AUSTRIA & SLOVENIA

  • Group meets at 10:00 AM at Elite Coach, 1685 W. Main St., Ephrata (Route 322, West of Ephrata). A charter bus takes us to Washington Dulles (IAD) airport. KLM (national airline of the Netherlands) flight #652 departs IAD at 17:25. Multi-meals.

  • Flight 652 arrives at Amsterdam (AMS) at 6:55 AM. KLM flight #1989 departs AMS at 10:00 and arrives at Ljubljana at 11:45. 1-hour drive to Postojnska Caves, where we will have a subterranean walk and a 2-mile underground train ride. 1-hour drive to Piran, along the Adriatic coast. Stay for 2 nights at the 4-star Hotel Piran (www.hotel-piran.si) in Piran.

  • Day of rest and recovery to explore Piran. This picturesque, car-free coastal town features stunning Venetian-Gothic architecture, rich history, and fresh seafood. Highlights include:

    • Tartini Square: The heart of the town, in front of our hotel, is filled with lively cafes, gelato shops, and colorful Venetian houses.

    • Medieval Town Walls: You can climb the well-preserved Walls of Piran for panoramic views of the peninsula and the Adriatic.

    • Piran Lighthouse & Seafront: Take a stroll along the tip of the peninsula to the lighthouse for sweeping sea views. You can swim (or not!) directly off the concrete piers or rocky beaches around the town's perimeter.

    • Italian Influence: Because it spent 500 years under the Republic of Venice, Piran features a heavy Italian influence,from its winding alleyways to its world-class seafood, all at generally cheaper prices than neighboring Italy.

    Easy town walking. Stay in Piran.

  • 1-hour drive to Trieste, Italy, a beautiful coastal city. 2.5-hour drive, mostly in Italy, to Kranjska Gora (KG). KG is Slovenia’s Alpine resort town nestled in the Julian Alps near the Austrian and Italian borders. KG offers spectacular scenery and endless outdoor activities. We will have 2 full days for exploring alpine villages. We will stay 3 nights in the 4-star Hotel Kranjska Gora (www.hotel-kranjsksgora.si). We will have our own bus. Highlights include:

    • Stunning Nature, Waterfalls, and Lakes: Explore Lake Jasna for breathtaking panoramic mountain reflections or take the quick 20-minute drive to see the crystal-clear Laghi di Fusine (Fusine Lakes), with its easy loop trails, just over the Italian border.

    • Gateway to Triglav National Park: It serves as a fantastic base to explore Triglav National Park, the Soča Valley,and the scenic drive over the Vršič Pass.

    • Lake Zelenci: Has a trail and a wooden boardwalk that leads to a viewing platform, where you can see the astonishingly clear and green waters. You can rent bikes to visit this lake.

    • Day to explore Lake Bled: With its stunning emerald waters, dramatic clifftop castle, and storybook island. The Lake Loop: An easy 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) trail circles the lake. Walking it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, offering incredible perspectives of the water and surrounding mountains. Bled Island: You can take a traditional wooden Pletna boat out to the island.

