Rooms

Scattered around the meadow, amid pine trees and huge boulders (which thankfully fell from the mountains many years ago!) are a handful of 2-3 bedroom chalets (which they call apartments), ideal for families or a group of friends. There are also some smaller adjoining rooms for couples. We opted for an upstairs room with its double bed cosily tucked in under the slanting wooden roof (Room C). However, for claustrophobics, we would recommend those on the ground floor (Room D), less charming but with their own seating area in the meadow.

All are decorated in the same simple but charming style: wooden walls, traditional Trenta wood-burning stoves, and cosy and comfortable pine beds with thick duvets. They are basic and slightly old fashioned, but it is fitting with the feel of the place and you wouldn’t expect or want anything different. Bathrooms are small but very clean with hot showers (no bathtubs); hairdryers and basic toiletries are provided and towels are changed daily. Although each room and apartment has a table, chairs, a small fridge/minibar, a sink and complimentary tea and coffee, they are not self-catering.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

With all this activity you will need some hearty meals, and that is exactly what you get at Pristava Lepena.

Before dinner, sit out on the terrace with a drink, watching the sunset and admiring the galloping Lipizzan horses. Then move to the restaurant, where there's a fireplace to keep you cosy on chilly nights, and a wine room for your evening tipple. Slovenian cuisine is strongly influenced by Italian and Austrian cooking, so the relaxed candle-lit dining room serves good, honest fare - not epicurean, but tasty and wholesome. Memorable dishes included tagliatelle with local wild mushrooms, beef fillet with a goulash-style sauce, and Soca-river trout. Try the traditional strudel pastry pudding too; ours was filled with walnuts, raisins and cottage cheese.

The weekly feast nights are also great fun; Milan usually barbecues dinner outdoors and everyone dines together with views of the mountains. The bar has local wines; the beer is decent and cheap, and the water is mountain pure.

At breakfast, we found the ham, fruit, freshly baked bread and cooked eggs sufficient to keep us going through the day - but if not, the restaurant serves lunch.

Want a change of scene? Bovec village has some simple eateries (a 15-minute drive) and there are upscale options in Kobarid (35km). However, we were too exhausted by the end of each day, and never got round to venturing out!

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Pure-bred Lipizzan horses reside at Pristava, so for competent riders there are treks through the forest, and for learners there’s a riding school
  
• Walking and hiking trails lead you up over mountain passes to alpine lakes, or along river valleys to hidden waterfalls. There are also some fixed cable (via ferrata) mountain walking routes
  
• The stunning Soca river is famous for its trout - guides can take you fly-fishing or you can bring your own kit and buy a permit
  
• …You can also lounge beside the river or even jump into one of the natural pools - the water may look like the Caribbean but the temperature is rather different!
  
• White-water rafting and kayaking can easily be arranged in Bovec - we spent a couple of exhilarating hours going down the Soca with experienced guides
  
• The more adventurous can try canyoning, paragliding and gliding/skydiving (July/August). Kanin, one of Europe’s longest zip-lining stretches, is also nearby and has spectacular views of the Soca Valley
  
• In winter, go skiing at Kanin-Sella Nevea, Slovenia's highest ski resort, located just 7km away. The hotel offers discounts on ski passes so speak to staff before going
  
• Back at Pristava Lepena, enjoy table tennis and archery; there’s also a fitness room, wood saunas, a massage room, a gym and swimming pool
  
• From Pristava Lepena, full day trips can also be made to the coast, the famous karst caves, Lake Bled, Bohinj and Ljubljana

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Rafting
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Trekking

Best Time to go

Our Top Tips

Location

Pristava Lepena is in the heart of the beautiful Soca Valley, in Slovenia. The nearest village is Bovec, a 15-minute drive away.

By Air
The easiest route is to fly to Trieste Airport, Italy (134km), or to Venice-Marco Polo and hire a car at either airport. You should declare that you are planning on travelling across the border, but this is quite common so there should not be a problem.

Alternatively, fly into Slovenia’s Ljubljana Airport (130km).

From the Airport
From Trieste and Venice, Pristava Lepena is about a 2-hour drive north along the Soca Valley; from Ljubljana Airport, it’s also about a 2 hour drive through the mountainous Triglav National Park.

We’d definitely recommend hiring a car as the hotel’s setting is pretty isolated and you'll feel stranded without one. Driving in Slovenia is a lovely experience; the roads are quiet and the scenery stunning.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Slovenia and getting around