Included features:• Selected class hotels, rooms with private facilities• Service charges and hotel taxes• Breakfast daily• 4 Dinners as per program• 3 Lunches as per program• 2 Light Lunches as per program• 1 Wine tasting as per program• Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach• Professional English speaking tour director throughout• Sightseeing tours as per itineraryIncluded entrances when indicated in bold letters: the Bled castle, Pletna boat ride, St. Mary church, Cable car to Mt. Vogel, rafting on the Soca river, the Kobarid museum, Boat ride on Slovenian coast (weather per-mitting), Happy Johnny bus ride, Boat ride on the Ljubljanica river, the Postojna caves, Maribor Cathedral, Ptuj castle, cable car to Velika Planina, mountain cottage, chapel of Marija Snezna cave Veternica.• Luggage handling in hotels (one piece per person in/out)

*Note:Arrival and departure transfers not included. If needed, transfers can be provided on request.

Hotels:• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Lev (or similar)• BOVEC: Hotel Alp (or similar)• NOVA GORICA: Hotel Park (or similar)• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Union/Lev (or similar)

2011 - homecoming Slovenia

Itinerary:Day 01, 26 SEPTEMBER 2011 ARRIVAL TO LJUBLJANA Upon arrival to the airport, transfer on your own to hotel in Ljubljana. The rest of the day at leisure. Dinner in your hotel (D)

Day 02, 27 SEPTEMBER 2011FROM LJUBLJANA TO BOVECBreakfast in hotelToday we explore the beauties of Slovenian Alpine region, home of the Triglav Mountain and the biggest Slovenian poet France Preseren. We start the day with the sightseeing tour of the pearl of the region, Lake Bled. We will take you to the imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. We will take a pletna boat ride to the island in the middle of the lake. Once we reach the island we visit the small church on the island and ring a whishing bell. From here we continue with cable car to Mt. Vogel from where you will be able to enjoy the beauties of this Alpine area with Alpine mountains, valleys and lakes. Light lunch on top of Mt Vogel Mountain before we take the cable car down to the valley. Travel to Bovec, the small town which is situated in the far northwestern corner of Slovenia and represents the most important centre of tourism in the Soča Valley. It is a valley of wonderful colors, full of waterfalls, pools, ravines and canyons, with its own distinct flora and fauna. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 03, 28 SEPTEMBER 2011 FROM RAFTING TO GAMBLING Breakfast in hotelMorning at leisure in Bovec to explore the area. For those who are more ad-venturous, we prepared rafting on the Soca River. We will put on full neoprene gear and get ready for some exciting rafting with an experienced guide – a thrilling raft ride down the emerald Soča River on a specially designed raft is something you will not forget soon and yet so safe that everybody can drift on the transparent waves and discover the beauty of wild nature. After rafting join those who did not go rafting and travel to Kobarid. Lunch at a local restaurant. Kobarid is a small and amiable little town, which is situated at the historic crossroads of important routes. Perhaps the greatest event imprinted in the history of Kobarid took place during World War I, when during the 12th Soča Battle Austrian troops, supported by Germans, successfully broke through the front lines. The story recounting the town’s history and, in particular, events related to the Soča Front, are presented in the Kobarid Museum, nominated for

Action and fun Slovenian way tour26 September – 3 October 2011

DAY 7, 2 OCTOBER 2011HIKING AND GRAZING Breakfast in hotelToday we will travel to the highest Karst Plato in Slovenia, Velika Planina. We will take the cable car up to the beautiful mountain area where we will see mountain cottage where sheppards live during summer while grazing cows. We will visit the oldest mountain cottage, now a museum, the Chapel of Marija Snezna and the Veternica cave. Enjoy Sheppard’s lunch (sour milk and “zganci”). Before returning to Ljubljana stop at Kamnik, one of the loveliest and oldest towns in Slovenia. To the North, it is surrounded by the beautiful Kamnik Alps. Kamnik was a prosperous town of crafts and trades as well as a home to nu-merous famous noble families, including the counts of Andechs from Bavaria (Germany). The footprints of history remain visible today and Kamnik can boast of its many cultural and sacral monuments of national and international im-portance. Stroll along mysterious medieval cobbled streets; view all the main sights such as Mali grad and Franciscan monastery and the Church of St. Jacob. Enjoy the farewell dinner in one of Ljubljana modern, yet traditional restaurant. Evening free for the festival Noci v Stari Ljubljani. (B, L, D)

DAY 8, 3 OCTOBER 2011DEPART LJUBLJANABreakfast in hotelTransfer on your own to the Ljubljana airport. (B)

the Best European Museum in 1993. Visit the WWI museum. After the tour, the transfer to Slovenian Las Vegas – Nova Gorica. Enjoy evening at leisure or challenge luck in one of local Casinos. (B, L, O)

