Guided tours
* Minimum number of participants for all excursions is 5!
Maximum 7 persons per van.
Idrija
Idrija is a heritage of Mercury mining and bobbin lace making.
According to legend, a bucket maker working in a local spring spotted a small amount of liquid mercury over 500 years ago. That was the beginning of big change for this remote narrow valley area. The mine of Idrija became through time the world's second largest, after Almaden, Spain and produced in that 500 year more than 107,000 tons, or 13 percent of the world production of mercury. For that Idrija was for centuries a center of technological innovation, attracting many famous people from Austria and other countries, and an important part of the scientific endeavor in Slovenia throughout its history.
The mine has been closed down in the last few years due to low mercury prices and ore exhaustion. Idrija's industry managed to shift rather painlessly to being one of the largest world producers of small electric motors and their components, and to furniture-making. But you can still sense the presence of the mine walking through the town and while being in town we will visit one of the shafts in which miners were spending their days. We will discover more about their lives and about the importance of Mercury and the way it was mined and processed.
Also the museum in the Castle Gewerkeneg is partly dedicated to the mining of mercury, but there you find also more about the daily life of miners outside the mines and discover an other widely recognized local tradition - lace making. The craft was brought there a couple of hundred years ago by Czech or German families working in the mine or its headquarters. Basically, it was an appropriate activity in a culture not dependent on agriculture for survival. The Idrija lace is now registered as a trademark, and care is being taken to preserve the craft itself. The Idrija lace proper was established in 1870's and was made with 7 pairs of bobbins.
But you have not been to Idrija if you have not tried the local specialty, the Žlikrofi. It is a kind of pasta with a potato filling and a characteristic shape. In its wish to preserve the traditional making procedure and recipe, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia officially protected the traditional making of Idrija Žlikrofi in 2002.
The time table:
8:45 departure from Bled
8:45 – 10:30 drive to Idrija via Ljubljana – Logatec – Kalce. App. 107 km or 1h 45min.
10:30 – 11:00 Arrival to Idrija, toilet stop and walk through the old town to the Castel Gewerkeneg
11:00 – 12:00 Visit of the Castle museum
12:00 – 13:30 Traditional lunch
13:30 – 14:00 Free time
14:00 – 16:00 Visit of Anthony’s shaft and multivision
16:15 Departure for Bled, arrival around 18:00
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- short guided visit of Škofja Loka
- guided visit of the regional museum in Gewerkeneg Castle
- traditional lunch
- Anthony’s shaft, multivision presentation and guided visit of the shaft
Idrija via Škofja Loka
(extra visit of one of the oldest Slovenian towns on account of free time in Idrija, more of old and curvy roads, but beautiful scenery – price does NOT change)
After breakfast departure to Škofja Loka, a thousand-year-old city at the confluence of the Poljanska Sora and Selška Sora rivers. For 830 years Loka was the center of the dominion owned for by the Bishops of Freising, who placed an indelible stamp on the city.The old city core boasts numerous points of interest from the past, and the Loka Castle, built before 1202, reigns above the city. Škofja Loka is considered the most beautifully preserved medieval city in Slovenia.
Its rich cultural heritage intertwines with unspoiled nature, earning the city the name “Gallery in Nature,” while the picturesque and colorful house facades fostered yet another: “Motley Loka.”
But the main town of our interest is Idrija, still an hour drive away through narrow valleys and some hill tops with a beautiful scenery. A real discovery of Slovenian byways.
Idrija is a heritage of Mercury mining and bobbin lace making.
According to legend, a bucket maker working in a local spring spotted a small amount of liquid mercury over 500 years ago. That was the beginning of big change for this remote narrow valley area. The mine of Idrija became through time the world's second largest, after Almaden, Spain and produced in that 500 year more than 107,000 tons, or 13 percent of the world production of mercury. For that Idrija was for centuries a center of technological innovation, attracting many famous people from Austria and other countries, and an important part of the scientific endeavor in Slovenia throughout its history.
