From Istria to Alps Tour

Tour type: Self-drive with electric car

Starting: Ljubljana airport – Ending: Ljubljana airport

Upon arrival to the airport, you will take over the electric car, which will be your e-mission free transportation for the following week. The car company representative will be waiting for you and explain all details regarding the car. You can download an app with all locations of charging stations, which are in every city. You will be provided with all necessary cards for these stations and will be charged accordingly to the usage upon returning the car. The car also includes plugs and cables for charging at stations or even at a regular electric socket.

However, most of hotels included in the itinerary offer their own charging stations, so you will easily park and charge the car in front of your accommodation.

The electrical charging is free or at least significantly cheaper than the price of regular fuel. Also, upon returning you don’t need to return full battery as with the standard cars.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The 10-days tour combines journey to the naturally beautiful countries – Slovenia & Croatia. Travel through them, admire the picturesque landscapes, discover the most outstanding sights. Get ready for active holidays on the mountain rivers and lakes, enjoy the refreshing Adriatic coast and explore the charming medieval towns with their culinary delights.

Arrive to Ljubljana and discover the capital of Slovenia, it was awarded the prize of being the Green Capital of Europe for 2016. Then a self-drive tour takes you to the breathtaking national parks of Croatia – Plitvice Lakes and Brijuni Islands, which nature will certainly inspire everyone. Explore the coast towns of Opatija, Rovinj and Pula in Croatia, take an E-bike tour along Slovenian coast through Portorož, Piran and Strunjan. Be amazed by the mysterious underground world of the Karst region and visit the Škocjan Caves. Experience rafting on the emerald Soča River, hiking in Triglav National Park. An unforgettable journey accompanied by a delicious local food and remarkable wines!

Itinerary, accommodation, car rental, insurance, activities – everything is organised for you. The program can be adapted to your wishes.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ljubljana airport – Ljubljana (27km, 30min)

Upon arrival at Jože Pučnik airport (Ljubljana), pick up your rental car and drive to Ljubljana. Check in at the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Ljubljana is the pocket-sized capital of Slovenia, which boasts with a dazzling hilltop castle and the green Ljubljanica River. Enjoy an evening walk through the narrow streets of Ljubljana, take a funicular to the Castle of Ljubljana and have the most beautiful view of city. Finish your day with a delicious dinner at the castle.

Services included: Electric rent-a-car for 7 days, Funicular to the Castle of Ljubljana, entrance to the Ljubljana Castle, overnight in 4* hotel in Ljubljana

Optional: dinner at Ljubljana Castle restaurant

Day 2: Ljubljana – Plitvice Lakes National Park (262km, 3h15min)

After breakfast explore the old town of Ljubljana with its narrow streets, admire stunning buildings by famous architecture Jože Plečnik, a classicist, who tried to model the city on ancient Athens.

Have a lunch in Ljubljana and then continue your journey to Croatia towards Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Arrive at hotel Lyra and spend the rest of the day at leisure after a long drive. In the evening enjoy a delicious dinner with traditional local dishes. And when the night comes you will have a great opportunity to admire the star-studded sky…. (there are installed telescopes in the rooms). The hotel Lyra is perfectly located in the area with the smallest amount of light pollution in continental Europe, making it ideal for stargazing!

Services included: overnight in Hotel Lyra 4* in Ličko Petrovo Selo, dinner at hotel

Day 3: Hotel Lyra – Plitvice Lakes National Park (15km, 15min) – Opatija (178km, 2h50min) – Rovinj (84 km, 1h 20min)

Have a breakfast and drive towards Plitvice Lakes National Park. Plitvice Lakes is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia, listed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites.

With its exceptional natural beauty, this area has always attracted nature lovers. The National Park covers 16 lakes, connected in between by either streams or waterfalls and divided into two groups – Upper and Lower lakes. Numerous waterfalls connect all sixteen lakes. The most popular and well-known waterfalls are Velik Slap, Sastavci and Veliki Prstavac all located in the Lower Lakes.

The park offers several different and well-maintained walking and hiking paths. You can use also eletric boats and shuttle buses inside the park, or rent a rowing boat. Choose the route that suits you (routes vary from 2 to 7 hours of walking) and explore the unique beauty of this place, admire its impressive nature and landscape!

After the tour you can have a lunch in the area near the park, there are several restaurants. Then drive to your next destination – Rovinj, a Croatian fishing port on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula.

Enroute make a stop in Opatija, one of the most elite destinations in Croatia, which is also called  the ‘Nice of the Adriatic’.  The charming 19th century villas, botanical gardens and amazing views are reminiscent of the French Riviera. Walk along 12 kilometre-long coastal promenade Lungomare, which connects the picturesque fishing village of Volosko with Opatija.

