Croatia and Slovenia are beautiful countries with picturesque and stunning landscapes. We will experience pristine lakes, waterfalls, and coastline vistas. Our journey will take us off the beaten path as well as explore historic cities. Local experts, including renowned tour operator Backroads, will help guide our excursions. High quality bikes are provided by the tour, and electric assist bikes are available.

Our trip begins in Ljubljana where we will take a bus to Lake Bled with the fairy tale island, a 1000 year old cliff-hanging medieval castle, and a lakeside promenade. We’ll spend our first evening and the next full day at Lake Bled.

Our first morning will begin with a group excursion via pletna boat to the Church of the Assumption. The remainder of the day will give you numerous options to explore and discover this gem of a destination. You can hike around the lake, swim, tour the 12th Century castle with stunning views, or take a trip to Vintgar Gorg. You will not want to leave Lake Bled before indulging on the Bled cream cake and Union beer.

We will do a short tour of Zagreb before traveling to stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park–one of Europe’s most spectacular wonders. Imagine a Niagara Falls mashup with the Grand Canyon. Plitvice has 16 named lakes plus several smaller lakes. The park welcomes nearly a million visitors a year, yet few from the USA. While Plitvice never fails to astound visitors, our trip from Zagreb will take us through portions of Croatia with scars from the war.

After Plitvice we make our way to vibrant Split, whose history stretches back to the Roman Empire yet throbs to a modern, youthful beat. The maze of narrow alleys of Roman Emperor Diocletian’s retirement palace today is home to boutiques, galleries and cafes.

We will experience the Dalmatian Coast biking on Hvar, the archipelago’s swankiest island, hiking along sheltered bays on Brač Island, paddling in secluded coves and soaking up the charms of Dubrovnik.

Our Backroads portion begins by pedaling through the Damara Mountain karst landscape, taking a dip in the Adriatic Sea, and ending in the peaceful village of Duce. We get two boat rides–first to Brac Island and then to Hvar Island. We’ll hike and bike the scenic coastline and enjoy local foods, wines and gelato. A two-hour sea kayaking trip will be followed up with a boat trip to the Korcula Islands. A bike trip to Dubrovnik will includes several stunning vistas. We’ll pedal through grapevines, olive groves, and almond trees. The island includes one the many reputed birthplaces of Marco Polo.

Our Backroads portion will conclude with a tour of Dubrovnik-Pearl of the Adriatic. You have the remainder of the day to explore the traffic-free, walled Old Town portion of the city. We’ll gather for a group farewell dinner in the evening.

Michon and David will provide optional readings about the practice of field journaling. Michon will lead field journaling activities to help travelers observe deeply, savor and remember. A field journal is a notebook in which one records experiences, observations, and questions in the form of writing, drawing, diagraming, poetry, and collecting. When travelers walk into the world with their journal, they have the opportunity to make observations, forge connections, and ask questions that will deepen their understanding of the world. David will introduce travelers to the spiritual practice of awareness, from the Jesuit tradition.

See more details in the sections below and use the Register Now button above to join us.

 This program was custom designed to introduce you to Croatia and Slovenia’s culture, history, cuisine, and more, while being physically active as we move through the country. In addition, we will engage in the practice of field journaling and the spiritual practice of awareness.

This itinerary is subject to change. Travel demands flexibility. We will strive to balance adaptability with remaining on schedule. Please trust that, when it is not possible to follow the plan laid out below, your program leaders will work to find substitutions that retain the quality of this Study Travel program. Various details may be added or changed due to information obtained while making reservations, or perhaps on site, especially because of the weather. BLD indicate included group meals.

Tuesday, May 31        Depart U.S.
Individual departures from your hometown.

Wednesday, June 1   Arrive Ljubljana – Lake Bled      D
Upon arrival at Ljubljana airport, travel by bus to group hotel in Lake Bled. We will have an introduction and welcome session at the hotel before walking to a local restaurant for dinner.

Thursday, June 2     Lake Bled     BD
Group activity: Take a pletna boat to Blejski Otok (island) to visit the Church of the Assumption. Free time for your choice of other activities: Bike rentals, walk around Lake (3.5 miles), visit Bled Castle, or eat cream cake. Group dinner at a local restaurant.