The mine has been closed down in the last few years due to low mercury prices and ore exhaustion. Idrija's industry managed to shift rather painlessly to being one of the largest world producers of small electric motors and their components, and to furniture-making. But you can still sense the presence of the mine walking through the town and while being in town we will visit one of the shafts in which miners were spending their days. We will discover more about their lives and about the importance of Mercury and the way it was mined and processed.
Also the museum in the Castle Gewerkeneg is partly dedicated to the mining of mercury, but there you find also more about the daily life of miners outside the mines and discover an other widely recognized local tradition - lace making. The craft was brought there a couple of hundred years ago by Czech or German families working in the mine or its headquarters. Basically, it was an appropriate activity in a culture not dependent on agriculture for survival. The Idrija lace is now registered as a trademark, and care is being taken to preserve the craft itself. The Idrija lace proper was established in 1870's and was made with 7 pairs of bobbins.
But you have not been to Idrija if you have not tried the local specialty, the Žlikrofi. It is a kind of pasta with a potato filling and a characteristic shape. In its wish to preserve the traditional making procedure and recipe, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia officially protected the traditional making of Idrija Žlikrofi in 2002.
Time table:
8:45 departure from Bled
8:45 – 9:30 drive to Škofja Loka. App. 43 km or 45 min
9:30 – 10:30 Short visit of Škofja Loka and some free time
10:30–11:45 Drive to Idrija via Cerkno (58 km, small roads, cca. 1h15min)
11:45 – 12:15Arrival to Idrija, toilet stop and walk through the old town to the Castel Gewerkeneg
12:15 – 13:15 Visit of the Castle museum
13:30 – 14:30 Traditional lunch
14:45 – 16:30 Visit of Anthony’s shaft and multivision
16:45 Departure for Bled via Kalce and Ljubljana , arrival around 18:30
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- short guided visit of Škofja Loka
- guided visit of the regional museum in Gewerkeneg Castle
- traditional lunch
- Anthony’s shaft, multivision presentation and guided visit of the shaft
Slovenian coast & Lipica
(only possible on Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays)
Slovenia has a short but diverse and interesting coast line. More importantly it is a close escape to a Mediterranean climate for many Slovenians. From Bled it is a two hours pleasant highway drive to the most picturesque town on the Slovenian coast, the town of Piran.
The town is actually one large museum with the medieval architecture and rich culture heritage. Narrow streets and tight houses are a special charm of the town. Piran is an administrative centre of the local area and also important Slovenian tourist centre. The most remarkable building of Piran is the parish church of St. George rising above the main, Tartini square. The church was built approximately in the 12th century, present figure is from 1637. The tower bell of the church was built in 1608 and is a smaller copy of the famous tower bell of St. Marcus in Venice. Venice was ruling this area for many centuries and its presents is still seen in the architecture of many buildings. Piran was at the time of the blossom of the Venician Republic its main producer of salt and salt was in those days considered as white gold.
We will have a guided tour through the city and have a sea food lunch in one of many nice restaurants next to the sea.
On the way back to Bled we will stop in Lipica, a cultural monument of European and worldwide reputation. It is located in Slovenia's karst region, an unusual stony land covered with low bushes, small pine forests, and vineyards. Close to the Slovene-Italian border in a lush green oasis with avenues lined with trees between one hundred and one hundred and sixty years old, the Lipica stud, cradle of the Lipizzaner, has been developing for more than four hundred years. In 1580, the Austrian Archduke Karl II established the stud, and it was the property of the Austrian court until 1918. Its history abounds with stories of emperors and rulers admiring the white stallions and, on the other hand, stories of difficult and dangerous times when the stud had to flee from the maelstroms of war. During wars, it was necessary to seek sanctuary for the herd in other countries, but always, more or less reduced, it returned to Lipica, tenaciously resisted decline, and revived.
