2011 - homecoming Slovenia Highlights of Slovenia tour 12 – 19 October 2011 Included features: • Selected class hotels, rooms with private facilities • Service charges and hotel taxes • Breakfast daily • 5 Dinners as per program • 1 Lunch as per program • 2 Light Lunches as per program • 2 Wine tasting as per program • Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach • Professional English speaking tour director throughout • Sightseeing tours as per itinerary • Included entrances when indicated in bold letters: Bled castle, Pletna boat ride, St. Mary church, Alpine Diary Museum, Cable car to Mt. Vogel, Preseren’s birth house, the Avsenik museum, Happy Johnny bus, Boat ride on the Ljubljanica River, a carriage “lojtrnik” drive, the Postojna caves, Lipica stud farm, Maribor Cathedral, Ptuj castle, Blacksmith museum, Floating Mill on the Mura River, straw works, ham making, pottery museum, Rogatec Open-Air Museum, Repnica • Luggage handling in hotels (one piece per person in/out) *Note: Arrival and departure transfers not included. If needed, transfers can be provided on request.
Hotels: • BLED: • LJUBLJANA: • PTUJ: • SMARJESKE TOPLICE:
Hotel Park (or similar) Hotel Union/Lev (or similar) Hotel Primus (or similar) Hotel Vitarium (or similar)
Itinerary:
Day 01, 12 OCTOBER 2011 ARRIVAL TO BLED Upon arrival to the airport transfer on your own to your hotel at Bled. The rest of the day at leisure. Dinner in your hotel. (D)
Day 02, 13 OCTOBER 2011 THE GORENJSKA REGION Breakfast in hotel Today we explore the beauties of Slovenian Alpine region, the home of the Triglav Mountain and the biggest Slovenian poet France Preseren. Start the day with sightseeing tour of the pearl of the region, Bled. We will take you to imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. We will take a pletna boat ride to the island in the middle of the lake. Once we reach the island we’ll visit a small church on the island and ring a whishing bell. Driving through picturesque Alpine valleys we stop to visit the Alpine Diary Museum. It is located at Stara Fužina in the abandoned village cheese-dairy, first opened in 1971 where the cheese masters looked after large cheeses brought down from the mountains by the carriers in the summer time. From here we continue with cable car to Mt. Vogel from where you will enjoy the beauty of this Alpine area with high mountains, valleys and lakes. Light lunch on top of Mt Vogel before we take the cable car down to the valley. On the way to Begunje we make a stop at Vrba, the birth place of the Slovenian greatest poet France Preseren. We will visit Preseren’s birth house, now a museum. After the tour we drive to Begunje and visit the Avsenik’s museum that comprehensively represents the greatness of Avsenik music. You will see the documentary about the beginning of Slavko Avsenik’s music career and later his worldwide success. From here, our path will take us to Radovljica, the smallest medieval city, where we will enjoy dinner, accompanied by the sounds of accordion. Overnight at Bled. (B, L, D)
Day 03, 14 OCTOBER 2011 THE NOTRANJSKA AND THE KARST REGION WITH THE CAPITAL Breakfast in hotel This morning enjoy the beauties of Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana. Enjoy the ride on the “Happy Johnny” bus. “Happy Johnny” will take you past the Roman wall, through Ljubljana’s diplomatic quarter, past the greatest Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik’s majestic Žale cemetery and the new Stožice stadium to Jože Plečnik’s famous St. Michael Church in the village
of Črna Vas. From there continue past Ljubljana Castle, the suburb of Trnovo back to Ljubljana centre. Continue with sightseeing tour on foot and visit the most significant sights of the old city centre: the picturesque Central open-air Market and the Three Bridges, both designed by famous architect Joze Plecnik, the Baroque Town Hall and the Robba’s Fountain. To make the tour even more interesting, a boat ride on the Ljubljanica River with sounds of accordion. Lunch at local “gostilna” in Ljubljana. After lunch journey to the Cerknica Lake, an intermittent lake near the town of Cerknica. When full, it is the largest lake in the country. Its surface can reach up to 38 km² and the surface level varies from 546 to 551 meters above sea level. It is also an important wildlife resort, especially as a nesting place for many bird species. You will be able to enjoy the sites during your typical local carriage “lojtrnik” drive that will take you around the lake. You will also taste local “Šnops” and pastry. End the day in Ljubljana. (B, L)
Day 04, 15 OCTOBER 2011 THE PRIMORSKA REGION Breakfast in hotel After breakfast drive to nearby Postojna, home of one of the largest caves in Europe. It has taken millions of years for clear waters of the Pivka River to create these 21km of underground labyrinth of passages, caverns and great halls, decorated with dripstones, translucent curtains and pillars of fascinating shapes and colors. After an unforgettable underground train ride to the heart of the cave system, experienced guides will accompany you on a walk through the subtly lit fairy-tale like underground world. You will glimpse a million years in one moment, admiring delicate spaghetti-like stalactites, massive pillars and other geological wonders. From here our trip will take us to Karst where we will toast with wine, enjoy the taste of famous Kraski prsut (air dried ham – prosciutto) while visiting one of the wine cellars. We