Slovenia
Exploring Slovenia’s mountains, ski resorts and lakes
Summary
Slovenia is a country that is situated in central Europe in-between countries such as Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. It has been claimed to be a hidden gem and I can see why! It is full of turquoise and glacier lakes, mountains (Julian Alps) and ski resorts. A little piece of paradise and easy to navigate around especially as almost everyone speaks English. It is also one of the safest countries in the world, not to mention the cleanest (it won National Geographic’s 2017 World Legacy Award, as the most sustainable tourist destination, and Ljubljana was Green Capital of Europe in 2016).
Slovenia has lots of cheap flights from London, however I travelled from Manchester so it was a lot more expensive and flights aren’t as frequent. I decided on flying to Venice and then travel to Slovenia from there where a friend of mine who is from the country picked me up. This is a 3-hour journey one way! It was the cheapest option at the time. A good half way break is Portogruaro in the Metropolitan of Venice in Italy. A small, quiet town and perfect for a coffee break.
Places visited
Soriska Planina Ski resort - Lake Bled - Ljubljana
Having a friend who is from the country helps a lot, as he could show me all of what Slovenia has to offer. First off though we went Skiing in the Soriska Planina. and it was my first-time skiing. The drive is very picturesque where you ascent high up into the mountains through snowy pine forests to the resort. The weather was clear blue skies and very snowy which made the scenery and experience ten times more enjoyable. The resort itself is local so not a lot of tourists visit and prices are cheap!
After a morning of skiing I was taken to Lake Bled. Bled is Slovenia’s most tourist destination with its picture postcard views of the church in the middle of the lake surrounded by the Julian Alps. Because the place is so special this can be packed of tourists. I visited in the February so there were hardly any people there so we got a great view.
Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and largest city. We headed there in the evening and it was still buzzing with character. It is very clean and vibrant and is known for its green spaces, outdoor cafes, museums and sculptures. It is a city that is never overcrowded and has a lot to offer. There is a viewing point up to the castle that overlooks both the old and new town which was worth visiting
Vršič Pass - Jasna Lake - Zelenci spring - Soca Canyon
The Vršič Pass is a high mountain Alpine pass over the Juluian Alps. It has 52 hairpins all of which are cobbled, and an elevation gain of 1161 metres / 3809.055 ft! Driving up the pass you come across the Ruska chapel. A chapel nestled in the middle of the forest. It commemorates the hundreds of Russians working on the pass who were killed by avalanche.
Descending down from the pass we headed to Jasna Lake. Usually the lake is turquoise coloured, but because I visited in winter it was frozen! So, I was able to walk on the lake and admire the surrounding mountains. On the outside of the lake there are sun loungers to either have an alcoholic beverage or a coffee. Zelenci Spring was the next stop. A turquoise colour spring which is part of the longest river in the country. Slovenia has a lot of lakes and natural glaciers and has some of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. The Soca Canyon has one of the most beautiful rivers I have ever seen which is a distinct emerald green colour. it is almost looks surreal. It is an area that attracted thrill seekers in the summer months of adventurous water sports, wildcatter kayaking, rafting and canyoning.
Pticji Vrh (Means bird of pray)
A 6 mile hike through pink forests up to Pticji Vrh. Click the image for the GPX file.
The hike began on a clear day through a quiet pine forest full of snow, It felt very alpine as people were passing us on cross country skis. The smell of pine forests and fresh mountain air has a way of cleansing and revitalising you and realises endorphins! I was definitely in my element.
The higher you walk the more visible the mountains become as you exit the forest into the open valley. The last leg of the hike was up a very steep, snowy un-pathed hill to reach the summit. The views are the top are breath taking, especially on a clear day where you can see as 360 views of the Alps in Austria and over to the Julian Alps in Slovenia.
Predjama Castle - Postojna Cave - Piran
Predjama Castle is the largest cave castle in the world and was built in the 1500 ‘s and has been perched in the middle of the cliff for more than 800 years. Postojna cave is listed in the Guinness book of world records too. Behind the castle there is a network of secret tunnels where you can take a train journey through the passageways. This opens up to enormous caves that are full of rock formations. These were formed over 350,000 years ago by droplets of water seeping through the ground and freezing. The tour lasts around 90 minutes.
Piran is a beautiful coastal town in the southwest of Slovenia and is one of the three major towns in the country. I really enjoyed walking around the town as it had a very relaxing feeling to it. I walked up to the tower where you are rewarded by views over the town for that picturesque postcard photo. It was a good way to end the trip.
