Slovenia & Croatia: Lake Bled & Rovinj

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

Start off your first day in Ljubljana right by having a Country Walkers representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

Vintgar Gorge; 2.5 miles, easy to moderate and Lake Bled; 3 miles, easy, optional afternoon walk

After enjoying an included breakfast, your leaders meet at 8:30 a.m. you in the lobby of the InterContinental Ljubljana hotel. They’ll be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking and wear appropriate hiking footwear.

After a brief welcome and introductions, you’ll set off for Vintgar Gorge. “Vintgar” translates as “place exposed to the wind,” and as the first mountain gorge made accessible to tourists (for over a century!), the word is now used more broadly for other scenic and protected gorges throughout Slovenia.

Today’s walking path follows the rock wall of the mile-long gorge, hovering just above the rushing Radovna River, where emerald waters cascade through rapids and form mesmerizing crystalline pools. The trail leads to the picturesque Šum Waterfall, Slovenia’s highest river waterfall at 82 feet. After taking in the falls and the nearby old stone railway bridge, you’ll continue up toward Hom Hill, passing through green meadows and by St. Catherine’s Church. Pause to admire panoramic views over the vast Ljubljana Basin and the snowcapped peaks of the Alps.

Your trail concludes at a local restaurant on Lake Bled, where you’ll enjoy a lunch of traditional Slovenian comfort foods. Afterward, you’ll continue on foot along a lakeside trail (or travel by minibus for a 5- to 10-minute ride) to your charming accommodations just above the lake, where you’ll stay for the next three nights. Surrounded by soaring mountain peaks and crowned by a fairy-tale castle, Lake Bled is undeniably one of the most stunning lakes in the Alps. Settle into your hotel and take some time to relax and refresh before gathering for a welcome cocktail and meeting in the wine cave.

Later, enjoy a special boat ride to Bled Island aboard a traditional pletna boat. The island is home to a church bell said to grant wishes. According to local legend, a wealthy widow melted her silver and gold to cast a new bell for the church in memory of her late husband. Tragically, the ship carrying the bell sank into the lake and was never recovered. Heartbroken, the widow spent the rest of her life as a nun. After her death, a new bell was made to fulfill her wish—and it is said that if you ring the bell three times, your wish will come true.

Concluding the boat ride, you return to your hotel, where you’ll enjoy dinner in the hotel’s panoramic restaurant or—weather permitting—on the outdoor terrace. In either setting, take in spectacular views over Lake Bled as you dine. The seasonal menu may feature dishes such as beef carpaccio from nearby Bohinj, green-pea soup with scallops, fillet of lake trout with parsley root cream, and lamb cutlet crusted with almond and wild herbs, all thoughtfully paired with a glass (or two) of delicious local wine. Retire in comfort this evening after a full and memorable day.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5 miles, easy to moderate

After a hearty buffet breakfast featuring fresh bread, homemade jams, cured meats, eggs, and cheeses, you’ll travel 35–40 minutes to tranquil Lake Bohinj. The largest permanent lake in Slovenia, Bohinj is an oasis in the heart of Triglav National Park. While it may lack Bled’s glamour, it more than makes up for it with a rugged, untamed beauty.

Your easy hiking trail follows the lake’s edge, offering stunning views of its clear waters and the surrounding Julian Alps. The region boasts diverse flora—from orchids and Carniola and Turk’s cap lilies to a wide variety of Alpine flowers, many of which are used in local teas and liqueurs. The 2.5-hour hike culminates at a farm-to-table restaurant in the small settlement of Stara Fužina, where you’ll savor a traditional meal—perhaps a comforting soup followed by farm-raised chicken, and a classic apple strudel for dessert.

After lunch, you’ll explore a nearby open-air museum of sorts, featuring well-preserved homes, hayracks, and barns, where you’ll learn about community life over the past two centuries.

By midafternoon, you return to your accommodations on Lake Bled to enjoy a leisurely late afternoon and evening. You might choose to relax with a swim in the indoor pool, explore the town, or take a scenic walk up to Bled Castle (about 30 minutes on foot). Believed to be the oldest castle in Slovenia, Bled Castle was built atop a cliff in 1004 and once served as the seat of the Austrian bishops of Brixen. Even if you choose not to tour the castle, the panoramic views of the lake and mountains make the climb worthwhile. You can even stay for dinner at the castle’s restaurant, which offers delectable, modern interpretations of traditional Slovenian dishes and drinks. Advance reservations are required.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Vrata Valley; 3-4 miles, easy to moderate and 1 mile, easy

Fueled by another hearty breakfast, you depart for a walk in Triglav National Park—Slovenia’s only national park. This protected landscape features verdant forests and vast meadows where glacial streams descend from the surrounding mountains, winding through picturesque valleys and ravines.

