Slovenia's Walk of Remembrance

Arrive into Ljubljana and head to your excellently located 3/4* hotel to freshen up and relax (we are staying here for 2 nights). It is a short taxi journey (cost €40) from the airport to your hotel so we have chosen to avoid a group transfer that would limit options on flight choices and arrival times. Settle into the hotel and take time to relax or explore the area around your hotel independently. You will formally meet the rest of your group and your English speaking Slovenian guide tomorrow morning, so you have the freedom to eat where you wish this evening, but we can make recommendations should you need some ideas. Accommodation: Hotel Park or similar

After breakfast this morning we enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Ljubljana with time to explore the main sites situated along the Ljubljanica River which divides the city's old town from the modern commercial hub. Our tour includes the scenic Tivoli Park and the short climb up to Ljubljana castle which is a great viewpoint. We pause for lunch in a central restaurant and absorb the relaxed vibe of this small capital city. Accommodation: Hotel Park or similar

After breakfast you will meet your driver guide and depart to Bohinj lake, the largest glacial lake in Slovenia. The area is part of the Triglav National Park, famous for crystal waters, remnants of virgin forests and rich flora and fauna. Walk to Mostnica Gorge where you will observe stunning waterfalls and pools, watching the power of the water will leave you in awe. Then travel to Bled, the most famous winter Resort of Slovenia. Bled must be one of the most iconic and photographed lakes in the country, easily recognisable thanks to Bled island with its Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria, steep staircase and bell tower. We find our mountain legs in a gentle walk up to Ojstrica above Bled (2hr round trip with 300m ascent), for wondrous views of the glacial lake and town behind us before returning to Bled to enjoy a boat ride and visit to Bled island. Also not to be missed is a visit to the 11th century Bled castle, precariously perched atop a cliff overlooking the lake, and where we will have lunch. Tonight we stay tonight in Bled.Accommodation: Hotel Park or similar

This morning we leave the city and head into the stunning Julian Alps for your first day of walking, so have your walking pack ready with fresh water and some snacks to hand. We warm up our legs with a wonderful 5km walk (300m ascent, 2hrs) from Vrsic to Slemenova Spica, which offers wonderful views to nearby Jalovec, as well as Ajdovska Deklica, a rock formation in the form of a woman's face, to be found on the Vrsic Pass. After lunch, we transfer to the Mlinarica valley, through which the famous Soca River flows. Its waters are vividly turquoise in many areas, thanks to limestone in the water. We follow a path along the river for 3kms (300m ascent, 1hr). Our destination this evening is Hotel Boka, a family run hotel near Srpenica, a small village on the outskirts of Bovec. Named after Slovenia’s highest waterfall, waterfall Boka, it is close to Slovenia's mightiest mountain, mount Triglav, and the most beautiful river, the river Soča. This will be our base for three nights.Bovec is a fascinating bustling town, a magnet for both outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs from around the world. If you have time over the next few days we recommend trying to visit some of its museums and the military cemetery to the east of the town with the graves, many unmarked, of over 600 soldiers who died during WWI. The trenches, connection tunnels, pillboxes and machine-gun emplacements in the Ravelnik Outdoor Museum remind visitors of the tragic past More war remnants can be found at the Čelo Outdoor Museum, where a 200-meter-long trench connected two gun positions with a kitchen, an observation post, two dormitories for 40 men, and a shelter for 20 soldiers. If you are keen to see more war heritage collections, visit the Small Museum of the Isonzo Front, the Museum Collection of Ivo Ivančič and the private military collection “Farewell to Arms”.Accommodation: Hotel Boka or similar

