Slovenia
Top Tips
Hiking/climbing
The large Triglav National Park covers the major part of the Julian
Alps and Slovenia's highest peak, Mt Triglav (2,864m). Slovenes are
keen mountaineers and there's an extensive network of trails and
mountain huts. We've even found a tranquil mountain retreat for a
base: Nebesa
Riding
Lipica, near the coast, is the original home of the Lipizzans (the
finest riding horses in the world). Take lessons or go trail riding
on these graceful creatures further north at Pristava
Lepena, where the atmosphere is more relaxed and the scenery more
beautiful.
Fly-fishing
Slovenia's best known and most beautiful river, the Soca is home to
brown, rainbow and marble (Europe's largest) trout and the Soca
grayling. Season: April-October.
Adrenaline sports
The village of Bovec in the Soca Valley is Slovenia's centre for
rafting, kayaking and paragliding.
Castles
Slovenia has an abundance of castles. Some of the more dramatic are
those at Bled, Ljubljana and Predjama.
Karst Caves
The Karst region in the south west hides some of the world's most
extensive underground caves. The Postojna cave is the largest and
most commercialised; the Skocjan caves are more spectacular and
less touristy.
Coastal resorts
Piran, is the most picturesque, with its Venetian gothic
architecture, winding streets and harbourside restaurants. Portoroz
is the equivalent of the Costa del Sol.
Lakes in the north east
Lake Bled with its island church and medieval clifftop castle is
the most popular resort, especially in summer. Nearby Lake Bohinj
is just as beautiful but less developed.
Museums
The award-winning Kobarid Museum
in the Soca Valley is largely devoted to the World War 1 Soca
Front, which claimed the lives of an estimated 1 million
people.
Skiing
The largest resort is at Kranjska Gora in the north, where the
season runs from December-March. The highest centre is at Kanin
(2200m) where you can often ski until May.