Package holidays and escorted tours in Slovenia, judged sensibly

When does a tour pay off?

A tour convinces me in two situations. First, if you don’t want to drive in the mountains. The Julian Alps, the Vršič Pass and the Soča Valley reward stopping every few kilometres, and without a car they’re the hardest part to arrange. Second, if you’re adding Croatia and don’t fancy stringing together trains, coaches and border crossings; the two share 672 km of border and the pairing is logical, as I explain in Slovenia and Croatia.

When doesn’t it?

For the classics, Ljubljana, Bled and Postojna, I wouldn’t pay for a tour. Coaches serve nearly every village, says the Tourist Board, which lists Bled, Postojna, Predjama, Velika Planina and Piran among the simple day trips by bus from Ljubljana. With a base in Ljubljana and a couple of day trips, you cover the same ground. The options are in day trips from Ljubljana.

Which entry fees are included

Much of the price gap between tours comes down to tickets. Adult packages at Postojna cost between €34.90 and €84.50 and Bled Castle costs €19, according to their official websites; Ljubljana Castle is €19 with the funicular at the desk. A cheap tour that includes none of them can end up costing the same as a pricier one that does. It’s also worth knowing that Postojna tickets are only sold on the official website, which warns against resellers. My breakdown of trip costs is in is Slovenia expensive. If you’d rather plan it yourself, the practical side is in the Slovenia travel guide, and my shortest route is in Slovenia in 3 days.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Ljubljana before prices climb.

Nights, pace and guides

The second thing I’d look at is how many nights you get in each place. A tour with one night per town has you spending more time on the coach than seeing anything, and Slovenia is small enough to sleep in two or three bases and fan out from there. The third is the guide. The FCDO notes that tour guides in Slovenia must carry a registered guide card, and if you hire one directly I’d ask to see it.

The alternative: bases and day trips

If you don’t want a full tour but don’t want to drive either, there’s a middle way. Sleep in Ljubljana, at Bled or Bohinj, and in Piran, and book only the day trips that really need transport, such as the Soča or the Karst. That way you pay for a service where it adds something and travel independently the rest of the time. For me it’s the most balanced way to see the country without a car, and it works well for a week flying in and out of Ljubljana.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Ljubljana before prices climb.