Intrepid Slovenia to Macedonia Real Food Adventure

• Meals: 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 5 dinners
• Transport: Private Vehicle, Public Bus, Taxi
• Accommodation: Hotel (19 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)
• Included Activities

• Ljubljana – Snops Tasting
• Bled – Day Trip
• Bled – Kremsnita Tasting
• Ljubljana – Slovenian Cooking Class
• Piran – Tasting Tour and Lunch
• Motovun – Truffle Hunt and Tasting
• Rovinj – Day Trip
• Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Pag Island – Cheese Tasting
• Rakovica: Home-cooked Meal
• Split – Old Town Food and Culture Tour
• Korcula – Winery Cycle Tour
• Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites)
• Shkoder – Rozafa Fortress visit
• Ston – Town Visit
• Putnokovici – Local Farm Visit
• Njegusi – Smokehouse Visit & Tasting
• Lustica – Olive oil farm visit
• Prizren – Walking Tour
• Albania – Rozafa Fortress
• Prizren – Old Bazaar Lunch
• Kosovo – Sightseeing Tour
• Pristina – Gracanica Monastery Visit
• Gracanica – Traditional Lunch
• Leunovo – Painted Mosque of Tetovo Visit
• Leunovo – Traditional Home Cooked Dinner
  Janche – Cooking Class
• Mavrovo National Park Visit
• St Jovan Bigorski Monastery Visit
• Kuratica – Local Home Cooked Dinner
• Dihovo – Beekeeping Masterclass
• Ohrid – Green Market Visit/Breakfast
• Dihovo – Villa Dihovo Lunch
• Bitola – Stobi Archaeological Site Visit
• Matka – Matka Canyon Boat Cruise
• Skopje – Green Market/Picnic

Day 1: Ljubljana

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Please ask reception to confirm the time and place of your meeting.

Day 2: Bled to Ljubljana

This morning, take a public bus to Bled (approximately 1 hour). Situated on stunning Lake Bled at the edge of the Julian Alps, this is a postcard location par excellence. You will have approximately 5 hours in Bled, but we’ve come for one reason – a delicious cream cake called kremna rezina (kremsnita to the locals).

Day 3: Piran / Motovun

Travel by public bus to Piran this morning (approximately 2 hours). Piran is a coastal town, located near the border of Italy and Croatia. The region is renowned for its production of fantastic quality olive oils, wine (especially the distinctive teran and refošk), as well as a cured ham called prsut.

Day 4: Motovun

Drive to the romantic Croatian town of Rovinj, one of the best-kept towns on the Adriatic Coast (approximately 1 hour). Among Rovinj’s qualities is the beautiful, architecturally intact old town centre, with a relaxed Mediterranean feel.

Day 5: Plitvice National Park

Take a private transfer to the stunning World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park (approximately 4 hours). It’s the largest national park in Croatia and known to be one of the oldest in South-East Europe – a misty Eden of endless waterfalls and spectral blue lakes.

Day 6: Pag Island to Zadar

Farewell your hosts and then travel by bus to nearby Pag Island (approximately 2 hours). Meet a producer of the island’s renowned cheese ‘paski sir’. This artisan sheep’s milk cheese has long been a valued commodity of the island. Discover more about the production process and enjoy a tasting. There will also be an option to enjoy a specialty dish of the region – lamb cooked peka-style – beneath a metal bell.

Day 7: Split

Rise early for a stroll through Zadar’s vibrant fish markets. The fish market is built into the city ramparts at the spot where the fishing trawlers land with their catch. This will also give you an opportunity to ogle some of the produce grown in the area.

Day 8: Split

On arrival to Split, you’ll get the chance to learn more about the sights and flavours of the city as you embark on a walking tour of the city with a local foodie. Take Diocletian’s Palace and wander the district’s winding streets, before heading into the green market to learn about Croatian agriculture.

Day 9: Korcula

Catch a morning ferry to Korcula (approximately 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, embark on an orientation walk to get a feel for this historic fortified island town, including the Cathedral of St Mark, the 15th-century Franciscan monastery and the massive fortifications surrounding the city. A free afternoon gives the opportunity to take in the serenity of the local forest’s tranquil inlets and character-filled vineyards.