    We will stay in Kranjska Gora for 2 more nights. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • 2-hour charter bus ride to Lienz, East Tirol, Austria, where we will stay 2 nights in the 3-star Hotel Sonne (hotelsonnelienz.at). East Tirol possesses some of the most dramatic scenery in Austria. The East Tirol is marvellously unspoiled. Lienz, often called the “Pearl of the Dolomites,” is known for its sunny Mediterranean climate, stunning alpine backdrop, and car-free historic center. It blends Austrian charm with nearby Italian flair, making it an excellent base for active travelers and history buffs alike. Its colorful main square, the Hauptplatz, features vibrant, French-style cafes, local boutiques, and excellent people-watching. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • We will have a day trip to visit the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Lienz Dolomites, a paradise for hiking. We will visit Tyrolean Alpine villages, such as Matrei in Ostirol. Matrei in Ostirol is known for untouched alpine nature, authentic Tyrolean hospitality, and world-class outdoor recreation without massive tourist crowds. Located in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park, it serves as a spectacular base for exploring the Austrian Alps. This town is surrounded by more than 150 peaks over 3,000 meters, including Austria's highest, Mount Großglockner. Matrei offers immediate access to stunning trails. The walk into the Gschlößtal (considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the Eastern Alps) yields unforgettable views of the Großvenediger glacier. We will travel on narrow mountain roads to Kals, where there is a cable car affording fantastic hikes high into the mountains and surrounded by alpine lakes. This will be a spectacular day! This area features 41 historic churches and chapels, including the 12th-century St. Nicholas Church. Stay in Lienz. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • 2-hour bus ride through majestic mountains and beautiful villages to Rauris, our home for the next 2 nights. We will stay at the 3-star Hotel Brau Rauris (www.braeu-rauris.at). Our drive will offer glaciers, deep ravines, and cattle grazing in pastures. The precipitous Grossglockner Road twists like a ribbon through the mountain. The Rauris Valley offers a peaceful, authentic alpine escape away from mass tourism. Nestled in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, this "secret jewel" is fantastic for families, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a "slow travel" destination. Our day trip will be in an area that has over 300 km of hiking trails, ranging from gentle valley walks to challenging mountain treks (no thanks!). When you have time, please visit www.raurisertal.at and dream of the fun we will have there on this day trip.Stay in Rauris. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • 2.5-hour bus ride through beautiful scenery to Villach, where we will stay for 2 nights at the 4-star Hotel Palais 26 (www.palais26.at). Villach has historic cobblestone streets and a relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere. The pedestrian-friendly Hauptplatz (Main Square) features 12th-century architecture, lively cafes, and the Church of St. Jakob,which offers incredible panoramic views from its 94-meter bell tower. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • We will have a day tour to visit some of the most beautiful lakes in Austria. The lakes of Carinthia are stunning. We will ask our Austrian bus company to select from: Wörthersee, Klopeiner See, Millstätter See, Faaker See, Ossiacher See,Weißensee, and Pressegger See. The lakes are framed by majestic mountains and beautiful villages. There will be some cable cars to get a perspective on the lakes from higher elevations. We will have some easy, lakefront walks. Stay in Villach. Easy to moderate walking in villages, optional hikes near cable cars, no real long hikes!

  • We have a 1.5-hour drive to Ljubljana, but we will visit 2 small towns on the way:

    • Škofja Loka: Is like a definition of slow travel perfection. The town’s vibe encourages you to take things easy, wander aimlessly around, sit down in one of the cafes to watch the world go by, and simply enjoy the place.

    • Kranj: Has a medieval old town which sits high on a rocky cliff right above the confluence of the Sava and Kokra rivers, featuring the 30-meter-deep Kokra River Canyon right in the city center. Kranj has underground WWII Tunnels: You can take a guided tour through 1,300 meters of underground tunnels built during World War II beneath the old town.

    We will continue to Ljubljana, where we will stay at the City Hotel (www.cityhotel.si) for 2 nights. Easy town walking.

  • Day to explore Ljubljana, with and without a guide. Often described as Europe's most charming and relaxed "hidden gem," Slovenia's capital offers the historic beauty of much larger cities but without the crushing crowds or inflated prices.Ljubljana’s center is largely car-free, making it a peaceful, highly walkable paradise of cobbled streets and willow-lined riverbanks. The Ljubljanica River is lined with lively sidewalk cafes and bars. It’s the perfect place to grab a coffee or a local craft beer and people-watch. We will take a funicular to the imposing Ljubljana Castle for panoramic views of the city and the distant Alps. Ljubljana was named the European Green Capital, and its lush, park-filled streets consistently rank among the safest in Europe. Easy town walking.

    • 1-hour drive to Brežice: Home to historic castles and quiet countryside.

    • 30 minutes to Samobor, Croatia: Samobor has a late-Baroque and Classicist main square featuring colorful pastel buildings, boutique shops, and outdoor cafes. Samobor also features castle ruins and a scenic riverfront walk featuring weeping trees, stone walls, and picturesque wooden footbridges. Samobor has great places for lunch and is known for its iconic, thick-custard and puff-pastry cream cake and hearty local dining with roasted boar and local smoked garlic sausages.

    • 30-minute drive to our airport hotel: The 4-star Hotel Royal Zagreb Airport (www.hotel-royal-airport.com).

  • Air France (AF) flight #1161 departs Zagreb Airport (ZAG) at 12:30 and arrives in Paris at 14:45. AF flight #52 departs Paris at 17:00 and arrives at IAD at 19:35. Multi-meals. Return to Ephrata.

    This itinerary is subject to change. Thank you.