When it comes to the best destinations for outdoor adventure, Slovenia is one of the top contenders. Hikers, bikers, and thrill-seekers who delight in adrenaline-pumping activities like white water rafting and paragliding flock to the alpine peaks in summer, which double as snowy ski slopes in winter. Elsewhere in the country, you’ll find untouched forests, spectacular beaches, and picturesque vineyards growing white wine grapes.
As a destination, Slovenia is still relatively little-visited in Europe – although it’s jewel-coloured hills and beautiful baroque capital entice increasing numbers of tourists each year. This guarantees you a peaceful getaway wherever you go, but the most sensational spots lurk off the beaten path, hidden within these striking landscapes.
Follow this guide to unpacking the secrets of Slovenia to discover the must-visit places away from the tourist trail.
Rakov Škocjan Valley
Less than an hour south of Ljubljana, the Rakov Škocjan Valley is a landscape park that has been protected since 1949 due to its diverse fir and beech forest and impressive geology. Despite its proximity to Slovenia’s capital city, it remains one of the country’s best-kept secrets.
Created out of a collapsing cave, this valley is traversed by two natural stone bridges and a small river that runs above ground for 3.5km between two underground cave systems. Take a boat ride through the underground lakes, taking in the magnificent stalactites, eerie light, and piles of bear bones.
Logar Valley
Head north from Ljubljana instead and it’s not long before you reach the Logar Valley, one of the best destinations for summer cycling tours in Slovenia because of its blend of flatlands and mountains. You can pedal paths through chocolate-box Alpine villages with timber houses and old mills and enjoy the challenging climbs and downhill thrills higher in the hills.
The cliffs lining the valleys conceal caves, rare mountain flowers – most rewarding at the Okrešelj glacial amphitheatre – and waterfalls. At the far end of the Logar Valley is the staggering Rinka Waterfall, the second-highest waterfall in the country which plunges 90 metres from peak to pool.
Krka River
Springing up 30km east of Ljubljana and running to the Croatian border, the Krka River is lined by many fantastic sites. As you travel its length, you’ll pass isolated medieval buildings like the impressive Otočec Castle and Pleterje Charterhouse and small towns with traditional architecture.
13th-century Žužeberk is one of the main highlights, boasting one of the most beautiful castles in Slovenia with striking red turrets and towers and a pretty riverbank with a slow-running spot for safe swimming. The region’s industrial past can also be explored here at the riverside mills which overlook man-made dams and long wide waterfalls.