13 adventurous things to do in Soca Valley Slovenia
Looking for the best things to do in Soca Valley, Slovenia? Let me help.
I road-tripped through Soca Valley – an intangible valley with its own legends, walled with majestic mountains and marked by a pristine river in dramatic turquoise colors.
What can I tell you about this wonderful area? Well, for starters it’s the adventure capital of Slovenia.
It has anything an active traveler could want: zip lining, white water rafting, paragliding, kayaking, biking, hiking, bungy jumping, fishing.. and the list just keeps going.
Here are the best activities and sights in Soca River Valley, from Bovec to Kobarid.
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Things to do in Soca Valley
1. Go river rafting in Bovec
One of the best things to do in Bovec is to grab a paddle and hit the Soča River for some top-notch rafting. It’s a wild ride with awesome views, and there’s a crew of expert guides to lead the charge.
Plus, Bovec is known as Slovenia’s adventure capital, so you know they take their rafting seriously.
Book here – Adventure Rafting with Photo Service in Bovec
2. Virje waterfall
Virje Waterfall is a picturesque spot where the Gljun stream fans out into a 12-meter-high, 20-meter-wide veil of water.
Easy to reach with just a short hike, Virje is perfect for a quick nature escape.
3. Kayaking
Ever tried kayaking? If not, Soča Valley is the place to start.
The Soca River’s crystal-clear blue waters cut through stunning green scenery and you’ll find rapids from easy to hardcore.
Plus, with experienced guides available, you’ll tackle those rapids like a pro in no time.
Book here – Guided Sit on Top Kayak Trip on Soca River
4. Bee aromatherapy in Bovec
The valleys surrounding Bovec are dotted with beautiful alpine houses and cottages, and it’s also a popular place for beekeepers. I visited Maya’s bee farm there.
After lunch, I tried bee aromatherapy. It was my first time so I was really curious how and if it would have an effect.
As I learned, bees create a special microclimate, which relieves mostly lung problems, and anxiety and helps the body relax.
I got the mask on and inhaled the aerosols for about an hour. It was very relaxing and calming.
5. Try ziplining
Ziplining in Bovec is an adrenaline rush!
You’ll zip across canyons and get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape at speeds that can hit up to 60 kilometers per hour. In fact, you can try the longest zipline in Europe here!
It’s safe, it’s fast, and you don’t need any experience to start.
Book here – Bovec Zipline – the longest zipline in Europe
6. The Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca
The Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca is a tribute to soldiers from WWI.
Built by Austro-Hungarian troops right in the middle of battle, it’s tucked away in nature.
Worth a visit for sure.
7. Explore Narnia Slovenia
As a visitor, entering Soca Valley felt like clambering through the back of the European wardrobe.
And someone did actually, because The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) was shot right here in Bovec, Soca Valley Slovenia.
Pro tip: This is only a short drive from Bovec.
8. Boka waterfall
A little further up the road, you’ll find the Boka waterfall, which is undoubtedly the mightiest waterfall in Slovenia.
Why?
Simply because it emerges from a spring in a mountainside. Majestic!
9. The Great Soča Gorge
The Great Soča Gorge is a 750-meter stretch where the Soča River has carved through rock.
It’s about 11 km from Bovec; just follow the Bovec-Vršič road, take a right towards Lepena Valley, and you’re there.
It’s not fully accessible, but marked trails offer some great views. Be careful when it’s wet or cold, as paths can get slippery.
10. Tolmin Gorges
Having picked up its color in underground limestone caverns, Soca River Slovenia runs through deep canyons into languorous pools filled with white sand and marble trouts.
The most stunning of these is the Tolmin Gorges.
Located just a short drive from the town of Tolmin at the southern end of Triglav National Park, these gorges are the park’s lowest and most stunning points.
While you’re there, you can walk a circular trail that’s about 2 km long, but keep in mind that some parts can be quite narrow and challenging. It’s a great place for a hike, but wear good shoes and stay safe on the paths.
11. The charming Kobarid
Kobarid is the southernmost town in Soca Valley.
Kobarid is a small and amiable little town with a historical trail and several colorful houses and buildings.
It has some of Slovenia’s finest restaurants and a museum about the role of the area as a major front in World War 1.
12. Kozjak waterfall
A short walk from Kobarid, you’ll find the 15-meter-high Kozjak Waterfall, tucked away in a stony chamber.
To get there, you’ll take a scenic hike through the woods, which adds to the whole experience.
The path to the waterfall is well-marked, and when you arrive, you’ll see why many consider it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovenia (myself included).
Just remember to respect the area and not swim, as it’s protected.
13. Dreznica
If you’re up for an authentic slice of Slovenian life, Drežnica is your spot. Nestled in the Soča Valley with the Julian Alps as a backdrop, this village is as peaceful as it gets.