Then continue your trip further to Rovinj, check in at the hotel.

Services included: Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee, overnight in 4* hotel in Rovinj

Day 4: Rovinj – National Park Brijuni (Fažana, 30km, 35min) – Pula – (10km, 20min) – Rovinj (36km, 45min)

Today you will have a day trip to the National Park Brijuni, one of the most amazing Croatian parks.

The park is located in Brijuni islands along the coast of western Istria. There are several groups of islands among which the most interesting, the largest and the most indented is the Brijuni group of 14 islands and islets.

To get there you need to take a boat from the small town of Fažana. The boat ride takes about 15 minutes. Upon arrival to the Veliki Brijun port, you will be welcomed by a tourist train and a guide. Brijuni are truly a unique combination of natural, cultural, historical and geopaleontological heritage. There are so many ways to discover the island – you can take an electric car or rent a bicycle and enjoy a pleasant and relaxing ride. A tourist train will take you to the most beautiful and important places in the park, such as Safari Park where you can observe wild animals in their natural habitat. During summer season, you can also go scuba diving and kayaking.

Following your trip to the islands visit the largest town on the Istrian peninsula – Pula. The rich history of this city has been preserved from ancient Roman times, the early Christianity, the times of Venice, Napoleon, Austria and Italy. See all the important monuments as Amphitheater, the Hercules’ temple, the Catedral, Forum Romanum with Augustus Temple, and the City Hall. Go to the gates of the Roman city and enjoj a stunning view of the city from the Castle of Pula.

Return back to your hotel in Rovinj.

Services included: Boat to/out the National Park Brijuni, tourist train tour (1h ride), overnight in 4* hotel in Rovinj

Day 5: Rovinj – Motovun (47km, 55min) – Portorož (38km, 50min)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and have a city tour of Rovinj. The city is like a small “Croatian Venice”, it’s one of the most romantic and fascinating cities in Croatia. In the centre of the Old Town is the Church of St. Euphemia, a Venetian baroque building, which is also the highest point of Rovinj. The Church tower is a replica of the bell tower of St.Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Climb up the tower for breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding archipelago. Stroll  through the famous cobbled streets of Rovinj – Carrera, Bregovita and Grisia. Don’t miss the most attractive natural attraction of Rovinj – The Golden Cape Park Forest, which is rich in native plants such as Himalayan cedars, cypresses and pines.

Later than contunie your journey to Motovun, the most famous and attractive medieval town in the heart of Istria. It is located in the Mirna River valley, on a hilltop with a magnificent landscape. A Motovun Film Festival is held here every year.

Motovun is also very famous for truffels. The world largest white truffle was found in the woods around Motovun. There are several restaurants where you can have a lunch and try local dishes with truffles.

In the afternoon drive to Slovenian Istria and stay in Portorož. The town on Slovenian Adriatic coast is considered one of the warmest places in Slovenia, lies in a bay surrounded by beautiful hills.

Check in at the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. Portorož is a well-known tourist resort famous for its spas. Enjoy some pleasurable activities today – relax and pamper yourself in a wellness centre and swimming pools.

Services included: overnight in 4* hotel in Portorož

Day 6: Portorož – Slovenian coastline

Morning is a great time for a cycling along the Slovenian coast. E-bikes make the tour suitable for everyone. First you will take a ride along the coast to Sečovlje Salina Natura Park. Then you will go through the idyllic village of Korte and continue down through wooded area. Followed by this diverse up-and-down section you start descending towards the lovely town of Strunjan. The next stop is the beautiful town of Piran, Slovenia’s most picturesque seaside jewel. With its tiny winding streets and Venetian architecture, Piran will be a blast to explore. From Piran take a ride back to Portorož.

If the weather permits, spend the rest of the day sunbathing on the beach or doing some water sports.

Services included: E-bike self-guided tour (3-4 hours), overnight in 4* hotel in Portorož

Optional: Olive oil degustation during the E-bike tour

Day 7: Portorož – Škocjan Caves (49km, 50min) – Štanjel (29km, 30min) – Goriška Brda (39km, 45min)

After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive towards the Škocjan Caves – one of the monuments in Slovenia and the Classical Karst region on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites.

The Škocjan Caves have a highly multi-branched system of cave passages totalling 6.2 kilometres in length, the lowest point being 223 metres deep. They represent the largest and best-known natural phenomena in the region.

Enjoy a guided tour through the underground Canyon, which will take approximately 1.5 – 2 hours of walking (3km). The tour will take you to the man-made passageway in the Globočak Collapse Doline, the Silent Cave (Tiha jama), a fossil passage filled with numerous dripstone formations. Exiting the Cave, you will be enthralled by the view of the underground canyon of the Reka River that you cross over on the Cerkvenik Bridge, suspended nearly 50 meters above the riverbed.

