whilst enjoying a guided tour.

Next you will be visiting the famous Ferrari Garden (Ferrarijev Vrt). Ferrari Garden can be found below the fortified settlement of Štanjel, taking a path to the top of the garden through the Kobdilj Tower.

Ferrari Garden offers beautiful views of the Branica Valley and the picturesque landscape.

Next, you will enjoy a lunch experience at 1st Class Kitchen run by proud owners of a Michelin Star, Zemono Manor House and Gostilna pri Lojzetu. The gastronomic offer at Gostilna pri Lojzetu is now being designed by the fourth generation.

Chef Tomaž Kavčič is Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Le Soste, in addition to being a member of the international gastronomic association.

Every single dish in the restaurant is enveloped with the rich local
tradition. Each dish is first envisioned in his head, then it is boldly tested on the kitchen floor, but the final verdict always belongs to the guests, giving you the chance to provide your opinion of the delicious dishes presented to you.

After your wonderful adventures of the day, transfer to Goriska Brda, known as the Slovenian Tuscany, arriving at your new beautiful accommodation.

Accommodation

The Garni Hotel Dvor, in Goriska Brda.

Located in peaceful, countryside surroundings in Kozana in the wine region of Brda, Dvor Garni Hotel is a renovated historic building that provides air-conditioned accommodation. Free WiFi access is provided.

Rooms here come with a flat-screen satellite TV, a desk and a safe. A shared balcony can be found on each floor. The private bathrooms are fitted with a shower and a hairdryer. Free toiletries and coffee and tea making facilities are provided.

Dvor Garni Hotel provides guests with an outdoor swimming pool and bike rental facilities. Cycling paths can be found nearby. An inner courtyard, a bar and a garden are also at the guests’ disposal, as are barbecue facilities.

Explore Goriska Brda

After breakfast you will embark on a guided tour of the beautiful Goriška Brda. Goriska Brda, also known as Slovene Tuscany, is the home of top quality Slovenian wines and world-awarded olive oil. You will have the chance to try both of these delicious delicacies.

Next you will be visiting Smartno, the heart of the cultural life in this region of Slovenia.

Here, you will visit the Scurek Wine Cellar. Every year the Ščurek
Family releases up to 80,000 bottles of top quality wine. They have remained faithful to fresh but full bodied wines, and delay the first racking until late spring.

These authentic wines need a little time to develop in the glass, but once they do they are a true delight.

While making use of state-of-the-art technology, the Ščureks also explore the realm of possibilities offered by oak barrels, and are notable in their commitment to indigenous varieties.

After, you will continue to the visit the sparkling wine cellar Bjana. Enjoy a tasting of the sparkling wine produced by a classical method in the renovated chateau with wine cellars dating back to 1208.

This off the beaten track tasting is held in a renovated tasting room with splendid views on the vineyards and Italy.

To complete the day, enjoy a culinary experience in Vila Vipolže, most beutiful Renaissance Villa in Slovenia. Vila Vipolže tells a story in the heart of the Slavic, Germanic and Romanic worlds.

The wine bar which is part of the Vila offers an extremely rich wine list in combination with fresh and playful dishes. You will be welcomed for a delicious meal, using exceptional local ingredients. This gives each dish characteristics of this local environment, as well as support the local community.

Return to your accommodation for the rest of the evening.

Accommodation

The Garni Hotel Dvor, in Goriska Brda.

Visit Hiša Franko in Soča Valley

After a delicious breakfast you will be privately transferred to Kobarid in Soča Valley. The “Emerald” Soča is a remarkably beautiful river valley.

The lush Soča Valley is harsh, remote, but breathtakingly beautiful.

See the Napoleon Bridge and if time allows it visit Kozjak Waterfall, a relaxed 45 minute hike away from the centre of Kobarid. The path is extremely panoramic and definitely worth the trip!

Next you will continue to the unique culinary museum “Od planine do Planike” where you will enjoy a cheese tasting. The Kobarid historical ethnological collection of the Museum of the Dairy Planika has developed its delicious products from the dairy tradition of the upper Soča valley. This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase some delicious local souvenirs.

To conclude your day of adventures, enjoy a special culinary surprise in the 2-Michelin Star Restaurant of Hiša Franko (House Franko).

Enjoy the exquisite food made by Ana Roš, a self-taught cook, who was named world’s best female chef of Year 2017 by The
World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.

The restaurant is closely knit with the community of foragers, shepherds, cheese makers, hunters and fishermen. After this perfect experience return to Goriska Brda for your final night in Slovenia.

Accommodation

The Garni Hotel Dvor, in Goriska Brda.

Departure Day

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be privately transferred to Ljubljana Airport (or Venice Airport if needed). This is approximately a 2 hour drive. This will mark the end of your off the beaten track holiday in Slovenia!

What's included

Included

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 8 breakfasts at your accommodation
  • Transportation for all excursions on the itinerary
  • Local guides for all excursions on the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for all excursions on the itinerary
  • Organisation and booking of all excursions on the itinerary
  • All VAT
Your local host

Mojca

Since I have started studying tourism, I knew that I wanted to plan trips in our part of the world. After years of travelling, experiencing new activities and getting to know the people who were willing to share their knowledge and stories, it was only natural that I jumped at the first opportunity and decided to open a tour operator agency with my friend Tomaz, with whom we've known since our studying years. It took a great deal of work and exploring, but we are proud that today we can offer such a high-quality service for all our clients. Their encouraging words and words of gratitude are what drives us forward. Still, every single trip I plan, I plan with the same enthusiasm as at the start and I think this is worth a lot!

Since I have started studying tourism, I knew that I wanted to plan trips in our part of the world. After years of travelling, experiencing new activities and getting to know the people who were willing to share their knowledge and stories, it was only natural that I jumped at the first opportunity and decided to open a tour operator agency with my friend Tomaz, with whom we've known since our studying years. It took a great deal of work and exploring, but we are proud that today we can offer such a high-quality service for all our clients. Their encouraging words and words of gratitude are what drives us forward. Still, every single trip I plan, I plan with the same enthusiasm as at the start and I think this is worth a lot!

Location

You will be picked up from Ljubljana or Venice airport and taken to Bled. Bled is famous for its blue-green alpine lake, the picturesque church on its own island, the medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops.

Next you will be transferred to the heart of Ljubljana, the beloved capital city of Slovenia. The expansive natural life and buzzing atmosphere is sure to make this a real highlight of your trip.

You will then be visiting Kras, a limestone plateau located in the hinterland of Trieste bay in the Adriatic sea. Its stunning valleys and rolling hills provide extremely picturesque landscapes!

Lastly, you will be staying in Goriska Brda, the best wine region you’ve never heard of.

FAQs

Are all transfer costs included?

Yes, all private transfer and other transportation costs are included. You will be taken to all excursions mentioned on the itinerary at no extra cost. For any other sightseeing you choose to do, travel will not be paid for.

What is tourist tax?

Tourist tax is a regulation in Slovenia, used to promote the development of the travel industry. It is usually between $1 and $5 per person per night, but may vary depending on location.

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