Slovenian Adventure Tour

Tour type: Self-drive with electric car

Starting: Ljubljana airportEnding: 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

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Discover Slovenia at your own pace, explore the most magnificent routes, splendid and picturesque views, and try thrilling outdoor activities, delicious food – all in one trip. This 8-day tour combines a variety of experiences such as bear watching in its natural environment, the mysterious underground world of the Karst region, glorious Lipizzan horses, cycling along the refreshing Adriatic coast, rafting on the emerald Soča River, open-air sleep in the forest in the Soča Valley, hiking and paragliding in Triglav National Park. And definitely, there are many more wonderful things to discover on this journey.

Itinerary, accommodation, car rental, insurance, activities – everything is organised for you. The program can be adapted to your wishes. Let the memorable journey begin!

Itinerary

Day 1: Ljubljana airport – Portorož (140km, 1h30min)

Upon arrival at Jože Pučnik airport (Ljubljana), pick up your rental car and drive to your first destination – 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: Electric rent-a-car for 7 days, overnight in 4* hotel in Portorož

Optional: Dinner at the hotel

Day 2: Portorož – Škocjan Caves (48km, 35min) – Lipica (13km, 15min) – Štanjel (23km, 35min) – Postojna (40km, 40min) – Portorož (71km, 50min)

Have a breakfast 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.

After the tour you can take a short drive to the next highlight of the day – Lipica Stud Farm.

Did you know that the noble white Lipizzaner horses are from Slovenia? Their original stud farm in Lipica is the oldest in Europe and has been in operation for over 400 years.

A visit to the stud farm is a special experience. After entering the estate, tour the oldest barn with representatives of all the classic Lipizzaner lines, visit the Lipizzaner and horse carriage museum, walk on pastures, through avenues of trees and parks, and learn about the special features of Lipica and the Karst Region.

While visit you can watch the training of horses and admire their beauty and elegance. On the right day you can catch the show A Tale Of Lipica, which is truly worth seeing (please check the schedule as the perfomance is just once or twice per week).

Here you can stop for lunch and try local specialities as prosciutto and Teran wine.

If time permits, you can visit a 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.

In the late afternoon continue your trip to Postojna. Here, in the vast forests of Notranjska region, is another highlight of your tour – a bear watching experience!

With 60% forest coverage, Slovenia is among Europe’s four most forested countries. Therefore, the country is home to one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe.

An experienced guide will take you on a forest adventure, where you will discover the habitat of the largest carnivore in Slovenia’s forests – the brown bear – and other forest creatures. An off-road vehicle will carry you into the vast forests and with a bit of luck you will see some of the bears from the observatory that holds up to 4 people. The watching at the observation point will last from 2 – 3 hours and has to be conducted in total quiet. We recommend you to wear warm, noiseless clothing and no perfume. The program is held only in the evening hours.

After the bear watching experience continue to Portorož for overnight.

Services included: Škocjan caves entrance fee, Bear watching experience, overnight in 4* hotel in Portorož

Optional: Lipica Stud Farm entrance fee, A Tale of Lipica show, entrance to the village of Štanjel is free

Day 3: Portorož – Goriška Brda (94km, 1h20min)

After breakfast check out and enjoy a self-guided cycling along Slovenian seaside.

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.

After such an active trip afford yourself some seafood lunch at one of the local restaurants.

Then continue 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: E-bike self-guided tour, overnight in 4* hotel in Goriška Brda

Optional: dinner with wine tasting

Day 4: Goriška Brda – Soča Valley (Kobarid, 49km, 55min) – Bovec (21km, 25min)

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 Kobarid, where you can visit Kobarid museum. The famous museum about the findings during the First World War received the highest national certificate for museums, the Council of Europe Museum Prize and was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award.

After lunch in Kobarid take a drive to the town 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.

Spend the rest of the day in the town or at leisure at the hotel.

And for the real adventurers we have a special offer – spend the night in a unique hanging tent that we will fix together among the trees and which will offer you an unforgettable sleeping experience under the stars (available from 01.05. till 30.09.)

Services included: Kobarid museum, rafting, overnight in 4* hotel in Bovec (optional in a hanging tent in the forest)

Day 5: Bovec – Upper Sava Valley, Kranjska Gora (49km, 1h10min) – Bohinj (72km, 1h 15min)

Today you will 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.

