Private tours · Slovenia & Croatia
So you want to go to Slovenia and Croatia?
Alpine lakes, fairytale Ljubljana, the hill towns of Istria and a week cruising the Dalmatian islands. Here's how I'd help you and your group make the most of it.
Two neighbours, two very different holidays.
Slovenia is small, green and beautifully easy to travel: mountain lakes, river gorges, caves and a capital you can walk end to end in an afternoon. Next door, Croatia is all about the sea, from the hill towns of Istria to the islands and walled cities of Dalmatia.
Put them together and you have one of Europe's best combinations for a group of friends or family: a week among the lakes and mountains, then a week on the water, swimming from the deck and stepping ashore in a different harbour town each day.
Below are my thoughts on where to go, what to see, where to stay and what to eat. Use them as inspiration. I'll shape the trip around your group, your dates, your pace and your budget.
Where to go
Lakes or coast? Both.
Ljubljana is only a couple of hours' drive from the Croatian coast, so it's easy to combine the two. Most groups start in Slovenia, then head south for Istria or a cruise.
Ljubljana, Bled and the Julian Alps
Slovenia
A relaxed riverside capital, the island church of Lake Bled, the quieter shores of Lake Bohinj and the emerald Soča Valley, plus caves, castles and a little stretch of coast at Piran. A good choice for walkers, food lovers and anyone who loves mountain scenery.
Istria, Split, the islands and Dubrovnik
Croatia
Istria's truffle country and the Venetian harbour of Rovinj, the waterfalls of Plitvice, then the Dalmatian coast: Split, Hvar, Korčula and the walled city of Dubrovnik. Best seen from the water on a small-ship cruise.
How many days?
How long do you need?
The honest answer is longer than most people plan. Here's roughly what fits, without rushing.
Slovenia done well
Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, with a day in the Soča Valley or at Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
Slovenia and Istria
Add Piran and a few days in Croatia's Istria, with Rovinj, hilltop villages, truffles and wine.
Lakes and a cruise
Four or five days in Slovenia, then a week cruising the Dalmatian islands between Split and Dubrovnik.
The whole journey
Slovenia, Istria and Plitvice Lakes, then a cruise down the coast and a few final days in Dubrovnik.
Things to do
Some highlights.
Choose a few, not all of them. The best holidays here leave plenty of room for long lunches, swims and doing nothing much at all.
Row to the island on Lake Bled
Take a traditional pletna boat out to the island church and ring its wishing bell, then walk up to the clifftop castle for the view. Finish with a slice of the famous cream cake by the lake.
Eat your way around Ljubljana
Join a local guide for a food walk through the central market and old town, tasting cheeses, honey and wine, then cruise the river at sunset.
Drive the Vršič Pass to the Soča
Wind over the Julian Alps by the Vršič Pass to the emerald Soča river. Walk to its gorges and waterfalls, or try rafting or kayaking on the clearest water you'll ever see.
Ride the cave train at Postojna
Ride a little train deep into Postojna's glittering caves, then explore Predjama Castle, built into the mouth of a cliff. A wonderful day out for all ages.
Taste wine in the Brda hills
Spend a day among the vineyards and hilltop villages of Goriška Brda, sometimes called Slovenia's Tuscany, tasting Rebula and orange wines with the families who make them.
Hunt for truffles in Istria
Head into the forests below Motovun with a truffle hunter and his dogs, then sit down to a long lunch of truffles shaved over fresh pasta. Spend the evening in pretty Rovinj.
Walk the boardwalks at Plitvice
Follow wooden boardwalks over sixteen turquoise lakes and waterfalls. Stay nearby and go in early, before the day-trip crowds arrive.
Island-hop by boat from Split
Explore Diocletian's Palace in Split, then sail to Hvar, Korčula and Mljet, swimming in quiet bays and lunching in island harbours along the way.
Walk Dubrovnik's city walls
Walk the full circuit of the old town walls first thing in the morning, kayak around the walls in the afternoon and ride the cable car up for sunset.
A Croatian cruise
The islands, from the water.
The best way to see the Dalmatian coast is on a small ship. You unpack once, swim from the deck in quiet bays, and wake up in a different harbour town most mornings.
Most cruises run for a week between Split and Dubrovnik, calling at islands like Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and Brač. Choose a small cruise ship with a few dozen guests, or charter a traditional wooden gulet just for your group, with its own captain and cook.
Cruises run from April to October. I'll help you choose the right ship and route, and fit it around your time in Slovenia.
Where you might stay
Beautiful places to stay.