Today, Lipica is a tourist and recreation center that is not just interesting for its stud and the white beauties Valvasor described in 1689. It can now boast of its varied offer; in particular, the performances of its classic riding school which we will attend before going for a guided tour through the estate.
From Lipica back to Bled there is and hour and a half drive.
The time table:
8:30 departure from Bled
8:30 - 10:30 drive to Piran (highway most of the way, app. 170 km, possible stop on highway if needed)
10:00 – 12:00 guided visit of Piran
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch in a restaurant next to the sea
13:30 – 14:30 drive to Lipica stud farm
15:00 – 16:30 presentation of the classical riding school and guided visit of stables
16:45 – 18:20 Drive back to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- guided visit of Piran
- sea food lunch
- entrance ticket to Lipica stud farm with presentation of the riding school and guided visit
Lipica & Slovenian coast
(without presentation of the classical riding school, but more time on Slovenian coast, possible to do any day of the week except Mondays)
From Bled we will have an hour and a half drive south west to our first spot of interest, the Lipica stud farm.
Lipica, a cultural monument of European and worldwide reputation is located in Slovenia's karst region, an unusual stony land covered with low bushes, small pine forests, and vineyards. Close to the Slovene-Italian border in a lush green oasis with avenues lined with trees between one hundred and one hundred and sixty years old, the Lipica stud, cradle of the Lipizzaner, has been developing for more than four hundred years. In 1580, the Austrian Archduke Karl II established the stud, and it was the property of the Austrian court until 1918. Its history abounds with stories of emperors and rulers admiring the white stallions and, on the other hand, stories of difficult and dangerous times when the stud had to flee from the maelstroms of war. During wars, it was necessary to seek sanctuary for the herd in other countries, but always, more or less reduced, it returned to Lipica, tenaciously resisted decline, and revived.
Today, Lipica is a tourist and recreation center that is not just interesting for its stud and the white beauties Valvasor described in 1689. It can now boast of its varied offer. We will have the opportunity to attend at a training of the horses for the performances of the classical riding school before going on a guided tour through the stables.
From Lipica the coast line is just 30 minutes away. The first town arriving to Slovenian coast is an important port town called Koper. But we will pas the whole, short Sloevnian coast line to get to the oldest and picturese town of Piran.
The town is actually one large museum with the medieval architecture and rich culture heritage. Narrow streets and tight houses are a special charm of the town. Piran is an administrative centre of the local area and also important Slovenian tourist centre. The most remarkable building of Piran is the parish church of St. George rising above the main, Tartini square. The church was built approximately in the 12th century, present figure is from 1637. The tower bell of the church was built in 1608 and is a smaller copy of the famous tower bell of St. Marcus in Venice. Venice was ruling this area for many centuries and its presents is still seen in the architecture of many buildings. Piran was at the time of the blossom of the Venician Republic its main producer of salt and salt was in those days considered as white gold.
Most of the town is closed for traffic so we will have a walk to our restaurant located on Piran’s Riviera. After a good sea food lunch we will go for a guided city tour and take some free time before our return to Bled (app. two hours drive).
The time table:
8:30 departure from Bled
8:30 – 10:00 drive to Lipica (highway most of the way, app. 134 km or 1h 30 min)
10:00 – 10:45 follow the training of the classical riding school or take time for a quiet walk through the stables or for some souvenir shopping
11:00 – 11:45 guided visit of the stables
11:45 – 12:30 drive to Piran
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch in a restaurant next to the sea
13:30 – 15:00 guided city tour
15:00 – 16:00 Free time
16:00 – 18:00 drive back to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- guided visit of Piran
- sea food lunch
- entrance ticket to Lipica stud farm with guided visit
Vršič pass in the Julian Alps & Kobarid museum
(UNESCO prize winner in 1993)
A day to enjoy the majestic alpine scenery of Triglav National Park by taking a winding alpine road across Vrsic Pass (5,252 ft) for stunning views of the Julian Alps and their valleys. At the pass we will also experience a part of Slovenian way of life by stoping for a short walk and a taste of traditional alpine herb tea in a mountain hut.
