Get ready for an unforgettable food and wine holiday in Slovenia: taste authentic Slovenian food and wine, feel the diverse nature and see the best in different regions with focus on the Mediterranean and the Julian Alps. When you are not cooking with the local women, you will be touring the wonderful countryside, orchards and vineyards; staying in a beautiful family-run tourist farm; exploring regional delicacies; enjoying daily tours of local sites and medieval villages; visiting the region’s best wineries and eating in a world class restaurant. It’s all about the experience, a combination that allows you to sample both the region’s most refined cuisine and its most rustic traditions. Indulge your passion for food, wine and nature on this fantastic food and wine holiday in Western Slovenia, an experience you will treasure long after your trip is over.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Škocjan Caves and Goriška Brda

If you come to Ljubljana a few days earlier, we will pick you up at your hotel at 10 am, otherwise we will pick you up at 11 am at the Ljubljana airport. After short transfer our first stop will be the Škocjan Caves Regional Park, one of Slovenia’s most beautiful natural sights, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Their picturesque underground world is famous for its giant dripstone formations, underground rapids and lakes, where you will explore the largest underground river canyon in the world.

After the culinary delicacies of the Karst we will continue to Goriška Brda, Slovenia’s most beautiful wine growing region. Check into your room at the tourist farm and take your time to explore it, walk around the vineyards, swim in the pool or just relax in the garden with a glass of wine.

In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner with traditional local dishes. This is a fun and easy way to get to know everyone.

After dinner, we will tour the family’s wine cellar. The owners will teach you how they follow and nurture a centuries-old tradition of wine making methods in addition to offering diverse, excellent certified organic wines.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2 – Vipava valley and Karst region

After breakfast we will drive you to the small culturally protected village of Go?e where you will learn about Vipava valley history. The trail will lead us to a 650-year-old farmhouse, hidden in the narrow streets, where we will eat lunch and later also taste wine in one of 75 preserved stone- arched wine cellars with the owner. You will never forget the experience; it is a real gourmand’s dream!

After lunch we will take a short drive to the neighbouring Karst wine growing region. We will take you on a short walking tour to the medieval village of Štanjel, pearl of the Karst stone villages, where you will feel the history and culture of this region.

Next, we will travel to the heart of the Karst region where you will admire noble and elegant white horses at Lipica Stud Farm, the cradle of the Lipizzaners and one of the oldest stud farms in the world.

Before traditional dinner of regional specialties in the 400-year-old farmhouse in one of Karst’s most beautiful villages, you will taste home made prosciutto and local wine teran – geographically protected, uniquely ruby red with shades of carmine purple, created from refošk vine.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 3 – Wine tasting and cooking class

We will start the day with a visit to one of the 2017 Top 100 Wineries in the World selected by Wine and Spirits Magazine. It is one of the 12 wine creators of the world. We will enjoy wine tasting and a light lunch at the same time as a great view overlooking the Medana village vineyards.

After everyone has put their aprons on we will begin our cooking class at 5 pm. The cooking lesson will last around 2 hours and will focus on cooking typical Goriška Brda dishes. Local women will share with you their culinary secrets and family recipes. After the cooking class we will sit down to enjoy the meal you have just prepared.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4 –Exploring Brda and sparkling wine tasting

We will start our tour at Dobrovo castle, a 2-storey Renaissance structure from the 17th century. We will pass through the poetic village of Medana, before we climb to the lookout tower at Gonja?e which offers magnificent views of the entire region and even the Adriatic coast. We will wrap up our tour by visiting Šmartno, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Slovenia. A traditional lunch will be served in the walled town of Šmartno where you will also sample traditional spirits and liquors from different fruits and herbs and learn the production method.

In the heart of Goriška Brda you will discover one of the oldest cellars in Slovenia, located in a 13^th century chateau. It is now home to a family run winery, primarily known for their award-winning sparkling wines, made according to traditional methods. You will tour the wine cellar and enjoy delicious home cooked dinner with selection of sparkling wines.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 5 – So?a River Valley

A day trip to the stunning So?a River Valley, one of the most beautiful river valleys in the world. The day will be a blend of nature, history and delicious food. First, we will have a scenic and pleasant walk to the lovely, hidden Kozjak waterfalls before visiting the historic town of Kobarid where Ernest Hemingway was inspired to pen his novel A Farewell to Arms. You will have time to visit the Museum of the World War 1 or just relax in a pub tasting local craft beer.

In the evening it will be time for a gastronomic experience: dinner prepared by one of the most innovative world chefs Ana Roš, Star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table– Season 2 and World’s Best Female Chef 2017 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants organisation, in her family run restaurant Hiša Franko which is among 50 World’s Best Restaurants for 2017. You will enjoy a slow food dinner with selection of Slovenian wines.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 6 – Piran and Slovenian Istria

We will spend a day at the Slovenian coast region and discover the scenic, historical and gourmet delights. You will explore charming and romantic Piran, one of the cutes towns in Slovenia, walk along the beautiful narrow streets and admire rich history which is mirrored in the Venetian architecture.

You will be charmed by the stunning views from the old Piran Town Wall from where you can admire the city from a different perspective and see the Coastline of the Adriatic Sea.  

Enjoy seafood lunch in a restaurant along the coast with a selection of great local wine before you will have free time for shopping or swimming or just having a coffee at Tartini Square.

After coming back to Goriška Brda, dinner will be served on a tourist farm where you will raise a toast to a great day.

Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

DAY 7 – Farewell dinner

After breakfast you can go on a short walk through beautiful vineyards and orchards. You will have free time to relax.

A farewell dinner will be served in the Brda countryside where each dish will be enhanced by a selection of our host’s wine. This will be a fine introduction to amber or better known as orange wines. Winery continually ranks on the list of 100 best wineries in the world by Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 8 – Goodbye Slovenia

After breakfast, our guests have time to check-out of their rooms. You will be taking delicious flavours, good memories, local products and a collection of fantastic Slovenian recipes home with you. We will transfer you to the vibrant capital town of Ljubljana to catch your afternoon flights or train departures. Or, extend your stay to explore the old part of the city and colourful matketplace – best with our food tours.

Meals included: Breakfast

Notes on Itinerary

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Trip dates & information

Tours in 2019:

• 11 – 18 May
• 8 – 15 June
• 13 – 20 July
• 24 – 31 August
• 21 – 28 September
• 5 – 12 October

Price: 2.750 EUR per person based on double occupancy

Single bed supplement: 190 EUR

Group Size: 2-8

Accommodations: Family run tourist farm – 7 nights

Price includes:

• Full time experienced English speaking guide/driver throughout the trip
• 7 nights / 8 days accommodation in a beautiful family run tourist farm with private facilities (prices are based on two people sharing a twin/double room)
• All meals and tastings as noted in the daily itinerary
• 1 cooking class of approximately 2 hours
• Traditional spirit and liquor tasting
• All land transportation according to the itinerary
• Entrance fee to WW1 museum
• Apron and gift with Slovenian products
• Day 8 – transfer to the Ljubljana train station or a downtown hotel
• Tourist tax

Not included:

• Internationl airfare and airport taxes
• Extra drinks and alcoholic beverages
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Optional gratuities to your guides
• Personal expenses

Additional Information about the tour: Single Accommodations

If you request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement fee. There are a limited number of single rooms available to request. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available.