We start at Postojna Cave, one of the largest and most visited cave systems in the world. A little train carries you several kilometres into the mountain, into a world of dripping stone, echoing chambers and formations that took millions of years to grow. Along the way, you'll walk past towering stalagmites, delicate stone "curtains", and passages so vast they make you feel tiny. It's cool, quiet and completely unlike anything above ground — and if you're lucky, you might spot the olm, a pale, blind little salamander that lives only in these underground waters and is often called the "human fish".
From the cave, we drive to Predjama Castle, built into the middle of a cliff face like something out of a film. We won't go inside, but you don't really need to — the view from below, of a Renaissance fortress wedged halfway up solid rock, is the whole point. Legend has it the castle even hid a rebellious knight who held off a year-long siege using a secret tunnel through the mountain. Bring your camera.
In the afternoon, we cross into Italy for our final stop: Trieste. A relaxed port city where Central Europe meets the Mediterranean, Trieste is yours to explore freely — grab a coffee in one of its grand café-lined squares, walk along the waterfront, or just enjoy being somewhere new for a couple of hours before we head back.
One day, two countries, and a very different kind of scenery every few hours.
POSTOJNA CAVE
Postojna Cave is one of the largest cave systems in Europe – over 24 kilometres of tunnels and chambers, carved out by the Pivka River over millions of years. An electric train takes you several kilometres into the mountain, past stalactites, stalagmites and huge underground halls that took shape long before humans existed. It's one of the most visited show caves in the world, and it's easy to see why – few places let you travel this deep beneath the surface in complete comfort.
PREDJAMA CASTLE
Predjama Castle is one of the most striking castles you'll ever see – built directly into the mouth of a cliff, looking as if it simply grew out of the rock itself. It's best known for the legend of Erazem Lueger, a rebellious 15th-century knight who used a secret tunnel through the mountain to hold off an imperial siege for over a year. We'll admire the castle from the outside, where the setting alone makes it one of the most photographed spots in Slovenia.
TRIESTE
Trieste sits right at the crossroads of Italy, Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea, and it shows – the city blends Italian, Central European and Mediterranean influences into something all its own. Expect a lively waterfront, grand historic squares, and one of Europe's most famous coffee house cultures, a legacy of the city's Habsburg and Venetian past. There's plenty to fill a few free hours: a coffee in one of the elegant old cafés, a walk along the sea, or a proper Italian meal before we head back to Slovenia.
THE PRICE INCLUDES
The bus transfer, a trip leader accompanying the group throughout, and one entry ticket per person to Postojna Cave.
HOW DO YOU SUCCESSFULLY APPLY
For your application to be processed, you must first settle the trip costs! You can find all the necessary information on how to do so by contacting us at our events email address [email protected] or by checking the available options below.
You can settle the trip costs in the following ways:
1) In-person payment at the ESN Ljubljana office - CLICK HERE FOR OFFICE HOURS
with cash
with payment card
2) Online payment (fienta.com)
using one of the available payment methods on Fienta
3) Bank transfer
For bank details, please contact us at [email protected]. Your proof of payment must also be sent to the same email address.
PRICE
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 58,00 EUR with the Ljubljana Erasmus discount card
FULL PRICE: 63,00 EUR
Postojna Cave • Jamska cesta 30, 6230 Postojna, Postojna, Slovenia
