Strunjan, with its picturesque nature, is sure to charm us. We’ll cross the Strunjan salt pans, the northernmost in the Adriatic, and visit a traditional salt worker’s house. We’ll learn about the tools used in salt production and engage with an interactive exhibition at the Strunjan Landscape Park. Walking between the beach and Stjuža, Slovenia’s only coastal lagoon, we’ll ascend to the Krka Health Resort with views of the sea and Piran. This path runs along one of the highest cliffs on the Adriatic. We’ll follow informative panels to the Strunjan Cross with a view of the Moon Bay, the most beautiful beach on the Slovenian coast, stretching all the way to Triglav. After a short break at one of the energy points, we’ll head to the Marian Sanctuary, a major pilgrimage site in Slovene Istria. The next climb will reward us with a view of Strunjan Valley, and the ascent to Ronek will offer a breathtaking view of Piran.

Local guide Mladen will meet us at the Strunjan Cross and take us on hidden paths through his olive groves to his homestead. The final treat is a hands-on cooking workshop at Knez Farm, where we’ll learn to make fuži, a traditional Istrian pasta. We won’t eat our creations, but we will judge who has made the most creative dish. Istrian fuži with truffles will be served with wine, and we’ll learn about the truffle-hunting dogs and how truffles end up on our table. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a relaxing return, admiring a magnificent pine tree avenue.