Alpine Lakes of Slovenia


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Little Slovenia has big geography! Cobalt blue glacial lakes are fed by rivers from the snowy peaks of the southern Alps. The steep mountain cliffs slice into forested valleys and grassy meadows. Gentle hillsides swathed with vineyards roll towards the warm Adriatic Sea. On the way are some of the most spectacular cave systems in Europe. We aim to have a taste of it all in this short, active break.

ROMANTIC CASTLES & LAKES
Ljubljana is Slovenia's charming and atmospheric capital. We set out on foot to explore the narrow streets and baroque churches, and perhaps sit out on the main square or climb up to the sixteenth-century castle. Pausing at the medieval town of Skofja Loka, with its fairy-tale castle, we drive on to Lake Bled, situated in a serene valley beneath craggy mountains. You can explore on foot, or take a boat out to the Tyrolean-style church nestling on a wooded island.

ALPINE PEAKS & FLOWERY MEADOWS
From our base at Lake Bohinj, at the head of a carved glacial valley, we plan to explore the Triglav National Park. We ride the cable car to Mount Vogel, and set out on foot to enjoy the fabulous scenery of the jagged Alps, dressed with larch forests. On the lower slopes, we walk on meadows sprinkled with violet gentians and dotted with lonely farms. We'll also see the Savica falls, which plunge 60m out of the rock, and there's a chance to go either rafting, canoeing or cycling.

DOWN TO THE ADRIATIC COAST
We board the train for a scenic ride through the famous vineyards, on the foothills of the Alps, towards the Adriatic coast. En route, we'll pause to see the amazing underground cellar of a thousand caves at Skocjan. Reaching Piran with its lively lanes, Venetian villas and pretty harbour, we relax a while on the coast. Finally, we return to Ljubljana stopping to admire dramatic Predjama castle, built into a 123m high cliff face, complete with drawbridge and tales of an errant knight!

Details

Price Includes

(MT-6227-P)

Flights (London -Ljubljana - London)

Accomodation

7 breakfasts

Price Excludes

Local Tour Payment 150 Euros

Suitability / Level

Easy

Itinerary & Highlights

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS - Among the many highlights featured on this tour, we particularly mention:

LJUBLJANA
Majestic baroque city.

SKOFJA LOKA
One of the oldest and most beautiful small towns in Slovenia.

LAKE BLED
Picturesque town with a tranquil lake and islet.

TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
Walks in the Julian Alps from Lake Bohinj and other activities such as mountain biking and kayaking.

TRAIN FROM BOHINJSKA BISTRICA TO NOVA GORICA One of the most scenic rides in Slovenia.

ITINERARY

DAY 1. SUNDAY. JOIN TOUR LJUBLJANA

Arrive Ljubljana and check into hotel.

DAY 2. DRIVE TO TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK VIA SKOFJA LOKA & LAKE BLED

This morning we drive to Skofja Loka, one of the oldest and most beautiful small towns in
Slovenia, dominated by its castle. We will soak up the atmosphere of this medieval town which is
now protected both historically and culturally. Later we continue to the picturesque resort town
of Bled situated on a tranquil lake. Widely acclaimed as one of the most fashionable
European resorts in the early 20th century, this was the home of the Yugoslavian Royal Family
and also the summer residence of President Tito.

You may like to visit the island by travelling across in a traditional gondola known as a pletne (optional). On the island is the baroque Church of the Assumption and perched on a steep cliff above the lake is the 11th century Bled Castle with towers, ramparts, moats and a terrace. You may also wish to walk the 6 kms around the lake past linden, chestnut and willow trees, swans and water lilies on the water. There are also rowing boats for hire (optional), or you can swim in the lake. Later, we continue to Lake Bohinj.

En route if the weather is clear, we may see Triglav, the highest Alpine peak at 2864m. The name means ‘Three Heads’ and pagan Slovenes believed the mountain was the home of a three-headed deity who ruled the Sky, the Earth and the Underworld. It is a sacred mountain and according to tradition every Slovene should climb it at least once in his or her life. The peak was first climbed in 1778 by an Austrian and three Slovenes, and the mountain features prominently on the Slovene national flag. Lake Bohinj is a naturally preserved glacial lake enclosed by steep mountain cliffs on the southern edge of Triglav National Park – an ideal base from which to explore these magnificent mountains.