It’s steeped in history, too, with its old church and WWI remnants. Plus, it’s super close to the Kozjak Waterfall and Krn Mountains, so you’ve got your adventure sorted.
I stayed here and it was so lovely!
Many thanks to Spirit Slovenia for generously hosting me in Slovenia, and thanks to Maja from Sport Center Bovec for a super fun and active day. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own, regardless of who is footing the bill.
FAQ – Things to do in Soca Valley Slovenia
Is Soča Valley worth a visit?
Absolutely. It’s not just about the views; the Soča Valley and Soča River offer top-notch rafting, hiking, and WWI history to explore.
Where is Soca Valley Slovenia?
Nestled in the Julian Alps of western Slovenia, Soča Valley is known for its striking emerald river and alpine scenery.
How do you get to Soča Valley Slovenia?
By car, Soca Slovenia is about a 2-hour drive from Ljubljana. Buses also run, but less frequently and with longer travel times.
How long to spend in Soča Valley?
A weekend in Soca River Valley can cover highlights, but if you’re into outdoor activities or want a deep dive into the area’s history, plan for a week.
Before you go – don’t miss these posts:
- 10 Most Beautiful Cities in Slovenia
- 3 best ways to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled
- Lake Bohinj, Slovenia – the lake at the end of the world
- 10 magical things to do in Lake Bled
- 10 amazing things to do in Ljubljana
- Vrsic Pass Slovenia – The ONLY guide you need
- Lake Jasna Slovenia: Ultimate Visitor’s Guide
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An amazing post Miriam. Thank you so much for sharing about the Soca valley. Some history, some local folklore, a local charming town, and absolutely gorgeous photography. Such a beautiful corner of the world, that I know so little about.
Thanks again for sharing! 🙂
~Carl~
You are very welcome, Carl. I hope you get to visit some day. It’s absolutely worth a visit! 🙂
Delighted you enjoyed your trip over Vrsic and through the Soca Valley. Surely one if the greatest day trips in Europe. (Though you could also spend a lifetime exploring the area)
I’m a Scotsman who fell in love with Slovenia 29 years ago and am about to retire there. I found your post through your tweet and the sunset picture on it of Dresnica – although the village is not mentioned in your article the picture you used was taken very near my house. When I’m there I get to wake up to that view every day and it never fails to take my breath away.
I’m currently building a website of photos I’ve taken in Slovenia and I hope to spend many more years adding to the collection – there’s a photo every couple of steps pretty much anywhere you go in this wonderful part of the world.
Oh, you live in Dreznica? I spent a few days there and absolutely LOVED it – would love to have that view every day. I have a post coming up about it soon.
Hi Miriam- I’ve just finished reading through all of your Slovenia posts. There is so much helpful information, thanks for being thorough! I’m just starting to get some notes together for our time there this October. You’ve definitely confirmed that we need to rent a car. I love getting outside of cities and having the freedom of a car will be great. I can’t wait to see the river Soca in person, so beautiful! Thanks again!
I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you, Alana! I definitely recommend renting a car, especially if you’re going to Soca valley. You can easily visit Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj by bus though.
Absolutely beautiful!
I couldn’t agree more. Slovenia has it goin on.
This valley looks like many valleys in my homeland. It is so nice and secret
Where is your home country?
Hi. That is Hagiang and you may know
Hagiang? I haven’t heard of that.
Wow Miriam, this really is paradise! The shot with the goat guardian is super stunning. I’d only seen water like this in Fiji; never knew it existed in Slovenia. Awesome stuff…thanks for sharing!
Ryan
Isn’t it? I was so surprised when I got there and discovered how amazing it is. It’s so underrated!
Beautiful photos – what an amazing trip. The bee farm sounds like a highlight and those gorges look amazing, they remind me of the ones we saw in Taiwan.
Thanks, Amy. They have gorges in Taiwan? The more I hear of Taiwan, the more I really want to go.
Hello Miriam!
I have just read your blog post on Soca Valley and it sounds wonderful! The pictures appear to be gorgeous! I’ll be going there soon too. Do you know how we can rent a car and what hotels are convenient?
Thank you so much!
Hi Linda, thanks for dropping by! I don’t know how you can rent a car, but my best guess is renting it in Ljubljana. If you’re visiting Dreznica, I recommend staying at the Kranc house. It’s a tourist farm (bed & breakfast), and the owners are really nice.
Great blog post about my region of Soca valley. Great photos and you choose great local experiences in Soca valley. Next time come and taste Soca valley through its outstanding local cuisine.
