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  4. Slovenia & Croatia Real Food Adventure

Eat your way from Ljubljana to Dubrovnik via Motovun, Plitvice National Park, Zadar, Split and Korcula.

Embark on an 11-day food inspired journey through Slovenia and Croatia and delight in the culinary mastery of this region, while seeing what these countries have to offer. Visit salt pans, a truffle farm, wineries, fishing villages and so much more. Discover why Istria is considered one of the world's leading producers of quality olive oil, eat mouth-watering, slow-cooked meat cooked Dalmatian-style under a metal bell, raise a glass of refosk (Slovenian wine) or slivovitz (plum brandy) with your small group, and shout ‘zivjeli!’ to the simple, home-style cuisine this region is famous for.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Finish
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Destinations
Croatia, Slovenia
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
ZMZE
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Explore the major food regions of Istria and Dalmatia to indulge in cured meats, olive oils, wine, truffles, cheese and more.

  • Delve into the diverse world of food that lies beneath Slovenia’s fairytale landscape, and find out why this country has more than 20 distinct culinary regions.

  • Get to know some of the emerging heroes of the Eastern European wine scene like teran, refosk, grk, marastina and kurtelaska bijela – and try to pronounce them after a few glasses!

  • Visit the lush Croatian island of Korcula – surrounded by the sparkling Adriatic and full of local produce, you’ll have time to experience the cuisine and get some well-needed relaxation on one of its many beaches.

  • Take a cooking class in Ljubljana to indulge in Slovenian favourites, and learn how to make local hand-rolled pasta in a small village on Korcula.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip aims to give you an exciting, diverse and well-rounded experience of this region's cuisine. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. If you have dietary requirements, simply contact your agent at the time of booking for further information on how this may impact on your ability to take part in included activities and meals. Come with an open mind and open mouth, and you won’t be disappointed!

  • The Croatian coast is also very hilly and mountainous, so many steps are a feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines, so packing light is recommended. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find Croatia's topography very demanding.

  • Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

  • It’s bunking season! As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge.

Map of Slovenia & Croatia Real Food Adventure including Croatia and Slovenia
Eat your way through Croatia & Slovenia with Intrepid Travel
croatia_split_harbour_boats
Boats in harbour of Split, Croatia
Intrepid traveller sitting view view of harbour and sailing boats, Croatia
Three men cooking mussels on boat, Croatia
Intrepid travellers with view of Dubrovnik old town, Croatia
Sailing boats in Dubrovnik harbour, Croatia

Itinerary
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Zivjo! Welcome to Slovenia. Known as ‘Europe in Miniature’, tiny Slovenia has a huge heart and a wealth of diversity. Best known for hearty, alpine stews, goulash and sauerkraut, Slovenia also boasts wonderful cakes and strudels, not to mention the culinary treasures found in the coastal Karst region, including teran (wine), prsut (air-dried ham) and sensational olive oils. Picturesque Ljubljana is perfect for starting a food odyssey, with a surprisingly diverse food scene that– great local eateries, progressive modern restaurants, street food, cafes and cake shops. After an important welcome meeting at 6 pm, perhaps toast to your trip with a glass of Slovenia's national drink: schnapps (snopec in Slovene). This fruit-based liqueur comes in a variety of flavours, with the local favourite being viljamoka – flavoured with Williams pear. Your leader can then suggest a great place in the heart of the city to sample some delicious traditional dishes.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ljubljana - Snops Tasting
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend.

