Skozi devet vasi obiščimo drevesa tri, meaning “Through Nine Villages to Visit Three Trees”, is a 17-kilometre hiking route through the hills around Malečnik, east of Maribor. It links all nine hamlets of the Malečnik-Ruperče community and three protected natural landmarks. Starting at Motel Črni Baron, the trail follows streams and passes through forests, vineyards and villages of the Slovenske gorice Hills.
Its highlights are a giant spruce at the Sončni raj estate, the more than 500-year-old Knezar linden in Grušova and a giant white poplar in Malečnik. Information boards explain their significance. The route also passes the former home of beekeeper and inventor Franc Kirar in Hrenca, a bunker dating from 1938 and an 18th-century distillery building in Metava.
From the viewpoint at Celestrina, there are views across the Drava and Pesnica valleys, while the section through Trčova overlooks Maribor. The circular walk combines natural heritage, rural history and wine-growing landscapes. It takes approximately four to five hours and is rated moderately easy.