Slovenia is a relatively small country in area, half the size of Switzerland for example, tucked into a mountainous corner between Austria, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and the Adriatic Sea. Everything in Slovenia is in abundance: the majestic Alps with their glacial valleys, rivers and lakes, forests, mysterious Karst caves, the warm Adriatic and mineral enriched thermal waters. From the steep slopes of the Alps you reach the world of olives and vineyards in less than three hours. Slovenia's natural features, cultural and historical sites offer an abundance of variety for exploration whilst its spas, naturally feed with thermal waters, provide for relaxation.
You can explore the underground world of grottoes, walk in the clean mountain air of the Triglav National Park, climb the peaks of the Julian Alps, admire medieval treasures of old cities, enjoy museums, concerts, international festivals, fairs and events, play on spectacular golf courses and be pampered in its many spas. Try your luck in casinos and enjoy the culinary arts and wines of Slovenia.
The contrast of Slovenia's landscape surprises first time visitors, all within the country's 20,256 square kilometres. Fifty kilometres from the capital, Ljubljana, one finds the Julian Alps, where fairy tale Lake Bled glistens; the Postojna Caves, the largest in Europe, are a 35 minute modern expressway drive from the capital; and Ankaran, a sunny seaside resort, is just over 100 kilometres from Ljubljana.
All campsites are the best available and include electric hook-ups, but most do not reach Caravan Club standards.
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Friday 3rd September 2010: We leave Dover at about lunchtime on a P&O ferry with access to the Club Class lounge with free Champagne and coffee, and have a short drive to our first campsite at Mons in Belgium. Everybody can get to know each other at an informal drinks reception this evening. |
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Saturday 4th September 2010: We continue south into Germany this morning. Our destination is the charming little town of Dahn. The area is well known for its superb, red rock formations, some of which are quite spectacular! This evening everybody can get together at the campsite’s barbecue restaurant for a simple, but filling meal. If the weather is clement, we can all sit outside, but if not we will go inside the restaurant. |
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Sunday 5th September 2010: Another 200 mile drive to arrive at our next campsite at Lucerne in Switzerland. |
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Monday 6th September 2010: A free day to relax. |
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Tuesday 7th September 2010: We cross the Alps today, so our driving distance will be only about 120 miles, but it could take all day. Our campsite for tonight is just south of Como. |
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Wednesday 8th September 2010: A longer drive today, about 220 miles, but nearly all on the Italian motorways. After what could be a hot day’s driving we will arrive at our campsite on the beach, with a swimming pool and its own bar and restaurant – heaven! |
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Thursday 9th September 2010: A drive of less than 100 miles will bring us to the Slovenian border in the morning and then we drive the short distance from the border to the Lipica stud farm, the origin of the Lipizzaner white horses used by Vienna’s Spanish Riding School. In the afternoon we have an arranged group guided tour of the stud farm followed by a presentation of the elegant display for which the horses are famous.
Following the display, we drive 40 miles to our campsite at the coastal resort of Ankaran.
This evening we celebrate our arrival in Slovenia with a group dinner in the campsite restaurant. |
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Friday 10th September 2010: A completely free day to relax and unwind after a few days’ driving. You may decide to swim in the sea directly accessible from the campsite or stroll into Ankaran. |
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Saturday 11th September 2010: This morning we will be collected by boat from near the campsite and taken on a leisurely cruise along the Slovenian coast. After a fish lunch on board we will be returned to the berth near our campsite. |
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Sunday 12th September 2010: This morning we have a 50 mile drive to Postojna. Here we will take a tour of the world famous Postojna caves. Once inside a railway whizzes us through the first 2km of preliminary systems before we start our guided tour of the vast and fantastic jungles of rock formations. After this wonderful experience we rejoin our motorhomes for a 40 mile drive to our campsite in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana |
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Monday 13th September 2010: We have a full day’s sightseeing tour of Ljubljana with an English speaking guide. A substantial lunch is included. Ljubljana is a beautiful old city with a great deal of history and some fascinating architecture. |
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Tuesday 14th September 2010: A free day to relax. However, you may prefer to make use of the free access included in your camping package to the campsite leisure complex or visit Ljubljana for further sightseeing/shopping.
