Immersive Highlights of Croatia and Slovenia Tour

The center of Ljubljana shimmers with emerald-green leaves that line the banks of the Ljubljanica River, while cobbled squares and narrow alleys open to the tranquil water that winds through the heart of the city among a mixture of elegant bridges, flickering lampposts, and sophisticated architecture. Your private transfer will greet you at Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport upon your arrival and escort you to the comforts of your luxurious accommodation in the inviting city center. The daily farmer’s market fills Vodnik Square with colorful produce and the aromas of forest berries, honey, and homemade cheese.

You will meet your guide in your hotel’s lobby for a private tour of Ljubljana, which is also the charming capital of Slovenia. The area around the present city of Ljubljana has been populated since the Bronze Age, when the earliest known settlement consisted of wooden houses on stakes. In 1335, Ljubljana came under Austrian Habsburg rule, which lasted until 1918. Touches of the opulent design from the Habsburg rule remain in the guise of the Ljubljana Castle, which crowns the eastern hill at 1,230 feet above sea level. A wrought-iron staircase winds to the top of the watchtower, offering marvelous views across Old Town and the soothing water of the river.

In the morning, you will meet your guide in your hotel’s lobby after breakfast to uncover the splendor of the lake town, Bled, and the Bohinj region. At Lake Bled, you can take a boat to visit the Virgin Mary Baroque Church, which stands in the middle of a small island. The lake was formed after the recession of the Bohinj glacier. After the last Ice Age, the Bohinj glacier deepened the natural tectonic hollow, covering over one square mile. Due to its isolated location and grand views of the water, forest, and mountains, the church remains a popular wedding destination.

You will continue to the beautiful Bohinj region, which is divided into the Upper and Lower Bohinj Valley, and there are twenty-four typical Alpine villages in these two valleys. In the Upper Valley by the lake, you can visit the gothic St. John the Baptist Church, which has well-preserved frescoes from the 15th and the 16th centuries, featuring images of Biblical tales. You can also ride the cable car to the summit of Vogel Mountain at 5,000 feet above sea level, which offers a wonderful panorama of Lake Bohinj and the snowcapped Julian Alps.

After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you toward the city of Rovinj, initially stopping at the Postojna Cave, which is the longest cave system in Slovenia. The Postojna Cave has been attracting throngs of admirers from around the world for over two centuries due to its unspoiled beauty. For this experience, you will board an underground train that highlights the sheer size of the subterranean world and that reaches more than 79,855 feet long.

Your exploration of Slovenia will continue by following the scenic mountain road to Predjama Castle, which is a masterpiece of medieval architecture. The castle was built under a natural rock arch of a limestone cliff, and the first castle was actually a small fortress deep inside the cave, making it inaccessible and easy to defend. Over the centuries, the original Gothic castle was redesigned and reshaped, gradually moving away from the cave at 403 feet above sea level. Your guide will show you the unique characteristics of the castle architecture, including the holes in the ceiling entrance tower where soldiers could pour oil on intruders.

Today, your guide will lead you on a sensational culinary exploration of the countryside to reveal the gastronomic uniqueness of the truffle. To begin your adventure, you will venture into the luscious landscape for the opportunity of participating in a private truffle hunt at Livade, where you will meet the hunter and their dogs. The village of Livade is one of the most important centers for truffle farming of the world, and your special demonstration will begin with following a local farmer and their dogs, who will explain how the truffles are harvested.

After discovering truffles hidden in the soil near the roots of the trees, you will be exposed to their pungent, earthy scent during a meal that will introduce you to the robust flavor for which the truffle is coveted around the world. You will continue to the medieval ruins of Motovun, which is a town hidden within the landscape and an excellent example of the ancient townships that continue to decorate the Istrian peninsula. Your local guide will lead you on a walking tour of the upper and lower towns of Motovun, which is perched over 908 feet above sea level and isolated behind a preserved wall that overlooks the forest and vast valley.

After breakfast, your private driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Plitvice Lakes National Park for a day exploring the remarkable scenery. The scenic drive will lead you to Plitvice Lakes, which is a specific geological and hydrogeological phenomenon of karst, resulting in 16 lakes of varying sizes. In 1979, UNESCO declared the national park a World Heritage Site. As you wander along the trails, the lake’s crystal-clear water will reflect with hints of emerald and turquoise.

The water is rich in minerals and carves through the tufa rocks, changing the formation of the landscape. The water will be visible from the more than 11 miles of wooden footbridges and walkways, while the sounds of the waterfalls echo throughout the national park to add an extra layer of beauty to the scenery. During your visit, you can venture to the top of Veliki Slap, which is the country’s tallest waterfall that stands nearly 256 feet tall.

This morning, your private transfer will escort you from Plitvice to Split in the morning; however, you will have the opportunity to stop in Zadar before reaching your final destination of Split to discover the small capital of North Dalmatia at your preferred pace. Here the history and culture of the town rival that of Dubrovnik, and the ancient streets rise out of 7th-century BC foundations. In the Roman quarter, you will find a Forum and the Church of St. Donatus, which are impressive buildings that were built by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine in the 9th century AD.

