Gather in the heart of the city to meet your Tour Manager and fellow solo travellers over a convivial aperitif before a relaxed dinner. Raise a welcome drink and enjoy the easy camaraderie that sets the tone for the days ahead, with conversation flowing as smoothly as the local wine.

Dine on seasonal Slovenian specialities and sample regional wines from renowned viticultural areas. This hosted evening focuses on connection and orientation, offering tips for exploring Ljubljana’s café-lined riverbanks and historic lanes while you savour the warm, small-city atmosphere.

Explore the coastal town of Piran, where Adriatic breezes meet Venetian grace. Wander the marble expanse of Tartini Square, framed by elegant palazzi, and trace narrow alleys to the 15th-century Venetian House with its lacy Gothic windows. Harbourside promenades and salty sea air set a distinctly Mediterranean scene.

Climb towards St George’s Cathedral for sweeping views of rooftops and the Gulf of Trieste, noting the campanile inspired by St Mark’s in Venice. Piran’s art, music and merchant history echo through its streets, revealing centuries of maritime trade and Italianate culture on Slovenia’s petite coastline.

Visit the birthplace of the famed Lipizzaner horses and witness a graceful presentation by the Classical Riding School. Watch elegant riders and stallions perform balletic movements that reflect centuries of training tradition linked to the Habsburg court and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.

Continue with a guided tour of the historic stud farm, strolling shaded avenues and white paddocks as you learn about bloodlines, training and the breed’s signature grey-to-white coat. This unique window into equine heritage reveals 16th-century origins, careful breeding practices and the enduring cultural pride of Lipica.

Visit Slovenia’s oldest town, Ptuj, poised beside the Drava River and crowned by a hilltop castle. Meander cobbled lanes between colorful facades, graceful squares and arcaded courtyards, where church spires and red-tiled roofs shape a timeless skyline.

Uncover traces of Roman Poetovio in street names and local lore, reflecting when Ptuj guarded trade routes across the Pannonian plain. From the castle-crowned hill to medieval merchant houses, the town’s compact center distills two millennia of history into a contemplative, walkable setting brimming with Central European character.

Join a guided walking tour of Slovenia’s second city, exploring the riverside Lent district to see the celebrated Old Vine in Lent—the world’s oldest fruitful vine. Continue to the Main Square to admire the Town Hall and the elegant Plague Column, and note the red-brick Franciscan church and monastery.

Conclude with a hosted tasting to sample regional wines from the fertile vineyards that encircle Maribor. Learn about local varieties and cellar traditions as the Drava River and handsome squares frame a city where viticulture, culture and daily life are closely intertwined.

Cruise the emerald waters of Lake Bled aboard a traditional Pletna boat, its striped awning gliding you quietly towards Bled Island. Forested slopes, cliff-top Bled Castle and distant Julian Alps frame a scene of near-storybook beauty as oars gently dip in rhythm.

Disembark to explore at leisure and admire the Church of the Assumption and its famed “wishing bell” (entry optional). Walk shaded paths for full-circle lake views and absorb the hush of this Alpine basin, where mirrored reflections and soft breezes set an unhurried, contemplative mood.

Explore the vast karst underworld of Postojna on an underground train journey past shimmering curtains of stalactites and stalagmites. The cool, cathedral-like chambers reveal a landscape carved by the Pivka River, home to Europe’s first underground railway in 1872.

Continue on foot for approximately 1.5km along well-lit paths to appreciate delicate limestone “pillars” at a comfortable pace. Expect around 10°C inside; sturdy shoes and a light jacket are recommended. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, available on select 2026 departures.

Discover Slovenia’s capital on a guided stroll through the riverside Old Town. Join a guided walking tour across Jože Plecnik’s Triple Bridge into lively Prešeren Square, admire pastel facades and the Central Market arcades, and pause at the iconic Dragon Bridge where stone dragons watch over the Ljubljanica River.

Later, step inside St Nicholas’ Cathedral to see baroque frescoes, gilded chapels and bronze doors depicting the city’s saints. Learn how the Town Hall and the replica Robba Fountain embody Ljubljana’s blend of Venetian-Gothic elegance and Central European character, from medieval trade crossroads to today’s celebrated green city.