That would be my pleasure! I love Slovenian food and wine 🙂
I have viewed these images many times and they are so attractive
I’m very glad to hear that! Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
Your pictures and your travels look amazing! I plan on going there in November, but don’t know if that would be a good time to travel there. Thanks for sharing your journey. It inspires me to want to go there sooner than later 🙂
That sounds great, Fay! I’m not sure about the weather in November, but I do know that Soca is an amazing place. Maybe check if there’s snow at Vršič Pass this time of year or simply stay around Bovec and Kobarid. They’re super beautiful and there are lots of fun outdoor activities and nature 🙂
What a great post! I’m so excited to visit this May. Is it easy to get around Soca Valley, bovec, etc. without a car? Or do I need to rent one? Am thinking of taking the train from Ljubljana or bus from bled.
What an amazing trip you have in store, Lauren! 🙂
It’s not super easy to get around Soca Valley without a car, but it is doable. I highly recommend that you rent a car so you can make photo stops along the way. If you take the bus, you won’t be able to take photos or see all the things Soca offers. If renting is not an option, you can take the train from Bled to Bovec and then the bus from Bovec to Kobarid and then onwards to Ljubljana. That’s the route I did, although with the train/bus you won’t pass Lake Jasna and Vršič pass, which is super beautiful.
Just stumbled across your blog as Im making plans for our trip to Slovenia in July. Your photos are stunning. I know the landscape helped, but you definitely have an artistic eye!
We (me and my two teenage children plus one teenage friend), are planning to spend half of our time (so 4-5 nights) exploring Bovec, Kobarid, soca Valley, and Bled. We love getting out in nature and hope to hike quite a bit and possibly kayak. Is Dresnica located close enough to be our base camp for these places or do we need to move around?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thanks very much, Allison!
I probably wouldn’t pick Dreznica as a base for hiking and exploring. It’s a lovely village, but it’s a bit secluded and more suited for relaxing in the countryside. Instead I recommend basing yourself in Kobarid (south Soca Valley) or Bovec (north Soca Valley) – both are nice towns and quite adventure packed. Also, be aware that Bled is on the other side of the mountain range whereas Bovec and Kobarid are just 25 minutes apart. It might look easy to get from Soca to Bled on a map, but the ride through Vršič mountain pass is very steep and narrow.
Thank you so much. This is helpful information!
I’m glad to help!
Hello Miriam,
When I see the pictures I can’t wait untill the summer te visit Slovian again. Now we’re doing a roadtrip in Slovian, Croatia and Bosnië.I’m gonna take my time to read you’re experience and looking for tips and trics. We’re staying a fiew days in Kranjska Gora. We’ve been there already a fieuw years ago. We love the Slovian, the nature is fabulous.The Soca is already on the to visit list. I’m going to search for some walks (hiking) to do. Perhabs I’m going to finds some here in your blog.
Thanks, Veronique! I have lots of articles from Slovenia and Croatia, which you can find here:
Slovenia: https://adventurousmiriam.com/slovenia/
Croatia: https://adventurousmiriam.com/croatia/
Have a wonderful road trip!
Hi there,
Thank you for this article about my valley.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your time here.
Hopefully, you visit again: If you do, feel free to contact me and I will show you more natural beauties here.
Greetings from Soca Valley,
Thank you so much, Linda! I will definitely come back to Soca, and next time I’ll bring my family.
All the best from Denmark
This valley, it looks like an oil painting and I want to enlarge it to hang on the wall
It’s even prettier in real life!
Hi Miriam.
Headed to the Soca Valley next week. I know your pictures are from a couple years ago, but do you remember exactly you shot those pictures underneath the “The Gorges in Soca Valley” Header? Those are amazing. Thanks!
Hi Duncan,
I don’t know the precise location, but they’re on the road from Bovec to Kobarid. The drive isn’t that long so they shouldn’t be hard to find – I believe they’re on the left side of the road (coming from Bovec), but I’m not totally sure.
Have a great trip!
Thanks!! I’ll be sure to find them! 🙂
Good luck 🙂
Thank you so much for this article! The beautiful photos are making me so excited for my trip to Slovenia in the fall:)
I saw in one of your comments that it’s difficult to get from Bled to Soca because of the mountains in between. How do you recommend getting from one to the other? I’m planning to fly into Ljubljana. Also – do you think it will be warm enough to swim in the Soca river in mid-September?
Thanks so much, Olivia! 🙂 Hm, I think the river will be a little cold maybe, but you might be able to swim in the lakes (Bled and Bohinj). I’d bring my swimsuit if I were you!
Regarding your question about getting from Bled to Soca – I use RometoRio when I travel. It’s a great travel site where you can find public transportation, prices and schedules. There are two main cities in Soca valley: Kobarid and Bovec so just search for one of those: https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Bled/Kobarid
Have a GREAT trip to Slovenia. It’s an amazing place.
