Food & Wine of the Adriatic: Slovenia, Croatia & Northeast Italy
12 days | 14 days with Venice extension |
- Group size
- 10–22 travelers
- Activity level
Indulge in the dishes and drinks that link these three Adriatic cousins.
Slovenian salt and sea bass. Croatian olive oils and truffles. Italian prosciutto and grappa. Different countries, different delights—but this unlikely trio of culinary powerhouses all understand what makes a good meal. On this Food Tour, you’ll visit cultured capitals (hello, Ljubljana) and humble villages (pleased to meet you, Motovun), trying delightful bites in each. You’ll rummage for truffles on the Istrian Peninsula and sip on bubbly Prosecco in the hills of Veneto. Speaking of wine, you’ll indulge in the fruits of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy’s up-and-coming growing region. And why not add an ideal digestif—an extension to iconic Venice—to an itinerary loaded with excellent eats?
Your tour package includes
- 10 nights in handpicked hotels
- 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners served with beer or wine
- 3 wine tastings, showing the distinct flavors of the Adriatic
- 1 liquor tasting, your introduction to traditional grappa
- 6 food tastings, spanning regional favorites from sea bass to prosciutto
- 1 cooking class, teaching you the secrets behind Adriatic cuisine
- 8 sightseeing tours to cleanse your palate between treats
- 1 expert Tour Director, your key to a deeper understanding of Adriatic culture
- 7 local guides, ready to bring each stop to life
- Pre-booked transportation, including 1 private deluxe motor coach
- Entrances to museums, landmarks, and more—so you can skip the lines
Included highlights
- Crunching past the glimmering flats of the Secovlje Salt Pans
- Indulging in freshly pressed oils at a Rovinj olive farm
- Digging for prized truffles outside the Istrian village of Motovun
- Lingering over coffee and pastries in a Trieste cafe
- Sipping famed ribolla wines at a Goriska Brda vineyard
- Whipping up a traditional Slovenian meal during a cooking class
- Biting into savory slices of San Daniele prosciutto
- Sampling artisanal cheeses at a Veneto farm
- Visiting the Nardini distillery and tasting their fiery-sweet grappa
- Raising a Prosecco toast in the hills where it was made
Itinerary
Overnight flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Ljubljana today.
Ljubljana2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Ljubljana
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Slovenia! After touching down in Ljubljana, transfer to your hotel and settle in. Tonight, you’ll get to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers—and set the tone for the coming days—with a three-course welcome dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 3: Food walking tour of Ljubljana
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
Ease into your first full day on tour with a free morning—and, if you’re feeling up to it, add our optional excursion to your itinerary to make the trip to Lake Bled. (A lone church surrounded by gentle waters and towering mountains—you’ve probably seen it on a postcard!) Prefer to stay in town? Sample Ljubljana’s cafe culture with a strong coffee at a riverside terrace.
In the afternoon, come together with your group in Slovenia’s charming, culture-rich capital. With a local guide in the lead, you’ll take to Ljubljana’s streets for a sightseeing tour—complete with plenty of tastings.
- Begin in Preseren Square, the beating heart of the city, and admire the monument of France Prešeren, Slovenia’s beloved Romantic poet. Then, cross the iconic Triple Bridge to explore the famous landmarks of the Old Town.
- Wander through an open-air market, where local farmers sell seasonal produce, forest mushrooms, Alpine cheeses, and more.
- Pause at the whimsical Dragon Bridge, guarded by four fearsome copper dragons—symbols of the city that appear in legends dating to Jason and the Argonauts.
- Indulge in tastings of the country’s traditional cuisine—artisanal cold cuts, hearty stews, and the like—throughout your walking tour, then cap your day with some local desserts paired with Slovenian wines. (See if you can try the struklji, rolled dumplings with sweet fillings.)