continue south. The Lipica Stud Farm is the place where the breeding of the magnificent white horses called Lipizzaner started over 400 years ago. Lipizzaner is an indigenous Karst horse. Nowadays, the stud farm is recognized as a cultural monument and we will walk around the estate – the stables, green pastures, the church and, of course, the marvelous horses of all ages and specializations. Lipizzaner are born dark and turn into noble white beauties when they mature. These fast and smart animals are trained in the art of Spanish Riding School and can perform amazing shows. Drive to medieval Piran, the gem of the Slovenian coast, tucked in between the sea and the mighty town walls. Strong links with Venice in the past are still reflected in the town’s present appearance. The central square boasts of eminent historical palaces, the birth house of maestro Tartini, his monument and his name. We will walk up to the imposing Church of St. George with its Venetian-like bell tower to admire the view over the wonderful mosaic of roofs, streets and squares with the stunning backdrop of the bay. You will have time to discover the hidden corners of the town wander along the promenade and taste some savory Mediterranean cuisine. Return to Ljubljana in the evening. (B, WT)
Our first stop today in this exciting region will be Prlekija. Prlekija is a beautiful area with a lot of low hills and small valleys where old traditions are still kept. Our first stop will be in the Blacksmith museum where we will learn a little bit about the craft in blacksmith workshop. Our second stop will be the Pomurje area. This is the area by the Mura River. We will visit the Floating Mill on the Mura River, the Island of Love and cross the Mura River on a ford where we will taste a typical light dish “Burjaska malica” – on fire toasted brown bread and brandy. From here we continue with our return to traditional crafts and observe demonstration of straw works, traditional ham making, and visit traditional pottery museum. End the day with delicious dinner at a Tourist farm before returning to Ptuj. (B, D)
Day 07, 18 OCTOBER 2011 SOUTHEASTERN REGION Breakfast in hotel Today we start with Rogatec, the largest open air-museum in Slovenia. The museum presents the life and work of farmers and craftsmen at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in the Rogatec area. Fifteen different relocated or reconstructed buildings and associated functional elements make up the museum space separated into three sections. The homestead section includes the house where poet Jože Šmit was born, with an enclosed garden, an outbuilding with manure pile and an outside toilet, a beehive, pigsties and a traditional Slovene hayrack (kozolec). The commercial area introduces the loden, originally a market shop with assorted goods, today also functioning as a museum shop and administrative premises. The third section is the eating area with a wine cellar functioning as a pušenšank (a traditional way of allowing farmers to sell their wines directly) and characterized by planted vines. After the tour we will participate in three ethnological workshops: baking of bread at the Šmit’s House, a dancing workshop and beekeeping workshop. From Rogatec we travel to Bizeljsko region and visit one of local Repnica where we will taste local dishes and wines. Afternoon at leisure to prepare for the farewell dinner at local “zidanica” with traditional accordion music. (B, L, D)
Day 08, 19 OCTOBER 2011 OUT Breakfast in hotel Transfer on own to Ljubljana airport. (B)
Day 05, 16 OCTOBER 2011 THE ŠTAJERSKA REGION Breakfast in hotel This morning travel to the Štajerska region and visit its most significant cities of Maribor and Ptuj. First stop today will be in the second biggest Slovenian city, nestled at the foothills of Pohorje. Spontaneous and relaxed, the attractive city of Maribor has a lot to offer. We visit the majestic Gothic Cathedral, the lively Main Square and discover the legends of the Franciscan Church. We will make our way over to the picturesque Town Square and visit the romantic Lent river bank to see the Old Vine House, with the oldest vine in the world. To make the visit complete, we enjoy a light meal and taste the wines in one of the renowned wine cellars. Continue on the Drava Plain, surrounded by thermal springs, flourishing fields and vineyards, where Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian town, lies. It was mentioned already as Roman Poetovio in 69 BC. Numerous archaeological remains tell of those days, while its lovely present appearance originates from the Middle Ages, when Ptuj flourished for the second time. The medieval castle dominates a panoramic hill above Ptuj - it houses exceptional collections, illustrating the traditions and history of the region. Enchanted by the heritage of the past, we continue down the pretty streets, admiring the Provost Church, the poignant Orpheus’ Pillar and the flamboyant Town Hall. Enjoy dinner with accordion music at a local “Gostilna” before ending the day in Ptuj. (B, WT, D)
Day 06, 17 OCTOBER 2011 THE PREKMURJE REGION Breakfast in hotel. Prekmurje is an undisturbed iridescent plain country where the sun and the wind hold in high esteem the diligence of human hands and the soil repays to good people the gratitude with different goods.
Price:
1,134 $ per person in DBL/TWIN room 1,335 $ per person in SGL room To find out all about these tours, breaks and packages, please contact your local agent: