Colours are the main draw for photographers in autumn, and in Slovenia’s Julian Alps colour abounds; the needles on the Larch trees turn a glorious yellow and fall into the contrasting emerald green waters of the alpine rivers. In the Karst area, the hills are marked by the deep red colour of the smoke tree leaves and a season of grape harvesting has begun. Orchards everywhere are plentiful with fruits like apples, pears and plums beckoning to be plucked off and eaten on the spot. Autumn in Slovenia is a lovely time for a visiting photographer; tourist traffic slows, the days are becoming shorter, and the natural light is more gentle.

DAY 1: Arrival to Ljubljana
DAY 2-3: Ljubljana, Krizna Cave and Rakov Skocjan
DAY 4-5: Karst Wine Region
DAY 6-7: Soca River Valley and Triglav National Park
DAY 8-9: Glacier Lakes of Bled and Bohinj and Surroundings
DAY 10-11: Ptuj and Stajerska Wine Region
DAY 12: Departure from Slovenia

Itinerary and details:

DAY 1: Arrival to Ljubljana
Arrival to the airport of Ljubljana and transfer to hotel.
Orientation and tour details. The hotel is located in the city centre in a walking distance to all sights of Ljubljana. At our welcome dinner we can further discuss itinerary and get to know each other.
Overnight: Hotel in the Ljubljana city centre, D

DAY 2-3: Ljubljana, Krizna cave and Rakov Skocjan
We will go to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. In three days we will cover all the city’s highlights: the Baroque churches, the lively outdoor marketplace, the Ljubljana Castle, romantic Ljubljanica river, and the masterpieces of renowned Slovenian architect Joze Plečnik. Ljubljana is a charming city where everything is within walking distance. The city offers an array of cuisine, you can dine at traditional “gostilna” (guest house), eat at a fine French restaurant, or enjoy delicious Italian fare. Travelling onwards, we will explore the Rakov Škocjan Regional Park, where rivers “disappear” and reappear. The highlight of the day (maybe of the whole trip!) will be the experience of exploring Krizna Cave, and we will take a boat ride along the green-hued crystal-clear waters of its famed underground river. After a long day of photographing, you might enjoy having a local beer on the Ljubljanica promenade.
Overnight: Hotel in the Ljubljana city centre, BD

DAY 4-5: Karst Wine region
Our guest farm accomodation is located in the heart of the wine-producing region of Karst. Vineyards abound here, and we will explore some of the traditional stone structures in the surrounding village vineyards. Wine tasting is, of course, a must and here wine is served with delicious local air-dried prosciutto. While here, we will also visit the Lipica Stables, home of the world-renowned Lipizzaner horses, as well as the fascinating Škocjan caves, which boast the world’s largest underground canyon.
Overnight: Family run farmhouse at Karst area, BD

DAY 6-7: Soca River Valley and Triglav National Park
Our way will take us to the north where we will meet the emerald waters of the Soča River. The river and its valley will be our base for the next two days as we explore all the hidden corners of the area which offers numerous gorges, waterfalls, WWI remnants, and much more. The keen wildlife photographers can try their luck with Alpine Ibex, this wild mountain goat is the king of the Julian Alps. From here, we will take a trip to the highest Slovenian road to the Mangrt Saddle which is over 2000m high.
Overnight: Family run hotel at Bovec area, BD

DAY 8-9: Glacier Lakes of Bled and Bohinj and Surroundings
We will have two full days to explore the beautiful Gorenjska region. The journey will begin in Bled, which is one of the most stunning places in Slovenia with its lake and the church on the island in the middle. We will visit the island by traditional “Pletna” boat. Bled Castle on the cliff above offers superb views on the lake, and there will be plenty of opportunities to capture landscape photos from this vantage. The nearby Lake Bohinj is also a glacier-made body like Bled, but as it is located in the heart of Julian Alps it provides a very different setting. After a brief stop to try some canoeing on the lake, we will head to the picturesque Savica waterfall. From there, we will pass through many picturesque small traditional-style villages on our way to the stunning Vintgar Gorge. Finally, after a long day of photographing we will grab some of Bled’s famous “kremšnita” cream cake, and renew our energy levels.
Overnight: Family owned pension at the heart of Bled, BD

DAY 10-11: Ptuj and Stajerska Wine region
From here, we will travel northeast, leaving the Alps behind. Our destination is Ptuj, a city with fascinating history dating back to Roman times. Its rich historical old-town will charm you, and we will visit the oldest wine cellar in the country. The wine region here is called Gorice and we will have the opportunity to sample top-level white wines and try some of the best food in the country. This hilly area is marked with wineyards that turn bright yellow in autumn and the tender sound of bird-scaring rattles fills the sky.
Overnight: Family run farmhouse at Stajerska wine region, BD

DAY 12: Departure from Slovenia
After the breakfast, transfer to the airport of Ljubljana. End of Tour.

ACCOMMODATION:
We will use 3-star hotel in Ljubljana city centre. At Bled, Soca river valley, Stajerska region and Karst region we will stay at family-owned guest houses and farmhouses. All places are carefully chosen for its location, convenience and qualty of service. The pricing is based on sharing a twin room, single rooms available at additional charges. For further information on accommodation please contact us.

PRICING DETAILS:
The Tour includes: Accommodation with HB (11 nights) twin rooms sharing (singles available upon request), Airport transfers and all transportation during the tour, expert photographer guidance (if group is larger than six, two photographers will accompany you), Krizna cave exploration with expert caver, Wine tasting at Karst region and at Stajerska region, Boat ride on lake Bled and most entrance fees (Bled Castle, Vintgar Gorge,  Lipica stud farm, Ljubljana Castle).

The tour excludes: Airfares, Airport transfers other than Ljubljana Airport (can be arranged), meals not mentioned in itinerary, drinks, tips, optionals. Single room supplement is 185€.