An Adventure Across Slovenia, Italy and Croatia

In 10 days, I traveled through three countries, hiked in the Julian Alps, rafted the Soča River, cycled through Italian wine country and went truffle hunting in Croatia. It was a lot to fit into one trip, but the itinerary never felt rushed. Each day brought a new place to explore, a different way to experience the landscape and plenty of opportunities to connect with the people along the way.

Here's how our journey through Slovenia, northeastern Italy and Croatia unfolded, from our first walk around Lake Bled to a final spritz on the Adriatic.

Trip at a glance

Itinerary: Slovenia & Croatia Multi-Adventure

Length: 10 days

Route: Lake Bled and the Julian Alps (Slovenia), the wine country of northeastern Italy, and Istria (Croatia)

Highlights: Bled Castle, Triglav National Park hike, beekeeping in Kranjska Gora, Soča River rafting, zipline, castle wine cellar, vineyard cycling, truffle hunt, Rovinj kayaking, Novigrad sunset

Activities: hiking, rafting, zipline, cycling, kayaking, yoga, food and wine tastings

Exploring Lake Bled and Bled Castle in Slovenia

Lake Bled is a pretty good place to start a trip. We spent our first day walking around the lake and hiking up to Bled Castle, where a week-long medieval festival was underway.

With some time before dinner, we explored the castle's outposts and balconies. It was easy to picture life here centuries ago, when the castle served as a regional stronghold.

It was a memorable introduction to Slovenia, and a chance to stretch our legs after the journey.

Hiking Through Triglav National Park in Slovenia

Day two turned out to be one of the best of the trip. We left early for Triglav National Park and hiked into the heart of the Julian Alps.

The trail ran through pastures, up a ski slope and into the alpine zone. The views improved with every step, and a curious ibex wandered past to see what we were up to.

From the top, we had a panoramic view of Mount Triglav, Slovenia's tallest peak, and the surrounding ridgeline. It was only day two, and the group already felt like family.

Discovering Beekeeping Traditions in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Next, we drove to the small town of Kranjska Gora, where we got a closer look at one of Slovenia's longstanding traditions: beekeeping.

We put on bee hats and learned how the process works before sampling a range of local honeys. Slovenia has the highest concentration of beekeepers per capita in Europe, and after learning more about the tradition, it's easy to see why.

There was more to discover just beyond town, too. A short walk brought us to a trail that climbed through a lush river gorge to a waterfall. Then we drove up and over a high mountain pass, with our driver handling the tight turns with ease on the way down into the Soča River valley.

Whitewater Rafting and Ziplining in Slovenia's Soča Valley

The forecast had called for rain almost every day, and we hadn't had a drop. It finally arrived on day four, and it turned out to be a welcome change of pace.

We started slowly with a yoga class and a great breakfast at the hotel. Low clouds drifted through the Soča Valley, and with the drizzle, the landscape looked like a scene from a movie.

The weather didn't affect our afternoon plans. We drove a short way up the valley to a whitewater outfitter, put on wetsuits and helmets, split into rafts and hit the river. Rain hardly matters when you're already in the water.

Our guides took us through a handful of rapids in low fog and crystal-clear water. Halfway down, they built a waterslide into the river for anyone willing to jump into the icy water.

After the final stretch of whitewater, we reached the take-out and headed back to town. Trucks were waiting to take us high into the mountains for one of the most scenic ziplines I've ridden. The valley views were hard to believe, and it was a welcome shot of adrenaline in the schedule.

Exploring Castle Cellars and Vineyards in Northeastern Italy

Soon we crossed the border into Italy and rolled through hills and vineyards. We stayed at Castello Despenser, a 13th-century castle that is now a wine resort.

After settling in, some of us used our free time for a round on the castle's nine-hole golf course. Then a guide took us down into the cellars beneath the castle to see its collection of thousands of bottles. Back upstairs, we tasted some of the local favorites. I could get used to this.

The next day, we traded the car for bikes. Having a driver is great, but the best way to see a place is on two wheels. We pedaled up and down the hillsides and stopped at a local café for a midday espresso.

The day ended with another excellent meal and wine pairing, looking out over the vineyards toward the Dolomites in the north.

One thing I liked about this trip was that we never had a full travel day. Whenever we had a lot of ground to cover, the drive was broken up with a stop or two somewhere interesting. It made even the time between destinations feel like part of the adventure.

Truffle Hunting in Croatia's Istria Region

On the way into Croatia, we stopped to meet two of the hardest workers in the Istrian woods: a pair of truffle-hunting dogs.

Istria is known for its white and black truffles, so we spent time with the dogs and the experts who lead the hunts. After a successful search, we sat down to a four-course meal built entirely around truffles.

It was an epic lunch, and a memorable way to experience one of the region's best-known culinary traditions.

Kayaking Along the Coast of Rovinj, Croatia

Farther down the coast, we got into kayaks and paddled toward the old town of Rovinj.

The town is a maze of shops, galleries and restaurants, with steep cobblestone lanes leading from one corner to the next. After paddling around the old town, we had a few hours of free time to explore on our own.

It's a street photographer's paradise, and nearly every corner has something worth shooting. The food along the coast was excellent, too, and the sunsets lived up to their reputation.

Watching the Sunset in Novigrad, Croatia

We ended the trip in the quiet coastal town of Novigrad. I had a spritz outside while the setting sun glittered on the Adriatic.

The trip went by in a blur. At the same time, that first hike at Lake Bled feels like it was a year ago. Ten days, three countries and more experiences than I could have imagined fitting into one trip. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure with EF Adventures.