Becks Hosted Fly Fishing Trip in Slovenia by Frontiers Travel

Fly fishing in Slovenia Hosted Trip

A Barry & Cathy Beck Departure June 19 - 28, 2019

Hotel Hvala and Hotel Triglav Bled

We Share Your Passion

Slovenia

Take Your Travel Experience Further: The Hosted Trip Difference Unparalleled Service and Knowledge Every Step of the Way Dear Traveler, Slovenia was bound to appear on our calendar. You see, we have a small group of friends who love to explore new destinations with us and Slovenia came up over dinner a while back. Then there were months of kicking it around, talking to Kristene Fitzgerald at Frontiers, and that finally led to looking at a tentative itinerary and well, here we are. While this first departure fully subscribes to our group mentioned above, we are hoping that after this exploratory trip that Slovenia might make our schedule going forward. There are a couple of destinations that do not fit into our annual line-up of trips but are still destinations that we love and want to do as often as time permits. Those of you who know us well will think of Mexico, Belize and Alaska, which are all in this category. So, based on what we find on this first trip, we are hoping to get Slovenia into the rotation of every couple of years. Slovenia has two watersheds and all water flows into either the Adriatic or Danube systems. It is a fishing destination for grayling, browns, rainbows, brook and marble trout. Group size will always be limited as there are no lodges, we will be staying in local hotels and fishing small to medium size privately managed streams. While the fish size range is wide, we’ve seen photos of some pretty impressive fish. So, if Slovenia is on your radar, please contact Frontiers and we’ll keep you posted on how this first adventure goes. Slovenia is a beautiful country and this sounds like a pretty amazing trip. We hope to return in the future and hope to have you with us. Sincerely,

What to Expect

• Slovenia is a small eastern European country bordered by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. • We do not have traditional fishing lodges in Slovenia. Accommodation is in two family-run hotels, one in Kobarid and one overlooking Lake Bled. • The river basins in Slovenia are divided into the Adriatic and the Danube watersheds. • Marble trout is only indigenous species of trout in the Adriatic (Western) part of the river system in Slovenia. Other fresh water species include Adriatic grayling, brown and rainbow trout. • Transfer day will include a day visit to Lipica Stud Farm to see the original Lipizzaner horses and a walking tour of the capital city of Ljubljana.

About the Accommodations

Hotel Hvala is located in the Soca valley in the town of Kobarid. Kobarid is known for the 1917 Battle of Caporetto, documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. Be sure to visit the museum in town.

Barry & Cathy Beck

Accommodation in the alpine village of Bled is at Hotel Triglav where your rooms have balconies with views of Lake Bled.

About Barry & Cathy Beck Longtime Frontiers trip hosts and photographers, the Becks travel far and wide to follow their love for fly fishing and nature photography. Based in Pennsylvania, Barry and Cathy write books, host fly fishing departures, lead African photo safaris, and operate a stock photography business. The Becks are well-known in the fishing, photography, and travel industries, and possess a stellar reputation for their skill, knowledge, and expertise born out of a 20 year career. Their books include Cathy Beck’s Fly Fishing Handbook, now in its third edition; Fly Waters Near and Far, Fly Fishing the Flats and a coffee table book of photographs from around the world.

Proposed Itinerary for Slovenia June 19 - 28, 2019

Wednesday, June 19

Depart the States via overnight flight service to Ljubljana.

Thursday, June 20

Arrive Ljubljana. The party will be met in the Arrivals Hall for your private transfer to Kobarid. Accommodation is confirmed at Hotel Hvala for four nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Hotel Hvala is a family-run hotel located in Kobarid in the Soča Valley with a restaurant and a terrace Restaurant Topli Val. The hotel has 31 rooms, fishing tackle storage facility, drying room and sauna. If time permits, you should try to see the award winning Kobarid WWI Museum, devoted to the Soča Front of the First World War. The valley of Soča (Isonzo) was the stage of 12 battles between Italians and the AustroHungarian Empire between May 1915 and November 1917, in what was a battlefield of extraordinary proportions.