Day 10: Korcula

Jump on a bike and ride east towards Lumbarda beach. The landscape of the island is dotted with vineyards, olive groves and lush forests – take the ride casually and absorb some of the beautiful landscapes surrounding the area as you pedal on by. Once arriving at Lumbarda village, explore two local wineries for a tasting. The village is revered for two white varietals, Grk and Posip, which have been produced here for centuries.

Day 11: Dubrovnik

Travel to Dubrovnik by public bus and ferry (approximately 4 hours). Dubrovnik is a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by fortifications – some might recognise it from Game of Thrones as the filming location for Kings Landing.

Day 12: Dubrovnik

Head out with the group for an included dinner in the old city. Croatian cuisine varies from region to region, but a countrywide favourite that continues on the back of tradition is the charcuterie. Traditionally created with pork, charcuterie involves using a lot of specially prepared meats to create pates, rillettes, sausages, cured meats and more – all of which showcase flavours specific to their preservation process. If the option’s there, definitely give it a try.

Day 13: Kotor

After breakfast, depart from Dubrovnik to the Peljesac peninsula, taking a few stops along the way. Take some time to explore Ston, witnessing the longest stretching city walls in the region before watching the production of sea salt at the local salt panels, then continue on the panoramic drive along the bay. Spend some time passing the local vineyards before reaching the small village of Putnikovic. Enjoy a visit to a local farm to learn more about regional production and harvesting techniques before eating lunch at the local konoba (Croatian tavern).

Day 14: Kotor

After breakfast, visit the town of Njegusi on the outskirts of Kotor – known around the country for its famous smoke dried hams and cheeses. Stop into a smokehouse, where the owners take you on a tour and explain their artisanal production process which dates back for centuries. Enjoy tastings of their famous Njegui smoked hams, cheeses and grape brandy in the smokehouse restaurant before returning to Kotor.

Day 15: Prizren

Say goodbye to Kotor in the morning as you depart for Kosovo. The first stop on the journey takes you to Rozafa Fortress, Albania – one of the last legendary strongholds of the allied Christian forces (Albanians, Montenegrins and Venetians) against the invading Ottomans in the 15th-century.

Day 16: Prizren

Depart from Prizren on to Pristina, Kosovo’s capital and largest city. Take some time to explore the history nearby settlement of Gracanica settlement, which serves as the home of one of the few dominantly Serbian populations in Kosovo.

Day 17: Leunovo

Today marks your last day in Kosovo – enjoy breakfast before checking out of the hotel and departing towards Macedonia. Pass through the Brezovica National Park, taking in the steep cliffs and rugged mountain scenery as you pass by en route to Skopje.

Day 18: Ohrid

Wake up in the morning to the smell of a home-made breakfast wafting in from the kitchen. A delicious meal of fresh, hot mekici (Macedonian doughnuts) and pancakes are served up for breakfast, traditionally coupled with some delicious local jam or cheese. Afterwards, say farewell to your host family and set off to explore the southern part of the Mavrovo National Park.

Day 19: Orhid

Ohrid is Europe’s oldest lake and as one of the oldest human settlements in the world, it’s got a wealth of historic sites and religious monuments to discover. Today is free to explore the town’s streets and churches, maybe picking up a bargain or two in the vibrant Old Bazaar.

Day 20: Bitola

Drive onward to Dihovo, another little village sitting quietly in the foothills of Mt Pelister. A local beekeeper will teach you about the fascinating world of the honeybee as they share with you their secrets – you’ll get a hands on approach to beekeeping and honey as you don on protective gear for an optional open beehive demonstration. Afterwards, enjoy a tasting of honey extracted straight from the comb before tucking into a home-cooked meal in a stone and wood villa built in traditional Macedonian style.

Day 21: Skopje

After immersing yourself in the full flavours of Macedonia’s wine culture, arrive in Skopje in the late afternoon. Tonight is free to explore Macedonia’s capital at your own pace – perhaps consider asking your leader for restaurant suggestions.

Day 22: Skopje

Wake early and enjoy ‘breakfast on the move’ through the streets of Skopje. Pay a visit to the green market to learn more about the ingredients that make up Macedonian cuisine before picking up some items for a picnic lunch.
Travel to Matka Canyon, a fascinating gorge containing a rich complex of medieval buildings, churches, monasteries and the remnants of a fortress. After a short walk to the Monastery of St Andrew, a boat will collect you for a relaxing sail through Matka Canyon and down the Treska River with a picnic lunch stop along the way.

Day 23: Skopje

Your Real Food Adventure concludes this morning.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.