Day 2 – Monday 15 September:  A Foodie Tour, a Walking Tour & Divine Dining

This morning, we will meet the guide for a 1 hour walking tour of Ljubljana to visit the major sites. After you will continue with a food tour with Iva, the founder of LjubljanaYum food tours, who started the business after 10 years of a photojournalistic career out of sheer love and a passion for cuisine, meeting other foodies and organising delicious get-togethers.

The afternoon is free for shopping in the local Emporium gallery shopping mall.

This evening for dinner you will visit the elegant Peti 181 restaurant, whose chef and owner Petra studied at prestigious cooking school Cordon Bleu in Paris.   The view from their terrace over Ljubljana castle and the Ljubljanica riverbank’s hustle and bustle will captivate you right until the first plate is served along with the tasting with our sommelier Mira Semič.  Mira is Slovenia’s greatest authority on wine and among the world’s top sommeliers.

Overnight Accommodation:  AS Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Foodie Tour, Dinner

Day 3 – Tuesday 16 September:  A Boat Ride, Bakery Ana, Wine Tasting & Pop Up Dining

After breakfast, you will enjoy a boat ride on the Ljubljanica river followed by delicious croissants and pastries from “Bakery Ana”. Ana Roš was elected The Best Female chef in the world in 2017 and owns a bakery and bistro in Ljubljana and a restaurant, Casa Franko, with two Michelin stars in Kobarid. Ana works closely with fashion designer Matea Benedetti, who created collections for her staff working in her businesses.  Their common interest is sustainability, in gastronomy and fashion. Hopefully, you will have a chance to meet one of them.

After you will enjoy some of the most significant sights of the old city centre followed by lunch in a local restaurant, and a wine tasting at Movia winery in the city centre.  Movia is a way of life and their natural sparkling wine Puro starts where other sparkling wines stop and begin to age. Turned upside down, yeasts keep Puro alive which gives the wine an ability to live forever. There is only as much sulfur as produced by the yeasts. Puro has aromas of maturity, however there is still plenty of freshness in a glass. It is a dry, complex and long sparkling wine. And together with “potica”, a local dessert, it is a perfect match. Ela, the daughter of the wine producer took over the business and runs a winery in Ljubljana.

This evening you will enjoy a dinner in Ana’s new pop-up Bistro located in the city centre of Ljubljana.

Overnight Accommodation:  AS Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Wednesday 17 September:  Spectacular Bled & Bohinj lake

A full day out today!  You will depart to the beautiful Bohinj region, which is divided into the Upper and Lower Bohinj Valley.  At the heart of the Julian Alps, in the Triglav National Park, you are greeted by Bohinj Alpine valley.  You will ascend to the Vogel Mountain by cable car for wonderful views of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps.

You will visit a female local cheese producer at a Dairy Farm during butter & cheese production made in a traditional way – in a copper kettle above a wood fireplace.  She will offer her products for degustation. On our way back to Ljubljana you make a stop in a fairy-tale Bled and visit with the island of Lake Bled, where the baroque church of St. Mary is located. A special feature is the wishing bell in the upper roof above the church nave.

Return to Ljubljana for a secret dinner, in a secret location, with a secret chef and our sommelier.  Divine!

Overnight Accommodation:  AS Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 – Thursday 18 September:  Goriška Brda and wine safari

Breakfast and then checkout of the hotel for your departure from Ljubljana to discover Goriška Brda. Here you will visit a local producers of wine by jeep and then continue by jeep to the vineyard for a picnic with some wine and a tasting of local products.

Your next stop is at the Vonj Poletja farm, which focuses on growing and processing organic herbs and olives for olive oil. The women who owns this will offer her local products (teas, syrups, marmalades, liqueurs, decorative products) and will take you through the lavender fields.

You will visit the village of Šmartno for lunch and then depart to Šibav estate for a wine tasting.

The Šibav family has been linked to wine for centuries. In 2003, Dušica Šibav took over the estate from her father, who complements the family tradition with excellent winemaking knowledge. Wine with a soul is born here, in Goriška brda.

After you will continue to Tavarneta Estate or similar hotel for check-in and overnight.

Overnight Accommodation:  Tavarneta Estate or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 – Friday 19 September: Wine tasting & meet the Wine Queen of Slovenia

After breakfast you will drive to Vipava Valley, a wine region in the Western part of Slovenia, well known for its mild Mediterranean climate, bora wind, pristine nature and great food and wines.

