4-Day Slovenia, Italy and Croatia Tour with Škocjan and Soča Valley

• From Ljubljana, we drive to the beautiful Škocjan Caves, with their stalactites, stalagmites, and underground river canyon. We will walk for about 1.5 hours through this UNESCO-listed cave system and hear stories about how the River Reka has carved out these caves over millions of years.
• We then take a short ride to the metropolitan city of Trieste in Italy. We walk through the city centre and see Piazza Unita Square, Piazza della Borsa, the old port, and the ruins of the old Roman Theatre. After that, we continue for sightseeing at beautiful Miramare and Duino Castle and enjoy a walk on the famous Rilke Trail, named after the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke. It is a panoramic trail near Trieste, set on top of sea cliffs with great views of the Adriatic Sea.
• We will also do a sightseeing tour of the small but beautiful town of Piran, also known as "Little Venice". We start at the town wall tower for magnificent views of this Mediterranean jewel from above, continue to Tartini Square, climb uphill to St. George's Church, and stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets. We will also see old diving bells and scafanders at the Underwater Activities Museum. Dinner is in one of the delicious restaurants on the town's promenade by the sea.

Overnight stay in Piran.

• After breakfast, we ride to Grožnjan, a picturesque fortified hill town on the Croatian Istrian Peninsula. It is tranquil and has a distinct artistic touch. Here, you can try some truffles and enjoy the easy-going atmosphere of the locals. We will walk through the old narrow streets, see old houses, step into a local truffle shop or art gallery, and spot the many cats that roam the town in their own graceful way.
• The medieval fortified hill town of Motovun in Croatian Istria is truly unique. We will enjoy its charm, atmosphere, and views of the surrounding countryside. Did you know that the famous Italian Formula 1 driver Mario Andretti was born here? We walk through the main Town Gate in the Town Wall, enter the oldest part of town, and see the Main Town Square with St. Stephen's Church and Bell Tower, as well as the Town Palace. We will see old stone wells, walk along the top of an old defensive stone wall with fortification towers, and have a coffee or drink on a shady terrace nearby.
• Rovinj is a beautiful medieval Croatian town on the Adriatic coast of the Istrian Peninsula. You can immerse yourself in its charm, see its main attractions, and enjoy tasteful food and local wine. We will see the main town square, Fisherman's Port, and promenade. We walk through beautiful stone-paved streets with narrow and mysterious passages where locals still live. We will also take a stroll along the promenade at the top of the peninsula, climb up to St. Euphemia's Church, and even to the bell tower, if we are in the right mood.

Overnight stay in Rovinj.

• We drive through the villages and vineyards of Goriška Brda.
• We stop at Dobrovo Castle and visit the wine cellar, which is famous for its quality local wines.
• We then continue to the Kolovrat Open Air Museum of WW1, with its preserved First World War trenches. After that, we visit the town of Kobarid in the unspoiled Soča Valley in the Julian Alps, where we take a short 40-minute hike to the magical Kozjek Waterfall inside a small cave. We proceed to the small town of Bovec, where you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon or optionally visit one of the beautiful gorges of the turquoise Soča River.

• In the morning, we can do some white-water rafting on the Soča River (optional) if you enjoy adrenaline sports. We then take a scenic ride to Vršič Pass (1,611 m), with breathtaking views of the surrounding alpine peaks of the picturesque Julian Alps. We stop at viewpoints along the way for breathtaking views and photos. On the other side of the pass, we descend into the Sava River valley and the alpine town of Kranjska Gora.
• Near Kranjska Gora, we visit the small alpine Lake Jasna and take a walk along its banks. We then continue into the tranquil atmosphere of the small alpine town of Kranjska Gora, which turns into a ski resort in winter. We go for a walk and try some Slovenian food in a restaurant. We also visit nearby Zelenci, where the longest Slovenian river, the Sava, comes to the surface.
• Return to Ljubljana.