Istrian Peninsula3 nights
Day 4: Istrian Peninsula via Piran
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Dinner
Bid farewell to Ljubljana and head to Slovenia’s Adriatic coast. Your first stop of the day is Piran, an enchanting town with centuries of Venetian influence on full display. In your free time, make a point of visiting a trio of local highlights: the Church of St. George, with its waterfront clock tower; Tartini Square, an oval-shaped plaza graced with a statue of the famous composer; and the Promenada, a seaside path with beautiful views of the town’s Venetian Gothic architecture.
Then, make your way by boat to Secovlje, a nearby settlement known for its traditional salt pans.
- Disembark at the Fonda Fish Farm, a standard-bearer for sustainable aquaculture. Learn about their farming practices before enjoying a tasting of fresh sea bass, paired with local wine and olive oil.
- Explore the Secovlje Salt Pans. Part of an eponymous natural park, these flats have been used since Roman times, and workers still harvest salt by hand.
- Follow a local guide down wooden walkways and look out for the diverse birdlife drawn to the wetlands—flamingos, waterfowl, and much more.
Finally, meet back up with your bus and drive into Croatia, where you’ll stop at your hotel on the Istrian Peninsula. After freshening up, reunite with your groupmates for an included three-course dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 5: Olive farm visit & sightseeing tour of Rovinj
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
Kick your morning off with a visit to a family-owned olive farm, where sun-dappled groves produce some of the region’s best oils. Tour the mill with your host, learning about time-tested cultivation techniques and witnessing how modern technology’s used to press premium olive oils. Afterward, sit down to a guided tasting and sample several oils, paired with local breads and produce. (As you snack, listen to discover which varieties best complement different dishes.)
Then, make your way to Rovinj. Fanning out from the hilltop Church of Saint Euphemia, the city’s charmingly colorful buildings press right up against the water. With help from a local guide, you’ll unpack its multicultural history during a sightseeing tour.
- Walk through Balbi’s Arch—an elegantly carved gate constructed during Venetian rule—into the Old Town, then step inside the Baroque Church of Saint Euphemia.
- Learn about the church’s bell tower. The defining feature of Rovinj’s silhouette mimics the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice—and if you’d like, you can pay extra to scale the nearly 200-foot structure in your free time. (An impeccable panorama awaits!)
Take the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. Eager to discover more of Istria’s treasures? Add our optional excursion to your itinerary to roam the city of Pula before heading to a family winery for a tasting of renowned local wines. If you’d prefer to stay in Rovinj, consider walking by the port and enjoying the breeze whisping off the Adriatic.
Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Motovun & truffle farm visit
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Lunch
Perched atop a hill overlooking the Mirna River, the walled village of Motovun feels frozen in the medieval age. After riding a shuttle up into town, join a local guide on a sightseeing tour.
- Walk along the 13th-century walls that encircle the town, offering sweeping views of the vineyards, truffle forests, and olive groves blanketing the valley below.
- Pass the yellow facade of the Church of Saint Stephen, the Renaissance-era New Gate, and the Loggia—a fixture of medieval life in Motovun.
- Listen as your guide recounts the local legend of how giants, led by the mythical Veli Joze, built Motovun, carving the stone walls and buildings that stand to this day.
After, descend into the valley and visit Karlic Tartufi, a family-run farm that digs up prized truffles in the forests near Motovun.
- Take note as your hosts introduce you to the fascinating world of truffles—their different varieties, the characteristics of each, and all the different products they get infused in.
- Join an experienced hunter and their specially trained dogs on a truffle hunt. As you hike across scenic woodland trails, watch as the dogs pinpoint subterranean fungi and listen as your guide explains the long history of Istrian truffle hunting.
- Crown your experience with a mouthwatering three-course lunch at the family’s rustic farmhouse, where fresh truffles feature prominently in traditional recipes passed down through generations.
Friuli Region3 nights
Day 7: Friuli region via Trieste & castle tower visit
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Wine tasting, Dinner
Today, say goodbye to Croatia and trace the Adriatic coast into Italy. But before stopping for the day, pause in Trieste and link up with a local guide to discover how it came to be dubbed “Vienna by the Sea.” (Here’s a hint: This port city’s coffee culture rivals that of Austria’s caffeinated capital.)
