Active Slovenia Adventure

Day 1

Welcome to Slovenia! We will pick you up at Ljubljana airport and take you to our hotel to get checked in. Late afternoon, we’ll have our group introductions and trip briefing. After the briefing, we explore the ‘old’ Ljubljana city with its architectural gems, charming bridges that adorn the riverside, and many little squares.  This evening at our welcome dinner, we will taste traditional Slovenian specialties at a cozy restaurant in old town for an authentic Ljubljana experience. Overnight Ljubljana.

Day 2 – BLED

After breakfast, we start the day with a transfer to Radovljica, a charming little town at the footsteps of the Julian Alps, a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps. These alps stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, and rise to approximately 9400’ at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia. A large part of the Julian Alps is included in Triglav National Park. We’ll enjoy the beauty that surrounds us on an easy hike to the stunning Vintgar Gorge, where the emerald-green waters carve through vertical cliffs, showcasing nature’s breathtaking beauty. The gorge has been carved out by the Radovna River, and the boardwalks that are erected along the river are what make this gorge visit so special. For short periods of time you are suspended over the river, which can be a thrill to walk and fun to photograph. After our hike, followed by lunch, we will travel to Lake Bled with its famous castle. Bled is by far Slovenia’s most popular destination with a dramatically sited medieval castle and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Bled Castle is built on a precipice above the city of Bled, overlooking Lake Bled.  We will traverse Lake Bled aboard the traditional wooden boat, a Pletna, on the way to the enchanting Bled Island. After this fun tour, we’ll head to our hotel to check in and enjoy dinner. Overnight Bled.

Day 3 – KRANJSKA GORA

After breakfast, we will explore Lake Bled’ s surroundings on an e-bike. We ‘ll travel through the breathtaking Radovna Valley on the way from Lake Bled to Kranjska Gora, immersing ourselves in the idyllic scenery that surrounds us. This is an approximately 25 mile ride, but remember we’re on e-bikes so it will feel like half that distance! If you’re not feelin’ it, we also have a backup van available. After we reach Kranjska Gora we’ll drop off our bikes, and enjoy a well-earned lunch.  In the afternoon, we will visit Laghi di Fusine in Italy, which is just 20 minutes away. There, we enjoy stunning views, rent wooden boats or SUPs, swim, and relax at the nearby restaurant. We’ll check into our hotel before dinner.  Overnight Kranjska Gora.

 Day 4  – BOVEC

After breakfast, We will visit the renowned Vrsic Pass, connecting Kranjska Gora to Bovec, our base for outdoor experiences in Soča valley. Awe-inspiring mountain vistas will follow us along the way. The Vršič pass is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. The road through the pass rises from Kranjska Gora in a series of 50 hairpin bends, traverses the top of the Vršič Pass, and descends into the Soča Valley. The current name, Russian Road refers to the approximately ten to twelve thousand Russian prisoners of war used as laborers in the 1915 construction. We will explore Upper Soča Valley and visit Triglav National Park Museum in Trenta, delving into the rich natural and cultural heritage of this protected area. This afternoon, we ‘ll experience the thrill of soaring through the Učja Valley on a zipline course that takes us from mountaintop vistas into the depths of the Učja River gorge. With 10 ziplines varying in length, height, and speed, the variety of excitement and scenery on this adventure is amazing. You are in for an adrenaline rush! We’ll check into our hotel for two nights. Dinner is delicious again tonight. Overnight Bovec.

Day 5 – BOVEC

This morning after breakfast, we ‘ll start our day with an exhilarating rafting expedition on the turquoise waters of the Soca River, surrounded by the breathtaking Julian Alps. Soča is a 138-kilometre (86 mi) long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. The rafting adventure on the Soča River is one of the most beautiful Slovenian experiences and a great addition to our active vacation. We’ll get our gear on, have the standard safety briefing and we’re off! This activity is suitable for beginners to experienced rafters, as this crystal river offers sections with various difficulty levels. Rapids average Class II to III on this section. After this exciting activity, we’ll enjoy lunch then head back to our hotel to get cleaned up. This afternoon we’ll go for a short hike (1 hour) to Kozjak waterfall, with a stop to see the largest Slovenian waterfall, Boka.  If time permits, we can also make a stop in Kobarid for a coffee or another beverage before dinner. You’ll have the opportunity to shop for local products and souvenirs. Overnight Bovec.

Day 6 – GORIŠKA BRDA

We’ve been very active, so we’re going to have an easy day today. After a leisurely breakfast, we will pack up and head out in our van along the scenic ridges of the Slovene-Italian border, enjoying panoramic views and a unique perspective of the picturesque landscape. After descending into Goriška Brda, renowned for its rolling vineyards and charming villages, this area is sometimes referred to as the “Tuscany of Slovenia”. We ‘ll immerse ourselves in this fairy tale landscape, nested halfway between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. Here we’ll experience a traditional cooking workshop led by a local, well-respected (female) chef. We’ll also have an olive oil tasting as well! We have the joy of not only preparing, but dining on the delicious locally sourced delicacies. Later in the day we continue with a delightful wine-tasting experience. (Great combo!) Wine experts and visitors alike are beginning to recognize Slovenia for its exceptional winemaking. The country has recently won multiple international awards at the recent Decanter World Wine Awards. Despite Slovenia being half the size of Switzerland, the country boasts over 2,500 wine producers that produce around 90 million liters of wine annually. Even the Slovenian anthem is written in a shape of a wine glass, praising wine and friendship among the nations. Check into our hotel and have dinner. Overnight Goriska Brda.

Day 7 – KARST REGION – LJUBLJANA

After breakfast, we’re off to visit the enchanting Karst region, with its unique charm, characterized by limestone formations and vineyards. Slovenia is a karstic land, and karst caves are true art galleries that impress with their natural sculptures. Our first stop is to visit Štanjel castle We’ll take a 30 minute tour around the terraced Karst settlement. Next, we visit the awe-inspiring Skocjan Caves, a testament to the underground wonders of Slovenia with its vast chambers and majestic stalactite formations. Škocjan Caves, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, impresses visitors with its unique, unparallelled beauty. Seems like scenes from the Lord of the Rings movie, it’s said. On our return to Ljubljana we’ll stop at Predjama Castle for lunch. Our 2 hour drive is scenic as we arrive Ljubljana and check into our hotel. Let’s get cleaned up and go for our farewell dinner. Relishing not only the delicious food, but all the stories from sharing this wonder-filled week together. Overnight Ljubljana.

Day 8

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport for international flight departures. Consider a stay on the continent and connect with our Best of Spain trip (and receive a 10% discount!).

• 8 days/7 nights fully guided tour with an English-speaking Trip Leader and a US Canyon Calling Representative
• All transportation as outlined in this itinerary
• Hotels in double occupancy. Call for single room supplement and availability.
• All breakfasts and dinners
• All activities, excursions, and activity gear as outlined in this itinerary
• All activity guide gratuities

• Transportation to and from Ljubljana, Slovenia (airport code LJU)
• Alcoholic beverages (exception one wine tasting), and lunches
• Travel insurance, and other items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to your local Trip Leader at the end of the tour