You will visit the idyllic surroundings of the medieval town of Vipavski Križ, and a wine shop and tasting room with a rich selection of wines from Vipava winemakers.  The owner of the establishment is Mirjam, who will welcome you and guide you through the tastings.

Afterwards you will head for lunch to Gostilna pri Lojzetu at Zemono Manor, with 1 Michelin Star. This restaurant is run by a father and his daughter, who is slowly taking over the business. Besides delicious food, they also produce their own gin. So be prepared for a gin tasting.

After lunch you will meet Sanja Ferjančič, the Wine Queen of Slovenia. The “noble voice of Slovenian wines and wine culture”, which is a title awarded once a year by Slovenian winemakers following the example of European countries since 1996. The Wine Queen is a representative of Slovenian viticulture and winemaking, and she is chosen by a special commission based on a public competition.

Then back to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Overnight Accommodation:  Tavarneta Estate or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 – Saturday 20 September:  Olive oil, wine & Piran

Enjoy breakfast and check out.

It is then time to drive to the Slovenian coast where you will be visiting the old town of Koper, a picturesque historical town, known as a bridge between the Karst and the Sub-Mediterranean world.

Next you will visit a local producer of olive oil where you will taste different kinds of olive oil, followed by a visit of Bordon estate where Mojca Bordon, who took over a family tradition of wine making, will welcome you. At Bordon’s you will also have lunch with wine pairing.

This afternoon you will visit Piran, a gem of Venetian Gothic architecture.  The picturesque town’s rich history and its many charms are a delight. Relax by the sea and this evening, you’ll enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight Accommodation:  Hotel Piran or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 – Sunday 21 September:  Sparkling from the sea, a boat and a seafood BBQ

After breakfast and check out, you enjoy the unforgettable experience, the authentic Mare Santo wine tasting.

It is the first sparkling wine aged in the sea, by a small wine producer from Goriška brda that ages his sparkling wines using this intersting method .  As is commonly known, the sea, with its salt water, is extremely healthy and beneficial. The motion of the sea current at 20 metres of water keeps the sparkling wine vital and alive.  The sea’s minerals are absorbed into the sparkling wine through the cork, which gives the wine a unique flavour. You will board a small boat that will take you to the middle of the bay and you will observe the process of taking sparkling wine of the sea, followed by sparkling wine degustation and oysters.

This is followed by a BBQ at Fonda fish farm, where the owner Irena will welcome you. Fonda promises to deliver a truly unforgettable experience of the freshest and finest fish for lovers of the sea, sun, and seafood. The fish farm is visited by boat.

After you will drive towards Croatian Istria.  Dinner is at leisure after this amazing day.

Overnight Accommodation:  Roxanich Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 – Monday 22 September: Truffle hunting!

Today begins with truffle hunting with experienced and trained truffle hunters and their dogs, and you will discover the special techniques used to search for these mysterious, highly valued, mushrooms that hide in the Istrian forests.

After hunting you will enjoy lunch with truffles at Zigante restaurant (JRE). After a delicious lunch you will visit Kabola winery in Momjan for a degustation of wine. The story of wine growing in the Markežić family dates all the way back to 1891, when they lay the first cornerstone with Momjan Muscat. Since then, hardworking and patient hands have been weaving the incredible tale of their wines, inspired by the desire to stand out by being genuine and unique. The wine produced in amphorae is the crown of their work.

Then continue to Motovun village. Located in central Istria, Motovun is perched high on a hill overlooking the stunning natural landscape below. It is a town that dates to Medieval times, and it has an impressive wall that circles the town and provides some great panoramic views.

Back to the hotel for dinner at leisure.

Overnight Accommodation:  Roxanich Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 – Tuesday 23 September: Pula & a wine paired lunch

After breakfast check out and you will then discover the natural beauty of Pula, visit the world-renowned remains of its long history such as the Roman Amphitheatre or the Golden Gate and learn of its unusual legends.

Lunch is in a local restaurant with a wine pairing.

Then drive to Opatij,  check-in and dinner is in the hotel tonight.

Overnight Accommodation:  Sveti Jakov or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 – Wednesday 24 September:  The Taste of Dalmatia

After breakfast continue your journey to central Dalmatia, to the historic town of Šibenik.

Šibenik is the oldest native Croatian town on the eastern shores of the Adriatic. Upon arrival we head to the old town for a pleasant walk with a guide. You will finish the city tour near Palegrini restaurant, where you will be able enjoy an early dinner in a Michelin Guide restaurant. Restaurant Pelegrini is considered one of the country’s most attractive gourmet hotspots. Here you will experience unforgettable tastes of Dalmatian cuisine and history. Your dinner will also be accompanied by a varied selection of the best wines.