Then your trip will continue to the Alpine Jewel in the heart of Triglav National Park – Lake Bohinj – the largest Slovenian natural lake.

After arrival to Bohinj, drive right away 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.

Late afternoon check in to the hotel and pamper yourself in a wellness centre.

Services included: Vogel cable car (round trip ticket), overnight in 4* hotel in Bohinj

Optional: Tandem paragliding

Day 6: Bohinj – Bled (23km, 25min) – Savica Waterfall (35km, 40min) – Bohinj (9km, 15min)

Start your day with a delicious breakfast and then take a full day trip to the one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts in Europe – Lake Bled.

In the middle of the lake there is an island with the Church of the Mother of the God. Perched atop a steep cliff rising 130 metres above the glacial lake is a symbol of Bled and Slovenia – Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia. Take the opportunity and have a special lunch at the castle’s restaurant with a stunning view of the lake, island and mountains around it.

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.

Then drive back to Bohinj for an afternoon hiking to 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.

Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening enjoying calm and peaceful atmosphere of the lake.

Services included: overnight in 4* hotel in Bohinj

Optional: Savica Waterfall entrance fee, Special lunch in the Bled Castle restaurant (includes entrance fee to the castle)

Day 7: Bohinj – Soteska Vintgar (32km, 40min) – Ljubljana (59km, 50min)

Have breakfast and then drive to Soteska Vintgar for hiking. You will be certainly amazed by the beauty of this natural attraction. The gorge is 1.600m long, full of small waterfalls, rapids, and erosion potholes where the river briefly slows down its pace. Trails, narrow passages, and bridges lead a visitor to the end of the gorge, which is marked by the magnificent 16m high waterfall Šum, the highest fluvial waterfall in Slovenia.

After hiking continue your trip to Ljubljana. We highly recommend you to have a late lunch at Vila Podvin (Radovljica) enroute to Ljubljana. The chef of this unique restaurant received a Michelin star in 2020.

Afterwards, drive to Ljubljana, the pocket-sized capital of Slovenia, which boasts with a dazzling hilltop castle and the green Ljubljanica River. Explore the old town with its narrow streets, admire stunning buildings by famous architecture Jože Plečnik, a classicist, who tried to model the city on ancient Athens. Then 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: Soteska Vintgar entrance fee, overnight in 4* hotel in Ljubljana

Optional: Lunch at Vila Podvin restaurant, dinner at Ljubljana Castle restaurant

Day 8: Ljubljana – Ljubljana airport (26km, 25min)

After breakfast have some free time in the Old Town before your departure to the airport.

Drop off the car at Ljubljana airport and catch your flight back home.

What’s included

• Rental electric car for the entire tour (Renault ZOE or Tesla) with included GPS navigation, unlimited mileage, airport surcharge, CDW with basic insurance, theft protection, road fee (Slovenia), VAT
• pick up/drop off at Ljubljana airport
• Accommodation with breakfast in 4* hotels for 7 nights:
• – 2 nights in Portorož – Grand Hotel Bernardin 5*, Hotel Histrion 4* or similar
• – 1 night in Goriška Brda – Hotel Gredič 4* or similar
• – 1 night in Bovec – Hotel Soča 4* or similar (or in a hanging tent in the forest)
• – 2 nights in Bohinj – Hotel Eco Bohinj 4* or similar
• – 1 night in Ljubljana – Hotel Union 4*, uHotel 4* or similar

• Activities: Škocjan caves tour, Bear watching experience, E-bike self-guided tour, Kobarid WWI museum entrance fee, Rafting on the river Soča, Vogel cable car (round trip), Soteska Vintgar entrance fee

Optional

• Travel Insurance
• Activities: Lipica Stud Farm entrance fee,  A Tale of Lipica show (as a supplemenmt to the entrance ticket), available just once/twice per week; The village of Štanjel (entrance to the village and garden is free, guided tour for supplement); Degustation dinner accompanied by wine tasting in hotel Gredič; Tandem paragliding (Vogel resort) (booking at least 2 days before activity); Special dinner at Bled Castle restaurant; Savica waterfall entrance fee; Lunch at Vila Podvin restaurant (One MICHELIN Star); Dinner at Ljubljana Castle restaurant

*we recommend making a reservation in the restaurants above