This morning, take a public bus to Bled (approximately 1 hour). Situated on stunning Lake Bled at the edge of the Julian Alps, this is a postcard location straight out of a fairytale. You will have a large part of the day here but be sure to taste one thing in particular – a delicious cream cake called kremna rezina (kremsnita to the locals). It’s thought to have been invented in the kitchens of Hotel Park in 1953 by Istvan Lukacevic – chef of the hotel's confectionery store. Since its invention, more than ten million kremsnita have been baked at the hotel's patisserie. Tuck into your own slice to find out what all the fuss is about. Afterwards, perhaps hike up to Bled Castle or visit the 17th century baroque Church of the Assumption, or simply take a stroll around the lake. Return to Ljubljana in the early afternoon. In the evening, head over to a Slovenian culinary workshop in the evening to pick up some tips for creating some traditional Slovenian fare at home, followed by a hearty meal. Your hosts will provide a tasting of typical Slovenian cold starters, so you won't get hungry as you cook!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bled - Day Trip by Public Bus
  • Bled - Kremsnita Tasting
  • Ljubljana - Slovenian Cooking Class
Optional Activities
  • Lake Bled - Parish Church of St Martin - Free
  • Lake Bled - Bled Castle - EUR11
  • Lake Bled - Swimming - Free
  • Lake Bled - Walk - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Travel by public bus to Piran this morning (approximately 2 hours). Piran is a coastal town, located near the border of Italy and Croatia. The region is renowned for its production of quality olive oils, wine (especially the distinctive teran and refosk), as well as a cured ham called prsut. This is air-dried in the cold dry wind (known as the bura), which sweeps down to the coast from inland. Take a tasting tour of the township, then venture into a family-owned konoba (restaurant) for lunch and a wine tasting. Everything you eat is grown and prepared on the property. Next, head to the nearby salt pans of Piran where salt is still manually harvested with traditional tools according to a seven centuries' old process. Cross the border into Croatia. Croatia has long piqued the interest of curious travellers searching for sunshine, sand and scenery, with charming cobblestone towns and World Heritage sites. Recently it has gained recognition as an exciting food and wine destination, with the region of Istria leading the charge as the culinary capital of the country. Arrive at your final destination, the Istrian town of Motovun, by early evening. The evening is free for your own food adventures.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Piran - Tasting Tour and Lunch
Optional Activities
  • Piran Town Walls - EUR2
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Motovun is one of the best preserved medieval Istrian towns in Croatia, with houses scattered all over the hill and a spectacular view of Mirna River Valley. Motovun Forest is the best place for hunting the famous Istrian truffle, and the nearby village of Livade is considered the truffle capital of Istria. Take a walk through the woods with an experienced truffle hunter and learn about this intriguing vocation. Perhaps sniff out a truffle of your own! Then enjoy a tasting of regional specialties including olives, honey and (of course) truffles. Arrive to the romantic Croatian town of Rovinj, one of the best-kept towns on the Adriatic Coast (approximately 1 hour). Among Rovinj's qualities is the beautiful, architecturally intact old town centre, with a relaxed Mediterranean feel. Through the centuries, Rovinj’s character has enchanted many an artist or writer, including Jules Verne. Take an orientation walk through the old town. For fans of oysters, a cruise on Lim Bay is highly recommended. Stop into an oyster farm and taste freshly shucked bivalves straight from the ocean. Spend the evening at your leisure and perhaps seek out a local Mediterranean restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Motovun - Truffle Hunt and Tasting
  • Rovinj – Day Trip
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take a private transfer to the stunning World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park (approximately 4 hours). It’s the largest national park in Croatia and known to be one of the oldest in southeast Europe – full of waterfalls and spectral blue lakes. The waters tumble from a high, tree-lined ridge down through the valley before skirting dense forests of beech, spruce and pine. The Upper Lakes are in the dolomite cliffs, where rushing water weaves in and out of the karst before dropping dramatically down to the forest, grottoes and steep cliffs of the Lower Lakes. After taking in this unique landscape, head onwards to Rakovica village where you’ll stay the night. Dinner includes a delicious home cooked meal provided by your hosts – a hearty serving of traditional Croatian kotlovina. This mixed meat dish consists mainly of pork schnitzels and sausages, traditionally made in a cauldron (which translates to kotlovina) for large groups of people, feasts, holiday celebrations or just parties. The hosts will let you witness firsthand how the meal is prepared before you tuck in, enjoying the robust flavours and hints of spice.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
  • Rakovica: Home-cooked Meal
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Farewell your hosts and then travel by bus to nearby Pag Island (approximately 2 hours). The karst island of Pag is home to sheep and a determined group of islanders who wring themselves a living from the barren, rocky landscape. Settled in pre-Roman times, the island has been at the mercy of the shifting fortunes of various Dalmatian rulers, and today, reminders of its prosperous salt-mining past lie in the main town. Meet a producer of the island's renowned cheese: paski sir. This artisan sheep's milk cheese has long been a valued commodity of the island. Discover more about the production process and enjoy a tasting. There will also be an option to enjoy a specialty dish of the region – lamb cooked peka-style – beneath a metal bell. Continue on to the walled city of Zadar (approximately 1.5 hours). For centuries, Zadar was the capital city of Dalmatia, and the city's rich heritage is visible at every step. It’s also celebrated for many culinary treasures, including fresh seafood, the sheep and goats that are reared for their meat and milk in the mountains to the north, and the wonderful fresh produce that is grown in a broad belt of land surrounding Zadar. Don't forget to try the famous liqueur, Maraskino, made from locally grown maraschino cherries according to a centuries' old secret recipe. This unique drink was a favourite at European imperial and royal courts and has been produced in Zadar since 1821.
Accommodation
  • Boutique Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pag Island - Cheese Tasting
Optional Activities
  • Zadar - Roman Forum - Free
  • Zadar - Archaeological Museum - HRK30
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Rise early for a stroll through Zadar's vibrant fish market. The fish market is built into the city ramparts at the spot where the trawlers land with their catch. This will also give you an opportunity to see some of the produce grown in the area. Depending on the season, you may find citrus fruits and kiwis from the islands, fresh and dried figs and home-made olive oil. The city is also home to a vibrant café culture. Afterwards, travel by public bus southeast to Split (approximately 3-4 hrs), arriving in the late afternoon. Take in vistas over vineyards, olive groves, bays, beaches, steep cliffs and islands along the way. The evening is free for your own food adventures – your leader will have plenty of local suggestions.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

