Taste of Slovenia Tour 2012

PRICE:
$ 2.400 / 1.710 € per person on double room basis
$ 300 / 220€ supplement for single use

  

  

  

DAY 1 - SUNDAY - BLED
• Morning /afternoon arrivals to Ljubljana Airport
• Transfer to Bled,
• Accommodation at Triglav Hotel, 4*
• 19.00 - visit Bled Castle, welcome reception with local brandies, wines and mineral water.
• 20.00 - transfer by bus, dinner at »1905 Restaurant«,
• Triglav Hotel, guest of honor, Mr. Janez Fajfar, Mayor of Bled.
• Overnight TRIGLAV HOTEL, 4* / (D)

Morning/afternoon arrival to Ljubljana airport, transfer to Bled, picturesque town on the banks of a glacial lake that has drawn pilgrims since ancient times. Visit Bled Castle, perched high above the lake. Enjoy a welcome reception prepared only for you and taste some of the local brandies. Conclude the first day in Slovenia with a dinner, hosted by the Mayor of Bled. 

DAY 2 - MONDAY - RADOVLJICA - BOHINJ
• 9.15 - depart by bus to Radovljica
• 9.30 - visit to Apiculture Museum with guided tour
• 11.00 - visit to Honey Bread Museum at Gostilna Lectar
• 12.15 - return by bus to Bled, time at leisure, stroll along the Lake, sample a Kremsnita and coffee at a lakeside cafe.
• 13.15 - lunch (optional)
• 14.00 - depart to Lake Bohinj, a natural Alpine glacial lake, and Bohinj villages.
• 14.30 - visit local farm, cheese tasting of local indigenous cheeses like “Mohant”
• 16.00 - stop in Studor, a picturesque Bohinj village
• 16.15 - visit to dairy museum in Stara Fuzina
• 17.15 - visit Bohinj Sirarna (Cheese Producers) in Srednja vas, sample the indigenous cheese “Bohinski sir, “ and other local dairy products
• 18.45 - visit Drago Kotnik in Cesnjice, a beekeeper who makes honey products and sparkling wine from honey; honey tasting, cakes, and wine tasting, local music
• 19.30 - dinner at “Gostilna Francka pri Hrvatu” in Srednja vas, featuring local cuisine
• Return to Bled
• Overnight TRIGLAV HOTEL, 4* / (B,D)
 

Travel to near Radovljica and visit apiculture museum and honey bread museum Lectar. Return back to Bled and spend some free time with sightseeing of the town, perhaps take a boat ride to the island in the lake of Bled, visit the baroque church and ring the bell or simply taste local speciality - Bled cream cake, called "Kremsnita". Afternoon departure to Bohinj. Settled at the entrance of the Triglav National Park, the Bohinj lake is being overlooked by the highest mountain in Slovenia, Mt Triglav. On the way stop in a Studor village to see some traditional hayracks (masterfully crafted) and after that visit Bohinj cheese factory and taste the best Slovenian cheese at one of the local farms. Enjoy in a interesting tasting of sparkling wine, made from honey and at the end of the day pamper youself with delicious dinner tasting local slovenian food.

DAY 3 - TUESDAY - BLED - POSTOJNA - GORISKA BRDA
• 9.00 - depart to Postojna
• 10.30 - visit Predjama castle
• 12.00 - depart to the Goriska Brda region of Slovenia
• 13.15 - wine and brandy tasting at Stekar Winery with fingerfood lunch
• 15.00 - sparkling wine tasting at Bjana Winery
• 16.30 - accommodation
• 18.30 - visit to estate cellar and wine tasting at Movia Winery with Ales Kristancic, »Magician of Movia« and Founder of »Slow Food Slovenia«
• 20.00 - dinner at Movia Winery with Ales and Vesna Kristancic
• Overnight KOZANA BOUTIQUE HOTEL, 3*/ (B, L,D)

On the way to Goriska Brda stop in Postojna and explore the medieval castle of Predjama, built dramatically into a cliff face. Continue to the grape - growing region of western Slovenia. Brda and its rolling landscape and rolling villages are home to more than 50 wine producers. Stop at a couple wineries to discover the age-old traditions of viticulture in the region and enjoy in a wine tasting and dinner at the Movia winery, Slovenia's most celebrated wine producer Mr Ales Kristancic.

DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY - STANJEL - GOCE - LIPICA - PIRAN
• 8.30 - depart to Stanjel
• 9.30 - arrive Stanjel, short visit of the town
• 10.45 - Prosciutto and charcuterie tasting, accompanied by Teran wine
at Boris Lisjak Winery in Dutovlje
• 12.15 - depart to Goce
• 13.00 - Slow Food lunch at Cejkotova domacija
• 16.15 - depart to Lipica
• 17.00 - visit the stud farm, home of the Lippizaner Stallions
• 18.30 - depart to the Adriatic Coast
• 19.15 - accommodation in Piran
• 20.00 - dinner on own at local Fish Cantina
• Overnight TARTINI HOTEL, 3* / (B,L)

This morning depart to the Kras region, also referred to Slovene Tuscany and first take a walk through the historical Stanjel, a picturesque town, attracted by many artists. After that participate in a tasting of carst proiscutto and Teran red wine, followed by a delicious lunch. Continue to the cradle of Lipizzaner horse - Lipica, with over four centuries tradition of breeding and selecting thoroughbred horses. Finally arrive to Piran, a coastal town, which has preserved the medieval layout with narrow streets and compact houses, giving the area a typical mediterranean look. It is also a hometown of Giuseppe Tartini, a violinist, composer and music pedagogue, who wrote over 300 compositions, many of which belong to the finest musical creations of the 18th century. Accommodate in a hotel named after this famous artist. 