If enough people are interested the Tour Directors may be able to arrange a hot air balloon trip over Ljubljana. They will also look at the programmes for the Opera and Theatre to see if there are any performances that may be of interest. |
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Wednesday 15th September 2010
: Today wedrive 70 miles to our campsite at Thermal Catez. The campsite is part of a large spa resort where the thermal water is 52 degrees at its source but is cooled to a more pleasant swimming temperature of 30 degrees before feeding the resort’s 15 different swimming pools. These include indoor/outdoor swimming pools, wave pools, lazy river pools, massage pools and jacuzzi baths. Everybody will have free access to the pools.
Within the spa resort there is also a complete range of health treatments and massages available for purchase. |
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Thursday 16th September 2010: This morning we have a sightseeing tour of the local area which will include a visit to Kostanjevica Cave and Pleterje Monastery.
The afternoon has been left free to enjoy the thermal spa.
This evening we take dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants before moving to the casino where we will be served cocktails on arrival and each guest provided with 10 euros of casino chips for use on the tables or in the slot machines – once they’re gone, you’re on your own! |
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Friday 17th September 2010: Today has been left completely free, but if there is enough interest the Tour Directors will organise a ¾ day trip to Zagreb, capital of Croatia, just 30 miles from Terme Catez. |
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Saturday 18th September 2010: Today’s drive is only 60 miles and will bring us to Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest town. The drive is on Slovenian back roads, starting with a road running along the Croatian border before it turns to pass through Slovenia’s wine growing region. In Ptuj we stay at Terme Ptuj camping, part of the Ptuj thermal complex and just 20 minutes walk from Ptuj’s old centre. Again tour participants will have free access to the complex’s spa pools and saunas. This evening a group dinner will be taken in a local restaurant within the old quarter of Ptuj. |
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Sunday 19th September 2010: This morning we will have aone and a half hour guided walking tour of Ptuj. Following this is a visit to Slovenia’s largest and oldest wine cellar. We will be given a guided tour of the cellars and visit the secure storage area holding vintage wines from 1917. After the tour we will enter the tasting room where five wines will be offered for tasting over a light ‘platter’ lunch. Each tour participant will be presented with a bottle of wine and will have the opportunity to purchase any number; which will be delivered back to the campsite for us. |
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Monday 20th September 2010: A free day to relax in the Spa or to wander around Ptuj’s old town taking in the ambience of the town’s many pavement café bars. |
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Tuesday 21st September 2010: Today we drive to our last campsite in Slovenia. The distance is about 110 miles and will bring us to the beautiful Lake Bled, where our campsite is located right on the edge of the lake. |
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Wednesday 22nd September 2010: This morning we will be collected by bus with an English speaking guide for a full day tour of the Triglav national park. This will include a substantial lunch. |
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Thursday 23rd September 2010: This morning we will walk (about 15 minutes) from the campsite around lake Bled to Café Belvedere in the grounds of Villa Bled; a former holiday residence of Yugoslavian leaders now transformed into a first class coffee house. It has stunning views across Lake Bled to Sv. Marika Bozja Church, situated on Bled Island. We will be served with coffee and cream cakes before making our way down the steps to the lakeside where we will be transported by one of the unique Pletna boats to the island. Here everyone will have time to visit the Church before rejoining the Pletna to be transported directly back to the campsite.
Tonight’s final dinner will be taken in the campsite’s own restaurant. We will be served with good quality traditional food accompanied by wine whilst being entertained by local Slovenian dancers and musicians. After the dinner everyone will have an opportunity to join in the dancing. |
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Friday 24th September 2010: The tour ends this morning and you can either head back to Calais with the tour directors, or maybe you will choose to stay on and take advantage of your 60 day ferry ticket. |