EASTERN EUROPE
Croatia & Slovenia

Enchanting Croatia is lapped by the crystal-clear, azure waters of the Adriatic while un crowded Slovenia shows off with its towering peaks of the Julian Alps. A wide variety of landscapes can be found in Croatia. Most people are familiar with the stunningly beautiful indented coastline and its array of amazing islands, however, over 40% of the country is mountainous.

Our journey begins in the World Heritage-listed city of Dubrovnik from where we travel southwest to the island of Mljet. We hike the spectacular coastline of this sun-splashed island which is almost entirely a National Park. We discover Paklenica National Park which stretches from deep canyons, beech forests and spring-fed creeks to the Adriatic coast. We explore the aqua-coloured lakes, cascades and waterfalls of World Heritage-listed Plitivice Lakes National Park. Magnificent landscape with wooded hills and 16 terraced lakes strung together by waterfalls.

They were simultaneously carved out and, with the help of mineral deposits, built up this fluid landscape. Countless cascades and strangely clear and colourful water make this park a misty natural wonderland. Rich spiritual traditions, charming and ancient mountain villages, spectacular granite peaks of the Julian Alps and an intact Old World culture are the treasures of tiny Slovenia. It is only half the size of Switzerland and has fewer than 2 million inhabitants but this peaceful and spectacular corner of old Europe is a real gem. Its Renaissance-flavoured towns are unspoiled and the walking opportunities are endless.

The capital Ljubljana is the country’s political, economic and cultural centre. It has often been referred to as a little Prague without the crowds. It actually has more of a town feel rather than a city atmosphere. Its 56,000 students make sure that it stays young!

Our walks take us through vineyard-covered hills and forested trails that lead to frescoed monasteries. We scramble up into the majestic alpine terrain in the Triglav National Park and discover isolated valleys that shelter the kind of truly bucolic villages that have largely disappeared in Western Europe. The tour ends in beautiful Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world!

Our Hotels & Cuisine

On this tour we stay in “the best of both worlds” – the dramatic mountain scenery and the charming coastal villages. We have chosen a variety of beautiful hotels, full of ambience and history. In Croatia the excellent local cuisine already has a Central European flavour.

On the coast however where fish and seafood are widely used, the Mediterranean flavours of Italy are dominant. From the plains and coast to the mountainous areas, rich soils produce superb vegetables and fruits. Both red and white wine are produced and the standards are definitely improving.

For its size Slovenia offers an incredibly varied cuisine. Because it is surrounded by countries on all sides it is heavily influenced by their styles; Austrian sausages and strudel, Italian ravioli like dumplings and Hungarian style goulash and palacinke (pancakes with a variety of fillings). They have been making wine in Slovenia since Roman times so be prepared for some pleasant surprises !