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$4250 Double / $5100 Single

Our Harvest Tour is a one of a kind opportunity to sit down and talk with the generous and hospitable owners, wine makers and local producers in their cellars, houses, restaurants, shops and mills. A special invitation into peoples’ place of work & passion that focuses on the history, wine making traditions and culinary magic of these countries.

And there’s no better time of year to immerse in this culinary utopia than the harvest season. Most of the tourists have gone home, the leaves are turning color, vineyards are being harvested and the smell of wood stoves and heavenly aromas float through the cool air. This unique tour features a variety of home-cooked dinners, a few very special five-course meals, strolls in the beautiful wine country, ten wine tastings and an array of other tastings including honey, olive oil, jams, fruits and truffles.

Nearly two weeks of stimulating your taste buds can be a bit much. That’s why we’re leaving time for curious guests to back away from the kitchen table and go explore castles, stroll through old Venetian towns, discover colorful frescoes in tiny churches and make a personal connection between the food, the land and its people. Like with our other tours, a maximum group size of ten guests lends itself to a more intimate travel experience served up with a genuine, personal touch..

We have enjoyed our small groups so much that we will continue to keep numbers low and personal attention high. This tour will have a maximum of 11.

Tour leader Andrew Villone

Highlights Include

• Engaging on a personal level with local wine makers in six different micro regions

• Getting your shoes dirty in the forests as you follow truffle-hunting dogs for your next meal

• Indulging your sweet tooth with Slovenian ‘potica’ cakes, honey ice cream and hand made chocolate truffles

• Enjoying the secluded view down to the Adriatic Sea from your hotel and Michelin starred restaurant

• Savoring gourmet goat cheeses, olive oils, prosciutto and handmade pasta in Croatia’s Istria gourmet region

• Soaking in the atmosphere at a converted 13th century chateau with sparkling wine tastings

• Discovering the nutty flavor of pumpkin seed oil and other local treats off the beaten path in eastern Slovenia’s eastern ‘chicken-head’ region

• Getting more than your fill of traditional home-cooked meals and local spirits at rustic, countryside eateries

Day One

Overnight: Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Introduction to Slovenian Wines

Overview of Slovenian history, wine making and geography AND intro to Vipava Valley’s predominantly white wines (Pinela, Zelen and Malvazija) at Lepa Vida winery.  Afternoon to enjoy having your hotel room in the middle of a peaceful forest. Extravagant and imaginative welcome dinner at Zemono restaurant, a one-star Michelin restaurant and Gault & Millau pick for Slovenia’s top eatery.

Day Two

Overnight: Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Bio wines, bunker cheese and Habsburg dinner

Visit to biodynamic/organic wine maker, Burja, named after the strong wind of the region that makes the air-dried prosciutto so delicious. Explore Italian-built bunkers from the 1920’s that now house some seriously yummy cheeses. Go back in time and dine like royalty at a restaurant in Italy which cooks up dishes from the Habsburgs.

Day Three

Overnight: Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Dry sparkling and macerated wines

Start the day at Bjana, home to Slovenia’s best sparkling wines and a tour that includes region’s oldest cellar (over 800 years old). Five course lunch paired with macerated/orange wines including Tokaj Friuliano, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc all made with long skin contact. Walk off lunch in a cute town in the region that used to be the border between Venetian and Austrian empires. Chill time in the forest before dinner right next to your hotel.

Day Four

Overnight: Ptuj, Slovenia

Farmhouse lunch and Slovenia’s oldest town

We head east towards Slovenia’s oldest town of Ptuj. Unforgettable lunch and wine pairings at a rustic farmhouse in a tiny village. Guided tour of Ptuj including the castle which houses colorful and strange costumes Slovenes use during their carnival ! Gin tasting and dinner in the old town.

Day Five

Overnight: Ptuj, Slovenia

Eating our way through the ‘chicken head’ of Slovenia

Discover the flavors of of what is affectionately known as the ‘chicken head’ of the country in the Prekmurje region. Start things off with some 360 degree views and sparkling wines at Doppler winery. Then learn all about the delicious nutty and smokey taste of pumpkin seed oil, the ubiquitous speciality of the region. Meet a young Slovenian couple producing amazing chocolates, marmalades, and fruit juices. Their chocolate pralines feature very local items like Traminer grapes, pumpkin oil, dried pears and elderflower.

Dinner at family-run Gostilna Rajh that serves up quintessential dishes such as bograc, a spicier, thicker cousin to goulash, and gibanica, a multi-layered cake which seemingly has every ingredient packed into it.

