Head to the Vršič Pass and find about the tragic WWI events that accompanied the building of the Russian road joining the two valleys at each side of the pass. As the road takes you through the Trenta Valley and descends into the Soča Valley, feast your eyes on the emerald Soča River, from which the famous WWI front takes its name.

Explore the once front line by stopping at the WWI fortress of Kluže and the WWI military cemetery of Bovec.

Spend the morning in the world-renowned WWI Museum of Kobarid to discover more about the Soča Front and its characteristic mountain warfare.

Next, take a break from history and proceed to the nearby dairy plant to learn all about the local heritage of high-mountain pastoralism. After lunch, head to the mountain ridge of Kolovrat to explore a well-preserved fortification line built by the Italian Army in WWI.

Conclude the day by visiting the WWI German ossuary of Tolmin.

First on today’s itinerary is the Italian WWI ossuary of Kobarid, which was officially opened in 1938 by Benito Mussolini.

After seeing the ossuary, part ways with the Soča Valley by taking a scenic ride to Cerkno. Arriving there, head to Franja, a secret partisan hospital which had operated there during WWII completely unbeknownst to the German occupying forces.

Finally, proceed to Idrija and descend into the shafts of the world’s second-largest mercury mine.

In the first half of the day explore the stunning collection of military exhibits at the Park of Military History of Pivka.

Next, visit the birthplace of the famous Lipizzaner horse at the Lipica Stud Farm. From Lipica proceed to Lokev to learn how homemade prosciutto is made and pay a visit to a local collector’s museum of military memorabilia.

No visit to Slovenia can go without seeing the remarkable Postojna Cave, so head there and meet its most famous resident, the “human fish”. From Postojna continue to Predjama, where the world’s largest cave castle awaits, concealing within its walls an exciting medieval legend.

Conclude the 5-day adventure by sightseeing the charming Slovenian capital of Ljubljana

Head to the Vršič Pass and find about the tragic WWI events that accompanied the building of the Russian road joining the two valleys at each side of the pass. As the road takes you through the Trenta Valley and descends into the Soča Valley, feast your eyes on the emerald Soča River, from which the famous WWI front takes its name.

Explore the once front line by stopping at the WWI fortress of Kluže and the WWI military cemetery of Bovec.

First visit for the day is to the setting of Hemingway’s famous novel, A Farewell to Arms. We will visit the world-renowned WWI Museum of Kobarid, which is dedicated to documenting the Soča Front, mountain warfare in the Julian Alps and the Battle of Kobarid.

Next, we head to the nearby traditional dairy plant Planika where you can learn all about the local heritage of high-mountain pastoralism. A visit to the WWI Italian ossuary in Kobarid follows in the afternoon. Commissioned by the Italian state, the ossuary was officially opened in 1938 following an opening speech by Benito Mussolini.

Before lunch we explore the linea d’ armata, an extensive line of fortified trenches, bunkers and artillery positions built by the Italian Army during WWI on the mountain ridge of Kolovrat.

After lunch we proceed to the German ossuary in Tolmin where the remains of 956 German soldiers, perished in the Battle of Kobarid, have been laid to rest.

We spend the first half of the day exploring the captivating Tolmin Gorges. As we follow the streams of the nearby Tolminka and Zadlaščica rivers, we learn about Dante’s Cave, a haunting grotto that supposedly inspired the great poet to write The Inferno.

Our afternoon is reserved for Franja Partisan Hospital, a clandestine stationary hospital built during WWII at the very centre of Nazi-occupied territory.

Arriving to Idrija, we descend into what was once the world’s second-largest mercury mine. From there we head to the nearby Lace Museum to learn all there is to know about the local technique of lace-making. After lunch we enjoy a scenic ride through the wine-growing Vipava Valley and visit the idyllic town of Vipava, referred to as the Venice of Slovenia by many.

We spend the evening in a local wine cellar, enjoying locally produced wine and delicacies – as acclaimed in the recent British press.

Our first landmark for the day is the Pečinka cave which saw intense military usage during both World Wars. Afterwards we head to the Sabotin Peace Park, a WWI outdoor museum showcasing well-preserved military fortifications.

Our sightseeing ends in the charming town of Vipavski Križ which has been declared a national monument owing to its cultural and historical significance

We first visit Štanjel, one of the Slovenia’s oldest and most picturesque karst towns, bearing the unmistakable imprint of the renowned architect Max Fabiani. Perched above the delightful viticultural landscape, you can roam freely through the streets of this relatively untouched gem and explore its mediaeval castle.

Our next destination is Lipica Stud Farm, the birthplace of the famous all-white Lipizzaner horse; the hallmark of finesse for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From Lipica we continue to Lokev to have a taste of the delicious homemade prosciutto (a local delicacy) and pay a visit to a local collector’s museum of military memorabilia.

We spend the morning exploring the remarkable Postojna Cave and meeting its most famous resident, the “human fish”, the mysterious underground salamander found only in this region.
From Postojna we head to Predjama where the world’s largest cave-castle awaits, looming upon a dramatic cliff-edge, concealing within its walls the thrilling legend of the robber baron Erazem.

After lunch we visit the Park of Military History in Pivka to see its stunning collection of military exhibits and conclude our day at the local ecomuseum.

The penultimate day of our journey is reserved for Base 20. Hidden deep in the Kočevski Rog forest, this military facility once provided shelter to the political leadership of the WWII Slovenian National Liberation Movement. The base, which had operated from 1943-1944, was never discovered by the occupying forces and even saw allied soldiers among its residents.

On the last day of our adventure we go for a walk through the charming centre of the Slovenian capital and take a walk to c to enjoy its spectacular view of the surrounding hills.

We part ways with Ljubljana on the Trail of Remembrance and Comradeship, a memorial walk following the exact line of the barbed fence erected by the Italian occupying forces during WWII to isolate the city from its outskirts.