DAYS 3 & 4. AT LAKE BOHINJ; VARIOUS WALKS AND ACTIVITIES

The Triglav National Park nestles in the Slovene Julian & Kamnik Alps. Founded in 1924, it is
one of the oldest Alpine nature reserves covering an area of 82,000 hectares. The Julian
Alps is the first of the mountain barriers separating the Mediterranean Sea from
continental Central Europe.

On our first day we plan to walk to the Savica Waterfall, the source of Slovenia’s longest and mightiest river, the Sava. The breathtaking cascade of water tumbles into a pool 60m below. We then take the cable car up Mount Vogel to the ski station at a height of 1535m from where impressive views extend over the lake and the Julian Alps. After exploring the area we walk back down to the lake and from here, you may choose to return by cable car (optional), take an easy walk around Lake Bohinj (12km) or hire a mountain bike and cycle quiet country roads.

There are several optional walks to choose from on our second day, which could take us through deepcarved glacial valleys, across rolling hills and past springs, waterfalls, rivers and lakes or you can hire a kayak (optional) to explore the lake itself. The park is rich in flora and fauna (keep an eye open for chamois), and the ground is covered with a rich abundance of flowers; more than 10 species are endemic such as the Zois bellflower, Frolich gentian and Carniola cowslip. Throughout the countryside we will see ‘kokolec’, a special kind of rack for drying hay that is unique to Slovene regions. Also known as mountain harps, there are over 30 different types. There is also the opportunity to do some river rafting on the Sava Bohinjka river (optional), or horseriding (optional) in the surrounding countryside.

DAY 5. TRAIN TO NOVA GORICA; BUS TO SKOCJAN CAVES; DRIVE TO PIRAN

We take the train from Bohinjska Bistrica to Nova Gorica. This journey is one of the most scenic in Slovenia with a back-drop of the Julian Alps. We pass through the Vipava Valley, a winegrowing region, onto one of the highlights of Slovenia, the amazing underground caverns at Skocjan, which have been protected by UNESCO since 1986. These 5km long caves descend 250m into a gigantic hollow into which a river disappears. Prehistoric people once sheltered in these caves and used them to make sacrifices to the gods of the underworld. After a guided tour, we continue to Piran, situated on the Slovenian Adriatic Sea. There are two distinct regions separated by a long shelf of steep cliffs extending down to the Istrian peninsular. In the past, this natural divide has been used as a border between kingdoms: the Venetian coastal lands and the inland domains of the Hapsburgs. Olive and tangerine trees grow in abundance along the 40kms of coastline. On arrival, your tour leader will take you on a brief orientation tour.

DAY 6. IN PIRAN; DAY FREE FOR OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

The day is left free for personal exploration you may like to take a boat trip along the coast
(optional) to visit the salt pans, or spend the day swimming off the rocks. You could spend
today exploring Piran, a beautiful town full of narrow streets, vaulted passages, arcaded
courtyards and Venetian Gothic architecture. It is one of the best preserved historical towns
anywhere on the Adriatic and is entirely protected as a cultural monument. From the
remains of the 15th century walls, there are some great views over the town and the sea.
The ancient central square is surrounded by beautiful patrician villas and there is a
monument dedicated to the local composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini.

DAY 7. VISIT PREDJAMA CASTLE EN ROUTE TO LJUBLJANA

Today we make our way back to Ljubljana with a visit to Predjama Castle, built into a dramatic
123m craggy cliff en route. This four-storey castle dates back to the 16th century and has all the
features a castle should have such as a drawbridge, holes in the entrance ceiling for
pouring boiling oil on intruders, a dark and dingy dungeon and a 16th century treasure chest. We
drive on to Ljubljana, a small, majestic baroque city where we can visit the castle (optional). The
original dates back to Celtic times, but the present one was mostly built after the 16th
century. After climbing the 150 steps up to the tower, you can walk along the ramparts where
there are some great views over the Old Town.

DAY 8. SUNDAY. TOUR ENDS LJUBLJANA

Accommodation & Centre Details

7 Night Hotel

Holidays Extras

We have provided a little section of extra travel needs that you may need and to make life easier for our customers. We aim to provide all the extras you would need; flights, hotels, insurance, car hire and airport parking.