Day 1- LJUBLJANA (Slovenia)
Welcome to Slovenia! Upon arrival in Ljubljana, after clearingImmigration & Customs, you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel, located in the heart of downtown.

Enjoy some free time today in the city, before you meet up with your group local guide, and/or group leader this evening for a tantalizing, local cuisine, Welcome Dinner and Cocktail Party.

Overnight – Hotel City – Ljubljana
Dinner

Day 2- LJUBLJANA (Slovenia)
After breakfast at the hotel this morning, put on your walking shoes. We will be met in the hotel lobby by our tour leader, and off we go to explore our surrounds! We will begin with a walking tour of the old city of Ljubljana, stopping to admire the major sites that abound in this region. You’ll meet locals and have a chance to get to know Slovenia a bit.

Later this morning, we’ll hop aboard a boat and enjoy an unforgettable ride along theLjubljanica River. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the ride is easy-going and not to be missed. Once we disembark you’ll enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms – Ljubljana
Breakfast

Day 3- BRTONIGLA (Croatia)
After an early breakfast this morning, we will check-out of the hotel and then take a 2 hour (approx.) coach ride into Croatia, to the town of Postojna.

Enjoy a coach ride into Croatia, to the town of Postojna where we set out on a guided tour of the Postojna Cave via train. Then it’s off on the coach ride to Brtonigla, where will check-in to our award winning hotel, with the remainder of the day free at your leisure. Take some time for yourself and enjoy one of the various treatments offered by the hotel’s award-winning Wellness Center, or take a dip in the outdoor pool, before enjoying a group dinner at your hotel this evening.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms – Brtonigla
(rated “The BEST Small Family Hotel in Croatia for 2007 & 2008”)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – BRTONIGLA (Croatia)
We will then be met this morning and board the coach for our transfer to Umag. We’ll walk and tour this town with our expert guide for about an hour, before enjoying some free time on our own to shop, eat, relax, or revisit some of the sights.

This evening at approximately 6:00 pm, we will be met and transferred to a tavern (‘kanoba’), where we will enjoy a wonderful evening filled with wine, local cuisine and olive oil tasting! Dinner will follow this tasty party. After dinner, you will be taken back to the hotel for the evening.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms– Brtonigla
(rated “The BEST Small Family Hotel in Croatia for 2007 & 2008”)
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 – MOTOVUN (Croatia)
After breakfast this morning we check–out of the hotel and say “good bye” to Brtonigla, and head out on the hour long coach ride to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Motovun.

Upon arrival, we check-in to our hotel (red edifice at top of hill in photo to left) which is located on the main town square, in a palace from the 18th century.

We will then be guided through the city’s famous, historic center, where we are taken back in time thousands of years. The city is well know to travelers and food enthusiasts far and wide, for it’s panoramic views, annual film festival and the truffles found in the surrounding woods. After our guided tour, at around 11 am, we are set loose with the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms - Motovun
Breakfast

Day 6 - MOTOVUN (Croatia)
This morning, enjoy breakfast at our palace hotel, then put on your hiking shoes, because we’ll be met and set out on our own, guided truffle (mushroom) hunt! We’ll learn the ins and outs of how to hunt, find, and prepare these nature-blessed, cuisine delights. We are taking you on a hunt for the most renowned mushroom delicacy! Truffles owe their status to their rarity, specific and difficult way of picking, aphrodisiac attributes, and their price, which often exceeds thousands of dollars. Truffle hunters will tell you everything about the ways and tradition of hunting truffles, and their specially trained hounds will "sniff out" the right location.

What’s that you say, you’ve worked up a thirst? Perfect! We then head to a tasting of the local, liquor drink, "homemade mead". This delicious herbal mead is also know as “rakija.”

After our tasting, we then tie up our apron strings and start our cooking lessons at a local agro-tourism property. We’ll cook up local specialties, including our truffles, with our hosts and then sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes we’ve prepared for ourselves! After lunch, we’ll enjoy free time on the beautiful property before transferring via coach, back to our hotel.

The remainder of the day is free at your leisure.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms - Motovun
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - FUZINE (Croatia)
This morning, after a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we will be met by our coach and set out on the 2 hour drive (approx.) to the popular tourist destination, Fužine. Fužine is such a intriguing destination, not only because of the beauty of the town, but also due to the surrounding lakes of Bajer and Lepovica, as well. Upon arrival, we will check-in to our hotel where we will dine on lunch. Afterward, enjoy some free time to yourself before meeting up with the group again for spirit tasting and dinner this evening.

Tonight will be a tasting of local, home-made liquor drinks (some made of 57 different herbs and 7 different fruits!). We’ll follow-up with a group dinner at the restaurant that you’re sure not to forget. Our coach will be waiting for us, to take us back to the hotel for the night.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms – Fužine
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8- FUZINE (Croatia)

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, we step outside once again, to enjoy the wonders of hunting the local, wild fruits and mushrooms with our local, expert guides.

After the rain, sun comes out, and in the fall - mushrooms as well! A wicker basket, a pole that lies well in your hand and a pocket knife are all you need for mushroom picking. Experienced mushroom hunters will teach you where to look for them, how to distinguish edible from inedible ones, and how to pick/cook them properly. Let the fresh air bring some color to your cheeks and work up your appetite, and take home a basket full of first-rate delicacies and a few recipes.

You can enjoy picking other berries and nuts, like blackberries and raspberries, aromatic woodland strawberries, chestnuts and hazelnuts. Try freshly picked wild asparagus in the spring, pick oregano during summer, and rosehip in the fall.

We return to the hotel mid-afternoon, with the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms – Fužine
Breakfast

Day 9- ZAGREB (Croatia)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning, before checking-out. We will then be met by our coach and set out on the transfer from Fužine to Zagreb! Zagreb, the capital and the largest city in Croatia, is a city of rich history and arts. Its famous for it’s charm, with its open-air cafes and garden terraces that are characteristic of the Mediterranean way of life. Once we arrive in this lovely city, we will check-in to our hotel and enjoy the afternoon hours on our own.
We'll then head out to a local, Zagreb restaurant to enjoy a delightful Farewell Group Dinner. We will dine on local specialties, and explore the regional wines, one last time together, before heading back to our hotel for the evening.

Overnight- 4* Hotel - Superior King Rooms - Zagreb
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10- ZAGREB (Croatia)
This morning enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check-out of the hotel and bid your farewells.

You will be met and transferred to the Zagreb airport or begin your post-trip extension.