Culinary Slovenia
Meet Slovenia's best chefs, hike side by side with Hemingway
Welcome to a tour that raises the bar. Slovenia’s best cuisine and coziest places are at the core of this tour as it takes you from the majestic Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea. Raising the bar of travel means Michelin ranked cuisine, the best wines of Slovenia and Italy, slow food, lakeside villas, truffle hunting, mountain top vistas, and emerald rivers all topped off with a good dose of Mediterranean seaside. We always like to immerse you in the culture of a new place, but this trip does it with exceptional style.
DETAILS
* 7 nights/8 days walking trip
* Wine pairings with degustation menus
* Tour begins in Ljubljana, ends in Piran (continue via water taxi to Venice or return to Ljubljana)
* Hotels and Inns with private baths
* All meals included
* Moderate to longer countryside walks
* Guided tours and wine tastings included
ITINERARY
Day 1 Ljubljana, Touch the Dragon’s Tail - Ljubljana is one of the coziest capitals in the world with an amazing blend of Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau buildings. Enjoy a guided tour through the Old Town stamped by the great architect Plecnik. We cross the Zmajski Most ("Dragon Bridge") guarded by four dragons as well as Plecnik's famous "Tromostovje" (Triple Bridge). Then, we begin our culinary experience: Traditional dishes with a twist will be served inside Ljubljana’s castle walls. Throughout the next 7 days, we taste exceptional Slovenian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Day 2 Lake Bled, Triglav National Park - On a tiny island in the middle of stunning Lake Bled, the Pope blessed a church bell and now it supposedly makes wishes come true. After a pletna boat ride to the island, we transfer to Lake Bohinj, and explore the Triglav National Park. Weather permitting, we see the triple-summit of Mt. Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, depicted on Slovenia's flag. In the evening, we tip toe through the world of homemade Slovenian brandies.
Day 3 Lake Bohinj, Mirrored Giants - Rustic mountain huts have been a source of family pride for centuries. Today, the tradition continues and we arrive at one hut after hiking the forests and meadows of the Mostnica Gorge. The scent of home cooked soup, fresh potica (nut roll) and apple strudel are waiting for us there.
Day 4 Soca River, A Turquoise Ribbon - The Soca [So-cha] River’s turquoise waters cut through the limestone of the Julian Alps. However, the river’s mesmerizing beauty did not prevent the tragic battles on the Isonzo front during WWI, as captured by Hemingway in his A Farewell to Arms. In the Soca Valley, we hike the Tolmin Gorge and find the meeting of Zadlascica and Tolminka’s clear Alpine waters. Peek into the Zadlaska Cave and see why it inspired Dante's Inferno, part of his Divine Comedy. End up in Kobarid and our home is a private inn that’s also a pinnacle of Slovenian gastronomy.
Day 5 Mt Matajur, See to Sea - We start the day at an award winning Museum and then hike up Mt. Matajur (5,400 ft) rising above the turquoise Soca River. The panoramic views on the Slovenian side and rolling hills and even the Adriatic sea on the Italian side make it a great viewpoint. At the summit, a cozy mountain hut serves hearty soup and goulash. Evening in Italy, at a Michelin rated restaurant run by a Slovenian family. Start dinner with an aperitif under lime trees followed by a delicious multi-course menu with wine pairing.
Day 6 Skocjan Caves, Breathtaking - A UNESCO World Heritage site, we spend about two hours walking underground enjoying spectacular views of stalactites, underground rivers and deep caves. The rest of the day is above ground, we join our local host and discover the world of truffles, special, aromatic and mysterious mushrooms. The Slovenian soil is so rich in Istria that the local wines and truffles bear an outstanding flavor and aroma.
Day 7 Aristocratic Atmosphere - Wake up early for a Magic moment - watching a herd of Lipicaner horses run out to pasture. In 1580, Austro-Hungarian Archduke Karl founded the Lipica Stud Farm to breed horses for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and the Royal Court stables. Against all historical odds, the horses and their tradition have survived until today. After a guided tour of the stud farm, we savor the local dry ham (pršut) and well known red wine Teran. Watch the sunset over the Adriatic Sea, from the narrow lanes of Piran, an ancient Mediterranean town.
Day 8 To Venice or Ljubljana? - The trip ends after breakfast. You can ride with us back to Ljubljana, or continue on to Venice by boat. We'll gladly assist you with a boat ticket reservation. Adijo!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Transcendental blend of world's best cuisine and amazing hikes
- Behind the scenes visits with the best Slovenian chefs, wine sommeliers and a truffle hunter.
- Slovenian gastronomy = centuries old traditions meet organic farming and slow food.