Your walk begins along a gravel road through the UNESCO-protected Vrata Valley, often called the “door to alpine paradise.” Admire the turquoise-blue streams and the emerald moss clinging to trees and rocks along the way. The trail leads deeper into the valley toward the imposing Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain and the centerpiece of the national park. Glance upward for breathtaking views as the peak looms larger with each step.

At the upper end of the hike, you reach the majestic Triglav North Wall and a striking monument commemorating fallen Partisan Alpinists—a giant carabiner and rock piton. Here, enjoy a coffee and a traditional snack at Aljažev dom, a mountain hut named for the famed mountaineering writer and composer Jakob Aljaž.

You then continue by minibus, approximately 30 minutes, to the nearby town of Radovljica. Its Old Town is one of the best-preserved in Slovenia, with houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Perched atop a natural promontory, the town offers sweeping views over the Dežela Plain to the east and the Sava River Valley to the west, with the Julian Alps as a dramatic backdrop. Noteworthy attractions include the Museum of Apiculture, which provides a fascinating look into Slovenia’s beekeeping traditions.

After time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own, you return to your hotel in the late afternoon. You may choose to stroll through town or relax at the indoor pool before another evening of independent dining and discovery.

Included Meals: Breakfast

2 miles, easy to moderate and evening guided walking tour of Rovinj; 1-2 miles, easy

After breakfast, bid farewell to Slovenia as you journey south across the border into Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula. Your first stop is the fertile Mirna River Valley, near the charming hill town of Buzet, known as the “City of Truffles.” This region is famous for its rare Istrian white truffles (Tuber magnatum) and equally prized black truffles—gastronomic treasures that rival those of Italy and France.

At a family-owned estate, enjoy a memorable culinary experience featuring truffle-inspired specialties such as pasta, cheese, and olive oil infused with these aromatic gems. After lunch, join a local truffle hunter and her trained dogs for an authentic truffle-hunting demonstration in the surrounding oak woods—a delightful immersion into Istria’s culinary heritage.

Continue south through the rolling vineyards and olive groves of inland Istria to the picturesque seaside town of Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most enchanting destinations. Upon arrival, check into your elegant five-star retreat, perfectly positioned on the Adriatic coast. Nestled in a sheltered bay within the scenic Golden Cape Forest Park, the hotel offers spectacular sea views, direct beach access, and serene walking paths that wind through fragrant pine groves. Take time to settle in—perhaps enjoy a swim in one of the pools or relax on the terrace overlooking the shimmering water.

In the late afternoon, meet your local guide for a leisurely walking tour through Rovinj’s Old Town, a captivating labyrinth of cobbled streets, colorful façades, and Venetian-inspired architecture. You’ll trace the town’s evolution through Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, culminating at the Church of St. Euphemia, whose hilltop bell tower recalls Venice’s St. Mark’s Campanile and offers sweeping views over the harbor and surrounding islands.

Your evening concludes with dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Istrian cuisine—perhaps handmade pasta with truffles, freshly caught seafood, and local Malvazija wine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Završje to Grožnjan; 5 miles, easy

After a leisurely breakfast, set out from Rovinj for a day immersed in the landscapes and flavors of Istria. Travel inland to explore the Parenzana Trail, a former narrow-gauge railway that once connected Trieste with Poreč and now serves as a peaceful “Trail of Health and Friendship.”

Your walk begins in Grožnjan, an artsy hilltop village perched nearly 1,000 feet above the surrounding valleys. Once abandoned after World War II, Grožnjan was reborn in the 1960s when artists began transforming its stone houses into studios and galleries. Today, it thrives as a summer cultural haven filled with music, art, and open-air festivals. Take time to wander its cobbled lanes, browse boutiques and ateliers, or simply relax on a terrace overlooking the rolling Istrian hills and, on clear days, the distant Adriatic.

Leaving Grožnjan, follow the gently descending Parenzana path toward Završje, a quiet medieval hamlet whose stone arches and Venetian-style façades speak of its once-prosperous past. The trail meanders through olive groves and vineyards, with short tunnels and shaded stretches offering relief from the sun.