In Split, you will have a private tour of the fascinating seaside city to experience how history and modern culture blends along the exuberant streets. The antique markets continue to teem with life and the bright colors of blueberries and nectarines. Your guide will lead you through the historic district to view the grand Diocletian Palace Complex, which dates back to the 2nd century BC. The Roman emperor Diocletian chose to spend the last 20 years of his life here because he believed that Split was one of the most beautiful places on earth.

After breakfast, you will make your way with a private transfer to the port to meet your skipper and to begin your exclusive cruise of Southern Dalmatia. Amid the aroma of the briny Adriatic Sea, your skipper will weigh anchor at Milna on Brac island. The small, 16th-century village is famous for its impressive bay, which is also the birthplace of many of the worlds’ sailing captains and ships of the 18th and 19th centuries. During the day, you will stop in one of the region’s hidden bays to find marvelous swimming and snorkeling areas, which will also unveil the underwater world of Dalmatia.

Your adventure will continue to the island of Hvar, which is renowned for its sunny days, tranquil waters, ancient villages, and innumerable lavender fields. The aromas of olives will originate from the olive plantations and vineyards that are scattered across the landscape, leading to the enchanting streets and old Venetian palaces. St. Stephen’s Square is a plaza at the heart of the town that overtakes 48,437 square feet and opens between the harbor and cathedral, immersing you in the center of life in the town.

After indulging in breakfast, you will leave the town of Hvar and sail to the Pakleni archipelago, which is a labyrinth of several smaller islands that offer perfect bays for swimming and snorkeling. The small landmass of Bisevo encompasses an area of approximately three miles with only 19 inhabitants. The island’s most famous cave reaches a length of 59 feet and has a depth of nearly 20 feet.

Eventually, you will arrive in Komiza on the island of Vis to learn more about the turbulent local history that dates back to Neolithic times. Vis is an island proud of its peaceful waters and protected submarine world, which is rich with sunken ships and incredible marine images that have been hidden for years. You can visit the Issa Archeological Museum, which is located inside a 19th-century Austrian fortress and displays artifacts from the Hellenistic period, including ancient Greek pottery and a 4th-century BC bronze head that depicts Artemis.

Komiza is one of the most picturesque towns in Dalmatia with a harbor located on the Western coast of the island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea. In the morning, you will be able to see the fishermen as they return to the shores of town, hauling their daily catch. When you are ready, you can set sail and venture to the island of Korcula. After stopping in beautiful bays for a swim, Korcula will present itself in the central Dalmatian archipelago, which is separated from the Peljesac peninsula by a narrow strait of Peljesac.

The main town of the island is Korcula town, which remains famous for its medieval walls that stand 65 feet tall and connect 20 watchtowers. The succession of narrow streets that branch off the spine of the main street resembles a fishbone and was designed to reduce the effects of wind and sun in addition to providing citizens with sheltered and comfortable residences. The architecture of the Old Town is mainly influenced by the Venetian Renaissance, and St. Mark’s Cathedral is well-worth seeing, which was built in the Gothic-Renaissance architectural style and was completed in the 15th century. You can also visit the alleged birthplace of Marco Polo during your tour.

This morning, when you are ready, you will sail toward the Peljesac Peninsula to explore the landscape that is famous for producing some of the country’s most exclusive wines. Peljesac is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is the second-largest peninsula in Croatia. In a small harbor on Peljesac, your private transfer will lead you to Dubrovnik but will allow you to stop in a village near Ston for a private wine tasting. Here, you will find the massive walls of the nearby city that wind across the mountainside for over three miles as your guide leads you through the rows of vines.

In the tasting room, samples of olives and olive oil will be available to sample. An Illyrian tribe settled this area, and while longing for perfection, they had found the landscape to be ideal for harvesting wine and olives. Your guide will pour a selection of wines produced on the property to present you with the subtle note of fig and tea before giving way to cherry and a smoky flavor.

Your private tour of Dubrovnik will begin when your guide greets you at your hotel and leads you to the East Gate, which is one of the two extremities of the walled city. As you descend the stone steps of the fortification, you will be able to witness the old Harbor Front of the city that overlooks the Adriatic Sea and the nearby islands off the coast. The foundations of the walls date back to the 9th century, and much of the structure was built between the 14th and 15th centuries. As you continue, you will eventually arrive at Dubrovnik’s Main Square of Loggia Loza.

In the afternoon, accompanied by your guide, you will have the opportunity to explore Croatia's Konavle region. In the Mediterranean town, you can visit the gallery of the Nicola monastery, where paintings and sculptures from the 15th century are displayed alongside elegant objects made of silver. Lunch at a local family farm can provide you with an intimate view of local life, a Croatian farmstead, and the traditional selection of family-produced liquors that will accompany your three-course meal.

Today, you will venture into Bosnia and Herzegovina with your guide to discover the unique history and cultural charms of the country. The 15th-century town of Pocitelj embodies a typical settlement, and the fort on the cliff that overlooks the town was built by the Catholics to protect the village from the Ottomans; however, the Ottomans occupied the fort and the town in the middle of the 15th century, making it an important stop for caravans when traveling. Upon your arrival in Mostar, your local guide will explain the city’s history, architecture, and remnants of the historic mosques, Turkish-style houses, and bazaars that fill the narrow alleyways.

On your final day in Dubrovnik, your private transfer will greet you at the hotel after breakfast and escort you to Dubrovnik International Airport for your flight home, bringing an end to your highlights tour of Slovenia and Croatia.