Day Six

Overnight: Kvarner region, Croatia

First taste of Croatia

Depart Slovenia and cross over into Croatia. Explore the oft-overlooked Plešivica region of north-central Croatia, and enjoy their sparkling wines and some great duck for lunch.

Chill out with fantastic views down to the sea at our secluded hotel perched up on Mt. Ucka near the Bay of Kvarner. Relax with your favorite wine and watch the sun go down over the Adriatic or take an easy walk to waterfalls through a quiet chestnut grove. Four course seafood dinner in an elegant one-star Michelin restaurant, Draga di Lovrana.

Day Seven

Overnight: Istria region, Croatia

Truffles and honey

We head through a tunnel in Mt. Ucka that leads us to Croatia’s Istria region. Visit the charming hill town of Motovun with glorious views all around. Then we ead to the forests with a local woman and her dogs to sniff out and dig up truffles. Hopefully we will find some truffles but regardless there will be a special truffle-themed lunch.

Get your taste buds ready for a wholly unique pairings of honey and wine – served as one spoonful together – from a great central Istrian winemaker who also keeps bees. Check into our lodgings in the small, quiet medieval town of Bale. Go full Balkans with a wonderful dinner of Macedonian specialities.

Day Eight

Overnight: Istria region, Croatia

Roman ruins and goat cheese

Relax in the morning or explore and shop the beautiful coastal city of Rovinj. Then it is off to the largest Roman arena outside of Italy in the city of Pula. Guided tour of arena and rest of the city which has layers of Roman, Venetian, Austrian and Yugoslav history.

Epic goat cheese feast at Kumparicka farm that is far off the tourist grid with home cooked stews, soups and tasty surprises, not to mention about a dozen types of soft and semi-hard goat cheeses to go with hot-out-of-the-oven bread. Consistently one of our guests’ favorite experiences on any of tours! Later afternoon visit to historic Venetian town of Rovinj, Croatia’s most beautiful seaside town. Enjoy a light dinner or night cap on your own.

Day Nine

Overnight: Karst region, Slovenia

Organic olives and zero km food

Cross back into Slovenia to learn about organic farming and olive oil production at an olive farm situated on the Adriatic with views down to 14th century Venetian salt flats. Tour of farm followed by a beautiful lunch of all eco certified products. Visit to gorgeous little seaside town of Piran.

Day Ten

Overnight: Karst region, Slovenia

Caves, Hill towns and Teran wines from the Karst

Tour of UNESCO protected Skocjan caves, an amazing underground world featuring Europe’s deepest underground canyon. Visit to hill town of Stanjel in the Karst region, a region dominated by prosciutto, bold red Teran wines, caves and stone houses.

Tasting of the region’s most recognized wine, Teran (fresh, aged and barrique styles) and Vitovska (indigenous white of the Karst) at CV winery. Farewell dinner at this winery.

Price: $4250 (Air not included). Single Supplement is $850. We welcome singles and can try to pair you with another single to room with, but the single supplement will be required if we can’t.

Tour price includes 10 dinners (wine included), 8 lunches, 10 nights lodging at B&B and farmhouses (en-suite), 10 wine tastings, tastings of olive oil, honey, pumpkin oil and truffles, transport, private guide, transfers to/from airport.

Tour begins morning of September 21st. Pick up can be from Ljubljana hotel, airport or train station. Airport LJU.

Tour ends 90 minutes from Ljubljana Airport and 30 minutes from Trieste, Italy. We can arrange transfers to LJU airport or help you with onward journey to Italy.

I have been visiting friends and showing them my photos from the Piemonte tour. I was telling them how great it was to become immersed in this area and see things you would not normally have the opportunity to do or know about. Having a caring and inquisitive guide who delights in sharing where she lives brings so much to the experience. Go visit Piemonte with Lisa- you will have such an amazing time and fond memories to share and relish!

Patricia Eaganafter a tour in Piedmont, Italy with Lisa

I have had the joy of traveling with Adventures with Sarah many times, from Thailand, to Turkey, and many places in between. I choose to book with AWS because I can rely on a tour that is paced well, varied in activities, with great food and even greater guides. As a frequent traveler to Europe, I really enjoy AWS tours due to a small group size and the opportunity to go in depth into a region and really experience the culture of the area I’m visiting. And every time, with every group, I meet fellow travelers who are now friends. Adventures with Sarah is a tour company that I would recommend without hesitation. In fact, I have 3 tours booked for this year!

