Adriatic to Alps Photography Tours

Slovenia in Summer – July 2011

Summer is a prime time to visit Slovenia; the weather is stable and nature is in abundance. Green is the dominant colour in summer – forests are green, meadows and rivers too. It is the perfect time for hiking or a vacation by the sea. Alpine flowers are thriving and the last remnants of snow are melting. It seems that everybody is outdoors l– hikers, cyclists, water-sports enthusiasts, and even photographers! Although there are a lot of visitors to Slovenia in summer, it is still easy to find desolate areas to fully enjoy nature. Summer festivals take place all over the country, but nothing exceeds the lively Ljubljana outside concerts and performances which take place all summer long. Summer is also a time when farmers are harvesting their crops, and fresh fruit and vegetables are abundant to se, especially in Ljubljana’s beautiful open-air marketplace! Summer in Slovenia is pure magic!

adriatic2alps_slo_le_076 DAY 1: Arrival to Bled
DAY 2-3: Glacier Lakes of Bled and Bohinj and Surroundings
DAY 4-5: Soca River Valley and Triglav National Park
DAY 6-7: Piran and the Coast
DAY 8-9: Notranjska Region with Krizna Cave and Rakov Skocjan Nature Park
DAY 10-12: Ljubljana, Velika Planina
DAY 13: Departure from Ljubljana

Itinerary and details:

adriatic2alps_slo_le_058 DAY 1: Arrival to Bled
Arrival to the airport of Ljubljana and transfer to Bled.
Orientation and tour details. We can already start photographing lake Bled with its beautiful setting. At our welcome dinner we can further discuss itinerary and get to know each other.
Overnight: Family owned pension at the heart of Bled, D

DAY 2-3: 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 can 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 4-5: Soca River Valley and Triglav National Park
Our way will take us to the highest mountain pass in Julian Alps, Vršič; its pinnacle affords beautiful views of the highest Slovenian mountains, and as we descend to the south we will meet the emerald waters of the Soča River. River in winter (Luka Esenko) 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 6-7: Piran and the Coast
We will head south leaving the Julian Alps behind. Our destination is Piran, the Venetian jewel on the Slovenian coast. On the way we will stop for photo opportunities and lunch. We will have another two days to explore the area. Piran will keep us busy for a day, and we will also visit the old Sečovlje saltpans and tour some traditional villages high in the coastal hillsides. Since we will be at the sea, we will also afford abundant time for swimming, sunbathing, and dining where seafood lovers can enjoy the daily catch and we can all enjoy the celebrated wine of this Mediterranean region.
Overnight: Piran, centrally located hotel, BD

adriatic2alps_slo_le_057 DAY 8-9: Notranjska Region with Krizna Cave and Rakov Skocjan Nature Park
We will spend two days exploring the mysterious region of Karst, where will visit the vanishing lake in Cerknica. The lake might be full of water or it might be completely dry, but in any case it is a marvelous place to photograph! 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.At Predjama Castle, they have a colourful medieval festival dedicated to the notorious knight Erazem, and a visit there will take us “back in time” to the 16th century with archers, mounted knights, sword duels, wizards, musicians, medieval cuisine, and – of course – the castle itself.
Overnight: Hotel in the regional park Rakov Skocjan, BD

Folk Dancers in Ljubljana DAY 10-12: Ljubljana, Velika Planina
From Karst, we will drive 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. Further in our journey, we will visit Velika Planina, a traditional pasture high in the Kamnik Alps. Here we will take in fresh air, breathtaking views, traditional herding customs, and simple but tasty food. After an unforgettable day of photographing, you might want to have a local beer on the Ljubljanica promenade.
Overnight: Hotel in the Ljubljana city centre, BD

DAY 13: Departure from Ljubljana
After the breakfast check out from the hotel. Transfer to the airport of Ljubljana. End of Tour.

ACCOMMODATION:
We will use 3 and 4-star hotels at Ljubljana and Piran. At Bled, Soca river valley and Karst region we will stay at family-owned guest houses and tourist-farms. All places are carefully chosen for its location, convenience and quality 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 (12 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, Boat ride Bled lake, Velika Planina cable car and entrance fees (Bled Castle, Vintgar Gorge, Church in Piran, Secovlje Salt Pans, 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 225€.

Adriatic to Alps Photography Tours