DAY 5 - THURSDAY - SECOVLJE - SMARJE - LJUBLJANA
• 10.30 - visit to Secovlje Saltpans and Museum, guided tour
• 12.00 - meet Irena Fonda and visit Fonda Fish Farm on the Piran Bay- sea bass
• 13.30 - lunch at Casa del Sal featuring Fonda sea bass
• 15.00 - depart to Smarje
• 15.30 - olive and wine tasting at Santomas Estate. Guided tour.
• 17.30 - depart to Ljubljana
• 19.00 - accommodation at boutique Antiq Hotel
• Dinner on your own
• Overnight ANTIQ HOTEL, 4*/ (B,L)

In the morning of this day experience the production of salt in a traditional manner and witness the bird life of Secovlje saltpans. After that meet Dr. Irena Fonda, owner of the Fonda fish farm where top class sea bass fish is being bread and visit her fish farm. Taste Fonda sea bass for lunch and than depart towards Smarje for a guided tour of Santomas winery and enjoy in the story of the vintage wines, distinctive Šmarje olive oil and grappa, incorporated in Santomas trademark which begins at almost 50 acres of vineyards and 7,5 acres of olive orchards. The owner's philosophy is based on honouring the tradition and genuine Istrian heritage as well as honesty in farming and respect to the environment. Afternoon departure to Ljubljana.

DAY 6 - FRIDAY - CERKNICA/SNEZNIK - KOCEVJE - LJUBLJANA
• 09.30 - depart to Cerknica/Sneznik
• 10.15 - visit to Cerknica Lake with tour
• 11.15 - visit to Sneznik Caste and Dornouse Museum
• 13.00 - lunch at Mlakar Guesthouse, local specialtes
• 14.30 - depart to Kocevje
• 15.30 - arrive to Anton Fabjan’s biodynamic apiary (a tour, a tasting, a talk and walk, explanation of apitherapy - Endovital products made with honey)
• 18.30 - depart to Ljubljana
• 19.30 - arrive to Ljubljana
• Dinner on own
• Overnight ANTIQ HOTEL, 4*/ (B,L)

Visit Cerknica lake, the largest lake, with the surface of 26 km2, which lies in the area called Cerknisko polje. The lake is one of the most popular sights of interest. It is an intermittent lake, closely connected with karstic phenomena. It fills with water in autumn and freezes over in winter. An interesting sight is also Sneznik castle, once an important part of the amber and later Roman and medieval routes toward the centre of Europe. Due to the fact that the castle retained its form and furnishings that were left by the last owners, the Saxon princes of Schönburg Waldenburg despite numerous wars, until the ongoing restoration, the Castle enabled an insight into the lives of hunting and holiday residences. Continue to Kocevje for tasting and presentation at the biodynamic apiary of Anton Fabjan. Learn about Anton’s “feng shui” for bees, apitherapy, and the special healing properties of the honey from the Carnolian bee, native to Slovenia. Presentations by Dr. Janko Bozic, professor of apiary science and Anton Fabjan. Late afternoon return to Ljubljana.

DAY 7 - SATURDAY- LJUBLJANA - VELIKA PLANINA - BRNIK
• 9.00 - sightseeing and tasting in Ljubljana’s Central Open Air Market with Janez Bogataj, PhD, expert in traditional foods, continuing with a guided tour of the city
• 11.30 - depart to Velika planina, through Kamnik to Kamniska Bistrica
ascend to plateau with cable car to the Shepard’s Village, demonstration of cheese making, visit museum, view cows on Alpine pasture; lunch
• 15.30 - descend to the valley, return to Ljubljana, on the way visit Mercator or Leclerc hipermarket, time at leisure for shopping
• 18.30 - depart to Dvor Jezersek, accommodation
• 19.30 - dinner at Dvor Jezersek - Taste of Slovenia (guests will participate in baking bread and receive it as a gift before they leave)
• Overnight DVOR JEZERŠEK, 3* / (B,L,D)

Start the last day with a sightseeing of the capital Ljubljana, touring major sights of old part of the city, staritng at the market and continue with a "must see" buildings of architect Joze Plecnik (Triple Bridge, banks of the river, univeristy library), St Nicholas cathedral. Later ascend to Velika Planina, a high mountain plateau where is best-preserved herdsmen settlement in Europe. On plateau is about 140 cottages and all are made by plans of senior of Velika planina cottagers, architect Vlast Kopac. Rich Alpine flora of grassy slopes, Carst sinkholes, larches and pine trees create fairy landscape. Take a ride in a cable car to Velika Planina and visit the Heardsmen village and learn about the village through time and history. A special kind of cheese, called “trnic” will be presented and demonstrated by a dairy lady. Following the introduction, the guests will have an oppurtunity to try themselves in making the cheese and visit the shepherd museum and Snow Mary chapel. After descending to the valley take some time for shopping before you participate at the last tastefull dinner in this tour.
 

 DAY 8 - SUNDAY
• Morning departure to the airport