Hike, Bike and Raft in Slovenia

Head out on an orientation walk around cosmopolitan Ljubljana. Ljubljana is a city full of style and sophistication, history, monuments, churches, museums and great restaurants. The Old Town consists of three main squares and Baroque houses, and you can visit the Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall and Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Triple Bridge, and the open market under the arcade. In the city centre’s Preseren Square, you’ll feel like you’ve just walked right into a scene from a beautiful postcard.

In the afternoon board a local bus to the quaint lakeside town of Bohinj (approx. 2 hours) which will be the base for the coming week. Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent glacial lake in the country, and the soaring Julian Alps capture a touch of Switzerland. The mountainous backdrop and stunning lake make Bohinj a wonderful place to visit and a delight of Slovenia.

Head out for the first day of activity. Take the cable car to the top of Mt. Vogel, located within Triglav National Park. The upper station lies above 1500 m from where you’ll enjoy a hike along lush trails, looking down to the valley where deep green meets endless blue. Depending on weather conditions, you will head south towards the peak of Sija. After a rest stop at Suha hut, continue through this incredible Alpine scenery along the Bukovska Valley towards the final destination: Ribcev Laz. This is a quaint little village dominated by a 17th-century church with a fresco of St. Christopher on the outside wall. The church, the mountains, a little bridge over Lake Bohinj – it all looks like a wonderful film set.

Today you’ll head to nearby Bled. With dense green mountains, a rocky cliff-top castle, and an emerald-coloured lake – complete with a church on an island smack bang in the middle of it – it’s hard to take a bad photo here. Join the group for an orientation walk through the picturesque town and around its lake. This scenic 6-km walk passes some impressive villas, mostly from the beginning of the 19th-century, including the former residence of Josip Tito. Grajska Plaza (Castle Beach) is found directly underneath the castle, and provides an excellent starting point for your own exploration in the afternoon. Maybe head to the 100-m high cliff-top castle.

Dating from the 11th-century, the views from Old Bled Castle are nothing short of spectacular – take in the lake with the island and the southern foothills of the Alps. Even better views are to be had from Little Osojnica Hill. Or take a Pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) to the island on Lake Bled – climb up the 99 steps to St Mary’s Church and ring the wishing bell. Return to our base in Bohinj at your own leisure.

Pack your swimming gear and towel for a rafting trip on the Sava Dolinka River. It’s a short drive from Bohinj to Piskovca (approx 40 minutes), where you enter the river. A professional river guide will lead the group on a 1.5-hour journey through rapids (graded 2 to 3), gates and pools. You’ll pass alpine scenery, cypress trees, and navigate giant moss-covered boulders all the way down river to Lancovo. There’s time for a swim in the fresh water, then it’s a short drive back to Bohinj from Lancovo. Later, maybe dine on sausages or fresh fish with a side of the local vino. Luckily for you, Slovenia only exports a small amount of their wine, keeping the best local.

Still want to be active? Perhaps enjoy an Emerald River Adventure within Triglav National Park, or try your hand at canyoning. Or simply return to Bled and wander around town at your own pace, and take a dip in the lake. Be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake, which isn’t hard; nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims that theirs is the best.

Alternatively head to Vintgar Gorge. It’s an easy daytrip from Bohinj and features a spectacular walk across rapids, waterfalls and pools via an elevated boardwalk that clings to the craggy rock face. The gorge is less than a kilometre in length so doesn’t take long to hike, but the iridescent water has an almost ethereal quality and clearly, you’ll spend a while in this amazing spot taking photos.

Head out for a morning of biking, on a cycling path that connects the Lower and the Upper Bohinj valley. This tranquil path leads past several natural and cultural sights, you’ll pass old buildings, ancient trees and traditional farms, to the village of Srednja Vas. Next up is the more challenging section that meanders across Senožeta hill to the village of Bohinjska Bistrica. It’s then an easy flat ride back to the lake along a bike path that follows the scenic Sava Bohinjka River. If you haven’t had enough yet there is the option to continue your ride to the waterfall at Slap Savica, a route with more elevation gain. Back in Bohinj, make the most of your last night together as a group and celebrate the end of this active adventure.

This trip comes to an end after breakfast with an optional transfer to the airport for your onward flight. If you would like to extend your stay in Bohinj or Bled we are happy to book additional accommodation for you.