May 17th 
Arrival and Settling In

17 May is Arrival Day!
Our tour officially begins in the morning of 18 May. You may arrive early at Tourist Farm Pri-Marku, in Crngrob village by prior arrangement, or travel on your own earlier to Europe and join us on 17 May.

After your arrival on 17 May, you can arrange your own transport from the airport or train station, or we can arrange transportation from Brnik Airport to the lovely and relaxing location of Tourist farm Pri-Marku. We will meet up for dinner, served by Beti, Marija and the Porenta family, and stay overnight in my family’s native village of Crngrob.

***Please note that any extra nights you spend at Tourist Farm Pri-Marku before or after the tour’s official start are EUR 60, which includes half board (a double bedroom, plus European style breakfast and dinner). You must specifically arrange early arrival prior to 29 September with us, so we can ensure your rooms are reserved.

May 18
Ljubljana Day

Awaken to the bells of Crngrob’s Annunciation Church and enjoy a traditional Slovenian breakfast. We will begin our tour by visiting Slovenia’s green city capital, Ljubljana on market day.

On the first day of our tour, we will visit the striking, Green-award winning city of Ljubljana led by a guide. We will tour Plečnic’s famed market, visit the Ljubljana castle (included), travel up the Ljubljanica river by boat (included), while traveling Ljubljana’s Urban Beekeeping tour with visits to several prominent bee sites. 

Overnight and dinner at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

May 19
Lake Bled – Visit to a Beekeeper

Traditional Slovenian Breakfast at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

Morning: No tour of Slovenia is complete without a visit to Slovenia’s crown jewel: magnificent Lake Bled!  We will travel through beautiful Gorenjska to Lake Bled, with a pletna boat ride (boat ride included entrance to the Island not included. Supplement 18€ if anyone wants to visit the island). Also, a visit to Bled Castle is on the agenda (included).

After the morning sessions, we will have free time for lunch, coffee, and the necessary Slovenian pastry Kremšnita on the banks of one of Slovenia’s best tourist sites.

Afternoon: Visit to the countryside near Bled to the home of Čebelarstvo Ambrožič. Here we will meet Master Beekeeper Blaž Ambrožič, visit his expansive apiary to learn about queen rearing in AŽ hives (included), and have a workshop on beehive front panel painting (supplement per person 25€ as not everyone is interested in painting).

Dinner and overnight at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

May 20
World Bee Day!!!  Museum of Apiculture – Anton Jansa’s Apiary – Visit to a Beekeeper – Kranjska Gora with Jasna Lake

Traditional Slovenian Breakfast at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

Morning: We will start our day with a journey back in time through Slovenia’s bee history at the Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica (included).

Next, we will visit the family apiary of one of Slovenia’s best-known beekeepers, Anton Janša, the first instructor of modern beekeeping. Janša’s birthday, May 20th, is the day now celebrated as World Bee Day! (included)

We will have time for coffee or lunch at a Gostilna after the morning event.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we will visit beekeeper Toni (included) for bee
art and experience her Apitherapy center. A visit to Kranjska Gora and Jasna Lake  will also be on the itinerary.

Dinner and overnight will be at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

May 21.
Mt. Vogel – Bohinj Lake – Savica Waterfall – Alpine Dairy Museum

Traditional Slovenian Breakfast at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

Morning: Active outdoors day! We will ride the cable car to Mt. Vogel (from Bohinj) to experience the splendor of Slovenia’s mountain region (return cable car ticket included).

Afternoon: Lake Bohinj – We will enjoy a hike to the waterfall in Savica, one of Slovenia’s top tourist destinations in the amazing Karst region. Afterwards, we will take in the Alpine Dairy Museum, to see how pastoralists lived in the high mountain meadows for centuries. 

In between will be free time for lunch, coffee, and contemplation of the beauty surrounding you…

Dinner and overnight Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

May 22
Škofja Loka Morning – Apitherapy Workshop & Lecture – Slovenian Beekeeping Organization

Traditional Slovenian Breakfast at Tourist farm Pri-Marku.

