Castles and Caves

After breakfast, at around 9:00 AM, we’ll hop into the car for a short drive to the nearby village of Šembije, where we’ll meet our horses. After getting to know them and a brief introduction to the basics of western riding, we’ll start our ride. Our first destination is the hilltop village of Tabor. We’ll take a short break there to enjoy the views and listen to stories about the history of the place. Afterward, we’ll ride on to a local restaurant for lunch. Following the meal, we’ll pass the castle of Kalec—surrounded by ancient linden and chestnut trees—and make our way to the “Vanishing Lake” of Palško. This basin appears and disappears depending on the season, which is how it earned its name. If we’re lucky, we may even get the chance to take the horses in for a splash. If the lake happens to be “gone” 🙂 we’ll continue straight to our lodging in Trnje. We’ll be welcomed at a family-run guesthouse by Lisa and Zvone — horse lovers and judges at international Icelandic horse competitions.

In the morning we’ll set out toward the legendary hideout of the famous bandit Erasmus Lügger — Predjama Castle. Originally carved into the rock in the 12th century and expanded in the 15th, this fortress sits halfway up a 123-meter cliff. Leading directly into a labyrinth of stone passages, it is the largest cave castle in the world and proudly listed in the Guinness World Records! Beneath it lies an extensive network of tunnels and caverns, crowned by the most magnificent of them all: Postojna Cave. That day, we have two options to choose from. After lunch at a local pub, we can drive to the castle and explore it in depth—with a local guide who will reveal its history and secrets. Alternatively, we can ride on horseback to the castle gates and stop only for a short photo session. In the afternoon, a few more kilometers of active riding at varying paces await us before we reach our accommodation for this night in Landol, where we’ll drift into the arms of Morpheus in a newly built guesthouse.

After breakfast, we’ll saddle up and continue our journey. We’ll ride deep into the forest to enjoy the peace and take in the beauty of nature. The trail will lead us to… a secret spot, just as we start to feel a little hungry. We’ll stop there for a break and a rest before heading on again. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the Volk farm in Suhorje, where we’ll spend the night… sleeping on hay! That evening we’ll also have the chance to spend time with a herd of Appaloosa horses. Our hosts, the owners of the farm, are proud breeders of this remarkable breed and love to share stories. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn some fascinating facts about those horses. In summer — and for the brave, even in other seasons — you’ll also have the chance to feel like a kid again and take a dip in the nearby river.

This day brings a long ride through the Brkini region, known for its fruit orchards and varied terrain with plenty of climbs and descents. Along the way, we’ll pass Prem Castle, a 13th-century fortress likely built on the remains of Roman fortifications. The castle is very distinctive, with cylindrical towers and Renaissance arcades surrounding its courtyard and a small stone well. Documented in 1220 for the first time, it once served as an administrative center and changed hands among prominent families, including the Knights of Udo and the Habsburgs. We’ll stop for lunch at a nearby pub. Strengthened—and perhaps even fortified — by local delicacies, we’ll begin the final stretch of our journey back to Šembije. Once we arrive, we’ll unsaddle our horses for the last time and thank them for the entire adventure. We’ll spend the night at the Požar guest farm, already known to us from our first evening.

All riders will will be transferred to Ljubljana Airport for their return flight home.