Forest Harmony

The program is available year-round and is especially magical during spring and autumn, when the natural beauty of Zagorje is at its finest.

• Travellers seeking more than a usual holiday
•  Nature and wellness lovers
• Couples looking to spend quality time together
• Solo travellers seeking peace and inspiration
• Guests who appreciate authentic experiences and local gastronomy
• Anyone wishing to slow down and recharge

Welcome to Zagorje, a place where time slows down and nature takes centre stage.

• Upon arrival, you will check into a carefully selected hotel, apartment, or holiday home nestled among rolling hills and unspoiled countryside. After your journey, it is time to slow down, take a deep breath, and embrace the peace surrounding you.

• The rest of the day is reserved for relaxation and getting acquainted with your Zagorje retreat. Enjoy wellness facilities, take a gentle walk through nature, or simply find your favourite spot overlooking the hills that will accompany you throughout your stay.

• The evening is dedicated to your first taste of Zagorje. Choose between a welcome dinner delivered to the privacy of your accommodation or a reserved table at an authentic local restaurant, where regional specialties and a glass of wine await to mark the perfect beginning of your forest fairytale.

• The morning begins in the best possible way—without rushing and accompanied by the flavours of Zagorje. A basket filled with carefully selected local products arrives at your doorstep, offering a traditional Zagorje breakfast that will accompany you throughout the first days of your stay.

• After breakfast, you will head to Strahinjčica Nature Park, Croatia's newest nature park, where one of the most special experiences of your journey begins.

• A certified forest therapist will introduce you to Forest Bathing, a wellness practice originating in Japan (Shinrin Yoku) that promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and a deeper connection with nature through all five senses. During this 2.5-hour guided experience, you may not walk far in distance, but you will travel a long way toward inner peace. Through mindful movement, conscious breathing, listening to nature's sounds, and guided awareness exercises, you will experience the forest in an entirely new way. What makes this experience truly unique are the certified forest bathing trails on Strahinjčica—among the few of their kind in Croatia—offering an exceptional blend of untouched nature, silence, and wellbeing.

• You will also participate in a mindfulness workshop focused on conscious breathing, relaxation, and practical techniques for slowing down and reconnecting with what truly matters.

• Afterwards, enjoy free time to relax and soak up the tranquillity of your accommodation. The evening is reserved for rest, silence, and the lightness that comes from a day spent in nature.

• After breakfast, set off on a full-day discovery of Zagorje—a region renowned for its green hills, picturesque landscapes, rich history, and stories passed down through generations.

• Throughout the day, you will explore authentic villages, historical landmarks, museums, and castles that reflect the region's cultural heritage. Walking along Zagorje's scenic routes, you will discover hidden corners rarely visited by traditional tourists.

• To complete your introduction to Zagorje, enjoy a traditional lunch prepared from seasonal local ingredients and recipes lovingly preserved by Zagorje families for generations.

• Upon returning to your accommodation, a moment of pure relaxation awaits. In the privacy of your retreat, a therapist will provide a 40-minute massage designed to release tension and restore inner calm.

• The day ends in true Forest Harmony style—slowly, peacefully, and in tune with nature.

Today you will visit Marija Bistrica, Croatia's most famous Marian pilgrimage site, and a place that has welcomed pilgrims, travellers, and seekers of peace for centuries.

• Beyond its spiritual significance, Marija Bistrica is also known for its tradition of gingerbread and licitar hearts. You will discover the craftsmanship behind these iconic decorations, listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and take home your own licitar heart as a souvenir.

• Next, you will be introduced to another symbol of Zagorje—pumpkin seed oil, an essential part of local gastronomy and one of the region's most celebrated products. Visit a local producer and learn how premium pumpkin seed oil is made, from seed to bottle. During a guided tasting, sample a variety of pumpkin-based products and discover why this distinctive oil is an integral part of Zagorje's culinary identity.

• The afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy your accommodation, wellness facilities, or a peaceful walk in nature.

The rolling hills of Zagorje have shaped the region's way of life for centuries. Their sun-drenched slopes are home to vineyards, family wineries, and wine stories waiting to be discovered.

