Deep secret tour of the Balkans: 14 days through Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro
Core of the trip:
① In-depth visit to 8 characteristic towns in 3 countries in the Balkan Peninsula; Exclusive local experience, integrating into local customs like close friends.
② Integrate into local life: visit local people’s favorite taverns, enjoy family dinners in 13 th century private houses, arrange picnics in the secret wilderness, and awaken taste buds with authentic delicious food.
③ Stroll through Ljubljana with wine and food as a clue; Explore the village of Bosini, Lake Bled and Postojna Cave.
④ Follow the truffle hunter to dig truffles in the mountains and forests; Go out to sea on a private yacht and explore the Blue Hole and Hvar Island.
⑤ Trekking the wooden plank road of the Plitvice Lakes National Park; Visit the historic buildings of Split and Dubrovnik.
⑥ Learn to cook authentic farm lunch; Visit 3 wineries with different styles with winemakers and taste the excellent wines.
⑦ Stay at the first One&Only hotel in Europe; Explore the Black Hills coastline with historic sites.
⑧ Private helicopter travels to and from Dumitor National Park, overlooking the magnificent mountain valley and landing in the hinterland of the wasteland.
Fly to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and pick you up to the hotel by special car. The hotel is located in the center of the old city, and its attached tavern has a good reputation, serving authentic Slovenian cuisine, craft beer and wine.
Take a morning tour of Ljubljana, a city that blends Central European and Balkan cultures with baroque architecture. Accompanied by a guide, visit major landmarks and learn about their history and culture. Our unique way of exploration will take food and wine as clues, taste local characteristics along the way and satisfy the curiosity of taste buds.
Return to hotel in the afternoon and enjoy free time.
Triglav National Park has the most magnificent natural landscape in Slovenia. Between high mountains and deep canyons, it still retains the traditional alpine pasture lifestyle.
Head first to Bosini and explore alpine lakes, shepherd’s huts, St. John the Baptist Church, and peaceful villages surrounded by orchards. Then head to the picturesque Lake Bled to visit Slovenia’s oldest castle (built in the 11 th century) and overlook the panoramic view of the lake. Return to Ljubljana in the evening.
Dining: Hotel breakfast
Accommodation: Featured design hotels
In the morning, enter the Postojna Karst Cave, explore the fantastic underground karst world, watch stalagmites as high as 16 meters, and the unique underground vertebrate animal in Europe-cave axolotl.
Then drive for about 2 hours to Rovinj, Croatia. Today’s hotel is restricted to guests over the age of 16. It has a private beach and can enjoy the sunset on the bay without leaving home. The hotel boasts 4 outdoor pools and 1 indoor pool, as well as one of the top Fine Dining restaurants in Croatia.
The interior of Istria is the best truffle producing area in Europe except Italy and France. First of all, visit a small mountain town (with a population of only 800 people) dominated by Italian residents. Its history can be traced back to the 12 th century, and it was under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Venice from the 14 th to the 18 th century. The city still retains medieval buildings.
Then follow truffle hunters and their hounds deep into the mountains to look for this precious gift from nature. For lunch, enjoy fresh truffles in a farmhouse stone house.
In the afternoon return to Rovinj for free activities. Rovinj is one of the best preserved medieval ancient cities in Croatia. Stroll through the stone-paved streets of the old city, visit the church where the cardinal’s remains lie, and climb to the top tower overlooking the blue sea and blue sky of Istria Peninsula.
Take a public ferry to Brijuni National Park and embark on a unique “adventure”. Take a walk in the park where zebras and elephants roam, explore more than 200 dinosaur tracks and Neolithic human sites, and take a photo with a 1700-year-old olive tree-these seemingly unrelated experiences coexist wonderfully on Brioni Island.
Brijuni was once the favorite of Yugoslav leader Tito, who hosted many celebrities here, including Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Queen Elizabeth II. You will explore the island on foot and by golf cart.
In the afternoon return to Rovinj and enjoy free time.
Drive for about 2 hours to Plitvice Lakes National Park and hike 16 lakes scattered in the valley like emerald necklaces. The total drop between the lakes is 135 meters, connected by numerous waterfalls, and the lake water presents a dreamy color of emerald green or sapphire blue.
Continue the drive to Split for about 2 hours. The residence where I stayed tonight was built in 1776, transformed from the first cafe in the city, and has a history of more than 300 years. The hotel rooftop terrace overlooks panoramic views of the old town.
Day 8 Visit to the ancient city of Split and Trogir
Morning tour of Split. This city was originally the summer palace of Emperor Diocletian in ancient Rome. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, refugees poured into the city walls to seek refuge, and built houses, workshops and churches one after another. In the subsequent millennium, it became one of the safest havens in continental Europe, and buildings of different styles such as Roman, Gothic and Renaissance were well preserved.
Then we go to the small town of Trogir, whose urban texture is Greek rather than Romanesque in Split. This 2,300-year-old city preserves more than a dozen churches, including the Roman-Gothic fusion cathedral built in the 13 th century (its earlier prototype was destroyed by the Saracens in 1123).
At noon, we walk into an ancient building dating back to the 13 th century, and the owner will prepare a warm family lunch for us. Return to Split in the afternoon and wait for the setting sun on the Adriatic Sea.
Accommodation: Featured design hotels
Board a private yacht and sail into the Adriatic Sea to explore the mysterious blue sea caves, hidden beaches, and Hvar Island, the only island in Croatia selected as one of the top ten islands in the world. Under the bright sunshine, the blue water, the ancient villages, the lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards dotted among them form a beautiful picture.
Return to Split in the afternoon.
It takes about 3 hours to drive to Dubrovnik. On the way, you will visit a quiet fishing village rarely visited by tourists, and visit the botanical garden and summer palace built by the noble Degoz family of Ragusa in the 15 th century. Dalmatian captains once planted exotic flowers and plants brought back from all over the world here.
At noon, prepare an authentic farmhouse lunch with the enthusiastic hostess:
In the afternoon, visit Dubrovnik’s historical buildings, including churches, monasteries and museums, and verify for yourself what Bernard Shaw said: “Those who are looking for paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik.”
The hotel we stayed tonight has a private beach, enjoying the sunset with sea views without leaving home, and a 5-minute walk to the ancient city. We think it is one of the most outstanding luxury hotels in the area.
In the morning, under the guidance of local winemakers, we went to Pelješac Peninsula to experience Croatian folk traditions, especially wine-making skills, from the most authentic perspective. Hike the vineyards on the hillside, visit three distinctive wineries and taste fine wines-the owners may be charismatic poets, businessmen returning from Napa Valley in the United States, or ancient families that have been passed down for 500 years. At noon, enjoy a hearty country lunch like visiting an old friend.
Return to Dubrovnik in the evening.
Take a helicopter ride to and from Dumitor National Park (save about 6 hours by car), explore plateau lakes and canyon mountain villages, and land in the wilderness hinterland for a picnic.
Dumitor has more than 50 peaks above 2,000 meters above sea level, covered with alpine meadows and dense forests, and is also a summer pasture for local herdsmen. The canyon washed by the Tara River over the years is one of the deepest canyons in Europe.
Return to hotel in the afternoon and enjoy free time.
Accommodation: One&Only Portonovi
Depending on the flight time, a special bus will be transferred to Podgorica or Dubrovnik airport to end this colorful and in-depth exploration tour of the Balkans.
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