From lakeside hotels and countryside farm stays in Slovenia to seaside resorts in Istria and Dubrovnik, these are a few I'd suggest for groups and families.
Across Slovenia
A farm or wine estate stay
Slovenia's family-run tourist farms and wine estates are warm, generous and great value, with home cooking and room for everyone. Lovely in the Brda and Vipava wine regions.
Lake Bled
Vila Bled
A former royal summer residence in its own lakeside gardens, with views straight across to the island church.
Lake Bled
Grand Hotel Toplice
A classic lakefront hotel in the heart of Bled, with its own thermal pool and a terrace looking over the water to the castle.
Ljubljana
Vander Urbani Resort
A stylish boutique hotel in the old town, steps from the river, with a rooftop pool and a much-loved restaurant.
Rovinj, Istria
Grand Park Hotel Rovinj
Contemporary and relaxed, looking straight across the harbour to Rovinj's old town, with a big spa and pools for the whole family.
Dubrovnik
Villa Dubrovnik
Terraced into the cliffs a short walk from the old town, with sea-view rooms and its own boat into the old harbour.
These are suggested accommodation options, not an exhaustive list.
Food to try
What to eat and drink.
Hearty Alpine cooking in Slovenia, truffles and olive oil in Istria, and grilled fish and island wine on the Dalmatian coast. These are the things I'd make sure you try. I'll book the right tables once you're there.
Kremšnita
Bled's famous cream cake: layers of custard and cream between crisp pastry. Best eaten with a view of the lake.
Kranjska klobasa
Slovenia's much-loved smoked sausage, served with sauerkraut, mustard and fresh bread.
Soča trout
Marble trout from the clear rivers of the Soča Valley, simply grilled with butter and herbs.
Istrian truffles
Shaved generously over fresh fuži pasta or scrambled eggs. Autumn is truffle season, but you'll find them all year.
Dalmatian seafood
Grilled fish, black squid-ink risotto and Ston oysters, eaten by the water with a glass of local white.
Local wine
Rebula from Slovenia's Brda hills, Istrian Malvazija and Plavac Mali from the Dalmatian islands. All wonderful, and rarely seen in Australia.
Good to know
Worth knowing before you go.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September are ideal: warm, green and less crowded, with the sea warm enough for swimming. July and August are busy on the coast. Croatian cruises run from April to October.
Do we need a car?
In Slovenia and Istria, a car or a private driver is the easiest way to get around. On the Dalmatian coast you won't need one at all if you're cruising.
Should we cruise or stay on land?
A cruise is the easiest way to see several islands without packing and unpacking. If you'd rather stay put, a villa or hotel on Hvar or near Dubrovnik with day trips by boat works beautifully too.
How do we get there?
Most Australians fly into Ljubljana or Zagreb via Europe or the Middle East, and home from Split or Dubrovnik. The drive from Ljubljana to the Croatian coast takes around two to three hours.
Is it good for families and mixed ages?
Very. Lakes, caves, castles and boat days keep everyone happy, and both countries are safe, clean and easy to travel. Some small ships welcome children; I'll find the right one for your group.
How far ahead should we plan?
The best small ships and gulets book out early, often nine to twelve months ahead for June to September. If you have a date in mind, it's worth starting the conversation now.
Why plan with Every Element
Your group, your holiday. I'll organise the rest.
Planning a holiday for a group of friends or family can be complicated. Different interests, accommodation preferences, budgets and expectations all need to come together.
That's where Every Element comes in.
I'll help you choose the right places to visit, find accommodation that suits your group and design an itinerary that balances experiences with time to relax.
I'll book your accommodation, organise private transfers, local guides and experiences, and coordinate all the arrangements so everything works together.
One point of contact, one beautifully organised holiday, designed entirely around your group.
You work directly with me
From the first conversation to the day you arrive home, you deal with me personally, not a call centre.
Designed around your group
Your dates, your pace and your budget, with rooms and experiences that suit everyone, from grandparents to teenagers.
Insider knowledge
Places I know and love, trusted local guides and drivers, and the little extras you wouldn't find on your own.
Every detail booked
Accommodation, transfers, private guides, experiences and restaurant reservations, all organised and confirmed before you leave.
Everything in one app
Your day-by-day itinerary, confirmations and contacts together in your own Every Element travel app.
I'm only a message away
If you need anything while you're travelling, I'm on WhatsApp to help.
Your private Slovenia & Croatia holiday
Let's plan yours.
Tell me who's coming, when you'd like to go and what you love most, whether that's mountains, food, the sea or simply time together. I'll shape a private Slovenia and Croatia holiday around your group, your pace and your budget.