Nova Vas

Day Trips

Begin your journey in Nova Vas with a walk along the narrow streets, admiring pastel-colored houses and local stone churches. Pop into a family-run bakery to sample fresh kremna rezina and locally roasted coffee. Chat with friendly shopkeepers to learn about traditional Karst customs and local lore.

Head to a nearby gostilna for a leisurely lunch featuring štruklji and seasonal vegetables from the village garden. Pair your meal with a glass of local white Rebula or red Teran from a nearby micro-winery. Stroll through the village square, watching locals play chess or sip afternoon tea under ancient linden trees.

Join a hands-on cooking workshop in a rustic farmhouse kitchen, learning to roll homemade pasta or prepare štruklji dumplings. Enjoy your creations family-style around a long wooden table lit by candlelight and filled with laughter. Cap the night with a moonlit stroll, absorbing the soft glow of lanterns along cobblestone lanes.

Cycle out to rolling vineyards surrounding Nova Vas, passing neat rows of Rebula vines and sun-drenched karst stone walls. Meet a local vigneron for a guided tour of the vineyards and cellar, learning about ancient winemaking traditions passed down through generations. Sample fresh must and grape varieties straight off the vine under the morning sun.

Settle in at a hilltop winery terrace for a multi-course lunch paired with estate-bottled wines, each dish inspired by regional produce. Wander through barrel rooms, breathing in oak and aged Teran, while your host recounts tales of family harvest festivals. Finish with a tasting of rare fortified wines alongside local honey and dried figs.

Return to Nova Vas as dusk falls and savor an outdoor vineyard concert featuring local folk musicians. Tap your feet to tamburica melodies beneath a canopy of stars. Top off the evening with a nightcap of homemade brandy and homemade biscuits in a candlelit cellar nook.

Travel a short drive to explore the UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves, descending into vast underground canyons carved by the Reka River. Marvel at towering stalactites and subterranean waterfalls illuminated by ethereal lighting. Let your guide explain the geological history and unique ecosystem hidden beneath the surface.

Enjoy a picnic at the cave park’s viewpoint, feasting on cured ham, local cheese, and crusty bread while listening to echoing bird calls in the Karst forest. Hike one of the marked nature trails, spotting native orchids and butterflies amongst limestone outcrops. Return to Nova Vas for a quick rest and a cup of steaming honey tea.

Join a special cave concert workshop held in a smaller cavern chamber, where musicians demonstrate haunting folk instruments. Feel the resonance of ethereal sounds bounce off stone walls as you sip herbal infusion. Head back under the stars, reflecting on the wonder of the underground world.

Set off before sunrise for a guided trek up the Karst Plateau, passing through fragrant thyme and rosemary fields. Pause at panoramic overlooks to watch mist rise from hidden sinkholes, revealing panoramic views of Nova Vas below. Your guide shares stories of alpine flora and local shepherd traditions.

Descend to a secluded mountain hut for a hearty lunch of jota soup, polenta and mountain cheese. Rest on the wooden terrace, sharing tales with fellow hikers over a glass of tinjska brinjevec. Explore nearby karst sinkholes, learning how early settlers used these natural wells for water and storage.

Return to Nova Vas for a relaxing spa treatment using local honey and lavender essential oils. Unwind in a thermal pool as dusk paints the sky in pastel hues. Savor a light dinner of grilled trout and seasonal greens at a riverside restaurant, toasting to a day well spent.

Head to the famed Lipica Stud Farm to watch the morning parade of Lipizzaner stallions exercising in the misty paddocks. Tour the historic stables, learning about breeding techniques that date back to the 16th century. Meet a groom who will show you how to braid manes and tack the horses for a leisurely ride.

Set off on horseback along forest trails cutting through Karst woodlands, with views of hidden karst caves and limestone cliffs. Pause for a meadow picnic with artisan bread, local salami and fresh vegetables, feeding sweets to your gentle companion. Return to the stud farm for a performance demonstrating classical Baroque riding and dressage.

