Mountain Sports in Slovenia
Hiking/Trekking
Slovenia is rightly proud of its wonderful Julian Alps, so much so that Mt Triglav features prominently on their national flag. Just minutes from the Farmhouse, Triglav National Park and the surrounding Alps offer truly excellent hiking and walking for part-timers and serious walkers alike.
From the Retreat there is arguably even better walking, this time on the other side of the mountains. The village of Trenta is a favourite destination for hikers, offering stupidly picturesque scenery and a chance to climb up to the very source of the Soca.
Both houses have guide books on trekking (check out the excellent “Julian Alps of Slovenia: Mountain Routes and Short Treks” if you can't wait until you get there) or, if you prefer, local outdoor companies such as Pac Sports or 3glav take groups for both light strolls and thigh-burners. If you prefer your walks a bit wetter and more dangerous the Pac also offer canyoning (info below) which has proved very popular with our guests in the past, especially those looking for ways to tire out energetic children.
Mountain Biking
Slovenia hosts the now legendary World Cup downhill in Maribor and is regarded as one of the best and most unspoilt places for bikers of all kinds. The rest of the country too has oodles of cycling fun to offer. What Mountain Bike certainly enjoyed their time in Slovenia. Click here to read what they had to say about it.
If you're staying at the Farmhouse you're spoilt for choice with cycle paths disappearing in and out of the trees and hills all over Triglav National Park and the area around Bled and Bohinj. As we live here, take time to have a chat with us and we can make sure you get as much fun as possible in return for your aching legs.
If you're staying at the Retreat there are fewer companies offering guided tours but www.slovenia.info has maps and routes under the cycling section of their Bovec link. Alternatively, if you like your adrenaline in man-sized chunks you might want to shun the trail riding and head straight to the life threatening jumps and runs at the Bovec downhill park. Contact outdoorfreaks@siol.net for more information on the park or just take our word for it that it's steep and scary. Also worth looking at is Top Extreme.
Rock Climbing
Slovenia has heaps of excellent climbing to offer, especially around the Bled and Bohinj area. This site has some good information on what is available in our area: Climb Europe. If you fancy giving it a bash, the Farmhouse is an excellent place to get started, lying, as it does, in one of Slovenia's coolest climbing locations. We can arrange lessons for all levels from beginner to advanced lasting anywhere between a day and a fortnight, taking advantage of the crags within the village and those nearby.
More experienced climbers are welcome to contact us for Topos or information on the huge variety of limestone sport climbing available nearby. There are around a hundred routes in Bohinjska Bela alone including one 8b+ which has only ever been climbed once. Ever. Perhaps not one to warm up on.
For more information about climbing in Slovenia, topos, advice or contacts email us now at info@visitslovenija.eu.
Caving and Canyoning
A bit like a cross between rock-climbing, swimming and hill walking, caving and canyoning is a much more “up close and personal” experience than visiting the larger underground chambers of Postonja. Helmets, ropes, abseiling and a lack of vertigo are all needed to get the most out of it.
Life Trek and 3glav both run canyoning trips to some of the many local waterfalls depending on the time of year. Pac also run a couple of caving trips of different durations one of which - the trip to Govic - is so much fun, it's in our list of Top Five Days Out. Reachable only by canoeing to the far side of lake Bohinj, Govic cave goes down far enough to require three separate descents to reach the bottom where you'll find its enchanting underground lake. Great fun for anyone looking for something a bit different and booking is as easy as contacting us or 3glav.