Morning: We will enjoy a visit to the nearby historic town of Škofja Loka
Next up is a lecture on the benefits of apitherapy with a beekeeper.

In between, free time for lunch, coffee…

Afternoon: After a drive through the region, we will arrive at the headquarters of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association (ČzS) in Lukovica  We will visit their apiaries, as well as tour the laboratory, see the Carnica bee 3D model and the library, as well as the “honey route”. The gift shop is a great place to purchase beekeeping equipment and gifts for family and friends.
There is also a nice café for lunch or coffee.

Drive to the northeast part of Slovenia to Prekmurje region. Dinner and overnight Thermal Spa Bioterme.

May 23
Pumpkin Oil Factory – Herbal & Beekeeping Farm Experience

Breakfast at the tourist farm Pri-Marku.

Morning: We will have some free time at the thermal spa or at the tourist farm to relax and enjoy the fresh air on the Pannonian plain, with time for a walk, if you want some exercise. 

Afternoon: We will start with a visit to a pumpkin oil mill with a gourmet
tasting of their products. What, you have never tasted pumpkin seed oil? Well then you have missed out on this delicacy! Get your taste buds ready for this culinary delight!

Next up is a visit to an herbal beekeeping farm. She is an expert in herbs, he is a beekeeper with a lovely apiary. This is one of the top-rated visits on our itinerary!

In between free time for lunch, coffee…

We will have dinner and overnight at Thermal Spa Bioterme .

May 24
Dry Ham (Prosciutto) Tasting – Beekeeping Visit – Jerusalem Wine Road

Breakfast at the Thermal Spa Bioterme.

Morning: We start the day in Prekmurje with a visit to Kodila o-nas, one of Slovenia’s best known dry ham (Prosciutto) manufacturers. We will visit the factory and shop/old house with tasting of their products.

Next is a visit to a beekeeper where they have unique old apiary and herbal garden.

Afternoon: We will drive to the Jeruzalem wine road and visit one of the cellars. Expect a lovely wine tasting experience. 

In between, we will have free time for lunch, coffee…

Dinner and overnight at Thermal Spa Bioterme.

May 25
Maribor – Sunny Paradise Estate – House of Carnica Bee

Breakfast at the Thermal Spa

Morning: Visit to Sunny estate where they have zipline, wine fountain, bees and hemp fields. (Visit included in price: supplement: zipline, tastings of
products…)

Afternoon: We will visit Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city. The oldest wine-producing vine in the world is here.  (Visit included in price; wine tasting as supplement at your interest).

In between is free time for lunch, coffee and relaxation…

Lastly, we will drive to Dolenjska region to Višnja Gora, the home of the Carnica Bee Hiša.

We will overnight in the beehive cells. Dinner will be at a local Gostilna (included), with plenty of time to wander the village and enjoy the apiaries.

 May 26
House of Carnica Bee – Stična Monastery – Pristava Village

Breakfast at Carnica Bee House.

Morning: We will visit the Carniolan Bee Hiša Centre, and take their tour, which is focused upon the historic preservation of this important pollinator. The interactive exhibits are amazing, and you will not want to leave. 

After the morning session is time for lunch, coffee …

Afternoon: Next, we are off to Prištava village, where you can enjoy the surroundings.

We will also visit Čebelarstvo Rogelj. 

Then off again to the 11th century Stična monastery with their museum of Christianity, Monk’s Garden, and apiary. 

We will have dinner together with monks, then spend the night at the Stična Monastery.

May 27
Apitherapy Bee House – Honey Picnic & Pottery Workshop

Breakfast with the monks at Stična Monastery.

Awaken to the bells of this 11th century Monastery, and then have breakfast with these warm and effervescent multilingual monks!

Morning: We will enjoy a lovely honey picnic with Andreja, who is a 4th generation beekeeper, as well as see her apitherapy bee house.

Afternoon: We will enjoy a leisurely drive back to Ljubljana, with some time at leisure before departures.

Then we will transfer to Brnik Airport.

This is the official end of the tour, but you will not want to leave Slovenia!
We know you will want to return again to this breathtaking country!