Begin your festive escape with a flight to the historic Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, or Venice. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your friendly local tour manager before boarding a coach for the journey east to the alpine resort of Kranjska Gora.

Enjoy a drinks reception and get to know your fellow solo travellers over a special welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Have breakfast at your hotel this morning ahead of a tour of the Slovenian capital as it gears up for Christmas Day. Dressed in all its festive finery, Ljubljana promises to get you in the holiday spirit with dazzling lights, decorations and seasonal markets.

Start the day in the city’s ornate old town and take in its impressive baroque town hall. After a brief introduction from your tour manager, visit the local shops or enjoy views of Ljubljana Castle. Next, walk along the Ljubljanica River, admiring the imposing facades of its pretty baroque bridges and the city’s ornate riverside churches as you go, ahead of a stop at the market-laden Breg Embankment.

Known for its independent stores and communal atmosphere, Breg is a promenade, which welcomes a delightful festive market each winter. Soak up the Christmas cheer with time to explore the stalls, see Ljubljanica’s glittering lights and warm yourself with some mulled wine before heading back to the hotel for dinner.

It’s Christmas Eve and you’ll crown the run-up to the big day with a visit to scenic Bled. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and admire the scenery as you make the journey west.

Upon arrival in Bled, set on the banks of its famous lake, make the most of the town’s ‘winter fairytale’ celebrations. Join your tour manager for a walk around the festival’s delightful Christmas markets, browse the artisan stalls for the perfect souvenir, or have a bite of an authentic Slovenian potica (a festive cake with a sweet walnut filling). Before you head back to the hotel, admire idyllic Lake Bled, with the Church of the Assumption of Mary at its centre, under the winter lights.

Back at the hotel, sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner and wind down at leisure. Later tonight, you can join your tour manager for a visit to a local church for a Slovenian midnight mass. After arriving back at the hotel, you’ll be served a delightful selection of teas and traditional cakes.

Enjoy Christmas morning with a laid-back breakfast and time at leisure in Kranjska Gora. Relax with a tea and cake in the café or perhaps make the most of the local scenery with a stroll around the town. You’ll also have access to the leisure facilities, indoor swimming pools and spa areas of the neighbouring Hit Alpinea hotels.

In the early afternoon, settle into the hotel’s restaurant for a delightful Christmas lunch and mark the occasion in style with glorious views over the Julian Alps’ wintry landscapes. Afterwards, you’ll have the rest of the evening free.

Mark Boxing Day with another day at leisure in Kranjska Gora, perhaps making the most of the town’s wintry alpine scenery with a walk along its mountain paths before warming up in the sauna.

If you’d prefer a little more excitement, you can also join an optional excursion to the Postojna Caves, a sprawling 24-kilometre network of tunnels which have been formed over the centuries by flowing water. Explore the passages aboard a unique subterranean railway and keep an eye out for the intriguing 'baby dragons’ (cave-dwelling salamanders) that live within. On your underground adventure, you’ll pass ‘Brilliant’, an impressive five-metre-tall limestone stalagmite, as well as several secluded lakes and breath-taking rock features.

Returning to the surface, the excursion will continue north to the imposing Predjama Castle, a Renaissance estate positioned within a sheer rockface. Officially named the world’s longest cave castle, this spectacular building became a symbol of Slovenian defiance after it withstood a siege from the armies of the Holy Roman Empire. Explore its ornate interiors, learn about its notorious baron, Erazem of Predjama, who led vital raids through the castle’s hidden tunnels, and discover the sprawling cave system below.

Bring your final day in Slovenia to an end with a special farewell dinner with your new-found friends.

Have a final breakfast at the hotel and head back to the airport for the return flight to the UK.