Today you embark on the a wonderfully scenic Walk of Peace. It is approximately 12km long. The Soča Valley was one of the major fronts in the First World War with the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces fighting on different sides of the valley in a brutal attritional conflict which resulted in the loss of life of over 1 million, though the beauty and serenity of the landscapes today, make it hard to imagine. The historic trail mostly follows the Koritnica river and also alongside its 'little' sister, the Možnica river. The most dramatic section of the Koritnica is the Kluže gorge, where the river has carved out a narrow 70-meters deep canyon. As an important strategic point, the gorge was used from the 15th Century onwards as an observation post for arrivals in the Bovec basin. Walking along the gorge, one can also admire the Fortress Kluže, which was originally built as a defense stronghold against the Turkish inroads. The fort is hidden below the steep slopes of Mt. Rombon and was protected from Italian shelling during the WW1. The upper fortification, Fortress Hermann, which can be reached through an illuminated tunnel, was not so lucky; it was heavily shelled by the Italian artillery and soon abandoned.Accommodation: Hotel Boka

We transfer this morning from Bovec to Zaga for the start of our walk along side the Soca River to Kobarid. There is also the option to do some water sports this morning, before the walk. Leaving Zaga, the trail is mainly flat, with just 100m of ascent & 300m descent over the 12kms. We walk at a steady pace to suit the group, and enjoy the striking scenery, never tiring of the energy of the river flowing beside us. Kobarid is a quaint town with a Mediterranean feel, despite being in the midst of the mountains... probably has something to do with the influence of its close neighbour, Italy (the border is only a few kms away). Sadly the town is historically best known for being the site of the 12th Battle of Caporetto/Izonzo where many Italians lost their lives, and the Austro-Hungarians made significant advances forward. Ernest Hemingways classic novel, 'A Farewell to Arms' was largely based around this area.Accommodation: Hotel Boka or similar

Heading south from Bovec today, we follow a route (by car) that mirrors the shape of the border with Italy that is just a few kms west of us. Heading into the Brda region, towards Smartno (just an hour from Kobarid), we first stop off at Gonjace and Sabotin Hill Peace Park (609m) on the border, for incredible far reaching views over both Italy & Slovenia. The walking path we take (3kms, 100m ascent) has many points of interest on the way: the church of Saint Valentin, and remains from World War I. The hill itself is arranged as a memorial park / open air museum where you can see the caverns and pyramids that denoted the front lines during First World War battles. This afternoon we enjoy something a little different - some wine tasting at a local Brda vineyard. Slovenia has a 2400 year old wine tradition and produces arguably some of the best wines in the world. The unique climate in the Brda region combines the cool air of the Alps and the warmth and sunshine of the Mediterranean, producing top quality wines. The 'taste' of Brda is due to a quality soil called 'Opoka' and the main grape varieties are Rebulea, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Savignon Vert. Grapes are hand harvested, thanks to the steepness of the terraces that prevent the use of machinery. We stay tonight in the beautiful and romantic village of Smartno, surrounded by vineyards. The entire village has been declared a cultural heritage monument with areas dating back to the Middle Ages.Accommodation: Hotel San Martin or similar

Heading to Cerje this morning, and the 25m high Monument of Peace is a fitting visit considering the theme of our adventure and visit to Slovenia. It was built to preserve the memory of all defenders of the Slovenian land, throughout it's history. The Monument overlooks the Goriska region, Karst and Vipava Valley - in 2019 it was recognised by the Tourist Patrol as the most beautiful viewpoint in Slovenia.Contrasting effectively with the wide open space from the monument, we now head to the UNESCO heritage Skocjan caves, an exceptional limestone cave system with some 6km of underground passages, many waterfalls and one of the largest known underground chambers.We transfer 1hr 30m to the attractive coastal town of Piran on the Adriatic Sea for a late lunch and a relaxed afternoon looking around. It is renowned for its red tiled roofs, Venetian architecture and long pier, and makes a wonderful setting for the last night of your holiday in Slovenia. Accommodation: Hotel Piran or similar

We transfer as a group back to Ljubljana airport for flight home. Please note:There is the option of extending your trip to encompass a couple of extra days in the coastal town of Piran. Please enquire for prices and availability.