You will continue to the Split for overnight.

Overnight Accommodation:  M-Gallery Hotel Fermai or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 – Thursday 25 September:  Split & lunch in an olive grove

After breakfast you will visit Split, Croatia’s second-largest city. It has just the right balance of tradition and modernity – the perfect place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived.

You will then participate in a cooking class with a formally trained chef and artist Jolanda.  This great foodie experience takes place in her family house (home & studio), located in an olive grove. While it can be combined with a market walk, the true magic starts in the kitchen at Jolanda’s home. The menu is always a creative twist on our traditional cuisine, a modern interpretation of classics and a proper class on culinary traditions. From bread to seafood, from freshly picked local greens to the best meat cuts, cooking with Jolanda is always proper hands-on fun.

Back to the hotel and dinner is at leisure.

Overnight Accommodation:  M-Gallery Hotel Fermai or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 – Friday 26 September: Pelješac with a stop at Edivo Vina Winery

Breakfast and checkout then enjoy a panoramic drive by the Croatian coast from Split towards Peljašec. There are many excellent options for lunch on the route, such us black risotto and fresh fish.

And after the Adriatic gourmet experience, a treat is waiting for you!  Continue to the unique Edivo Vina Winery in Drače. It is Croatia’s first and only underwater winery.

Then continue to Orebič, where you will spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight Accommodation:  Aminess Bellevue Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14 – Saturday 27 September:  A day of leisure to do as you wish

After breakfast, the day is all yours!  Read a book, sleep in, sit by the pool or if you want to explore your local tour leader will give you some advice on how to spend the day exploring the hidden gems of Pelješac or near island of Korčula.

Dinner is in the hotel this evening, where you can share the day’s adventures.

Overnight Accommodation:  Aminess Bellevue Hotel or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15 – Sunday 28 September:  To Dubrovnik via few wonderful places

Breakfast and then check out.

Just a short drive away you will come across the Saints Hills Winery. This winery was built with a passion for winemaking and respect for the land.   The wine has been grown for centuries and here, you will find one of the most famous Plavac mali grapes which is the first-ever appellation in Croatia, established and protected in 1961.

Later, continue for a visit of famous oyster farm where you will join the local farmer on a private bay tour, followed by tasting of fresh oysters directly from the sea. You will also have 3-course lunch in Mali Ston with some local wine.

Before arriving in Dubrovnik,  enjoy a visit in Trsteno, a small coastal village that was once a summer retreat for Dubrovnik’s aristocracy, where they built magnificent summer residences and villas. Though it’s only a 20-minute drive from Dubrovnik, it feels like worlds away from the city. You’ll get a glimpse into the past and traditional Dalmatian village life.

Today’s final treat – visit the walls of a historic Arboretum, a renaissance estate with a botanical garden that was the summer residence of the noble family Guceti-Gozze.  Its garden has been cultivated from the 15th century to the present day. The estate consists of lush gardens encircling a simple but elegant summer residence, a stone aqueduct that powers the lush blossoms, an olive oil mill, a private chapel, Neptune’s fountain, and a pavilion overlooking the sea and the island. It’s regarded as one of the finest examples of Dubrovnik summer residence and landscape architecture. In fact, you might have seen it before – the Arboretum was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones! Continue to Dubrovnik. Free for dinner and to settle in.

Overnight Accommodation:  Palace Natali or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16 – Monday 29 September: Exploring Dubrovnik

Today you will visit the beautiful old city of Dubrovnik. Croatia’s best known and most glamorous destination, Dubrovnik is an absolute gem. The UNESCO listed old town, protected by magnificent medieval fortifications, is a huddle of paved piazzas, cobbled alleys, and noble stone buildings, taking you back through the centuries. You will enjoy the view from the city walls and from the Srd mountain that is reachable by a cable car. During the city tour we will stop at different wineries and enjoy tasting local wines.

The afternoon is at leisure for shopping, relaxing or more sightseeing.

In the evening you will enjoy 4-course farewell dinner in Posat restaurant including delicious wine in Dubrovnik.

Overnight Accommodation:  Place Natali or similar

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 17 – Sunday 30 September:  So long, farewell

All good things must come to an end.  It has been a full tour and we hope you’ve enjoyed it!

Transfers to the airport will be advised, or perhaps you have decided to stay just a little longer?

Thank you and bon voyage.

Included Meals:  Breakfast