Before that we pass Kranjska gora, a famous winter resort under the ski slopes where World Cup races are held and after the pass we descend in the picturesque Soča Valley named after its emerald colored river.
The Soča Valley is where fresh Alpine winds meet warm Mediterranean influences. We will drive next to the river for quite a while. On the way we will stop for lunch. The river trout is the most popular dish in that area.
After lunch drive to Kobarid, a town known as a center of WWI battles between the Austrian empire and Italy. All the battles are well described in the town museum which in the year 1993 received a prize from UNESCO for its humanistic representation. The exposition shows the hard life of soldiers and their back up in this mountain environment no matter of the soldiers nationality. There is also a very good explanation on the new strategy introduced by Austrians that made them win that battle front after three years of fights with no result.
On the way back to Bled we will take an other mountain pass, called Predil. On the way we will make a short photo stop at the Kluže fortress, which defended the area from many invaders through history. The stop will also permit us to see a deep gorge of the Koritnica river which is connected to an other interesting story from the times on invasions of Napoleon.
Passing the Predil pass we will enter into Italy. It calls for a stop at the Predil lakes to stretch our legs and take a breath of fresh air. From Predil lakes there is one hour to get back to the hotel.
Time table:
8:30 departure from Bled
8:30 – 9:30 drive to Kranjska gora, a photo stop at the Jasna lakes with a beautiful view of the Julian Alps
9:30 – 10:00 drive up the mountain pass Vršič
10:00 – 10:45 stop on the top of the mountain pass for a scenic view and an alpine herb tea in the mountain hut
10:45 – 12:00 drive down the pass to the Trenta valley, stops on the way to Bovec to admire the canyons of the emerald colour Soča river
12:00 – 13:00 lunch in Bovec
13:00 – 14:00 drive to Kobarid
14:00 – 15:15 visit of the Kobarid WWI museum
15:15 – 16:15 drive in the direction back to Bled, but through an other mountain pass, stop at Kluže
16:15 – 16:40 Kluže fortress photo stop
16:40 – 17:30 Photo stop at Predil lakes in Italy after passing the Predil mountain pass and the border with Italy
17:30 – 18:30 Drive to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- a cup of fresh alpine herh tea
- lunch
- entrance ticket to Kobarid WWI museum
Vršič pass in the Julian Alps & Triglav national park museum
(more nature orientated, more time)
A day to enjoy the majestic alpine scenery of Triglav National Park by taking a winding alpine road across Vrsic Pass (5,252 ft) for stunning views of the Julian Alps and their valleys. At the pass we will also experience a part of Slovenian way of life by stoping for a short walk and a taste of traditional alpine herb tea in a mountain hut.
Before that we pass Kranjska gora, a famous winter resort under the ski slopes where World Cup races are held and after the pass we descend in the picturesque Soča Valley named after its emerald colored river.
The Soča Valley is where fresh Alpine winds meet warm Mediterranean influences. All about the Soca valley, Kranjska gora and the Julian Alps in general in nicely represented in the Triglav National Park museum. We will take time for a guided visit and relax at the multivision of the mountains and a video installation of the Soča river.
I’m sure the fresh air and all the visits will open our appetites. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. The river trout is the most popular dish in that area.
On the way back to Bled we will take an other mountain pass, called Predil. On the way we will make a short photo stop at the Kluže fortress, which defended the area from many invaders through history. The stop will also permit us to see a deep gorge of the Koritnica river which is connected to an other interesting story from the times on invasions of Napoleon.
Passing the Predil pass we will enter into Italy. It calls for a stop at the Predil lakes to stretch our legs and take a breath of fresh air. From Predil lakes there is one hour to get back to the hotel.