Hi there, we plan to drive from Piran to Bovec next July in one day via Kobarid, not real sure of the best route from Piran yet, any suggestions?
Then continue north to ( I think it is the soca valley road to vrsic pass, towards Kranksia Gorge and onto Lake bled the next day. Do you think this is the best route, or do you have other suggestions?
Hi Alison, I haven’t been to Piran so can’t really advice on the matter, sorry. But the route from Bovec to Lake Bled via Vrsic is the perfect route to take. I think the only other route is through Ljublana but then you won’t see the beautiful nature.
While I was on vacation to Slovenian coast, and a friend who lives there recommended a whole day excursion to Soca valley, as an escape from the extreme heat in the coastal region.
I really like visiting Soca Valley particularly the offers of outdoor activities, white water rafting, hiking and fishing, and many waterfalls and gorges. I am pleased that we didn’t miss discovering this region of Slovenia.
I think it’s one of the most beautiful areas in Slovenia. Most people who visit only see Ljubljana or Lake Bled, but it’s so worth venturing off to the valley and mountains – especially for an outdoor enthusiast!
This is a lovely post! So enticing. Just one question. Is this doable using public transport? As we dont drive. We will be staying in Ljubljana. Any recommendations?
Yes, you can do it by public transportation. However, if you take the bus, you won’t be able to take photos or see all the things Soca offers. If driving is not an option, you can take the train from Ljubljana – Bled – Bovec and then the bus from Bovec to Kobarid and then back to Ljubljana. That’s the route I did, although with the train/bus you won’t pass Lake Jasna and Vršič pass, which is super beautiful.
NICE odyssee 🙂
Right? Slovenia is paradise 😀
great road trip . i love the way you comment it and your photos 🙂
So glad to hear that, Fred! 😀 Slovenia is still relatively unknown as a travel destination, which only makes it more unique and beautiful.
Miriam
If you need some photos from Narnia film shoot I have a few good ones. You can contact me on [email protected]
Best regards. Mac
Thanks, Mac 🙂
Soca is the most beautiful river! I’ve been living in Slovenia and I used to see and listen the river flows.
Oh, what a perfect place to live!
Great review and photos. I really want to go to Slovenia in October this year.
Would love to climb Mount Triglav, visit the national park, Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, Soca Valley/River.
How long would you recommend spending in each place, where do you recommend staying and what is the best way to get around between these places/best itinerary?
Thankful for any advice and tips!
Hi Carly,
I’m not sure how long it takes to climb Mount Triglav – I think it’s super cool that you’re doing it, btw! As for Lake Bled and Bohinj – 3-4 days are perfect. Soca Valley – the same.
Having a car is the easiest way to get around. Especially in Soca. But you can also take the bus or the train.
Hello
Are those beautiful houses in Kobarid located in the centre? Where did you park in Kobarid and was it easy to find parking?
Thanks
Hi Eddie, yes they’re in the centre. Just walk around a bit and you’ll find them around town. I didn’t drive so I can’t advice about parking, unfortunately.
Going to Slovenia soon with my 12 year old. We want to photograph the Soca Gorges. Where is a good place to park and walk for the photos?
Hi Susan, the gorges are found between Bovec and Kobarid. I can’t describe the exact location, but there are several places to stop for photos and park the car. This short 25 minute trip is packed with beautiful sights.
My wife and I went there last year, visiting Bohinj, Bovec, Triglav National Park. It is a fabulous place. We stayed around Bohinj and then went to Bovec one day. If you’re by car the Motorail is pretty useful, if you don’t want to drive around the whole mountain: https://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passenger-transport/timetable/motorail. Basically you and your car travel by train to the other side of the mountain 😀 I can only recommend it. It saves a lot of time and hassle.
We did a cool biking with a guide visited some waterfalls, did rafting on Soca, ziplining in Bovec. It was amazing 🙂
Probably we’ll go this year again 🙂
I had no idea about the Motorail, what a great concept! Sounds like you and your wife had an amazing trip – all the more reason to repeat it 🙂
Your photos are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing them! We’re planning a trip in August and I can’t wait!
Question about the Soca Valley gorges-were you able to photograph them from a bridge to get that angle or did you use a drone? Also, the image of the little walkway/bridge captioned “1200m elevation,” was that bear the Russian chapel? Such a picturesque spot! Thanks in advance! Off to check out your other posts 🙂
Hi Sierra, I didn’t use a drone. We just stopped by the road and I took the photos from a bridge. I don’t remember the exact location, but it was somewhere between Bovec and Kobarid (on the left side when coming from Bovec, I think).
The little bridge is on the (short) path up to the Russian chapel. You can’t miss it 🙂
I hope you get to visit in August as planned. Slovenia is such a beautiful country.