- Hikes in the spectacular Julian Alps and steep glacier-carved valleys that set the stage in Hemingway's Novel A Farewell to Arms.
- Explore the protected underworld of the Skocjan Caves.
Additional Information
Price
$4985 USD
Price per double occupancy.
$460 single supplement. See terms and conditions for additional price information.
Scheduled trips operate with a minimum of six travelers. Custom dates are possible if you arrange your own group of six or more travelers.
Activity Level:
This walking trip offers moderately strenuous countryside walks mostly between 2-5 hours each day with one longer day of 6 hours. The trails and road conditions may be uneven so lightweight hiking shoes are recommended. Collapsable walking poles are not needed but you are welcome to use them. Daily van support means you only carry necessary items and you may opt out of any day hike if you wish.
Trip Flow
Walking hillsides and valleys, savoring delicious cuisine, and strolling through towns are the core activities of this trip with 2-5 hours of moderate/long countryside, trail walking each day. Our vehicle transfers your luggage between the hotels so you can carry just a daypack. If you’d like to take a break the vehicle is available for transport support.
Trip Prep
Before the trip, you will receive an information packet containing a recommended packing list, detailed itinerary, and special travel requirements or recommendations.
Terms and Conditions
How to book a trip
First, contact us and we’ll send you a trip application for your chosen trip. Second, after receiving your application and deposit, we’ll send you a confirmation letter, detailed itinerary, travel insurance suggestions, and other useful pre-trip information. Four weeks before the trip, we’ll send arrival instructions so you can meet your guides and begin the trip!
Payments
Prices are in U.S. dollars. Prices listed on the website are subject to change because of possible cost increases or currency fluctuations that we cannot absorb. Once you have paid your deposit, your quoted trip price will not change. We do everything that we can to keep our prices competitive and stable. Prices do not include airfare.
Payment Schedule
Trip deposit = $800
Due at time of trip application
Payment of trip's remaining balance
Due at least 90 days before departure
LATE SIGN UPS - If you’d like to reserve your trip less than 90 days before departure, you must pay the trip’s full balance with your application.
Cancellation Fee & Refunds
If you cancel, we’ll miss you! We understand that cancellations happen and you may be refunded some of your deposit or trip balance based on our cancellation fee policy.
If you cancel more than 91 days before departure:
Cancellation Fee = 50% of the $800 deposit (=$400)
If you cancel 90-61 days before departure:
Cancellation Fee = 25% of trip price
If you cancel 60-31 days before departure:
Cancellation Fee = 50% of trip price
If you cancel 30-0 days before departure:
Cancellation Fee = 100% of trip price
Cancellation Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing cancellation insurance to prevent any loss that may be associated with canceling your trip. We will send a suggested cancellation insurance company along with your trip application.
Cancellation by us
We reserve the right to cancel any trip at any time for any reason determined in our sole discretion, including if there are too few participants, or if the quality of the trip is deemed to be compromised. In such a case, refund of payments received by Pathways Through Europe shall constitute full and final settlement. Notice of such cancellation shall be given one month prior to trip departure. In the event of cancellation, Pathways Through Europe is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air tickets or other unrecoverable travel costs.
If a trip is cancelled due to force majeure (acts of God, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding, etc.), Pathways Through Europe will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, Pathways Through Europe does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made, and our use of best efforts to recover these payments will not include the institution of any legal proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
Single Supplements
Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A single supplement is paid by travelers who directly request single accommodations, subject to availability. If you are a single traveler and want to share accommodations, then we will try to match you with a roommate. But, if a roommate is not available, then a forced single supplement will be charged. A forced single supplement costs 50% of the trips regular single supplement.
Participant’s Responsibilities & Personal Insurance
Participants are responsible to be in sufficient good health when they join a trip. We count on travelers to read their detailed itinerary and pre-trip information packet so that they understand any recommended clothing and equipment and they realize in some countries the standards of living, practices, and accommodations differ from those in North America. By sending a deposit in advance of your trip purchase and by returning your Trip Application, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a difficulty for you or other trip members. Please consult your doctor.
Before you join a trip, we strongly recommend you ensure that you have sufficient medical coverage appropriate to meet your needs and the needs of your family and dependants, in case of any loss of property or illness, injury or death.
Limitation of Liability
We require that each traveller read, sign and return our Acknowledgement of Risk, Release, and Indemnity form before they come on a trip. This document will be sent to you when you contact us to reserve a trip. This document must be completed and returned to us with your deposit, prior to the trip’s departure. Your reservation will not be complete until we have received the completed and signed form.