- Drive to the hilltop Cathedral of San Giusto and drink in the view—the gleaming Adriatic, the contours of the Karst Plateau, and more, all squeezed into a single panorama.
- Return to the Piazza Sant’Antonio Nuovo—the modern heart of the city—and set out on a food-themed walking tour. First, pop into a historic literary cafe and get a true taste of Triestine coffee culture while sampling some pastries.
- Break for lunch (or sit contentedly in your cafe booth), then use your free time to take in more of Trieste. Looking to stretch your legs? Return to the Piazza Sant’Antonio Nuovo and walk along the Canal Grande to the Molo Audace, a 650-foot stone pier that juts into the Adriatic and provides 360-degree views of the city and its waterfront.
Finally, return to your bus and drive to your accommodation in Friuli-Venezia Giulia—a gem of a region little known to most, including Italians. As daylight fades, prepare for a dinner of epic proportions, led by your hotel’s staff.
- Step into a medieval castle, where stone walls have witnessed centuries of Friulian history, and explore the hidden corridors and mysterious tunnels with your hosts. As you go, learn about the fortification’s strategic importance and the careful restoration work done to preserve it.
- Climb up into the castle’s tower and sit down to a guided tasting of three Goriska Brda wines. Listen as your sommelier explains how the microregion’s unique soil composition, altitude variations, and mix of Mediterranean and Alpine climates create internationally acclaimed vintages.
- Cap your evening with a sumptuous four-course dinner, perfectly paired with your choice of wine, prosecco, or beer.
Day 8: Smartno, Goriska Brda wine tasting & cooking class
Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting, Lunch
Begin your day with a quick jaunt back into Slovenia. Your destination: Smartno, a village of just under 200 people cherished for its medieval walls and architecture. After stopping for a stroll (and if time permits), continue to the hill town of Gonjace and scale the Lookout Tower. 144 steps, spiraling up a central column, separate you from sweeping views of the Brda region. We encourage you to try the climb!
Return to your bus and roll into the Goriska Brda, a group of hills that straddle the border of Slovenia and Italy. After a scenic drive, stop at a distinguished winery and meet with a local vintner to learn more about a microregion dubbed “the Tuscany of Slovenia.”
- Descend into centuries-old wine cellars, where oak barrels and steel tanks stand side-by-side, and dig into the details of this winery’s vintages.
- Sip a selection of wines—from crisp whites to complex reds—and try to pinpoint the various notes your host identifies.
After one final toast, return to Smartno and tie your aprons in anticipation of a guided cooking class. With expert instructors in the lead, try your hand and making traditional Slovenian specialties using ingredients sourced from local farms and forests. Once you’ve cleaned up, sit down with your groupmates and enjoy your creations as part of a three-course meal, served with wine.
Day 9: Free day in Friuli region
Included meal: Breakfast
To forge deeper into the Friuli region—complete with Venetian-style piazzas, Tiepolo frescoes, and other UNESCO-listed treasures—tack our optional trip to Udine and Cividale del Friuli onto your itinerary. Otherwise, relax at your hotel and, with help from your concierge, plan a quick trip to a nearby thermal spring.
Prosecco Region2 nights
Day 10: Prosecco region via prosciutto producer & cheese farm
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting
Today, make your way to the final stop on your tour—the Prosecco hills. En route, make a pair of stops to indulge in two of Italy’s most beloved exports.
- Leave your bus in San Daniele, a hub of prosciutto production, and visit a prosciuttificio to learn how artisanal producers create PDO-protected ham using nothing but select pork legs and sea salt.
- Dig into a sampling of freshly carved prosciutto, noting the characteristic ruby hue, delicate marbling, and surprisingly sweet flavor that typify San Daniele’s hams.
With your visit as an appetizer, head to a local trattoria for an included lunch, served with wine. Then, continue to a Veneto farm where, for five generations, the same family has transformed goat, cow, and buffalo milk into exquisite cheeses.
