Folklore festivals and spas in Slovenia

Specialist tour operator, Just Slovenia (justslovenia.co.uk) is offering a five-night trip incorporating Slovenia's oldest town, Ptuj (pronounced Petooey) during the annual Kurent Festival between 26th February and 8th March 2011, followed by a luxury spa break in Bled's Grand Toplice Hotel.

The traditional annual Kurent Festival is one of the most significant in the calendar of Slovenia and is intended to banish winter and to welcome the arrival of spring.

Kurenti dressed in distinctive sheepskin costumes adorned with feathers, horns ribbons and cow bells, parade through the streets, clanging instruments to ward off evil spirits. Many musical and artistic events, street theatre, a masked ball and weekend carnival parades take place, with revellers smashing clay pots on the ground to bring good luck and health.

After all the excitement in Ptuj, visitors travel to the beautiful alpine town of Lake Bled to stay at the luxury Grand Toplice Hotel, where they will enjoy a two-day spa-package. This comprises four treatments: a massage bath plus a glass of sparkling wine; a whole-body massage with the addition of warm herbs; exfoliation and facial massage; reflexology foot massage, plus use of swimming pool and saunas.

Based on travel in late February or early March, the Kurent break includes two nights' accommodation at the Garni Mitra Hotel in the centre of historic Ptuj, followed by three nights at the Grand Toplice Hotel overlooking Lake Bled. The price of £755 per person, based on two sharing, includes return flights from Stansted, car hire, five nights' bed and breakfast, plus the two-day spa package.

Visit justslovenia.co.uk for further information.