FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA
We meet in a cozy café in Ljubljana, have breakfast, drink coffee, and get to know the group. We’ll talk through the plans ahead and get ready to fall in love with incredible Slovenia.
Our tour begins in the morning, so you’ll need to arrive in Ljubljana the day before. We can help arrange accommodation for one night if needed.
After breakfast we set off to explore the country, and our first stop is Predjama Castle. This fortress, literally merged with the rock, is one of the most unusual castles in Slovenia. It was built right at the entrance to a large cave — and in the Slovenian Karst region there are many of them. That’s where its name comes from: a castle “in front of the cave” — Predjama.
It’s a unique structure that not only looks impressive but also has remarkable architectural features. At first glance it seems the castle was built against a vertical cliff, using it as natural protection. That’s true — with one important detail: the rock isn’t just protection, it actually forms part of the castle’s walls. Inside the cliff there is also an extensive cave system that provided secret passages and additional entrances and exits. Predjama Castle is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest cave castle in the world.
After lunch at a local atmospheric restaurant, we continue our journey. Time to recall The Lord of the Rings and the Mines of Moria (Khazad-dûm) — the underground kingdom of the dwarves — because we’re heading for a walk through some truly spectacular caves.
The Škocjan Caves are among the most beautiful underground systems in Slovenia and have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1986. The cave complex includes the deepest underground canyon in Europe, twenty-six waterfalls, and countless unique karst formations. The scale of the caves is breathtaking. The guided walk takes about an hour and a half and leaves a lasting impression. It feels like stepping into a fantasy novel — the world becomes unreal, and it almost seems as if goblins or orcs might appear from behind the rocks at any moment.
In the evening we move closer to the sea. After such a full day, sleep will definitely come easy.