Tour Slovenia with SNPJ in 2011
SNPJ is pleased to announce our 2011 Tour of Slovenia.
July 19-30, 2011
We extend a very special invitation for you to join us. Please sign up soon, as there has been a great deal of anticipation and excitement regarding this upcoming tour.
The day-by-day itinerary is listed below. For a brochure and additional registration information, contact Kollander World Travel at 1-800-800-5981. They will be happy to take care of your arrangements and answer any questions you may have.
SNPJ visits to Slovenia are very special and exciting. As the largest Slovenian fraternal organization in America, SNPJ has been received in Slovenia at the highest levels. During past visits, we have been received by the President and Prime Minister of Slovenia.
The 2011 tour will take us to Bled and the Karst region, where we will be staying in first-class hotels. The tour will visit several locations, including Lake Bled, Vintgar Gorge, Ljubljana and Lipica, as well as Opatija, Croatia. Join us!
2011 SNPJ Slovenian tour itinerary (day by day)
Tuesday, July 19: Depart the USA
Depart from your home town. The staff at Kollander World Travel will be happy to assist you with your flight arrangements.
Wednesday, July 20: Bled
Upon arrival at Ljubljana airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel in Bled. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Thursday, July 21: Bled
Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Bled featuring the charming town with the lakeshore and imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. Enjoy the ride in a typical boat, called a pletna, and visit the small island in the middle of the lake. The evening's dinner will feature a local restaurant in Radovljica.
Friday, July 22: Bled
In the morning we'll visit the fascinating Vintgar Gorge, a long-undiscovered canyon carved by the Radovna River. The walk will take you over numerous wooden bridges along narrow passages and over its whitewater rapids and dazzling waterfalls. Following the visit, we will travel to Bohinj Lake. Surrounded by alluring summits, the Bohinj valley charms visitors with its inspiring scenery, crystal lake waters, and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Take the cable car and visit Mount Vogel and enjoy lunch in the alpine hut. Return to the lakeshore and enjoy some free time, discover the legend of Zlatorog (Goldhorn) and enjoy the stunning view over Mount Triglav.
Saturday, July 23: Karst region-Opatija
A day dedicated to the Karst region. Our first stop will be in Lipica and includes a visit to the stud farm of the famous white horses (visit only- show not included). Continue to a wine cellar for tasting teran, a wine typical of this region, along with dried ham called Lipicapršut. We're then off to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour the fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Continue to Opatija, Croatia, for dinner at the hotel.
Sunday, July 24: Opatija-Pula excursion
The road will take you through vineyards and olive plantations, red plains and green valleys, modest little towns and rich sea resorts. The pearl of our mosaic is Pula, the attraction of which lays not only in its shops and in factories, but in its ancient past. Visit the Roman Amphitheater, the sixth largest in the world, August's Temple, the antique City Walls, the Golden Gate and other monuments of the past, and a local market that is the biggest in Istria. The most important center of Istria mainland is Pazin, an old town with an extremely well preserved medieval fortress. The fortress, situated above a 10-meter-deep cave, inspired author Jules Verne who described it in one of his novels. Today the Ethnological Museum is located there, and its exhibits tell the tale about life of the common Istrian peasant. The last part of our mosaic is a visit with a typical Istrian family who will offer homemade Istrian wine and cakes, all prepared according to traditional Istrian recipes.
Monday, July 25: Opatija-Plitvice
The tour will take you across the Istrian peninsula to Kvarner Bay and along the Adriatic coastline to Senj, where we will turn inland to Lika - a real contrast to the littoral area. Have your camera ready when we arrive at Plitvice national park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and take a walking tour around several of the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder with its 16 terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. Enjoy a full day in Plitvice with lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Opatija for the night.
Tuesday, July 26: Opatija-Krk
Depart by bus to the Golden Island of Krk. Our first stop will be the old town center of Krk town. We'll continue to Punat and visit the local olive mill, and afterward take a boat to the small island of Kosljun to visit the monastery. We will then travel to the town of Vrbnik and enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local tavern featuring musical entertainment before returning to Opatija for the night.
Wednesday, July 27: Opatija-Adlesici-Drasici
We'll travel back to Slovenia and make our first stop in the small town of Dragatus to visit a gudalo (traditional Slovenian musical instrument) maker. Then we'll travel trough Črnomelj to the town of Adlesici to see how the typical embroideries of the Bela Krajina region are made. Our last stop will be at a local tourist farm recommended by Tony Klepec in Drasici, where we'll have a late lunch accompanied by musical entertainment. We'll spend the evening and overnight in Ljubljana.
Thursday, July 28: Ljubljana
One full day is dedicated to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. On the morning walking tour of the city with your tour director, view the open-air Central Market, the baroque Town Hall, Robba's Fountain, the Three Bridges, and the Parliament. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Friday, July 29: Ljubljana-Logarska
On our last full day in Slovenia we'll visit the charming Logarska Valley, a paradise of Alpine woodlands and steep canyons. Enjoy the natural beauty with a walk to Rink Falls. On our way back to Ljubljana we'll have dinner at a local restaurant, such as Gostilna Janezic or a similar establishment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TOTAL COST: Land Tour = $1,948. $350 single-room supplement. Reservations confirmed in date order received. Contact Kollander World Travel at 1-800-800-5981 for the best available airfare from your home city. For more information visit www.kollander-travel.com.