- Observe master artisans demonstrating their craft—nurturing initial cultures, monitoring curd development, and using molding techniques that give each cheese its distinctive character.
- Glimpse the aging chambers, where entire wheels gain their complexity under carefully controlled conditions. (Some types of cheese take months to reach their peak!)
- Engage your senses through a comparative tasting and pinpoint the differences between each type of cheese.
As daylight wanes, resume your drive into Prosecco country. Once you check into your hotel, unwind for the night and prepare for your last day on tour.
Day 11: Villa Sandi farewell lunch, Prosecco tasting & sightseeing tour of Bassano del Grappa
Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting, Farewell lunch, Liquor tasting
Kick off the day’s activities with a transfer to Villa Sandi. Occupying a Palladian villa that has stood since 1622, this revered winery leverages its location between two protected growing regions to craft world-class sparkling wines. Gather for a farewell lunch, thoughtfully paired with three of the estate’s acclaimed Proseccos, and raise a toast to new friendships and lasting memories.
Afterward, head to riverside Bassano del Grappa. Sound familiar? This lovely city lent its name to Italy’s signature distilled spirit—grappa—and during your guided sightseeing tour, you’ll dig deeper into that connection.
- Explore the city center with your Tour Director, following arcaded streets to the wooden Ponte Degli Alpini, a 16th-century span designed by Palladio himself.
- Visit the Poli Grappa Museum, housed in a centuries-old palazzo, and examine interactive exhibits that trace the evolution of grappa.
- Venture into the legendary Nardini distillery. Founded in 1779, Nardini is a grappa-making institution, and during your stop, you’ll sample a range of their famous spirits—from traditional, clear grappa to barrel-aged versions.
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the Venice airport for your flight home—or extend your stay a few nights to see what other splendors La Serenissima reveals to you.
Venice extension
Surrender to the beauty of Venice’s labyrinthine canals, elegant bridges, and ornate architecture on this two-night extension. From the sight of passing gondolas to the crunch of cicchetti and the fizz of Venetian spritzes, there’s plenty to see and savor—and we’ll make sure you enjoy it all to the fullest.
Venice2 nights
Day 12: Transfer to Venice & food walking tour
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
This morning, trek from the Prosecco region to Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic. Sitting atop more than 100 islands, the city’s a lattice of historic churches and piazzas, all connected by hundreds of winding canals. Today, meet up with a local guide to discover why the entire city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Spot the Church of San Giovanni in Bragora, the Renaissance-era church where musical genius Antonio Vivaldi was baptized, then walk through the Campo San Lorenzo. Filled with idling locals and playing children, this unassuming square offers an authentic glimpse into Venetian life.
- Admire the magnificent facade of the Scuola Grande di San Marco, a historic confraternity whose wealth and patronage fueled Venice‘s artistic heritage.
- Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo as you pass through the Campo Santa Marina and stop by a building along the Rio della Fava—standing where the legendary explorer once lived.
- Catch glimpses of iconic landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace, and St. Mark’s Square as your route leads you to the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Restored to its original grandeur, this 15th-century palace stuns with a winding spiral staircase, or scala, that leads all the way up its exterior.
- Pause at various bacari (small, traditional wine bars) to sample delicious cicchetti—small bites ranging from seafood morsels to savory crostini—accompanied by glasses of local wine. Or, opt for a classic Venetian spritz: three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperitivo Select, and one part soda water, garnished with a green olive.
Day 13: Free day in Venice
Included meal: Breakfast
If you’re drawn to discover more of the Venetian Lagoon, be sure to add today’s optional excursion to your itinerary. With a private ferry just for your group, you’ll venture to the islands of Burano and Torcello, both lovely counterpoints to Venice’s boundless energy.
Want to stay in town? Consider visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Housed in an 18th-century palace on the banks of the Grand Canal, this museum’s filled with masterpieces by Picasso, Pollock, Dalí, and others—a modernist palate-cleanser after a trip of Renaissance proportions.
Finally, rejoin your groupmates in the evening for a farewell drink and celebrate your tour together.