Betsy McGregorafter multiple tours with Adventures with Sarah

Fantastic look at more "out of the way" spots and wonderful experiences of food and wine. No crowds, just the Sicilian countryside and lovely towns. Traveling in April was fantastic with all the wildflowers. And walking on Mama Etna's shoulders was a highlight!

Barbara B.Sicily Pleasures tour

It really was a wonderful trip. This was our first group trip, and the size was just right. We all got along well which was a bonus. Everything was smooth, and Sarah had picked out some really wonderful things for us to do. I felt like we were getting "sneak peeks" of special things regular tourists don't get to do. We were willing participants for her to try out new things on this trip. The hotels were lovely, and the wine lunches perfect! There was a good balance of planned activities and free time which I appreciated. I will definitely be looking for more trips to go on with Adventures with Sarah!

Leslie P.Sicily Pleasures tour

Good accommodations in the heart of all important areas. Food experience was excellent with incentive to try new foods. Sarah is very personable and has each tour member's concerns and needs in mind. Love the small groups.

Larry C.Sicily Highlights tour

We had a great time! Perfect mix of free time and planned group excursions/tours. The food was amazing! Our accommodation was comfortable and our views were unforgettable! I would book another trip with this company.

Jen R.Dalmatian Staycation tour

My husband and I had a great time touring Dalmatia with Sarah and the local guides that joined us. A favorite activity was sailing on a traditional sail boat from the island of Vis. Lovely group of travelers and many memories made!

Dawn R.Dalmatian Staycation tour

Food and wine blitz in beautiful areas of Slovenia and Croatia. You will appreciate it most if you are a true wine lover. Meetings with young enthusiastic, creative winemakers were the highlight.

Betsy W.Harvest tour

We had a wonderful trip with no issues at all. Gorgeous area, plenty of delicious food, perfect weather and knowledgeable guide!

John G.Harvest tour

What a perfect way to get back into European travel. It was obvious from the start that Trish had put her heart and soul into the planning of the Hidden Paris tour. It was a great mix of adventures and I throughly enjoyed my travel group, who became like family, and it was obvious to see why most had traveled with adventures with Sarah before, Our local guide, Julian, was excellent and it was fun finally getting to also meet Sarah and sons. Merci beaucoup, Trish for this great time and I hope to travel with you again in the future.

Leslie A.Paris Staycation tour

A thoroughly enjoyable trip. George, our leader, was super-knowledgeable, helpful, energetic, and fun. His knowledge of people and places gave us experiences we couldn't have duplicated on our own. The itinerary was great - I thought the pace was good and we had a variety of experiences. The only thing I didn't like was that the weather in late April was rather chilly and often wet, more so than I expected. However, traveling later in the spring would have meant missing Orthodox Easter, which was the highlight of the trip for me. We spent it in a rural village, and participating in the villagers' traditions was a rare privilege that I'll never forget. So take an umbrella and some warm clothes and prepare for a special experience. Maybe you'll get the sunshine that we mostly didn't get!

Melissa M.Romania tour

Our guide Susanna was both professional and thoughtful. She cared for our health and happiness! I had some health issues and was treated with kindness and help! Our accommodations were both comfortable and clean. The bus driver was fearless and professional. I will travel with Susanna again!

Melva O.Sicily Pleasures tour

This was a wonderful trip! Susanna was such a wonderful tour guide, thoughtful, funny, informative. I can’t imagine a better guide for this trip! Our accommodations were wonderful as were all the varied activities and dining experiences. I enjoyed the other travelers in our group and felt as if we were family. I have made new friends that I will keep in touch with. Thank you!

Anne B.Sicily Pleasures tour

We had a wonderful tour with our guide Susanna and fellow travelers. The tour was well planned out touching on most all the main destinations in Sicily. Susanna was super well organized, kind and considerate and a lot of fun to travel with. She was a great communicator before, during and after the tour and was helpful with day to day needs like finding laundry service, restaurants and transport to the airport. The local guides, meals, accommodations, etc were all top notch. We had a great small group of 7 travelers that all got on very well. The spacious van we used for traveling was very comfortable and the driver Giuseppe was highly skilled at driving the chaotic streets in Sicily’s cities and towns. We highly recommend booking a tour with Adventures with Sarah and especially with Susanna Perrucchini!!

Randal D.Sicily Highlights tour

In short, we will travel with AWS again and would highly recommend them! Oh!! We also felt that we received far more in value and experience than the price for the tour.

Veneto Slovenia tour