Slovenia Adventure Journey

We begin in Bohinj, a glacial valley framed by forested slopes and Lake Bohinj – Slovenia’s largest permanent lake – set within Triglav National Park, established in 1981 to protect the alpine ecosystems around Mount Triglav. Around 6pm we meet the tour leader and fellow travellers to get to know one another and hear about the adventures ahead, followed by a warm Slovenian welcome at a group dinner. If you would like extra time in Ljubljana, you can arrange hotel nights before the tour with your sales representative.

We ease into the week with a serene 12km (7.5 miles) circuit around Lake Bohinj – three to four hours – following gravel roads, forest paths and old wooden bridges while our tour leader shares local tales from Zlatorog to life in the park today, with shifting views of Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest summit at 2,864m (9,396ft). After lunch we return to the lake for a two hour stand up paddleboarding session, learning technique on calm water before exploring – motorboats are heavily restricted here, keeping the lake one of the most peaceful in the Julian Alps. As evening falls, we take a gentle lantern lit walk to the lakeshore – about 45 minutes – watching the light fade over the water.

We transfer to the nearby railway station for a one hour train ride to Kanal ob Soči – a notably scenic route that traces the Idrijca and Soča rivers. On arrival we collect our electric bikes, fit helmets and set off on a 38km cycling adventure, starting beside the emerald Soča before a gentle climb into the hills of Goriška Brda near the Italian border, a landscape of vineyards, olive groves and cherry orchards. Around 1pm we pause at a local winery for a sommelier led tasting, then ride about 30 minutes to Nova Gorica to catch the train – with our bikes – back to Bohinj, finishing with a short cycle to the hotel.

Back on the electric bikes, we head for Lake Bohinj on a 30km loop taking three to four hours, with stops to appreciate canyons, caves and cascades shaped by the Bohinjka river over centuries. Midway we pause at a family run farm where you can join an optional cheese tasting and hear how alpine dairy traditions have shaped life in this corner of the park. After seeing traditional kozolci hayracks in Studor and the award winning Bicycle Bridge Across the Sava River, we finish at the hotel around 3.30pm, leaving you a free afternoon to explore or relax.

We set off early at about 7.30am to cross the Julian Alps into the Soča Valley – a three hour transfer with stops – passing through Kranjska Gora, briefly into Italy for a photo at Lake del Predil, then back over the Predel Pass into Slovenia. Around 9.30am, those who opt in tackle one of the longest zipline routes in Europe, descending 10 cables high above the valley with speeds building to around 37mph (60kph) – those not ziplining join the tour leader for a guided walk of about 1 hour 30 minutes. After a short lunch break we head to the Soča River for an afternoon of white water rafting, navigating 8km–10km (5mi–6mi) of clear alpine water graded Class I–IV with experienced skippers, returning to the hotel around 7pm.

We travel for about an hour to the entrance of Vintgar Gorge, where a wooden walkway leads us for 1.6km between near vertical walls as the Radovna River funnels into rapids, whirlpools and small cascades. We then continue around 20 minutes to Bled beneath the Julian Alps for a guided tour, after which you have free time – you could climb to Bled Castle with its 11th century fortifications on a rock bluff above the lake, join a boatman rowing a pletna to the island church famed for its wishing bell, or follow our tour leader on an optional hike to a viewpoint. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner – a fine chance to relive our adventures together and perhaps start planning the next.

You have walked the Vintgar Gorge boardwalks, ridden the trails around Bohinj and Brda, and rafted the lively Soča River – now it is time to begin your return journey home. Alternatively, if you would like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss available extension options.