Time table:
8:30 departure from Bled
8:30 – 9:30 drive to Kranjska gora, a photo stop at the Jasna lakes with a beautiful view of the Julian Alps
9:30 – 10:00 drive up the mountain pass Vršič
10:00 – 10:45 stop on the top of the mountain pass for a scenic view and an alpine herb tea in the mountain hut
10:45 – 11:15 drive down the pass to the Trenta valley
11:15 – 12:30 visit of the Triglav National Park museum
12:30 – 13:30 stops on the way to Bovec to admire the canyons of the emerald colour Soča river
13:30 – 15:00 lunch in a local restaurant in Bovec
15:00 – 15:15 drive in the direction back to Bled, but through an other mountain pass, stop at Kluže
15:15 – 15:40 Kluže fortress photo stop
15:40 – 16:30 drive up the mountain pass Predil, crossing the border to Italy
16:30 – 17:00 Photo stop at Predil lakes in Italy
17:00 – 18:00 Drive to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- a cup of fresh alpine herh tea
- lunch
- entrance ticket to the Triglav National Park museum in Trenta
Ljubljana
(proposed days are Fridays and Saturdays)
With about 276,000 inhabitants, Ljubljana is considered a city which suits everyone from its inhabitants to its numerous visitors as well. Despite the fact that it ranks among the middle sized European cities, it maintains the friendliness of a small town, and at the same time possesses all the characteristics of a metropolis.
Here, at the meeting point of the cultures of the east and the west, the old interlaces in harmony with the new. In Ljubljana the remainders of all the five milleniums of its history are preserved, among these is the legacy of the Roman town of Emona and the Old Town with its medieval castle, Reneissance and Baroque facades, ornamented portals and uneven roofs. The mosaic is complemented with the bridges over the Ljubljanica River and the vast Tivoli Park which stretches into the very centre of the city.
Coming to Ljubljana (an hour drive from Bled) we will make a city tour and discover its most important sites and monuments (Prešeren square, the Triple bridge, the Cobbler bridge, Plečnik’s National and University Library, Old square, Municipality saquare, the Cathedral, the Market place ect.).
The city tour will end at a local restaurant for a discovery of local dishes. After lunch you will have time to enjoy the lively vibe of the city on your own, to mingle with the locals, and get some souvenirs in many shops or on the market place which is considered as the heart of the city.
Before departure back to Bled we will take a funicular up the Castle hill to visit the Ljubljana Castle. The castle is actually a 15th century fortress which from the interior is still unfinished. From the castle tower you have a spectacular view of the city and the surroundings and you can also visit a virtual museum which nicely explains the history of the city.
Time table:
9:00 departure from Bled (59 km to Ljubljana, app. an hour drive, mostly on highway)
10:00 – 12:00 Guided city tour of Ljubljana
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch in a local restaurant in the old city center
13:00 – 14:30 time for exploring the market place, shopping for souvenirs and enjoy the river bank cafes
14:30 – 16:00 visit to the Ljubljana castle
16:00 – 17:00 Drive to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- guided city tour of Ljubljana
- lunch in a local restaurant
- ticket for funicular, virtual museum and castle tower
Truffle hunt
A day for a walk in the forest with “Tartufajo”, the Truffle hunter with his trained sniffing dogs. Dogs are preferred to pigs because pigs love to eat truffles. After the hunt enjoy lunch with Truffles at the country farm. Truffles are added to dishes in small quantities, as they have a very strong aroma. Truffles are known as "the diamond of the kitchen" and are held in high esteem in French, northern Italian and Istrian cooking, as well as in international haute cuisine.
Time table:
9:00 departure from Bled
10:30 – 11:00 arrival to farm and welcome snack
11:00 – 11:20 drive to a truffle hunt area
11:20 – 13:00 demonstration of truffle hunt with dogs
13:20 – 15:20 gourmet truffle lunch
15:30 – 17:00 drive back to Bled
The excursion price includes:
- professional English speaking guide and driver
- transportation with air conditioned mini van
- welcome snack at arrival to the farm
- demonstration of truffle hunt by truffle specialist and his dogs
- three course gourmet lunch with truffles at every dish accompanied by suitable wine
Guided tours 
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