When you finish the tour continue your trip to the medieval village of Štanjel, which is mesmerizing with its panoramic views, charming narrow streeets, the Štanjel Castle and famous Ferrari Garden, which is best known for its pond with a small island.

Here you can have a lunch and try local specialities of Karst region as prosciutto and Teran wine.

Later than drive to Goriška Brda region, which is often referred to as the “Tuscany of Slovenia”. Admire its hilltop villages, orchards, cypress trees and of course, its rolling hillsides lined with vineyards.

Stay at the hotel, enjoy a local dinner accompanied by wine tasting.

Services included: Škocjan Caves entrance fee, overnight in 4* hotel in Goriška Brda

Optional: dinner with wine tasting

Day 8: Goriška Brda – Bovec (66km, 1h15min) – Lake Jasna (via Vršič Pass, 43km, 1h15min) – Bled (40km, 40min)

After delicious breakfast you will continue your trip to the picturesque world of the Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, and the emerald green River Soča!

The Soča Valley is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Europe. The River Soča, which has a distinct emerald green colour, is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe.

Make your first stop at the town of Bovec – the center of outdoor activities. Have a unique experience of rafting on the Soča River, which takes 2 – 3 hours. There are no special skills required for rafting except swimming. The most popular rafting is 10km long and runs from the bridge near Log Čezsoški, in the immediate vicinity of Boka Waterfall, to Trnovo ob Soči.

Have a lunch in a local restaurant in Bovec and then drive to the Upper Sava Valley along the scenic Vršič road. Vršič pass is the highest road passage in Slovenia. The road was built by Russian war prisoners, guarded by Austrian soldiers in World War One and there are still some remains of military hideouts alongside the road. Today the pass is a tourist spot that attracts great number of visitors from Slovenia and all over the world. Along the road you can see the Russian chapel that was built in memory of more than 300 Russian prisoners that died here because of an avalanche.

The next stop we recommend is the Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora. The area around the lake offers nice trails. Spend some free time here, have a drink in the bar or ice-cream, and enjoy on the beach, surrounded by mountains.

After a relaxing break, continue the journey to the one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts in Europe – Lake Bled.

Check in at the hotel and take an evening walk around the lake. In the middle of the lake there is an island with the Church of the Mother of the God. The Bled Island is easily accessible, as there are numerous traditional boats with the name Pletna, making their trips there daily.

Services included: rafting on the river Soča, Pletna boat ride, Bled island with St. Mary Church entrance fee, overnight in 4* hotel in Bled

Day 9: Bled – Savica waterfall (35km, 45min) – Vogel (Ukanc, 4km, 10min) – Bohinj (5km, 10min) – Bled (27km, 30min)

Spend your day discovering the Triglav National Park.

Drive towards a spectacular waterfall Savica. It is considered to be the most beautiful waterfall in the country with its height of 78 meters. The shortest trail will take about 15-20 minutes to get to the view point. The pathway leads the 553 stone steps. The ascent is not difficult, as the stairs are not steep. After about 15 minutes walking up the stairs, you will get to the wooden pavilion that offers wonderful views of the Savica Waterfall.

After hiking you will visit the next highlight of the day – Vogel resort. Drive to the Vogel cable car station in Ukanc. Vogel cable car will take you to the upper cable car station, to a height of 1.537 metres above sea level. Already during cable car ride, you will admire all magnificence of the Bohinj Valley and the Julian Alps.

Have lunch with home-made dishes in a panoramic cafe with a stunning view of the mountain Triglav (the highest peak of Slovenia, 2.864 metres). Vogel Ski Resort offers a great choice of sport activities and today we advise you to try a tandem paragliding (the flight takes around 20-30min). If the weather conditions are not suitable for paragliding, there is also a mountain bike park and zipline experience available.

After descending from Vogel, drive to Bohinj and explore the largest Slovenian natural lake choosing one of the numerous walking trails, rent a bike or even kayak.

Later than drive back to Bled. We recommend you to visit the Bled Castle, which is rising 130 metres above the glacial lake. Take the opportunity and have a special dinner at the castle’s restaurant with a stunning view of the lake, island and mountains around it.

Services included: Vogel cable car (round trip ticket), Bled Castle entrance fee, overnight in 4* hotel in Bled

Optional: Savica waterfall entrance fee, Tandem paragliding, Special dinner at Bled Castle restaurant

Day 10: Bled – Ljubljana airport (35km, 30min)

If time permits, spend some more time in Bled before departure to the airport. Take a relaxing walk around the lake, make a stop for a coffee in the shore cafe and try the famous Bled cream cake – the symbol of Bled cuisine.

Drive to Ljubljana airport, drop off the car and catch your flight back home.