Slovenia’s Masked Festival: Awakening the Korant Photography Workshop

Shaking the Earth: The Deafening Bells of Spring

On this 8-day Slovenia photography workshop, we base ourselves in the historic town of Ptuj to document the Kurentovanje festival. Men clad in massive sheepskin suits, terrifying horned masks, and heavy chains of cowbells take to the streets and villages to chase away evil spirits and awaken the spring.

Village Hearths. Pagan Rhythms. Raw Documentary Portraits.

We don’t just watch from the sidelines. Because of our local connections, we take you behind the scenes in the surrounding villages of Markovci and Spuhlja. You will photograph the intimate preparations inside local homes, capture the heavy, rhythmic dancing from just feet away, and document the profound cultural pride of the people keeping this UNESCO-recognized tradition alive.

Who is it for?

This tour is designed for documentary photographers, portrait lovers, and cultural explorers. If you thrive on capturing character-rich faces, intricate costumes, and the chaotic, raw energy of live events, this is your perfect workshop. It is not a traditional landscape tour; instead, it is an immersion into street photography, environmental portraits, and storytelling.

Furthermore, this workshop is a feast in the literal sense. If you appreciate slow travel, superb regional wines, and outstanding local gastronomy, you will feel right at home. We place a huge importance on experiencing the culinary heritage of the Štajerska region alongside its photographic opportunities.

Slovenia’s Masked Festival Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Slovenia

We meet at Ljubljana Airport (LJU), and from the moment you land, we take care of all transfers and logistics. We drive east to Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest town and our basecamp for the week. Settling into one location means no packing and unpacking—just pure photography. After checking in, we spend the afternoon exploring the charming cobblestone streets and visit a traditional “Korant House” to understand the roots of the festival. In the evening, we enjoy our first taste of the region’s superb culinary offerings with a grand welcome dinner.

Day 2: Master Craftsmen & The Night Spectacle

Today we dive into the craftsmanship behind the myth. We visit a master mask maker to document the intricate, painstaking process of building the terrifying Korant masks from leather, horns, and feathers. We also visit the intimate Zvonko Križaj museum, soaking in local history while enjoying homemade schnapps and local cold cuts. In the evening, the town comes alive for a massive Night Spectacle—a fantastic opportunity to practice low-light and motion-blur photography as the figures dance through the illuminated streets.

Day 3: The Village Walk

We leave the city behind and enter the rural heartland of the tradition. From 10:00 AM late into the evening, we walk alongside the Koranti through the neighboring village of Spuhlja. This is raw, documentary photography. We follow the groups as they go house-to-house, dancing in private farmyards to bring good luck to the families. We stay as long as we wish, capturing unscripted moments of exhaustion, pride, and celebration.

Day 4: Markovci Carnival (Markovski Fašenk)

The village energy peaks today in Markovci. We follow the Koranti as they traverse several nearby villages, culminating in the Markovski Fašenk—a vibrant, highly authentic local carnival. The atmosphere here is wilder and more traditional than the city parades. We spend the entire day capturing the chaos, the colorful characters, and the deep-rooted community spirit until the sun goes down.

Day 5: The Grand International Parade at Ptuj

The climax of the public festivities. Ptuj hosts the massive International Carnival Parade. The streets are packed, and the atmosphere is electric. We spend the morning doing street photography as groups prepare. For the main event from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, we secure official media passes for our group. This grants us unlimited, barrier-free access to the entire carnival area, ensuring you get the best possible vantage points among the thousands of participants from all over Europe. In the evening, we celebrate by trying special “Pust menus” at local traditional restaurants, enjoying a well-deserved rest after an exhilarating day on our feet.

Day 6: Sanctuary at Ptujska Gora & Wine Tasting

After an intense and loud weekend, we balance our time with history and quiet contemplation. To rest our senses from the deafening bells, we take a short drive to the magnificent Ptujska Gora pilgrimage church. Set on a hill, it offers peaceful architectural photography and sweeping views of the landscape. In the afternoon, we have the option to join the Koranti once again as they walk through a different set of old villages. These locations feature beautifully preserved rural architecture, providing a stunning historical backdrop for our final portraits of the masked figures. To cap off the day, we venture deep underground into one of Ptuj’s historic wine cellars. The region is famous for its white wines, providing a perfect setting to relax, review our images, and taste the local vintage.

Day 7: The Burial of Pust (Pokop Pusta)

Shrove Tuesday brings the emotional conclusion to the festival. In the morning, we follow a group of pokači (whip-crackers) from house to house for the authentic, rural “Burial of Pust.” At noon, the entire town of Ptuj shuts down to celebrate. At 1:00 PM, we capture the final, satirical funeral procession in front of the Town Hall. It’s a mix of mourning the end of the party and celebrating the arrival of spring. We wrap up the week with a grand farewell dinner, sharing our best shots and stories.

Day 8: Departure

After a final breakfast, our official tour concludes. We will take care of your transfer back to Ljubljana Airport, your memory cards filled with the sights, sounds, and faces of Slovenia’s most vibrant tradition. If you wish to continue your photographic journey, let us know! We can easily arrange a custom extension to explore other iconic Slovenian locations, such as the fairytale Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, or the vibrant capital city of Ljubljana.

Chasing the Bells, Not Schedules

Because the Pust season is tied to the movable date of Easter, every year brings a slightly different rhythm to the festivities. To guarantee the most authentic experience, our day-by-day itinerary remains highly flexible. We may swap activities between days to perfectly align with local events, shifting weather, or spontaneous village gatherings. Every change we make to the schedule is driven by a single goal: maximizing your photographic opportunities and ensuring you are always in the right place at the exact right moment.

Activity level

This tour is not physically strenuous in terms of hiking. However, festival days are long and dynamic. You will be on your feet for several hours at a time, navigating through lively crowds, following the Koranti through villages, and standing in winter weather to get the perfect angle. Comfortable, warm winter footwear is essential.

What’s Included in Your Adventure

Everything is Taken Care Of. We believe that a tour should be stress-free. You focus on the images; we handle the logistics. This workshop is fully all-inclusive:

Photos of Koranti and Pustovanje Festival

Meet Your Guide

Frequently Asked Questions: