BEEKEEPING TOUR TO SLOVENIA
THE LAND OF THE CARNIOLA BEE
27 SEPT – 5 OCT (or til 10 Oct)
In the center of Europe, where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Karst changes into sumptuous forests, you will be captivated by the blue Adriatic Sea and the mysterious Karst with its subterranean caves. The beautiful world of the mountains, nature parks, ravines, plateaus and crystal clean waters which pour in picturesque lakes will amaze you. Picturesque vineyards on the spurs of hills, quality wine and excellent food, attractive cities, medieval monasteries and castles, illuminated churches on hilltops and hospitable people with open arms and a smile.
Day 00, 27 Sept: Depart USA
Day 01, 28 Sept: Arrival in Slovenia Arrival in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Drive to hotel in Ljubljana, free time for leisure, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 02, 29 Sept: Ljubljana – Visit to a beekeeper – Museum of Apiculture – Lake Bled – Ljubljana Breakfast. Drive to the Gorenjska Region where we will spend the entire day. The trip starts with a visit to a beekeeper with a tasting of their famous honey brandy and innovative beetroot honey, which has medicinal uses. The next stop is the city of Radovljica and the Museum of Apiculture, Slovenia’s beekeeping heritage, with displays of 600 original hive fronts whose motifs painted in oil depict the lives and beliefs of people from that period. After a short walk through Radovljica’s old town we will continue our trip to the magnificent Lake Bled - one of Europe’s most stunning Alpine resorts. Optional boat ride with the traditional wooden boat “pletna” to the small island on the lake where you can ring the bell at the Church of the Assumption for good luck. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Ljubljana.
Day 03, 30 Sept: Ljubljana – Teaching apiary – Queen breading Station – Ljubljana
Breakfast. Drive to Dolenjska Region. Hill vineyards and little hilltop churches, castles and monasteries, broad forests and groves of birch trees give the extensive region of south-east Slovenia a particular charm. Visit to a beekeeper and artist. See a new typical Slovenian apiary which is arranged by a space dedicated to apitherapy and learning. This teaching apiary - part of Slovenian architectural heritage and cultural landscape primarily serve different forms of learning. Beekeepers can also learn here how to arrange an appropriate space for apitherapy following this example. The nature and importance of ecology will be experienced in the natural environment Krakovo Forest which is still part of the primeval forest. Afterword’s a visit to a mating station deep in the virgin forest. There is no cross-breeding from the immediate environment and the queens mate only with selected drones. Return to the capital
Postojna Cave Predjama Castle
of Slovenia, with the medieval town core, rich Baroque and Renaissance architecture, museums, galleries,... We enjoy a walk through the old town center, across Plečnik´s well-known Triple Bridge, down to the cathedral, past Francesco Robba´s fountain and the town hall, where you can take the funicular up to the town castle. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Ljubljana.
Day 04, 1 Oct: Ljubljana – Postojna Cave – Predjama Castle – Bee farm – Piran – Portoroz (Adriatic sea) Breakfast. Departure for Postojna Cave, the largest cave in the “classic karst” and the most visited show cave in Europe with 20 kilometers of passages, galleries and chambers. Ride the electrical train through the marvelous underground world. Next stop is at nearby Predjama Castle with dramatic setting in the gaping mouth of a cavern halfway up a cliff. Continuing to the coastal region we visit a bee farm, known for its collection of miniature bee houses, photographic gallery, tour of the plantation of nectar producing plants and a tasting of bee products. Then to the coast to Piran, it is the best preserved cultural monument of Slovenia . Throughout time, Piran maintained the clustered medieval, narrow winding streets and houses huddled close together. Tartini Square is the gem found in the very center of Piran. It was named after the famous violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, who made the town world-famous. Dinner and overnight in hotel at coastal region.
Day 05, 2 Oct: Piran/Portoroz – Lipica Stud Farm – Bee hive transport system – Piran/Portoroz
Breakfast. In the morning we take a trip to the Karst, a picturesque region stretching between the Bay of Trieste and the Vipava Valley which is cultivated with olive trees and vineyards, and which hides, beneath its surface, an exceptional beauty of caves, sinkholes, and valleys. Experts claim that some 11,000 subterranean features, caves, and hollows can be found all across Slovenia, which is unlike any other country in the world. Visit to Lipica Stud farm, the breeding ground for the world famous Lipizzaner horses. Founded in 1580 during the Habsburg Monarchy, it has been boasting the tradition of breeding and selecting pure-breed horses. Next stop is a visit to a beekeeper in the Karst Region specialized in bee hives transport system. Time to exchange experiences and to taste typical Mediterranean honey and other products. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in the coastal region.
Day 06, 3 Oct: Piran/Portoroz – Sečovlje salt works – Ljubljana
Breakfast. Morning visit to the salt works in Sečovlje and its open-air Museum of Salt Making. The Sečovlje salt works or flats are the only remaining salt works where sea salt is still harvested by way of a traditional method used since the 14th century. Free time at the coast for swimming or walking. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Ljubljana. Bring your bathing suit!
Day 07, 4 Oct: Ljubljana – Beekeeping Centre – Ljubljana
Breakfast. Drive to the Beekeeping Center, the head office of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association that was established 140 years ago, and comprises 200 beekeeping societies. Of great importance is the journal "Slovenian Beekeeper”, a significant part of their efforts is dedicated to informing the general public about the importance of beekeeping. Visit of their plantation of nectar producing plants and bee hives, built in unique Carniolian style. Free time for shopping, to visit the library or take a short walk at this beautiful spot. Return to Ljubljana. Free time. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Ljubljana.
Day 08, 5 Oct: Ljubljana – departure
Breakfast. End of the tour. You can end here or continue to the second week. Those ending here will be taken to the airport.
Package price for first week :
$1.400.00 per person, based on twin accommodations
Included:
* 7 nights in 3* and 4* hotels in twin rooms: 5 nights in hotel in Ljubljana and 2 nights in hotel in
the coastal region
* Tourist tax
* Transfer to/from airport in Ljubljana for group flying together to the destination
* 7 buffet breakfasts and 7 dinners in hotel (drinks not included)
* Transportation in air-conditioned coach in Slovenia
* Entrance and other fees as per program w/ English-speaking guide
* Organization and assistance
Not included:
* Transport to and from Slovenia
* Additional payment for single room $150.00 USD per person
* Entrance and other fees: e.g. the “pletna” boat ride, funicular ride up to the Ljubljana castle
* Drinks
* Trip cancellation insurance (in case of illness before departure)
* Travel insurance
* Optional lectures, visits
* All items not listed listed under “Included”
Please note: For all flying to Slovenia or nearby destination individually extra costs will appear for transfer to/from meeting point. Transfer assistance offered by request.
THE SECOND PART OF OUR TOUR IS IN THE TOWN OF KOBARID IN THE GORGEOUS SOCA VALLEY and organized by BeeSlovenia Tours (i.e. myself). This is where I lived for 5 yrs.
Our accommodations are in newly built Swiss chalets at Kamp Koren which sits next to the incredible turquoise waters of the Soca River. We will be staying in the same place til departure. Each cabin has two double rooms with shared bathroom, kitchenette, living room, balcony and porch, WiFi and TV. The camp has a bar for drinks, sandwiches and pizza. We are within 10 min. walk to town, 10 min to WWI trenches and a swing bridge over the Soca River and 20 min to a beautiful waterfall.
Day 08, 5 Oct: Arrive in Kobarid around noon.
Get settled then go for an orientation walk. Traditional dinner up in the mountains. Those interested can walk down to our cabins, about 2 miles. Overnight.
Day 09, 6 Oct: Suzid Bee Farm – afternoon adventure sports
Breakfast. Visit the nearby village of Suzid where we spend most of the day at the Cebelarstvo Lucka Apiary with 500 families (hives). Marija and Dusan have several kinds of hives which you will find very interesting, a large queen rearing business, a honey extracting building and a new apitherapy hut where anyone can go in and sit to breathe in the bee air. Late lunch will be at the apiary. If time allows, those interested in local adventure sports can sign up. List of these with prices will be at the end, the sports are not included in price. Overnight.
Day 10, 7 Oct: Kromberk Castle Lunch and Wine tasting in the wine region of Goriska Brda
Breakfast. Head to Nova Gorica but driving slowly so that we can stop to take pictures of all the bee houses, trucks and hives along the way. Hopefully we have time to even see a bee condo!!! Drive to Nova Gorica for a wonderful lunch at Kromberk Castle where every course will be made with honey. Then up to the wine hills of Goriska Brda where we will visit 2-3 wine tasting cellars. The scenery and villages are beautiful and very picturesque. Overnight.
Day 11, 8 Oct: Bovec for a day of beekeeping, bee houses, apitherapy and bee panel painting
Breakfast. Drive to Bavsica and walk to Matijas’ apiary, the oldest bee house in the area and then to visit a new apitherapy center, Bee Happy Apiary. Here Maja will show us her apitherapy cabin and we will do aromatherapy testing. A late picnic lunch will be at the center. Then to Rene and Nadijas’ bee panel studio where each will be able to paint their own bee panel and a chance to buy other panels. These are wooden panels that depict the lives, stories and folklore of the region and were decorated on most of the bee houses in the 1800’s. If time allows, those interested can sign up to do the new zip line that crosses over the valley 5 times. This zip line will be quite the thrill !!! Overnight.
Day 11, 9 Oct: WWI Museum Tour, hike around Kolovrat WWI trenches, Lunch on Riverboat
Breakfast. Walk to the WWI Museum in Kobarid where we will have a 2 hr tour. This is the top museum of its kind in Europe. Some of the bloodiest fighting ever was done in the mountains surrounding the area, known as the Isonzo Front. We drive up to Liveske Ravne for a guided hike around the Kolovrat trenches that have been unearthed and reinstated. Then down to the valley where we will have a late lunch on the Lucija Riverboat on the beautiful Soca River. Overnight.
Day 13, 10 Oct: Departure Day
Breakfast. Free time prior to departure.
Adventure Sport Possibilities – these are not included in the price
When you get your travel health insurance, add adventure sports to it, as the regular insurance will not cover these. These sports are available the whole week so if there is an activity you are not interested in, you can sign up. Transportation for the sports is included in the price of the sport.
White water rafting 40E ($50) Kayak school 60E ($75)
Kayak trip 50E ($62.50) Canyoning 50E ($62.50)
Paragliding 125E ($156) Zip Lining 55E ($68.65)
Price for 2nd week is $700.00. Total price for 2 weeks is $2100.00
Included Not Included
*All transportation to listed activities *drinks
*5 nights *transportation to airport if leaving
*5 breakfasts & 6 lunches & 1 lite dinner a different time or day
*Entrances and fees as per program *health insurance with adventure
*Wine tasting sport supp.
*airline ticket
*adventure sports
*private bathrooms, all will share
Price for trip is $2100 per person in a double room (airline ticket not included)
Payment will be in 3 instalments of $700 per person. Price may vary due to the exchange rate, this will be determined by the last payment.
1st instalment 1 May, 2015
2nd instalment 15 June, 2015
3rd instalment 1 Aug, 2015
Airline tickets are on your own. I do this for many reasons: you may have points that you want to use, you may want to leave earlier and join the group on the 28th or you may want to stay longer. Arrival time in Ljubliana airport should be around 3pm. If you do an overnight flight with one change, you should be able to arrive around 3. You might want to add cancellation insurance to your ticket.
Cancellation: Full refund until 1 August 2015.
Contact info:
Suzanne Brouillette
321 Chesham Rd
Harrisville, NH 03450
Cell #603-499-3730
and www.slovenianbeekeeping.com
Dreznica