Drive back to Nova Vas and dine in a traditional karst house that once housed farmworkers. Share stories around a large oak table illuminated by wrought-iron chandeliers. End the evening with local folklore songs performed live by a community choir.

Depart early to reach picturesque Piran on the Slovenian coast, exploring its Venetian-influenced piazzas and narrow alleys. Climb the church bell tower for sweeping views of the Adriatic and red-tiled rooftops. Sample fresh sea salt from Salina Sečovlje on the way with a tasting of olive oil and bread.

Enjoy seafood tapas at a waterside konoba, savoring calamari, scampi and home-made ajvar. Wander along Tartini Square and the medieval city walls, breathing in salt-tinged breezes. Stop by local galleries showcasing seascapes painted by regional artists, striking up conversations about coastal life.

Catch sunset on the city walls before returning to Nova Vas. On the drive back, pause at a hilltop vineyard for night views of the Adriatic lights shimmering below. Back in town, unwind with a glass of limoncello infused with wild herbs.

Visit the ancient Sečovlje Salt Pans to learn how salt has been harvested here for centuries. Walk among geometric ponds reflecting the early morning light, spotting nesting flamingos and egrets. Chat with salt pan workers about the delicate process of raking and drying the crystals.

Cycle along the coast to the small fishing village of Strunjan, stopping to swim in hidden coves and caves sculpted by waves. Picnic on the pebbled beach with fresh sardines grilled on open coals, accompanied by a simple salad of local greens. Visit the Strunjan cliff nature reserve to admire rare orchids and fossilized coral reefs.

Return to Nova Vas for a seafood feast featuring Jura-style grilled fish and olive oil-marinated anchovies. Dine al fresco under vine-covered pergolas in a rustic tavern. Conclude the night with a stroll to the village fountain, savoring the cool night air and distant church bells.

Cross the border into Italy and arrive in Trieste, exploring Roman ruins and grand Austro-Hungarian architecture along Piazza Unità d’Italia. Sip a morning espresso in a historic café, watching elegant locals dressed in tailored coats. Wander through the narrow lanes of the Old Town, discovering hidden arcades and artisanal shops.

Visit the imposing Miramare Castle perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. Tour lavish royal apartments and stroll its fragrant rose gardens. Return to the city center for a lunch of brodetto fish stew and local white wines from Carso-Kras.

Back in Nova Vas, recreate Triestine flavors with a homemade caprese salad and prosciutto di San Daniele. Invite local friends for a convivial evening of storytelling and cross-border anecdotes. Toast with regional amber-colored Birra Moretti and toasted almonds.

Begin a guided climb up Mount Nanos, winding through mixed beech and fir forests alive with bird calls. Pause at hidden springs fed by karst aquifers for a refreshing sip of crystal-clear water. Continue to rocky viewpoints where Slovenia and Italy merge on the horizon.

Reach a mountain hut for a traditional lunch of žganci and sauerkraut, accompanied by homemade herbal tea. Rest beside roaring fireplaces while swapping stories with shepherds in woollen cloaks. Explore nearby caves used as wartime hideouts, hearing tales of local resilience and ingenuity.

Descend as dusk falls and return to Nova Vas for an open-air film screening celebrating Karst heritage. Pack a blanket and enjoy locally made popcorn beneath the stars. Conclude with a nightcap of licorice-infused schnapps and marshmallow sweets roasted over an outdoor fire pit.

Spend a leisurely morning at a local farmers’ market, selecting fresh cheeses, cured meats and seasonal produce to share. Chat with stallholders about heirloom tomato varieties and ancient bread-baking techniques. Pause at a pop-up coffee cart for a final Slovenian pot of cappuccino.

Return to your guesthouse for a communal cooking session preparing a multi-course farewell meal. Learn to craft layered potica, traditional kremna rezina and herb-infused stews under the guidance of a local matriarch. Set a long table in the courtyard, decorating it with wildflowers and candles.

Gather for your farewell feast, toasting new friendships with regional wines and homemade grappa. Share highlights and stories from your ten days in Nova Vas, swapping contact details with newfound companions. End the evening with a lantern send-off in the village square, casting wishes for a safe journey home.