• Visit a local winery where your host will guide you through the vineyards and reveal the secrets behind award-winning wines. Learn about generations of winemaking tradition as well as modern approaches that produce exceptional boutique wines. Depending on the season, you may even participate in vineyard activities such as pruning vines, tying shoots, harvesting grapes, or preparing for the next wine-growing cycle.

• Of course, no wine story would be complete without a tasting. Sample carefully selected regional wines while enjoying breathtaking views of vine-covered hills.

• The day concludes with dinner in an authentic wine setting or a carefully selected local restaurant, where excellent wines perfectly complement traditional Zagorje cuisine.

Because in Zagorje, wine is more than a drink—it is part of the region's identity, culture, and way of life.

• The morning is spent in the company of local hosts who have preserved the culinary traditions of Zagorje for generations. Together, you will learn the art of preparing Zagorje štrukli, discovering recipes, techniques, and stories passed down through families for decades.

After discovering the flavours of Zagorje, it is time for another encounter with its greatest natural treasure—the forest.

• You will embark on a second 2.5-hour guided forest bathing experience at a different location among Zagorje's rolling hills. Together with a certified forest therapist, you will once again slow down, breathe deeply, and immerse yourself in the calming sounds, scents, and energy of nature. This second forest bathing session offers the perfect opportunity to release any remaining stress and prepare for your return home feeling refreshed, balanced, and deeply connected with yourself.

• Upon your return from forests, a delicious reward awaits—warm, freshly baked Zagorje štrukli prepared earlier by your own hands.

The final full day of your Forest Harmony journey is dedicated to another natural treasure for which Zagorje has been renowned for centuries – its thermal waters. For generations, visitors have come to Zagorje's thermal springs seeking relaxation, renewed energy, and the benefits of mineral-rich waters. These natural thermal resources have shaped Zagorje into one of Croatia's most renowned wellness destinations.

• Visit one of Zagorje's thermal spa resorts, where you will have ample time to enjoy thermal pools, wellness facilities, and a relaxing environment that perfectly combines nature and wellbeing. As you unwind in the warm waters surrounded by rolling green hills, you will feel your body relax, your muscles recover, and your mind slow down after a week filled with memorable experiences.

• The evening offers a chance to bid farewell to Zagorje over selected local specialties, a glass of wine, and reflections on the moments that made this forest fairytale so special.

Your final morning in Zagorje begins slowly, just as you have grown accustomed to over the past week. Over breakfast and views of the green hills, reflect on the moments spent in the forest, the new flavours you discovered, and the people you met along the way.

Take one last walk in nature, enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace, or simply savour the peace around you.

It is time to return home, but not to say goodbye to Zagorje. You leave carrying memories, new experiences, and a sense of balance that will remind you that sometimes all we need is to slow down and reconnect with nature.

Check-out and departure.

Included in Price:

• 7 nights in a carefully selected hotel, apartment, or holiday home
• Welcome dinner in an authentic Zagorje restaurant or delivered to your accommodation
• Traditional Zagorje breakfast basket filled with local products
• Two guided Forest Bathing experiences (2.5 hours each) with a certified forest therapist
• Mindfulness workshop focused on relaxation and stress reduction
• Full-day cultural and heritage excursion through Zagorje
• Entrance fees to selected attractions, museums, villages, and castles
• Traditional Zagorje lunch
• Traditional Zagorje dinner
• 40-minute massage in the privacy of your accommodation
• Visit to Marija Bistrica and introduction to the tradition of Licitar hearts
• Guided tasting of pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin-based products
• Visit to a local winery, vineyard tour, and wine tasting
• Traditional Zagorje štrukli cooking workshop
• Visit to a thermal spa resort and use of thermal pools
• Personalised itinerary adapted to your accommodation, travel dates, and season
• Organisation and support by Idilira throughout your stay

Forest Harmony is a personalised experience tailored to your chosen accommodation, travel dates, and season of the year. The order of activities and locations may vary, but all experiences described remain an integral part of your Zagorje forest fairytale.

Fill the form on the right - choose your preferred dates and accommodation, and your personalised Zagorje forest harmony will soon arrive in your inbox.

Available for groups of 5 or more participants.