Where to stay?

Ljubljana Resort - with a superb waterpark, sports and activities. This campsite is next to the River Sava and only a few minutes from the heart of Ljubljana - perfect for exploring the city as well as being centrally located for the rest of Slovenia.

Day 1

Arrive into Slovenia and make your way to Ljubljana Resort, just on the northern outskirts of Ljubljana. Have your evening meal in the traditional "gostilna" within the resort.

Day 2

Head west towards the former military town of Postojna and you will soon arrive at the impressive Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves. Starting with the castle, observe how the entire structure is built into a cave on the side of the huge cliff face. Learn about how, over the centuries, the cave was used by highwaymen and bandits as a place to retreat. Listen to the guides telling the famous story of the seige, where bandits were held up in the cliff for several months with soldiers waiting for them to run out of food. Little did the soldiers know that the bandits had a secret entrance at the back from which they re-supplied and eventually started throwing food to the soldiers when they started to run out. This story has become local legend.

Day 3

Today, head a little north from Ljubljana and prepare to spend a day in one of the most delightful towns you'll ever come across - Bled. Famous for its crystal clear lake, its imposing castle and set amongst the wonderful scenery of the Julian Alps, do not forget your camera! Start with a coffee on the veranda of the Hotel Toplice and take in the stunning views. Head over the lake side and jump on board the boats to take you over to the pretty island in the middle of the lake. Make sure you climb the steps to the picturesque chapel for another stunning view and the opportunity to pull the church rope and let the church bells toll. Local legend says that if you do it once, you'll be back to do it again.

In the afternoon head to the northern side of the lake and climb up to the Bled Castle. Here you will be able to see for miles and get the best views of the lake and mountains together. Note on the opposite side of the lake is the former residence of the Yugoslav President - Tito. Also, make sure to visit the castle's chapel for its gruesome paintings that adorn the roof. In the evening, head back into Bled for an evening meal set amongst this wonderful setting before returning back to Ljubljana.

Day 4

For the evening, the best has been left to last as you wander across the "triple bridge" and into Preseren Square (Presernov trg) and gaze at the superb Franciscan Church, a perfect example of the baroque architecture so common throughout Ljubljana. Built by Plecnik, Ljubljana is often referred to as Plecnik's Ljubljana because his style of work is everywhere. Ljubljana also has a place in folklore as it is claimed that the city was founded by the Argonauts as they were being chased after stealing the Golden Fleece.

Day 5

Heading west from Ljubljana towards the region known as Karst. Here, Slovenia gives way from the mountains in the north to the warmer Adriatic landscape and one of Slovenia's most famous monuments - Lipica. Here, the cradle of famous white Lippizzaner horses, the 400 year old stud farm breeds pure full blooded Lippizzaners for dressage, carriage rides and recreational riding. Make sure you attend one of the regular programmes of dressage demonstrating the perfect equestrian skills of the Spanish Riding School. In the afternoon, head a little further west towards the coast and the picturesque town of Piran. Here amongst the palm trees, yachts and harbourside cafés, nowhere is better to wander through medieval streets, colourful squares amongst noble mansions and ancient churches, all to the sounds of the not to distant Adriatic Sea.

Lastly, a few more kilometres west and adjacent to the Croatian border is a visit of a different kind - the Secovlje Salt Pans, which are a protected natural park. Here amongst unique flora and fauna, salt is still produced in the ancient way according to centuries old tradition. You can wander the salt pans and observe the manufacture at close hand. The fresh sea air set amongst the wonderful scenery of the special, natural and cultural area is the perfect way to end a day in the Karst region of Slovenia.

Day 6

Heading towards the north west of Ljubljana is Slovenia's crown jewels. The Triglav National Park - home of Mount Triglav at almost 10,000 ft. The Slovenes are so proud of this mountain, it is pride of place on their national flag. Set amongst the national park is Lake Bohinj, bigger than Lake Bled and with huge mountains bordering the waters edge, here you can literally get away from it all. If you are feeling energetic, take a walk around the lake and take in the scerene beauty from every angle. At the far end of the lake, walkers will be rewarded with a winding path leading to the beautiful Savica Waterfall, crashing some 60 metres to the lake below. Another lake where a camera is a must, keep an eye out for wide varieties of mountain wildlife including the occassional bear! And if you still have enough energy left after all of this, Lake Bohinj is a sporting paradise with watersports, handgliding, cycling, paragliding and for many months of the year - skiing.

Day 7

The last full day in Slovenia takes you east from Ljubljana to the delightful towns of Maribor and Ptuj. Maribor is Slovenia's second largest city and has a character quite different from Ljubljana. Surrounded by hills dotted with countless vineyards, there is an astonishing 50km of wine routes spread out around the city and the world's oldest vine. Maribor Old Town is the focal point for visits inside the city walls with Grajski trg square a must-see with its 17th century St Florian column and Maribor Castle. In the afternoon head a little further east to the gem of a town - Ptuj, which is a living stage of historical and cultural heritage. The views from Ptuj Castle are worth the walk alone as well as a visit to the Ptuj Wine Cellars which has a history of more than seven centuries of wine making, the oldest wines in Slovenia. An evening meal on the banks of the River Drava ends a perfect day in this part of Slovenia.

Day 8

Depart Ljubljana and head south west towards Croatia and the coastal resort of Porec.