Beautiful Nature of Croatia & Slovenia

This morning we drive to Trogir. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Little Venice of Dalmatia or as some call it The Stone Beauty – Trogir and its surrounding area featuring island Čiovo. The islet where Trogir is located lies in a narrow sea passage between the mainland and Čiovo. The islet itself is just 500 m long and 250 m wide. The highest point is the tower of Saint Lawrence Cathedral at just 47m. Trogir presents a good example of a well-preserved Romanesque-Gothic islet town. It has long-lasting urbanistic consistency which goes all the way to its Hellenic heritage with its octagonal city shape.

During different periods of rule, it was redesigned according to the architectural trends of the time, ranging from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque. UNESCO recognized its value in 1997 and listed Trogir as a World Heritage Site. Trogir is sometimes called a city museum because of its rich cultural heritage and intact authentic architecture. Lunch in Trogir. Afternoon hike to Marjan forest/hill. Dinner at the traditional “konoba” restaurant.

This morning we continue to Paklenica National Park, part of Velebit Mountain UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Lying on the southeast slopes of the Velebit Mountains near the coast and cut by two deep, vertical-walled gorges, the park’s rugged karst landscape is one of the most pristine and dramatic in the entire Mediterranean.

It contains the highest peaks in the Velebit Range, rising to nearly 6,000 feet and offering lofty views of the coast and mountains alike. We have a choice of several delightful hikes through the beech and black pine forest. After hiking and lunch in the nearby place, we visit Zrmanja Canyon for gorgeous sightseeing of the river and canyon. Later afternoon, we drive to Plitvice Lakes.

After breakfast, we visit Croatia’s most stunning national park. Mother Nature has done an incredible job and has created a series of lakes and waterfalls that are just calling to be explored. Of course, its beauty is not unnoticed, therefore we want to be the first ones to enter the park when it opens and beat the crowds. We will walk the lovely wooden boardwalks just by the lakes, be amazed by the countless waterfalls, and learn about local flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating geography & geology of this mesmerizing place. After lunch, we drive to Istria and stop at the smallest town in the world Hum.

With a population variously quoted at 17, 18, and 23, the tiny medieval travel wonder of Hum on the Istrian peninsula in western Croatia is officially listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest town in the world. Such a moniker swells this village of little more than a dozen grey stone houses with hundreds of visitors in the summer months. The size of the town belies its rich history of around a thousand years. Its town walls and fortifications remind people of the regular battles fought over the centuries. After introducing ourselves to this tiny town, we head to our hotel.

After breakfast, we shortly drive to Groznjan where our hike tour starts. Grožnjan, known as the city of artists, surrounded by green hills and a magical white soil is a must-see destination for those who want to discover the treasure chest of Istria. Because of its interesting history, which has been written in every book and naturally permeates the present, it is rich in ancient churches, prehistoric finds, ancient castles, magnificent palaces, and many other old buildings, whose past glory was recovered through restoration, all in order to be able to evoke the charm of the past. Grožnjan is also home to numerous national and international artists. In this small town, there are as many as 28 ateliers; there is also the city art gallery with works by artists from around the world, and even the well-known Imaginary Film Academy found its home here. In the summer, all of Grožnjan becomes a stage on which renowned jazz and classical musicians alternate, as do many other artists who have discovered the true joy of creation here. After visiting Groznjan, we start hiking along the Parenzana trail.

After exploring this trail, we visit a local olive oil farm and winery to taste one of the top 20 olive oils in the world and fabulous Istraian wines accompanied with truffle dishes. After this unique experience, we go to the forest to experience the adventure of the truffle hunt. Later in the afternoon, we explore Rovinj and its area on foot.

This morning we leave Croatia and enter Slovenia. We visit the most famous and largest cave in the Balkan region – Postojna cave.  Slovenia is considered the heart and soul of beekeeping in Europe. The country is known for the quality of its honey and its long tradition of apiculture. So our next stop after hiking is the beekeeping farm. Beekeeping has been part of their family for 100 years and they still have two of the old apiaries on their farm, one of which is 90 years old.

The family will present the life of bees, bee panels, and how they extract honey. Tasting of different types of honey, honey liquor, homemade gingerbread, pollen, and traditional cake Potica will be at the end of the farm. After this special experience, we checked in at our hotel located close to Bled Lake. Dinner at the local restaurant.

Today is all about hiking the only Slovenian national Park Triglav and exploring its beauty and wildflowers. We visit an organic dairy farm to try the famous Bohinj cheese and learn more about their traditional way of producing different cheeses and delicious yogurt.

After breakfast, we hike one of the most beautiful trails in Triglav National Park which is part ofthe larger Julian Alps. Lunch in the mountains. Afternoon we drive back to Bled for a walking tour around the scenic lake. Farewell dinner in the local restaurant.

After breakfast, this unforgettable hiking tour ends. Your memories of Croatia and Slovenia, however, will remain in your hearts for a long time. It was a pleasure having you!