Friday, June 3            Plitvice      BD
Bus to Plitvice with stop for tour of Zagreb. Guided group walking tour of Zagreb Upper Town. Free time for lunch on your own and personal exploration (perhaps visiting the Croatian Museum of Naive Art, the cathedral, or the market). Continue to Plitvice area and check into hotel. Group dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday, June 4        Plitvice     BL
We’ll get an early start today as there is so much to see at Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park boasts majestic waterfalls, lakes, and forests which have earned a place on the UNESCO register of world natural sites. The park’s most compelling features are the waterfalls that interconnect its 16 turquoise lakes, which are set amid soaring rock formations in dense forests of beech, fir, and spruce. The park is also rich with caves, springs, flowering meadows, and several animal species including deer, wolves, wild boar, and the increasingly rare brown bear. Group lunch, and after continuing our tour of the park, free time with dinner on your own.                               

Sunday, June 5            Plitvice – Split      B
Bus to Split (about 2.5 hours). Lunch on your own in Split, and then a walking tour of Diocletian’s palace. Dinner on your own.

Monday, June 6          Split – Duce          BLD
Today we start our Backroads portion of the program. We’ll meet at 8:30 am in the hotel lobby to shuttle into the nearby Dinara Mountains for our first bike ride. We’ll have spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea and the stunning karst landscape before enjoying our first taste of fresh Croatian cuisine at a local konoba. Continue on to Duce, a charming village nestled between imposing stone mountains and the coast. Tonight we gather for a lovely wine reception before a dinner of regional dishes.

Tuesday, June 7          Duce – Hvar          BL
We begin the day boating to Brac Island, the largest island of Dalmatia, famous for its cypress forests, drystone walls and cheeses. We will hike through a picturesque fishing village before turning uphill to the charming town of Dol. Continuing to climb through olive groves to the shepherd’s village of Gazul, we will find a hearty lunch awaiting us. Afterward, we shuttle to Bol and board a private boat bound for Hvar, the swankiest and most popular destination of the southern Dalmatian archipelago. Dinner on your own tonight.

Wednesday, June 8      Hvar           BLD
Today is an in-depth exploration of Hvar on bicycle with options: 23, 28, or 40 miles.

Spectacular views become increasingly dramatic as we ascend Sveti Nicolai, the limestone ridge stretching across the island. Gelato is a good reason to rest in the seaside town of Jelsa. Homemade lunch includes wine and grappa. After lunch, you have the option to tackle hills back to Hvar or take a seat in the shuttle. Tonight’s meal features fresh seasonal dishes prepared from scratch.

Thursday, June 9          Hvar – Vela Luka        BLD
Today we focus the sapphire Adriatic Sea. We begin with a 2 hour sea kayaking excursion and later boat to Korcula Islands.    A private boat will pick us up to sail from Hvar to Vela Luka on Korcula Island. You are free to explore on your own or relax at the pool with a good book. The day concludes with a group meal in a traditional setting.                                                                                                                              

Friday, June 10               Vela Luka – Dubrovnik      BD
Gear up for several rigorous climbs, but the stunning island views will motivate you to keep pedaling. You have four different options for cycling:  15, 19, 30, or 41 miles. We’ll pedal through quaint villages past grapevines, olive groves and almond trees. The island includes one of several reputed birthplaces of Marco Polo. After lunch on your own you have time to explore before a sail and scenic drive on the Peljesac Peninsula to Dubrovnik. Group dinner in the city’s historic center.

Saturday, June 11           Dubrovnik       BD
We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour in the morning of historic Dubrovnik, a World Heritage site surrounded by enormous defensive walls with turrets and towers. Lunch on your own and some free time before our farewell group dinner.                           

Sunday, June 12             Departures
Individual departures

Michon and David Weeks are experienced group leaders, of both student and adult study travel programs. In their most recent adventure they led twenty St. Olaf students on a 2020 semester-long Environmental Science program in New Zealand and Australia. In 2015 Michon was the assistant leader for a St. Olaf January interim in Italy and Germany (Catholic Rome and Lutheran Wittenberg). David and Michon have led many church youth and adult travel experiences including wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, hiking in Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Christo Rey Border Immersion in El Paso and Juarez (service and education), Common Hope in Guatemala (service and education).

Michon is Associate Professor of Practice in St. Olaf’s Department of Art and Art History, where she has been teaching since 2012. Her teaching focuses primarily on drawing, painting, and mentoring senior art majors with their final projects. She taught previously at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. In her own studio, Michon’s artwork mines the iconography of paintings within the Christian tradition to consider how they interface with modern questions and yearnings.

David has served as pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN since 2013. One of his favorite ministries is “Faith on Tap”, in which church members meet at a local bar to discuss current events. He previously served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Watertown, St. Stephen Lutheran in Marshall, and Big Bend/West Bank Lutheran in Milan (all in Minnesota).

