Much of deeply scenic Slovenia is protected as a national park or nature reserve, with Triglav National Park the most famous. A great base for exploring this park is Kranjska Gora in the Julian Alps. In winter there are 18 ski runs; in summer hiking takes over. Amongst myriad options is the unique chance to hike up Peč. This peak sits at 1,510m and lies on the borders of three nations – Austria, Italy and, Slovenia - with a festival held every year to mark this meeting of countries and cultures.
A northern charmer that looks impossibly pretty on postcards is, if anything, even more striking in real life. Logar Valley is up there with any Alpine valley in Europe, its lush green valley floor giving way to hulking, craggy mountains all around. Even short hikes open up its grandeur, like the trail to the Rinka Waterfall, one of the highest in Slovenia. Above the tumbling waters mountain huts and high ridges tempt in a wildscape far beyond busy roads and the beep of mobile phones.
Slovenia boasts serious strength in hiking depth. The Cerkno Hills surge up above 1,000m in narrow gorges and karst plateaus, while the twin mountain plateaus of Velika Planina and Pokljuka Plateau await with a world of shepherds and walking trails. Glacial Lake Bohinj is surrounded by the towering peaks and sports numerous walking trails, mountaineering challenges and themed walks. It’s not all tough day-long hikes as you can head to the Savica waterfall, or just catch the cable car up Vogel Ski Resort. It may touch the heavens at 1,922m, but you can sneak up to 1,540m on the cable car.
Bohinj may be the country’s largest lake, but Lake Bled is the most famous, a chocolate box beauty surrounded by snow-capped peaks with a little island in the middle blessed with a church whose bells echo out across the smooth waters. Traditional wooden boats (pletnas) have eased visitors across to the island for centuries. After climbing the 99 stone steps to reach the church you can ring the bell for yourself and listen as it echoes out around this famous spa resort. When you return by boat a scenic walk around the lake awaits along with a visit to the striking castle that nestles high above.
One of Slovenia’s best short walks lies near Bled at Vintgar Gorge. Here a series of wooden bridges and viewing galleries enable you to snake along the 1.6 km long gorge admiring its plunging waterfalls and mirror-clear pools and cascades. The ice cool, ice clear waters gurgle around as you are lost in nature and enjoy the highlight – the 13 m high Šum waterfall.
Delving further south now we come to the legendary Soča Valley, home to the eponymous whitewater wonder that is the emerald green Soča River. If the Soča Valley feels a bit like the Garden of Eden it is. Literally. It was the first European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) destination in Slovenia, awarded for its sustainable development of tourism and keen eye on conserving nature.