At day’s end, continue to a nearby family-run winery set amid olive-dotted hillsides. Savor a light lunch of local specialties—paper-thin pršut (Istrian prosciutto), cheeses, rustic bread, and golden olive oil pressed from the estate’s own groves—paired with a tasting of regional wines such as crisp Malvazija Istarska, ruby Teran, and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

Return to your coastal hotel in the late afternoon, where you may relax by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or stroll along the waterfront before an evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

4 miles, easy. 1 mile, easy

After breakfast, travel south—approximately 35 minutes—along Croatia’s Istrian coast to Fažana, a colorful fishing village known as the gateway to Brijuni National Park. From here, board a short ferry to Veliki Brijun, the largest island in the Brijuni archipelago.

Once the lavish summer residence of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, former president of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, Veliki Brijun was restored under his direction to host an extraordinary array of visitors—from world leaders to movie stars—throughout the mid-20th century. Today, the island’s 1,700 acres are protected as a national park, showcasing a fascinating mix of cultural heritage and natural beauty.

During your guided circuit walk, discover Roman ruins dating back to the 1st century AD, including a Temple of Venus and the remains of an elegant seaside villa. Follow trails through meadows, oak and laurel forests, and beneath ancient olive trees—some over a thousand years old—while learning about the island’s storied past and unique Mediterranean ecosystem.

Returning by ferry to the mainland, enjoy lunch on your own in Fažana before continuing to Pula, Istria’s largest city and a treasure trove of Roman architecture. Founded in the 10th century BCE and conquered by the Romans in 177 BCE, Pula has weathered millennia of shifting empires yet retains its ancient grandeur. Join a local historian for a guided tour of the city’s remarkably preserved Roman amphitheater, one of the six largest in the world and still used today for concerts and cultural events.

Later this afternoon, a 45-minute drive returns you to your hotel in Rovinj. Spend some time unwinding by the pool or walking along the waterfront before gathering this evening for a festive farewell dinner—an opportunity to celebrate new friendships and reflect on the week’s unforgettable experiences.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After enjoying an included breakfast, complimentary transportation will be provided to the DoubleTree by Hilton Trieste in Trieste, Italy by 1:00 p.m. for your post-tour night. Lunch and dinner are on your own. Spend the day exploring at your own pace with the help of our detailed city information.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast* this morning, complimentary transportation will be provided to Trieste Airport, timed according to your departure. Travel time is approximately 35 minutes.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Vintgar Gorge; 2.5 miles, easy to moderate and Lake Bled; 3 miles, easy, optional afternoon walk

Your trip leaders will meet you at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of the InterContinental Ljubljana hotel, Slovenska cesta 59, Ljubljana, Slovenia. They’ll be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking and wear appropriate hiking footwear.

This morning, your tour begins in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming capital, situated between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea (named European Green Capital in 2016 by the European Commission). After a brief welcome and introductions, you’ll set off for Vintgar Gorge.

“Vintgar” translates as “place exposed to the wind,” and as the first mountain gorge made accessible to tourists (for over a century!), the word is now used more broadly for other scenic and protected gorges throughout Slovenia.

Today’s walking path follows the rock wall of the mile-long gorge, hovering just above the rushing Radovna River, where emerald waters cascade through rapids and form mesmerizing crystalline pools. The trail leads to the picturesque Šum Waterfall, Slovenia’s highest river waterfall at 82 feet. After taking in the falls and the nearby old stone railway bridge, you’ll continue up toward Hom Hill, passing through green meadows and by St. Catherine’s Church. Pause to admire panoramic views over the vast Ljubljana Basin and the snowcapped peaks of the Alps.

Your trail concludes at a local restaurant on Lake Bled, where you’ll enjoy a lunch of traditional Slovenian comfort foods. Afterward, you’ll continue on foot along a lakeside trail (or travel by minibus for a 5- to 10-minute ride) to your charming accommodations just above the lake, where you’ll stay for the next three nights. Surrounded by soaring mountain peaks and crowned by a fairy-tale castle, Lake Bled is undeniably one of the most stunning lakes in the Alps. Settle into your hotel and take some time to relax and refresh before gathering for a welcome cocktail and meeting in the wine cave.

Later, enjoy a special boat ride to Bled Island aboard a traditional pletna boat. The island is home to a church bell said to grant wishes. According to local legend, a wealthy widow melted her silver and gold to cast a new bell for the church in memory of her late husband. Tragically, the ship carrying the bell sank into the lake and was never recovered. Heartbroken, the widow spent the rest of her life as a nun. After her death, a new bell was made to fulfill her wish—and it is said that if you ring the bell three times, your wish will come true.