Michon and David both graduated from Iowa State University in 1984. Michon later earned her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and David earned his Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

Michon and David are blessed with three grown sons and three daughters-in-law, all of whom enjoy travel. Isaac and Jill relish international bicycle touring, Peter lived in Japan for four years and Christian toured Norway with the St. Olaf Choir. When traveling Michon and David especially enjoy outdoor activities, indulging in the best local ice cream and local brew, and visiting art museums. Michon and David are excited to connect actively with the world by leading this St. Olaf Alumni and Family Travel Program.

Hiking, biking, and kayaking through Croatia and Slovenia while learning about culture and history and sampling local foods and wines … this is the itinerary that Michon and David Weeks custom designed for alumni, families, and friends of St. Olaf. We caught up with them to learn more about them and their interest in leading students and lifelong learners abroad.

Read this excellent Q&A with faculty leaders Michon & David Weeks!

This is an active program, including city touring, hiking, and biking. A range of mileage options will be available each day, as will either e-bikes (at an extra cost, see the Program Fee) or regular bikes. Multiple guides and van support are included. We are partnering with Backroads, a respected multi-sport tour operator.

To participate in this program, you must be able to walk a minimum of five miles per day, hike and bike, stand for 2 to 3 hours at a time, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day. Facilities, resources, accommodations and protections for disabled and special needs individuals can be sharply limited outside the U.S. Note that wheelchairs, personal care attendants and assistance from fellow travelers are not provided.

You are responsible for reviewing the specific requirements for your program and judging the appropriateness of these travel activities to your physical, mental and behavioral capabilities. Any participant who is unable to fulfill the program requirements may have their registration cancelled. Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the program leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities or excused from the program.

You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about routine vaccinations. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.

COVID INFORMATION

As a condition of participation in this program all attendees must have received a COVID-19 vaccine and received a booster shot at least 2 weeks prior to attending the program. The Centers for Disease Control now say all adults can and should get a booster shot once they are six months past their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months past their single Johnson & Johnson dose. If, by departure time, you are not yet 6 months past your second dose or 2 months past your single J&J dose, you will not be required to have a booster. Because changing conditions may result in additional or different participation restrictions, we will strive to keep you promptly informed of any changes resulting from the ongoing pandemic.

What happens if you develop symptoms or test positive for covid while traveling on the St. Olaf program?

• we will expect everyone to follow the isolation and other protocols of the host country and will provide those to you, to the best of our knowledge, closer to departure, as they may be updated frequently in the next several months
• our itinerary cannot be altered, so if it calls for the group to move to a new city/hotel, we will do so
• group leaders cannot stay back with sick or covid-positive individuals
• the injury and illness coverage provided with your program fee includes covid-related illness. Here is the language from the latest FAQs:

Is there coverage for COVID-19? (new as of 5/1/21)
Yes, participants diagnosed with COVID-19 would have the same coverage as if they had any other illness.

Is there coverage for pandemic quarantine? (new as of 5/1/21)
Yes, if the participant is required to quarantine while on a covered trip due to exposure to, or a confirmed case of a virus/illness due to epidemic/pandemic not requiring hospitalization, the policy would provide up to $5,000 of benefits for food and lodging. If the participant requires hospitalization, the basic emergency medical coverage would apply.

You can read more, including the full FAQ and a Summary document, on our Travel Insurance page.

Inclusions and exclusions vary from program to program. Please read the following information carefully.

The program fee is $7,862 per person. Based on double occupancy, it includes: Accommodations • Breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary • Use of a regular bike • Admissions for group activities • Ground transportation during the program (except airport transfers) • Gratuities to group guides, drivers and meal servers • Some medical coverage while overseas. For the use of an e-bike in place of a regular bike, add $300. For single occupancy, add $676.

Airfare to and from Croatia is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: Airfare between your home town and Croatia • Airport transfers in your home town and Croatia • Any passport fees • Any recommended immunizations or vaccinations • Baggage insurance • Trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage • Beverages at group meals • Laundry • Dry cleaning • Phone charges • Room service or other items of a personal nature • Expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities • Lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.

A $500 per person deposit is required upon registration. See the full Payment Schedule below.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the program.

Because of ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that a program could be postponed. In such a case, while we will strive to make full refunds when we can, there are certain expenses that may not be refunded to either St. Olaf or the participant.  

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          Full refund ($500) until October 14, 2021. If the deposit is made after October 14, 2021 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:        $2,000 by October 15, 2021
Refund if you cancel:          $1,000 until March 14, 2022

Final payment due:             March 15, 2022
Refund if you cancel:          None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Make a Payment

Read these legal documents: Terms and Conditions and Release and Waiver

Check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) immunization recommendations.

Take a look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

View our tips for Booking Your Flights, but do NOT purchase non-refundable airfare until we can confirm the program is a go.