We are pleased to be offering several options to unwind and network, please check carefully how to register and pay.
Conference Dinner: 10 June, 8-11pm
The conference dinner (€50) will be organised on Wednesday, 10 June at Kavarna Park, a lakeside restaurant, 5 min away from the conference venue. In case of bad weather, the conference dinner will be organised at the conference venue.
The conference dinner will be buffet-style, 3-course dinner reflecting Slovenian culinary traditions, and will include refreshments.
Please indicate in your Conference registration profile if you intend to attend the conference dinner, and if so, any applicable dietary restrictions. Delegates can pay for the dinner in advance, at the conference venue, directly to the Hotel.
Bled sightseeing tours (free): Castle, Plečnik café or Island: 10 June, 5-7pm
All sightseeing tours are on foot and require comfortable footwear.
- Bled castle: A guided walk and visit to the castle, starting at the conference venue. Please choose comfortable footwear as the visit requires about 20-30 min walk (one way) to get to the castle. The castle offers majestic views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. For more information see here. Perfect choice to work up the apetite before the conference dinner!
- Plečnik café at Villa Bled: A relaxing 20-30 min walk (one way) with a local guide along the lake shore to the historical café at Villa Bled. Conceptually designed by the renowned Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, it offers a breathtaking view over the lake, as well as a rich history of past state visits in the times of Yugoslavia. For more information see here.
- Bled island (this activity is now booked out): Starting at the mooring site for pletnas – traditional Bled lake boats, taking you to the island for a guided visit. The pletna trip takes about 20 min (one way), allowing you about 40 min to explore the island and its church. For more information see here.
All the sightseeing options are free to all conference participants. You will need to register for one of them, in your Conference registration profile. Please note that the number of participants per tour is limited. Allocation on first come-first served basis.
Post-Conference Tour: Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle: 12 June (full day)
The post-conference tour (€60) will include two outstanding natural and cultural heritage sites. This is a full-day excursion to the Karst region, including entrance tickets, lunch and transport. Please wear comfortable footwear and take a jacket with you: The cave walk is about 1.5 km and the cave temperature is 10 deg year-round.
In the morning, departure from Bled towards Predjama Castle, one of the most striking cultural landmarks in the Karst region. Perched dramatically within a 123-metre-high cliff, the castle is renowned for its unique integration into the surrounding natural rock face. The visit explores its architectural development over more than eight centuries, revealing how the structure gradually evolved in harmony with the cave system behind it. The castle is closely associated with the story of the knight Erasmus of Lueg, a rebellious nobleman whose dramatic life and siege have become part of local folklore. The visit offers insight into both the historical significance of the site and the ingenuity required to adapt a fortified residence to such an extraordinary natural setting.
Following the castle visit, lunch is provided at a location directly below the castle, offering a scenic view of this remarkable site.
After lunch, the programme continues towards Postojna Cave, where the visit begins deep within one of the most renowned cave systems in Europe. The experience combines a ride on the cave train with a guided walk through a series of vast underground halls, passages, and galleries, shaped over millions of years by karst processes. Visitors encounter impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations of diverse shapes and sizes, as well as other geological features that illustrate the dynamic processes of the subterranean world. Particular attention is given to the endemic cave species olm (Proteus anguinus), a unique amphibian adapted to life in complete darkness, which participants have the opportunity to observe up close.
The excursion concludes upon return to Bled around 5:30pm, with a possible stop in Ljubljana for participants who wish to continue their journey from there.
The excursion includes:
- Organised bus transport (departure from and return to Bled)
- Transfers between all locations
- Entrance and guided tour of Postojna Cave (including train ride)
- Lunch below Predjama Castle (included in the price)
- Entrance to Predjama Castle
- Return transfer with an optional stop in Ljubljana
If interested in joining the tour, please indicate so in your Conference registration profile. The cost (€60) needs to be paid as part of the conference fee (please tick “full package” on check-out). There are 45 places available on first come-first served basis.