7 ways to have an outdoor adventure in Croatia and Slovenia

Main image: Northern Velebit National Park (Predrag Vučković/Avantura života)

If you had to sculpt a natural playground for outdoor adventure it would look exactly like pristine Croatia and Slovenia, with their unspoilt coastlines, surging rivers, soaring mountains and bountiful wild spaces. Here are seven ways to have a wild adventure on their natural canvases...

1. Hiking

Slovenia is one of Europe’s top hiking destinations, with almost 10,000km of marked trails, the alpine world covering 70% of Slovenia. Stroll around Europe’s prettiest glacial lake – Lake Bled – or tackle Slovenia’s highest peak, 2,864m-high Triglav, alongside myriad peaks, gorge walks and international long distance trails, with 179 mountain huts and shelters, plus hiking festivals. The new Juliana Trail is a 270km-long circular long-distance wonder. Croatia offers more than 400 eclectic hiking routes, with relaxed options inland around Medvednica near Zagreb and on the coast. Paklenica National Park is the jewel of the Zadar region and part of Croatia's largest mountain range Velebit; the Croatian Long Distance Trail a 2,109km-long deeply scenic hiking trail.

2. Cycling

It was no surprise when Slovenian Tadej Pogačar won the Tour de France. Twice. Slovenians love cycling, whether sustainably exploring green cities, tackling a road route, exploring a themed itinerary or mountain biking. The Vršič mountain pass reaches 1,611m through 50 numbered hairpin bends like the Tour de France’s Alpe d’Huez climb, while Slovenia’s regions sweep through the Pannonian plains down to the coast. Croatia provides a bountiful natural palette, including its green cities. Istria is a popular place to pedal, both on its coast and inland. Or, if you fancy ramping up the adrenaline you can tackle the Danube Cycle Route, which weaves its way through eastern Croatia, the leafy Baranja region and the vast wetlands of Kopački Rit Nature Park. In contrast, the pan-Mediterranean EuroVelo 8 route traces more than 1,000km of the Croatian coastline, passing historic towns and cities like Rovinj, Zadar, Trogir and Split. Or there's the option of island hopping, swimming in secluded coves as you cycle across pristine isles...

3. Sailing

Slovenia’s compact Adriatic coast increasingly packs a punch for sailors. There are welcoming marinas to suit all sizes of vessel at the likes of Portorož, Koper and Izola. Sailing by the Venetian belltower of postcard-perfect Piran is a sublime experience, as is going ashore for seafood. Sailing regattas star, like popular Barcolana in autumn, and events like the world-renowned SSL Gold Cup. With over 6,000km of coastline, well over 1,000 islands and a long, balmy sailing season, Croatia is one of the world’s top sailing destinations. There is plenty of room – and myriad options – for everyone from beginners on a sailing course, through to mega yachts. Island highlights include jet-set hotspot Hvar, Marco Polo’s birthplace Korčula, the paradisical Kornati islands and the forested islands of Mljet, Lošinj and Cres. Bountiful harbours, natural anchorages and more than 50 marinas await.

4. Kayaking

Slovenia’s surging mountain rivers could have been designed for kayaking. Ease downstream on gentler stretches, or test yourself against the might of Mother Nature whitewater kayaking. The emerald Soča is justifiably the most famed river, backed up by the superb Sava Dolinka, Sava Bohinjka and Savinja; the Mura, Kolpa and Krka are gentler. Slovenia’s coast offers sea kayaking, too. Croatia’s coast is a joy to kayak. Ease beneath Dubrovnik’s City Walls, explore the lesser-known Elaphiti Islands nearby, or go all Robinson Crusoe in the Kornati islands and around Telašćica Bay on the island of Dugi Otok in the Zadar region. The protected national park of Mljet tempts alongside the uninhabited Pakleni Islands off Hvar. Inland, you can twin pinches of culture with your kayaking adventure as you paddle beneath the gazes of the Ozalj and Dubovac fortresses on the River Kupa.

5. Rafting

Slovenia’s mountain rivers offer some of Europe’s most thrilling rafting. The Sava Dolinka, Sava Bohinjska and Savinja and – the much lauded – Soča wow even experienced rafters, whilst firing a love for rafting in beginners. The rapids range all the way from grade one up to technical grade five. The Mura, Kolpa and Krka offer calmer river safaris, or the chance to raft underground at Mount Peca. Croatia also offers superb rafting of various grades. The two most famous natural arenas are the Cetina river in the Split region and the Zrmanja River in Zadar region. They are ably backed up by the Kupa, Mrežnica, and the Korana. It’s a life-affirming experience cooling down as you bash through epic karst scenery, tackling rapids and waterfalls.

6. Winter activities

That Austrians and Italians flock across the border to ski in Slovenia says it all. The country boasts 50 ski resorts – the largest, Mariborsko Pohorje in Maribor, sports 41.5km of piste. Snowboarding is popular, too, while winter hiking and snowshoeing in snow-wigged landscapes like Triglav National Park or the Kamnik-Savinja Alps offer a mesmerising experience. For real adventurer seekers, the former even offers ice climbing. Croatia's mountains may be better known for summer hiking but they become snowy canvases for winter sports, including Mount Medvednica, which is less than an hour's drive from Zagreb. The hills outside the Croatian capital for years have played host to the Snow Queen Trophy, a FIS World Cup alpine ski race, too, while the snowy landscapes of Gorski Kotar are ideal for hiking.

7. Unique adventures

Looking for something a little different? You’ve come to the right part of the planet. How about racing down at 60 km/h at Europe’s largest zipline park at Učja Canyon in Slovenia? Or dare the world’s steepest zipline at Planica, reaching speeds of 85 km/h! Or follow ‘In the Footsteps of Luka Čeč’, exploring Pivka Cave and Black Cave in the most famous karst cave complex in Europe – Postojna Cave, home of the unique ‘human fish’. World-class diving adventures thrill in Croatia, too, with over 110 registered and documented scuba diving sites, including jaw-dropping wreck dives, like the sunken SS Tomislav off the coast of Lokrum Island near Dubrovnik. Other fine Croatian diving spots include the coral-encrusted crevasses and walls in the waters around the Kornati islands, while the waters off the coast of Split offer sea walls, caverns and wrecks alive with octopus, moray eels, lobsters and myriad fish.

Feeling inspired?

For more inspiration, head over to the official Croatian and Slovenia tourist board websites.

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