Concluding the boat ride, you return to your hotel, where you’ll enjoy dinner in the hotel’s panoramic restaurant or—weather permitting—on the outdoor terrace. In either setting, take in spectacular views over Lake Bled as you dine. The seasonal menu may feature dishes such as beef carpaccio from nearby Bohinj, green-pea soup with scallops, fillet of lake trout with parsley root cream, and lamb cutlet crusted with almond and wild herbs, all thoughtfully paired with a glass (or two) of delicious local wine. Retire in comfort this evening after a full and memorable day.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5 miles, easy to moderate

After a hearty buffet breakfast featuring fresh bread, homemade jams, cured meats, eggs, and cheeses, you’ll travel 35–40 minutes to tranquil Lake Bohinj. The largest permanent lake in Slovenia, Bohinj is an oasis in the heart of Triglav National Park. While it may lack Bled’s glamour, it more than makes up for it with a rugged, untamed beauty.

Your easy hiking trail follows the lake’s edge, offering stunning views of its clear waters and the surrounding Julian Alps. The region boasts diverse flora—from orchids and Carniola and Turk’s cap lilies to a wide variety of Alpine flowers, many of which are used in local teas and liqueurs. The 2.5-hour hike culminates at a farm-to-table restaurant in the small settlement of Stara Fužina, where you’ll savor a traditional meal—perhaps a comforting soup followed by farm-raised chicken, and a classic apple strudel for dessert.

After lunch, you’ll explore a nearby open-air museum of sorts, featuring well-preserved homes, hayracks, and barns, where you’ll learn about community life over the past two centuries.

By midafternoon, you return to your accommodations on Lake Bled to enjoy a leisurely late afternoon and evening. You might choose to relax with a swim in the indoor pool, explore the town, or take a scenic walk up to Bled Castle (about 30 minutes on foot). Believed to be the oldest castle in Slovenia, Bled Castle was built atop a cliff in 1004 and once served as the seat of the Austrian bishops of Brixen. Even if you choose not to tour the castle, the panoramic views of the lake and mountains make the climb worthwhile. You can even stay for dinner at the castle’s restaurant, which offers delectable, modern interpretations of traditional Slovenian dishes and drinks. Advance reservations are required.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Vrata Valley; 3-4 miles, easy to moderate and 1 mile, easy

Fueled by another hearty breakfast, you depart for a walk in Triglav National Park—Slovenia’s only national park. This protected landscape features verdant forests and vast meadows where glacial streams descend from the surrounding mountains, winding through picturesque valleys and ravines.

Your walk begins along a gravel road through the UNESCO-protected Vrata Valley, often called the “door to alpine paradise.” Admire the turquoise-blue streams and the emerald moss clinging to trees and rocks along the way. The trail leads deeper into the valley toward the imposing Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain and the centerpiece of the national park. Glance upward for breathtaking views as the peak looms larger with each step.

At the upper end of the hike, you reach the majestic Triglav North Wall and a striking monument commemorating fallen Partisan Alpinists—a giant carabiner and rock piton. Here, enjoy a coffee and a traditional snack at Aljažev dom, a mountain hut named for the famed mountaineering writer and composer Jakob Aljaž.

You then continue by minibus, approximately 30 minutes, to the nearby town of Radovljica. Its Old Town is one of the best-preserved in Slovenia, with houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Perched atop a natural promontory, the town offers sweeping views over the Dežela Plain to the east and the Sava River Valley to the west, with the Julian Alps as a dramatic backdrop. Noteworthy attractions include the Museum of Apiculture, which provides a fascinating look into Slovenia’s beekeeping traditions.

After time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own, you return to your hotel in the late afternoon. You may choose to stroll through town or relax at the indoor pool before another evening of independent dining and discovery.

Included Meals: Breakfast

2 miles, easy to moderate and evening guided walking tour of Rovinj; 1-2 miles, easy

After breakfast, bid farewell to Slovenia as you journey south across the border into Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula. Your first stop is the fertile Mirna River Valley, near the charming hill town of Buzet, known as the “City of Truffles.” This region is famous for its rare Istrian white truffles (Tuber magnatum) and equally prized black truffles—gastronomic treasures that rival those of Italy and France.

