Hungary and the Slovenian Alps

10 days
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3.5/5 Great
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Group Tour
Riddled with caves, rolling with wine country, and carpeted with spectacular Alpine scenery, Slovenia and its neighbors, southern Austria and Hungary, are enchanting places to discover on foot. Hike above glacial valleys and through medieval villages, find gorgeous waterfalls, and soak up serene mountain scenery that once figured in World War I battles. Watch...
From$5,595
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Stroll vineyard-striped hillsides and taste wines from Hungary’s Lake Balaton to Goriška Brda in Slovenia.
    • Hike Slovenia’s stunning Alpine scenery: from snow-covered peaks and glacially carved valleys to pristine Lake Bohinj.
    • Discover medieval history at a floating grain mill and herders’ cone-roofed huts.
    • Delve into the otherworldly limestone cathedrals of Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What's this trip about?

    Riddled with caves, rolling with wine country, and carpeted with spectacular Alpine scenery, Slovenia and its neighbors, southern Austria and Hungary, are enchanting places to discover on foot. Hike above glacial valleys and through medieval villages, find gorgeous waterfalls, and soak up serene mountain scenery that once figured in World War I battles. Watch the sunset over the Adriatic from the harbor in Piran and from Bled Castle, perched high above Lake Bled. Sample some of region’s best wines and cuisine, and experience the unusual and engaging cultural blend of some of Central Europe’s least discovered landscapes.

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityBudapest
End CityLjubljana

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Wine Tasting

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • Accommodations
    • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
    • Pre-departure information
    • Entrance fees, excursions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation during the expedition
    • Transfers to and from group flights where applicable
    • Services of an adventure consultant, guides and any other staff, and on designated “Photography” departures, a National Geographic Photographer
    • Taxes, port charges, baggage handling, and service charges.
    • Internal airfare is included on some international expeditions

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Budapest, Hungary

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Kempinski Corvinus

Arrive in Budapest, a city that flanks the Danube River and harbors grand imperial architecture and a vibrant, progressive culture. Transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city before an orientation and welcome dinner.

Day 2: Lake Balaton

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Anna Grand Hotel

Head southwest to the beech forests and aquamarine waters of Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest lake. Set out on a hike in Balaton Uplands National Park and learn about the region’s geol...

Day 3: Prekmurje, Slovenia/Styria, Austria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Schlössl Hotel Kindl

Discover northern Slovenia’s distinct Prekmurje cultural region today. Hike the floodplain of the Mura River, known for birdlife such as storks and kingfishers, and visit a floating grai...

Days 4 & 5 — Logarska Valley, Slovenia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Plesnik

Just across the border in the Slovenian Alps lies the Logarska Dolina, a dazzlingly green glacial valley backed by soaring, ice-capped peaks. Set out on a hike up to the mountain ridge, taking ...

Day 6: Velika Planina/Lake Bohinj

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Jezero

Explore the herding lifestyle of the Velika Planina or Great Highlands. Hike through pasturelands alive with the sound of cowbells, past old herdsmen’s wooden huts with Alpine peaks all around. ...

Day 7: Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Jezero

The mountains that embrace Lake Bohinj are part of one of Europe’s oldest national parks, Triglav. We’ll hike along Mostnica River here, passing gorges filled with blue-green pools and waterfall...

Day 8: Vršič Pass/Sleme/Kobarid

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hiša Franko

As we traverse the Julian Alps, stop to admire the breathtaking vista from Vršič Pass, built by Russian prisoners of war during World War I. From here, hike to Sleme, identifying dozens of Alpine...

Day 9: Kobarid/Piran

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Piran

The Soča River Valley was the setting for the fierce battles of WWI’s Isonzo Front, described in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Trace this turbulent history at the Kobarid Museum, then wa...

Day 10: Škocjan Caves/Ljubljana

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The geological phenomenon known as karst is named for Slovenia’s Kras region. Head there today to discover a landscape of eroded limestone formations, and venture into the otherworldly underground passages of the Škocjan Caves, a World H...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,595
Price per day$560
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Geographic Expeditions.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Optional gratuities
    • Personal items
    • The “B, L, D” notations apply to the period during the expedition only no any meals on flights to/from the Trip.

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Meals Included

9 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 9 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
nation-hunandnat

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