From Zagreb to Bled, Ljubljana, Plitvice, Split and Dubrovnik, this journey was so much more than just a tour for me. It was one of those weeks that reminds me why I love doing this work — not just because of the places, but because of the people, the conversations, the road, and all the little moments in between.
Being the one behind the wheel, behind the logistics, behind the timing, and also behind the atmosphere of the trip is never just “driving people around.”
It means carrying the rhythm of the whole experience.
It means making sure everyone feels safe, relaxed, seen, and able to truly enjoy what they came for.
And this trip gave me all of that.
The tour started in Zagreb on 5 April, when I met the first five travellers after their arrival.
There is always something special about that first meeting.
At the beginning, there is usually a mix of things in the air: tiredness from the flight, curiosity, a little uncertainty, and excitement about the days ahead. I always notice those first impressions — how people greet each other, who is more talkative, who is quiet at first, who is already asking questions, who is just looking around and taking everything in.
After the airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel, we kept the first day light and easy. That first day is never about “doing a lot” — it is about arriving well.
Later in the day, we had a gentle walk around the Ban Jelačić Square area and the centre of Zagreb. Nothing rushed, nothing forced — just enough to let the city introduce itself.
That kind of first evening matters a lot. It helps people settle in, breathe, and start feeling that they are no longer just “travellers in transit” — they are already inside the experience.
I always like those first city walks because they are also when the group starts becoming a group.
Day 2 – From Zagreb to Slovenia: lake views, fresh air and that travel feeling
On 6 April, we left Zagreb and headed toward Slovenia, and that was the day the journey really opened up.
Road trip days like this are honestly some of my favourites.
There is something beautiful about loading the van in the morning, checking that everyone is ready, making sure the timing is right, and then just heading out with a full day ahead.
Crossing borders in the Balkans and Central Europe always adds its own little layer to the journey — not dramatic, just that subtle sense that the landscape, the rhythm, and the architecture begin to shift.
Our first major stop was Lake Bled, and no matter how many times you see it, it still has that effect on people.
And I always enjoy watching that exact moment when someone sees it properly for the first time.
The lake, the island, the church, the mountains in the background — it’s one of those places that almost doesn’t need explaining. It speaks for itself.
We took our time there. No pressure, no rushing from point to point. Just a proper lakeside experience, viewpoints, fresh air, photos, and that peaceful Slovenian calm that people usually fall in love with immediately.
What I enjoy most on days like this is not only the destination itself, but the energy of the group while moving through it.
Some people walk quietly and absorb everything. Others react out loud to every view. Others want stories, context, comparisons. And part of my job — and honestly one of the things I care most about — is reading that energy and shaping the day around it.
After lunch, we continued to Vintgar Gorge, and that part of the day was simply beautiful.
The wooden pathways, the rushing water, the narrow green canyon, the sound of nature all around us — it was one of those places where people naturally slow down.
And after a full nature-filled day, we drove on to Ljubljana, where the group could finally settle in for the evening.
By then, the group dynamic had already changed.
People were no longer just “participants.”
They were sharing reactions, stories, jokes, and travel habits.
And that is always when the trip starts to feel alive.