Day 04, 29 SEPTEMBER 2011TO THE SEASIDE AND THE CAPITALBreakfast in hotelA morning drive to Piran. The gem of the Slovenian coast is the medieval Piran, tucked in between the sea and the mighty town walls. Strong links with Venice in the past are still reflected in the town’s present appearance. The central square boasts of eminent historical palaces, the birth house of maestro Tartini, his monument and his name. We will walk up to the imposing Church of St. George with its Venetian-like bell tower to admire the view over the wonderful mosaic of roofs, streets and squares with the stunning backdrop of the bay. Board the boat and enjoy the views of Slovenian coast from the boat. Prepare for small entertaining event that will take place after lunch on the boat. Can you count in Slovenian? Do you know which dance is most popular among Slovenian youth? How many Slovenian poets you know? You will find out about everything before ending the day in Ljubljana. (B, L, O)

Note: in case of weather unsuitable for the boat trip, we will visit the ancient saltpans in Seča, which have been granted the status of a Natural Park. Harvesting the white gold from the sea has been an important source of income for local people for over 700 years. We will follow the footsteps of the salt pan workers, and visit the splendid museum house.

Day 05, 30 SEPTEMBER 2011FROM THE CAPITAL TO THE CAVEBreakfast in hotelThis morning enjoy the beauties of Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana. Enjoy the ride on the “Happy Johnny” bus. “Happy Johnny” will take you past the Ro-man wall, through Ljubljana’s diplomatic quarter, past the greatest Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik’s majestic Žale cemetery and the new Stožice stadium to Jože Plečnik’s famous St. Michael Church in the village of Črna Vas. From there continue past Ljubljana Castle, the suburb of Trnovo back to Ljubljana centre. Continue with the sightseeing tour on foot and visit the most significant sights of the old city centre: the picturesque Central open-air Market and the Three Bridges, both designed by famous architect Joze Plecnik, the baroque Town Hall and the Robba’s Fountain. To make the tour even more interesting, you will enjoy the boat ride on the Ljubljanica River, accompanies by the sounds of accordion. After lunch at local “gostilna” drive to nearby Postojna, home of one of the largest caves in Europe. It has taken millions of years for the clear waters of the River Pivka to create these 21 kms of underground labyrinth of passages, cav-erns and great halls, decorated with dripstones, translucent curtains and pillars of fascinating shapes and colors. After an unforgettable underground train ride to the heart of the cave system, experienced guides will accompany you on a walk through the subtly lit fairy-tale like underground world. You will glimpse a million years in one moment, admiring delicate spaghetti-like stalactites, massive pillars and other geological wonders. Return to Ljubljana. Ljubljana is a young and vibrant city, boasting not only of a beautiful old centre, but also a lively night scene. The coolest places, full of people, eager to have a laugh and dance, more classic clubs with alluring atmosphere, urban and gritty bars, or trendy lounges are all there for you to discover. Evening at leisure to enjoy Festival Noci v Stari Ljubljani (the Nights of Old Ljubljana). (B, L)

DAY 6, 1 OCTOBER 2011FROM THE BIGGEST TO THE SECOND AND THIRD BIGGEST CITIES This morning travel to Štajerska region and visit its most significant cities of Maribor and Ptuj. First stop today will be in the second biggest Slovenian city, nestled at the foothills of Pohorje. Spontaneous and relaxed, the attractive city of Maribor has a lot to offer. We visit the majestic Gothic Cathedral, the lively Main Square and discover the legends of the Franciscan Church. We will make our way over to the picturesque Town Square and visit the romantic Lent river bank to see the Old Vine House, with the oldest vine in the world. To make the visit complete, we enjoy a light meal and taste the wines in one of the renowned wine cellars. Continue on the Drava Plain, surrounded by thermal springs, flourishing fields and vineyards, where the oldest Slovenian town Ptuj lies. It was mentioned already as Roman Poetovio in 69 BC. Numerous ar-chaeological remains tell of those days, while its lovely present appearance originates from the Middle Ages, when Ptuj flourished for the second time. The medieval Castle dominates a panoramic hill above Ptuj. It houses exceptional collections, illustrating the traditions and history of the region. Enchanted by the heritage of the past, we continue down the pretty streets, admiring the Provost Church, the poignant Orpheus’ Pillar and the flamboyant Town Hall. Enjoy dinner with accordion music at local “Gostilna” before returning back to Ljubljana (B, WT, and D)

To find out all about these tours, breaks and packages, please contact your local agent:

Price:1,098.00 $ per person in DBL/TWIN room

1,267.00 $ per person in SGL room