Flight Home
Day 14: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Prosecco Region - Hotel Villa Soligo, an SLH Hotel
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Friuli Region - Castello di Spessa
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Ljubljana - Exe Lev
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Istria Peninsula - Park Plaza Histria Pula
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Venice - Hotel Cavalletto & Doge Orseolo
See detailsFlights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
FAQ
- In order to enter Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2026, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2026, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- Travelers visiting Venice during peak season from mid-April through the end of July must complete an online exemption form which will generate a QR code as proof of staying overnight in Venice. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TSC.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Ljubljana and depart from Venice.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in Ljubljana, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a steadily-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- No 1-night stays
- No more than 3 full days of included activities in a row (more if you add excursions)
- All transportation by motor coach
- About 4 hours of bus time daily
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day- this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Stone pathways and cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- On the tour extension, the city of Venice is fully pedestrian with 3-5 steps leading up and down the many bridges throughout the city.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months, June-September, travelers can expect high temperatures from 70Fs -80Fs and lows from 50Fs-60Fs with occasional extreme heatwaves.
- Venice (on the tour extension) experiences the Acqua Alta, or high water, during the fall and winter months. During this time, travelers can expect the lower parts of the city to flood for a few hours during the day.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- This tour includes various modes of transportation, including boats and motor coaches. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- In Venice (on the tour extension) water taxis are the main form of transportation and typically require travelers to step down into a rocking boat.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
- Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
- Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Croatia and Italy operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Type C or F plugs with two small, round pins.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- This tour includes four lunches and three dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- In Slovenia, discover a rich culinary heritage shaped by Alpine, Mediterranean, and Pannonian influences. Sample štruklji (rolled dumplings with various fillings), potica (rolled pastry with walnut or poppy seed filling), and prekmurska gibanica (layered cake with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, and cottage cheese). The country's world-class wines include indigenous Rebula from Goriška Brda, aromatic Zelen from Vipava Valley, and robust reds like Teran from the Karst region, all often served in intimate wine cellars called "osmice."
- In Croatia, you may like to try traditional Balkan dishes, such as duvec (vegetables and meat), moussaka (eggplant and minced meat), sarma (minced meat and rice), and raznjici (grilled veal or pork). In Istria specifically, don't miss truffle-infused dishes, seafood buzara (shellfish in wine sauce), fuži pasta with game ragu, or pljukanci with asparagus. Almost every region of the country produces its own varieties of wine, each of which are quite delicious—particularly Istria's Malvazija whites and ruby Teran reds.
- In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, savor specialties like frico (cheese crisp with potatoes and onions), cjarsons (pasta filled with herbs, dried fruit, and spices), and San Daniele prosciutto, renowned for its sweet delicacy. The region's white wines—particularly Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia—are among Italy's most distinctive, while grappa production reaches its zenith in Bassano del Grappa.
- The Prosecco region showcases more than just its famous sparkling wine—try risotto al radicchio (with local bitter red chicory), bigoli pasta in savory duck ragù, and baccalà alla vicentina (salt cod prepared with milk, onions, and Parmesan). Look for agriturismi (farm restaurants) offering home-produced cheeses, salumi, and seasonal vegetables paired with elegant Prosecco Superiore DOCG from the steep hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.
- Northern Italy and Venice (on the tour extension) are known for flavorful meats and pastries. Specifically in Venice, sample cicchetti (small bites) in traditional bacari wine bars—try baccalà mantecato (whipped salt cod), sarde in saor (sweet-sour sardines), and polpette (various meatballs). Don't miss risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink risotto), moleche (soft-shell crabs in season), and tiramisu, which originated in the Veneto region.
- For more authentic meals throughout your journey, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello. In Slovenia and Croatia, family-run gostilnas and konobas offer the most genuine regional specialties, often featuring homemade rakija (fruit brandy) as both welcome drink and digestif.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you don’t already have at least one card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers.
- To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
- Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- Croatia, Slovenia and Italy are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.
- When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
