Trip Report: My recent visit to Slovenia and Croatia
Travel Fever Tours’ co-founder, Bob Lawson, recently traveled to Slovenia and Croatia to explore locations for future trips. Below are photos from each country. Click or tap to enlarge any image.
Also, there is a written description of his trip below the photos.
Slovenia
Croatia
Trip Report:
Thursday I arrived back from a three-week trip to Europe that included time in both Slovenia and Croatia, two countries where we plan to offer tours next year.
I had been in Croatia once, but that was back when it was still part of Yugoslavia, a long time ago. Much has changed in Croatia. And I’d never been in Slovenia. I’m happy to report two thumbs up for these destinations. They are lovely places and I can’t wait to go back.
Croatia is just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy and the two countries share much in terms of appearance, cuisine, and even history. The Romans spent time there, as did the Venetians later on. Today, the economy along the coast is supported largely by tourists who come for clear waters, beaches, and tidy villages along the coast with plentiful marinas.
I visited the island of Krk. A section of the Croatian Camino has been mapped out there and I wanted to have a look. The week-long walk is quite promising. It takes one along sea-side paths, through olive groves, in the forest, and along treeless ridges with views all around.
In Slovenia, I spent a night in Ljubljana, the capital. It’s a charming, small city with a castle on a hill and a river with inviting outdoor cafes and restaurants along its banks. From there I rented a car and went north to Bled and the Triglav National Park.
Bled, set on a lake, makes you feel you’ve walked into a fairy tale, with a castle on a hill and a church on an island in the middle of a lovely lake. Snow-capped peaks are all around. From there I headed to another lake, just inside the national park. This is where I’d like to run a walking tour. There are gentle walks around the lake and through pastures and small villages. There’s even a cheese museum. It doesn’t get better than that.
I also explored the western side of Slovenia that’s known for wine production. The cherry and apricot trees were starting to bloom there. I enjoyed this area immensely, spending a few nights at a small hotel. The owner was a computer programmer before deciding he’d spent enough time sitting in front of a computer. He returned to the village where he grew up and has done a marvelous job renovating some old structures into a hotel. He’s done much of the work himself and has no plans to ever return to the digital world.
Stay tuned for news of these new trips for 2026. First, I need to finish negotiating with hotels and tour guides.