Friday, June 21 - Sunday, June 23

Three days of guided fly fishing the Rivers of the Adriatic Basin: The Soča is populated by the Soča rainbows, native marble trout and the Soča grayling, which strongly differs from grayling species found in other Slovenian waters not only in genetic terms, but also in behavioral and phenotypic terms. Its average length is around 15 inches, but there have been reports of grayling caught during the fishing season measuring 20 inches and more. The Lepenjica, flowing in the Trenta valley, is a left tributary of the Soča. Mostly shallow, this small river has several large pools with underwater ledges, a hiding place for trout. Not trophy size specimens, but fish big enough to satisfy even the most discerning fly fishing enthusiast. A few kilometers further downstream, the Soča is joined by the Koritnica, flowing in from the right. If slightly more difficult to reach than the Lepenjica, its lower course is fishable. Besides marble trout, there are also Soča grayling which hunt for larvae and airborne food. This is where many fly fishermen have hooked the grayling of a lifetime. The Nadiža River can be is small and warm in summer, but should fish well into June. It is populated by all the main fish species of the Soča drainage area, including trout and grayling. Besides the marble trout, the Tolmin Gorges are the most famous landmark of the Tolminka River, which flows into the Soča near the town of Tolmin.

*Itinerary subject to change

Its crystal-clear green pools are home to the marble trout and in the lower course also the Soča grayling. Fishing in the upper course of the river entails a good deal of climbing ability, while its lower course is very easily accessible. The source of the Idrijca River is in the Idrija Hills. Soon joined by the Belca, it quickly turns into a river suitable for fly fishing. The light green pools in its upper course provide shelter to numerous brown and wild rainbow trout. Recently, the number of marble trout has increased as well. Its course to the town of Idrija includes two noteworthy points of interest. A small river, the Bača is beautiful, easily accessible and fly-fishing-friendly. Its pools are home to all the trout species of the Adriatic Basin – from brown and marble trout, and their hybrids, to all sorts of crossbreeds, which notably predominate. Grayling are relatively common, as well as rainbows further downstream.

Monday, June 24

After checking out, you will be met at the hotel for a day of sightseeing en route to Bled. The first stop is Lipica. Lipica Stud Farm is the original home of Lipizzaner horses. The charms of the Lipica Stud Farm are hidden in the unseen, the stories written by the local history. Only when walking on the historical paths we can truly experience the greatness of the local equestrian tradition. The history of Lipica is closely intertwined with the Habsburgs and the time when horse was considered an ideal and was at the time a crucial strategic advantage. The Lipica story begins in the 16th century when the abandoned summer residence became the court stud farm. Your experience at Lipica Stud Farm includes: Carriage ride on a estate Visit of stalls with private guide Picnic on the estate After the Stud Farm, continue on to the capital city of Ljubljana. During the tour you will see most of Ljubljana’s main attractions. The guide will explain Ljubljana’s history and show you some of the nicest corners of Slovenia’s capital: The Town Hall, a walking tour of Plečnik’s architectural masterpieces, Križanke open-air theatre, the Napoleon monument, Central Food market, Prešeren square, Congress Square, the Triple Bridge, the Dragon Bridge and other. The old city center of Ljubljana is remarkable for its unique architecture designed by Baroque and Art Nouveau masters and, above all, the architect Jože Plečnik. Next is a visit to the Ljubljana Castle. You will take the funicular ride and ascend to the castle. Ljubljana’s most prominent landmark is Ljubljana Castle, which has undergone numerous changes over its rich and dynamic history. In the company of a guide, you can take a virtual tour called Virtual Castle, visit the Outlook Tower and the castle’s prison, and can view the exhibition Slovenian History. Your guide will also take you around other parts of the castle and show you an early 19th century well with a wooden treadwheel crane for hoisting water, which is still operational today. This is a wonderful opportunity for photo enthusiasts, as it offers magnificent panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. Upon departing Ljubljana, you will make your way to Bled. The resort town of Bled is located in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area within the Julian Alps is a popular tourist destination. Bled is known for the glacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled castle. The town is also known in Slovenia for its vanilla-and-cream pastry called kremna rezina or kremšnita. Slovenia has only one island but its uniqueness makes it more attractive than many an archipelago. Sheltered by picturesque mountains, the island reigns in the middle of the cerulean-colored alpine Lake Bled, surrounded by the town that share’s its name. Accommodation for the following four nights is at Hotel Triglav Bled. The rooms boast lake views and most have a balcony. The property also has an indoor pool, Finnish sauna, garden and reading room. Dinner each evening is served in Restaurant 1906 under the direction of chef Viktor Gros creating traditional Slovenian dishes with a modern twist, carried out with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients.