A vibrant mixture of golden history and present-day delights, the city of Split grew out from the remains of Diocletian's Palace – some of the most impressive ruins on the Mediterranean. Today you’ll get the chance to learn more about the sights and flavours of the city as you embark on a walking tour of the city with a local foodie. Take Diocletian's Palace and wander the district's winding streets, before heading into the green market to learn about Croatian agriculture. Taste some artisanal olive oil, pick some mouth-watering local sweets (orancini and lemoncini) before finally paying a visit to the finest chocolatier in town. Finish with a lunch of beer and burek. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Perhaps take in the fantastically preserved basements under the city, along with the Cathedral in Docletian’s Peristyle and Jupiter’s Temple. As the evening rolls in, you may choose to take another cooking class or put your feet up and relax over a hearty Croatian meal.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Split - Old Town Food and Culture Tour
Optional Activities
  • Split - Marjan Hill Hike - Free
  • Split - Fish Market - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Enjoy a free morning in Split before catching a ferry to Korcula (approximately 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, embark on an orientation walk to get a feel for this historic fortified island town, including the Cathedral of St Mark, the 15th-century Franciscan monastery and the massive fortifications surrounding the city. Whether or not this can be proved (the Venetians have a similar claim), Korcula is steeped in a long history that’s resulted in Greek, Slav and Roman settlers – resulting in a romantic and evocative cultural old town. What's more, there are plenty of warm beaches to relax on if that's more your speed. You might like to take a swim, walk around the bays and villages near Korcula town, pay a visit to the Marco Polo Tower, go shopping, or just soak up the ambience. Later in the evening, you will have the option to make the short journey by local bus (approximately 30 minutes) to the tiny village of Pupnat in the interior of the island. Consider dinner in the village, enjoying a meal made entirely from local produce. Perhaps you can drink your wine like the locals do – mixed with a bit of water.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Korcula Island - Traditional Moreska Dance Performance - HRK100
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Relax into island life in the morning before heading to Zrnovo village for a hands-on cooking class. You’ll learn how to make zrnovo makaruni (a local hand-rolled pasta), and you’ll enjoy this with lunch with some included local wines. One of these wines is Grk – a curious drop. The wine cannot replicate itself as it only has female parts and needs to be planted with another male grape variety in order to pollinate. It seems like a lot of work to make a wine, but the end result is a glass of acidic white, featuring a robust aroma and hints of pine that has been loved around the country for ages. In the afternoon, return to Korcula town for some free time – beach, anyone?
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Zrnovo - Cooking Class
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Travel to Dubrovnik by catamaran. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque, full of character and can easily be covered on foot. With no activities planned once arrived in Dubrovnik, you are able to depart from the port at any time. Your catamaran will arrive conveniently near the central bus station, which you can get connections to the airport. If you would like to spend more time in Dubrovnik (which we highly recommend), we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). You group leader will be able to point you in the right direction to your accommodation or onward journey.
Included Activities
  • Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Your Real Food Adventure through Slovenia and Croatia concludes today. There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to leave Dubrovnik at any time. Should you wish to continue your food adventure through the Balkans, perhaps consider joining the Real Food Adventure Dubrovnik to Skopje, which winds its way through Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia. Search trip code ‘ZKZM’ or ‘ZMZMC’ on the Intrepid website for further information.

Meals

10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Public bus, Ferry, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Guesthouse (1 night), Boutique Hostel (1 night)

Included activities

  • Ljubljana - Snops Tasting
  • Bled - Day Trip by Public Bus
  • Bled - Kremsnita Tasting
  • Ljubljana - Slovenian Cooking Class
  • Piran - Tasting Tour and Lunch
  • Motovun - Truffle Hunt and Tasting
  • Rovinj – Day Trip
  • Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
  • Rakovica: Home-cooked Meal
  • Pag Island - Cheese Tasting
  • Split - Old Town Food and Culture Tour
  • Zrnovo - Cooking Class
  • Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites)

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Important notes

A single supplement is available on this trip with exception of Days 7 & 8 (Split). If a single room becomes available at check-in for these nights there may be the option for you to upgrade to a single room and pay the surcharge locally for that night.

Essential trip information

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