Wine & Culture Getaway for Two in Slovenia and Croatia

Today, early afternoon, your private transfer will pick you up at the airport in Venice and take you to Goriška Brda in Slovenia. Around 2:30 pm, wine tasting in a premium boutique winery awaits you to begin your day. 

Goriška Brda — where the soft Northern Mediterranean blends with the Southern Alps, a place where the soil is rich with salts and minerals. The Goriška Brda region is noted for white wines: Mediterranean exotic, mineral, full-bodied and fresh at the same time and is one of the world’s best wine-growing terroirs. It is home not only to wine, but the area also produces delicious cherries, persimmons, figs and probably the spiciest olive oil you have ever tasted. Goriška Brda is predominantly the region of the delicious Rebula white wine (ribolla gialla), and rich Bordeaux-like blends. You'll have time to enjoy free time for lunch or for independent explorations of the area.

In the evening, around 7 pm, you'll check into the charming boutique hotel and also a bed & breakfast Gredič.

Gredič is a boutique hotel combining rich history and modern influences empowered by its young team. This hidden treasure of Goriška Brda is characterized by the highest levels of service and its spectacular location, where you will find relaxation and privacy in a unique setting.

*Airport transfer time is flexible and adjustable to your flight schedule.

This morning, a private car will take you to the fantastic area of Bled where you'll discover Slovenia's most spectacular sites. The famous city is known for its iconic lake and a magnificent Alpine resort, as well as being the only true island in Slovenia, located below the Julian Alps. For centuries it has been the symbol of natural beauty and home to fairy tales.

Ascend the old 12th-century castle perched on top of a steep cliff with spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding peaks. Enjoy unique natural sceneries, and learn about local crafts & traditions of one of Europe's most picturesque alpine regions. The castle is also home to cultural events, important protocol meetings, and a museum of manual printing and a wine cellar.

Continue your day with a boat ride with ‘Pletna’ – a traditional boat made by locals and among the must-do things when visiting Bled. Standing paddlers will take you to the island with 99 stone steps on the way to the Assumption of Mary church and the fortune bell.

After a local lunch with traditional local delights and tasting famous Bled’s cream cake, you'll make a stop in Skofja Loka—one of the oldest Slovenian towns— and have a walk around this medieval town rich in history and culture. Transfer back to Ljubljana late in the afternoon.

Afternoon & evening schedule:

1 pm 5-star Bee Experience 

Experience something unique this afternoon. First, you will be dressed in a beekeeping suit and together with the beekeeper, you will take a closer look at the bee family  (queen, drone, and worker bees). Then follows the verification of how much water is in honey. You will use the beekeeping device — a refractometer. You will try to overcome the fear of bees so you will soak your finger in honeycomb with honey, where there are approximately 2,000 bees on the frame.

After all that hard work, you will need a little rest. In the relaxation bee house, you will be given an API relaxation, where we have two beds placed next to the hives. Through the window, you can observe how the bees work. On the hives at both beds, there are two openings that we open and you can breathe air from the hive. After a half-hour relaxation, it is time to taste the bee products (honey, pollen, honey liqueur, homemade gingerbread, propolis, traditional cake Potica, etc…).

There’s also a nice surprise at the end!

5 pm Ljubljana On A Plate

This Ljubljana Traditional food walk will take you through the old Ljubljana town. You'll learn about the city, stories of the people, architecture, history of the Slovene nation and, of course, local and national gastronomy. During this food tour, nine traditional dishes from a variety of different cuisines from all parts and circles of the society of Slovenia and four sorts of wine will be tasted. You'll also familiarize yourself with the historical Ljubljana center and the history of Slovenes. At the end of the tour, your stomach will be full, your thirst quenched and you will know more about the history of Slovenia than some of the citizens! 

Overnight at the Zlata ladjica Boutique Hotel

A small town in the hinterlands of Croatia with only around 6,000 inhabitants, Buzet is the ex-seat of Venetian military rule in Istria with a parochial church built on the rock, a gourmet paradise and the capital of truffles. Discover unspoiled nature close to the Mirna River Valley, go off the beaten path, and experience local charm and hospitality.

Stop by to taste some homemade delicacies and participate in a unique truffle hunt adventure. The specific truffle scent comes from damp soil, mostly in oak woods, and is impossible to discern by human senses, but a trained dog’s sense of smell will feel it and find the truffle.

By rapidly moving its paws, the dog points to the area where it has found a truffle, showing its owner the spot where this underground treasure can be unearthed. Any time of day or night is suitable for truffle hunting. One can never know when truffles will release their magical scent, which makes truffle hunting always unique and adventurous

Afternoon & evening schedule

2 pm Check into the San Canzian Village & Hotel

Welcome to the premium experience of the Istrian countryside! San Canzian Village & Hotel has an authentic Istrian heritage and rural architecture, where the traditional meets the modern, giving you the unique experience of the Istrian countryside. Enjoy the ultimate Istrian luxury at San Canzian, a place that feels like a dream home!

4 pm Optional: Evening Relaxation at San Canzian

In a quiet corner of San Canzian Hotel, there is a Finnish sauna, ideal for feeling regenerated. Next to the sauna is a wellness zone with a large Jacuzzi and relaxation area, as well as a massage and treatment room. On the way to the rest area, a hot and cold foot bath will boost your circulation and refresh you after the sauna. You can request the range of treatments they offer at the reception or through their spa menu.

* Treatments need to be chosen in advance and are adjustable to your wishes.

After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to Opatija and visit a unique natural wonderland — Plitvice Lakes National Park, where you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the 16-terraced lakes and spectacular waterfalls. The unity and harmony of the 16 lakes here and their rare natural and cultural value is not only famous throughout Croatia but also worldwide; earning this remarkable national park a coveted place on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.

First, you'll stop in Rastoke for a nice walk and lunch, visiting the watermill village situated where the blue-green water of river Slunjcica flows into the Korana river.  Arriving at Plitvice, you'll walk through these ancient woodlands with a path taking you across Gornja Jezera (Upper Lakes) — a system of 12 lakes separated by travertine barriers. Wherever you are in Plitvice, it is easy to see why its travertine marble formations are such an extraordinary natural phenomenon.

Optional activities and/or entrance fees:

Plitvice National park: 11 - 40 euro/person (depending on the season)
Rastoke: approx. 4 euro/person

7 pm Check into the Ethno Houses Plitvice lakes hotel

Located in the heart of Plitvička Jezera National Park, close to the highest waterfall, Ethno Houses Plitvice Lakes Hotel features air-conditioned rooms in an authentic wooden ambiance. Traditionally decorated rooms, inspired by the modern luxury and beauty of Plitvice Lakes provide an unforgettable experience to all guests. Each room and apartment is made in harmony with untouched nature where the irreplaceable beauty of wood and the texture of traditional stone create harmony at first sight. Unobtrusive luxury and interior design, executed with modern solutions, blend seamlessly into the ambiance of the Ethno Houses hotel.

Today, a private transfer will take you back to the airport. Safe travels and hope to see you again on another adventure!