Nicola Forsyth describes this 7-night, self-guided, train tour taking in some of the best sights of Slovenia from rugged mountain backdrops to blissful Lake Bled and lively Ljubljana.
In a nutshell:
Travel by train to take in the best of Slovenia’s diverse scenery. The trip begins in the Julian Alps in the Triglav National Park, Lake Bled, wine tasting in Goriška Brda – Slovenia's 'secret Tuscany', the bustling capital city of Ljubljana and Piran on the Adriatic coast.
Nights: 7
Price: £1,045 per person, including all train travel in Slovenia but not including train travel from the UK to/from Slovenia
What's included: 7 nights at 3 select hotels (two 4-star hotels; one boutique hotel); flexible rail pass including travel Bohinjska Bistrica-Ljubljana-Koper; 7 breakfasts; 1 lunch; detailed notes for self-guided city walking tours in Ljubljana & Piran; wine-tasting excursion; transfer Koper-Piran on day 5.
Departures: May, June, July, August, September, October.
Nearest station to start of trip: Bohinjska Bistrica
Nearest station to end of trip: Koper
How to travel by train to Bohinjska Bistrica: It is possible to travel from London to Slovenia without flying. Take the Eurostar to Paris then change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est for the connecting train to Munich where you stay overnight and then take the morning train to Bohinjska Bistrica, Slovenia where you'll arrive early afternoon. The total journey time from London to Bohinjska Bistrica is about 36 hours. The transfer in Paris is very easy - just a short 10-minute walk to Gare de L'Est (see our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris). For more details on the train journey from London to Munich, including some suggestions for where to stay near the train stations if you want to break up the journey and spend more time in Paris or Munich, see our flight-free journey planner: Train from London to Munich.
Optional extra: Extend to a 10 night trip with the addition of Logar Valley (from £1575pp); Add an extra two night trip to Trieste City (from £188pp) or add an extra two night trip to Venice (from £116pp).
What's the trip like:
Start your journey marvelling at the stunning scenery at Lake Bled, which is just a 10 minute train or 30 minute bus journey away from your starting point of Bohinjska. Take the time to stroll the shoreline, which looks out to a church on an islet in the middle of the lake, take a pletna boat ride on the lake or admire the medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff. If you have time, take the 15 minute local bus ride to less visited Bohinj, Slovenia's largest natural lake at the foot of the Julian Alps.
On Day 2 you will board the local train for one hour to reach Goriška Brda – situated between the Soča valley and the Italian border. Lovingly referred to as Slovenia's Tuscany, it’s set against a backdrop of olive groves, rolling hills, vineyards and cherry orchards. Stop for lunch and wine-tasting in the restaurant of a boutique hotel (included in the trip) before exploring the village of Šmartno. Views from the top of the Gonjače tower take in the Julian Alps and the Gulf of Trieste - and are worth climbing the 144 steps.
On Day 3 watch the landscape change as you take a 3 hour train ride via Jesenice to Slovenia’s buzzing capital of Ljubljana, where you will stay for two nights. Spend Day 4 taking in everything the city has to offer - including the bustling bars and restaurants in the banks of the River Ljubljanica, the Central Market with its fresh produce and artisan delicacies and the city’s bridges, which narrate its history through their names and their art.
On Day 5 take a train and taxi journey (2.5hrs) out of the city through scenic Slovenian Istria to the coastal resort of Piran, where you will spend two nights at 4-star Hotel Piran. On your final day (Day 6) explore the charming resort city, taking in the Venetian façades of its central square, lighthouse and glistening marina. Be sure to end your trip with a sundowner, enjoying Piran’s spectacular sunsets.
How to enquire/book this holiday:
This holiday is provided by Inntravel, one of the founding tour operator members of Green Traveller. One of the great things about this holiday is its flexibility: you have a choice of start/end dates and you can add additional nights on to the itinerary. If you'd like to know more about this holiday, please see more details on the relevant page given below and if you'd like to book it, do contact them directly or complete their booking form and a member of their team will be in touch with you:
Bon Voyage!