Ljubljana to Soča Valley and the Julian Alps
Vršič Pass – the most popular mountain pass in Slovenia
WWI memorial – Russian chapel
Soča River, the emerald jewel
Deep ravines of Soča Gorge
Triglav National Park hike
Many waterfalls, pools and alpine streams
Highest mountain road in Slovenia (over 2000 m/6500 ft elevation) – Mangart Saddle
Options of activities: white water rafting, canyoning or ziplining
Emerald Soča River
Russian Chapel
Soča River
Soča Rafting
Soča Zipline
Mountain pass
Pricing
Included in price
English speaking guide
Comfortable transportation
Eco toll fee for Mangart Saddle road
Important for the tour
Description
The tour will take us from Ljubljana to Julian Alps, up to Vršič Pass – one of the most popular mountain passes in the country, which lies at 1600 m (5250 ft). The spectacular drive up follows a road built during WWI and offers incredible views of the mountains as well as remarkable war time stories. We will stop at the Russian Chapel memorial and marvel at the achievement of Russian POWs, who built this winding road with its 50 hairpin bends.
Descending down from Vršič Pass, we will enter Trenta Valley, the source of Soča River. Soča is often named the most beautiful river in Slovenia and boasts a unique emerald colour. It’s a popular summer destination for both nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. We will follow its course to the Soča River Gorge, where over thousands of years, the river carved into the pure white limestone and created a magnificent crevice.
Our trip will lead us deeper into the Alps, and we will continue into Lepena Valley for an easy hike along an alpine stream with heavenly scenes of waterfalls and green pools, cascading through an untouched forest. A picture of peace and tranquility, disturbed only by the rippling sounds of water, it is a place to really get in touch with nature.
Afterwards, we will continue to Bovec, the adrenaline capital of Slovenia, where you will be able to choose how to spend your afternoon. Your guide will make all the arrangements and communicate meeting points and times for those that opt for different adrenaline activities.
OPTION A – WHITE-WATER RAFTING
You can opt for white-water rafting on Soča River and thus get to see and experience the river in a completely different and fun way, going down rapids and splashing about. For this experience you need to be a swimmer as well as bring a swimsuit and a towel. A local agency will provide you with transfer, professional rafting guide and gear (wet suit, shoes, life jacket, helmet).
OPTION B – ZIPLINING
If you prefer a view from above, then ziplining is the activity for you. Magnificent views are what you can expect while suspended up to 200 m (650 ft) above the valley on a series of zip lines with a total length of 3.2 km (2.2 miles). When you get over the adrenaline rush of whizzing down cables with speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph), you will be able to observe spectacular views of the Julian Alps and the Soča River Valley, a scene that even a mountain would envy. Your professional ziplining guides will teach you how to use the safety gear they provide (helmet, harness, protection gloves) and instruct you at every cable what to do and expect. The whole experience takes 2-3 hours.
If adrenaline is not your thing, you will have about an hour for a lunch break* in Bovec and then your guide will take you to a nearby waterfall. A popular stop in Bovec, it cascades in many strands of water over a 12 meter (40 feet) tall cliff into a beautiful green pool. If you love waterfalls, we have another treat for you: the waterfall with most water in Slovenia is close by and our path will take us there as well.
Later in the afternoon, we will pick up those who opted for the adrenaline activities and together continue north towards the highest road in Slovenia. Known to be one of the most scenic drives around, the narrow winding road can be considered an adventure in its own right and it rewards visitors with unparalleled vistas of the Julian Alps.
The Julian Alps stretch further into neighbouring Italy. We will take another mountain pass across the border and stop by Lake Predil, set in a picturesque valley beneath the Kanin massif. Then we will loop back to Slovenia via the top north-western corner and arrive back to Ljubljana enjoyably tired, but left with some of the best memories you can make in Slovenia.
Location
Things to know
The driver will pick you up at the bus stop on Gosposvetska (Google maps). Please be there at least 10 minutes before departure.
In case you would like to be picked up / dropped off at a different location, we can accommodate that with a surcharge of 20€/booking.
You have the option of both. We have a time slot reserved for lunch on each tour, always somewhere with (usually local) restaurants handy. That said, you can always pack your own picnic lunch and eat it wherever and whenever you like. This might sometimes even save time in order to fit a bit of extra sightseeing into your day. If you opt for adrenaline activities on this day, you should keep in mind that it is best for you to bring a picnic lunch.
The best thing about our day trips is that they can be tailored to your own level of fitness. Most of the tours are designed with different activities available, so the choice is entirely yours. Please consult the difficulty section under a specific day trip to see what the difficulty level of the tour and particular activity is.
Don’t worry. Our day trips are planned with everyone in mind. If you find an entrance fee too expensive, or you are unsure if you are willing to spend so much of your budget on entrance fees, our guides will always have some free alternatives ready for you. From taking a short hike and finding that perfect photo opportunity, to relaxing in a beautiful spot, we have got you covered.
If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way. It is your holiday, after all! As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customize your itinerary and create your own adventure!
It is important to dress for the season. Slovenia has all 4 seasons, so please check the weather forecast before the day trip regarding temperatures and rainfall. When you are close to the Alps, the weather can change fairly quickly, so your best bet is to always bring an extra layer. We recommend shoes you will be comfortable in. If you decide for rafting a bathing suit, a towel and a change of clothes are necessary.
It really depends on the level of your restriction. Vegetarian options are fairly easy to find in Slovenia, but vegan dishes, on the other hand, are extremely hard to come by in rural areas of the country and in smaller towns. Please note, that the places where we stop off at for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu. We suggest you keep this in mind.
There is so much to do in Slovenia, so we wanted to give you the option of choosing exactly how you would like to spend your time here. Which is why we have compiled a list of popular activities in the areas of your visit and categorized them as extras. Therefore, the choice of which and how many you would like to experience is entirely up to you. We set up some of the most popular activities in the areas of your visit and listed them as extras. The choice of how many and which you would like to do is entirely yours. When you arrive to a destination, such as Lake Bled, the itinerary always allows for any additional activities you might want to do, like visiting Bled Castle or taking a traditional boat ride to the island. You can book all of your chosen extras in advance. Your guide will confirm the bookings with you on the tour and make sure you know everything you need to know. It is always exciting when people come away from the same trip enriched by different adventures and can share and compare their experiences along with the tons of photos they have taken.
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Private Guided Solo
Private Guided
Expert Local Guides
Best Prices
Small Groups
Comfortable Transfers
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