Croatia & Slovenia Real Food Adventure

Zivjo! Welcome to Slovenia – known as Europe in Miniature. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. If you arrive early, maybe visit Ljubljana Castle, wander through Tivoli Park or see Saint Nicholas' Cathedral. After your meeting, maybe head out as a group for dinner at a local restaurant – your leader will know the best spots.

After breakfast, you’ll start your journey towards Croatia. Along the way, stop in Slovenia for a traditional Istrian lunch. Taste some seasonal fruit, homemade bread and honey from a local farm. Then, continue to Fonda Fish Farm in Portoroz – a sustainable sea bass farm. Learn about the farm's sustainable farming practices on a boat tour and taste some of the local produce, like raw fish carpaccio. After, continue to Motovun – a small village in Croatia, which name translates to ‘town in the hills.’ Tonight is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe head out for dinner with your group at a nearby restaurant.

Motovun Forest is the best place for hunting the famous Istrian truffle, and the nearby village of Livade is considered the truffle capital of Istria. This morning, take a walk through the woods with an experienced truffle hunter and learn about this intriguing job – maybe even sniff out a truffle of your own! Then, join your local leader for a wine tasting at a small local supplier, where you can sample some of Motovun’s renowned varietals and learn how the region’s unique terroir shapes their distinctive character. The rest of the day is then free for you to explore at your own pace.

This morning, say goodbye to Motovun as you travel to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park – the largest national park in Croatia and one of the oldest in southeast Europe. Along the way, stop for lunch at Kumparicka Goat Farm. When you arrive, meet the local goats in the pasture and learn how their diet shapes the flavours of the cheese. Then, tour the farm and see the entire cheese-making process from milking to aging. Finish your visit with a guided tasting of the farm’s cheese paired with fresh bread, toppings and local wine. Later, continue to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Tonight, perhaps find a local restaurant for dinner – your local leader will have the best recommendations!

This morning, spend some time exploring Plitvice National Park. Join your local leader to see the grand waterfalls and blue lakes that make this national park so beautiful. After, continue to a local’s home for a traditional home-cooked kotlovina dinner. This mixed meat dish, made mainly with pork schnitzels and sausages, is traditionally cooked in a cauldron for large groups, feasts, holiday celebrations or parties. Watch as your hosts prepare the meal before tucking into its robust flavours and hints of spice.

This morning, travel to Split – sitting on a peninsula jutting out into the Adriatic Sea, this coastal city is a jewel on the Dalmatian coast. When you arrive, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Diocletian’s Palace, relax on Bacvice City Beach or stroll along the Riva Promenade – a waterfront walkway that stretches between Split Harbour and the Marjan Forest Park. For dinner, maybe grab some fresh octopus salad or find a serving of peka (slow-roasted meat dish).

Start today with a stroll through a local market. Wander through the busy stalls and see some of the produce grown in the area. Depending on the season, you may find citrus fruits and kiwis from the islands, fresh and dried figs and homemade olive oil. After, visit a local family who specialise in a regional delicacy – soparnik (a pastry made with a mix of silverbeet, onions and parsley). The family regularly provide these pastries for weddings and events, so you’ll be getting some of the best in the area! When you arrive, join a cooking demonstration and learn how to make these traditional pastries. Tonight, why not get together with your group for one last farewell drink to mark the end of your journey.

As there are no further activities, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’re not ready to say goodbye to Croatia, why not stay a few extra days – just speak with your booking agent ahead of time.