Tuesday, June 25 – Thursday, June 27

Three days of guided fly fishing the Rivers of the Danube River Basin. The river Sava is the longest alpine river in Slovenia and is divided into two forks, the Sava Bohinjka and Sava Dolinjka Rivers. The upper part is world-famous for its grayling as well as for large rainbows and good-sized browns. The pebble and gravel bottom is rich in all types of insect food. The level of the Sava Bohinjka is regulated by Lake Bohinj and is usually very constant. The fish can be both selective and cautious providing a challenge to the true fly fisherman.

The Radovna is a tributary to the Sava Dolinjka near Lake Bled. Its upper course is inhabited exclusively by the brown trout. Abundant caddis life feeds the many small wild browns, which are the main species here. Apart from the brown trout, the Radovna is also home to the rainbow and brook trout. Trziska Bistrica is the left tributary to Sava River, which comes from Karavanke mountain range near the town of Trzic. It is small, but charming, full of native browns. Further afield from Bled, Kamniska Bistrica is a small freestone alpine river, with its spring in Kamnik – Savinja Alps, not far from the town of Kamnik. Near the source it is populated with native browns that are beautifully colored while further downstream graylings become a part of the fauna as well.

Friday, June 28

Check out and transfer to the Ljubljana Airport for your return flight to the States.

Rates

Slovenia Fishing Slovenia 8-night/6-day fishing package $4,825 per person based on double occupancy and shared guide. $5,850 per person based on single occupancy and private guide. Inclusions: Four nights’ accommodation at Hotel Hvala, four nights’ accommodation at Hotel Triglav Bled, all meals, six days of guided fly fishing, all scheduled group transfers, Lipica Stud Farm Experience including picnic lunch, walking tour of Ljubljana, Ljubljana Castle and boat ride. Exclusions: Daily fishing licenses - price for a daily license varies from between zones and on specific rivers and range in cost from 30 Euros per day on the Sava & tributaries to 100 Euros per day on trophy sections of the Soca and Unec. Airline transportation, any special transfers, beverages, gratuities, sightseeing entrance fees, tackle purchases and any items of a personal nature are not included. Slovenia Arrangements Hotel Hvala is located in the Soca Valley in the town of Kobarid. Transfers: TBD Deposits payment refund policy: A non-refundable deposit of 50 per cent of the land cost is due at time of reservation. Balance payable at time of final land package invoicing. Final / full payment is also non-refundable unless client replacement is provided.

*Rates subject to change.

Your Airline Connection

In addition to providing a superior experience while you’re fishing in Slovenia, the Airline Department at Frontiers can coordinate all of your travel logistics to and from Ljubljana.

Frontiers Contact Our team of highly specialized agents coordinate every last detail of your trip. For this hosted departure, please contact:

Kristene Fitzgerald

Senior Program Manager Toll-free: 1-800-245-1950 Phone: 724-935-1577 kfitzgerald@frontierstravel.com

United States Office 600 Warrendale Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044 Toll-free 1-800-245-1950 Phone 724-935-1577 Fax 724-935-5388 Email info@frontierstravel.com Website www.frontierstravel.com

European Office Kennet Cottage, Kempsford Gloucestershire, GL7 4EQ, England Tel +44 (0)1285 700 940 Fax +44 (0) 1285 700 322 Email info@frontierstrvl.co.uk Website www.frontierstrvl.co.uk

The air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3315

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