At a family-owned estate, enjoy a memorable culinary experience featuring truffle-inspired specialties such as pasta, cheese, and olive oil infused with these aromatic gems. After lunch, join a local truffle hunter and her trained dogs for an authentic truffle-hunting demonstration in the surrounding oak woods—a delightful immersion into Istria’s culinary heritage.

Continue south through the rolling vineyards and olive groves of inland Istria to the picturesque seaside town of Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most enchanting destinations. Upon arrival, check into your elegant five-star retreat, perfectly positioned on the Adriatic coast. Nestled in a sheltered bay within the scenic Golden Cape Forest Park, the hotel offers spectacular sea views, direct beach access, and serene walking paths that wind through fragrant pine groves. Take time to settle in—perhaps enjoy a swim in one of the pools or relax on the terrace overlooking the shimmering water.

In the late afternoon, meet your local guide for a leisurely walking tour through Rovinj’s Old Town, a captivating labyrinth of cobbled streets, colorful façades, and Venetian-inspired architecture. You’ll trace the town’s evolution through Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, culminating at the Church of St. Euphemia, whose hilltop bell tower recalls Venice’s St. Mark’s Campanile and offers sweeping views over the harbor and surrounding islands.

Your evening concludes with dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Istrian cuisine—perhaps handmade pasta with truffles, freshly caught seafood, and local Malvazija wine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Završje to Grožnjan; 5 miles, easy

After a leisurely breakfast, set out from Rovinj for a day immersed in the landscapes and flavors of Istria. Travel inland to explore the Parenzana Trail, a former narrow-gauge railway that once connected Trieste with Poreč and now serves as a peaceful “Trail of Health and Friendship.”

Your walk begins in Grožnjan, an artsy hilltop village perched nearly 1,000 feet above the surrounding valleys. Once abandoned after World War II, Grožnjan was reborn in the 1960s when artists began transforming its stone houses into studios and galleries. Today, it thrives as a summer cultural haven filled with music, art, and open-air festivals. Take time to wander its cobbled lanes, browse boutiques and ateliers, or simply relax on a terrace overlooking the rolling Istrian hills and, on clear days, the distant Adriatic.

Leaving Grožnjan, follow the gently descending Parenzana path toward Završje, a quiet medieval hamlet whose stone arches and Venetian-style façades speak of its once-prosperous past. The trail meanders through olive groves and vineyards, with short tunnels and shaded stretches offering relief from the sun.

At day’s end, continue to a nearby family-run winery set amid olive-dotted hillsides. Savor a light lunch of local specialties—paper-thin pršut (Istrian prosciutto), cheeses, rustic bread, and golden olive oil pressed from the estate’s own groves—paired with a tasting of regional wines such as crisp Malvazija Istarska, ruby Teran, and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

Return to your coastal hotel in the late afternoon, where you may relax by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or stroll along the waterfront before an evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

4 miles, easy. 1 mile, easy

After breakfast, travel south—approximately 35 minutes—along Croatia’s Istrian coast to Fažana, a colorful fishing village known as the gateway to Brijuni National Park. From here, board a short ferry to Veliki Brijun, the largest island in the Brijuni archipelago.

Once the lavish summer residence of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, former president of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, Veliki Brijun was restored under his direction to host an extraordinary array of visitors—from world leaders to movie stars—throughout the mid-20th century. Today, the island’s 1,700 acres are protected as a national park, showcasing a fascinating mix of cultural heritage and natural beauty.

During your guided circuit walk, discover Roman ruins dating back to the 1st century AD, including a Temple of Venus and the remains of an elegant seaside villa. Follow trails through meadows, oak and laurel forests, and beneath ancient olive trees—some over a thousand years old—while learning about the island’s storied past and unique Mediterranean ecosystem.

Returning by ferry to the mainland, enjoy lunch on your own in Fažana before continuing to Pula, Istria’s largest city and a treasure trove of Roman architecture. Founded in the 10th century BCE and conquered by the Romans in 177 BCE, Pula has weathered millennia of shifting empires yet retains its ancient grandeur. Join a local historian for a guided tour of the city’s remarkably preserved Roman amphitheater, one of the six largest in the world and still used today for concerts and cultural events.

Later this afternoon, a 45-minute drive returns you to your hotel in Rovinj. Spend some time unwinding by the pool or walking along the waterfront before gathering this evening for a festive farewell dinner—an opportunity to celebrate new friendships and reflect on the week’s unforgettable experiences.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After enjoying an included breakfast, complimentary transportation brings you to Trieste, Italy, where you continue your explorations or make connections for your onward travels.

Included Meals: Breakfast