OUTDOOR PURSUITS  

 The country’s mountains, forests, hills, rivers and lakes offer unlimited potential to enjoy a huge range of outdoor pursuits – hiking, ski-ing, rafting, canoeing, kyaking, horse riding, ballooning, para-gliding and cycling – to name just a few.

SKI-ING

Skiing in Slovenia first began in the 17^th century when Slovenes discovered the broad open spaces of the Bloke Plateau in Nortranjska. Today, it is still the most popular sport and boasts more than 15 major ski resorts & many smaller ones. They are all well equipped and

safety is a priority.

Generally speaking, the ski season begins in

late November, through to March or April.

Slovenia has dozens of well-groomed ski centers with lifts.

The best known ski centers world-wide are

Kranjska Gora, which hosts an annual World Cup men's slalom

and giant slalom competition, and

Maribor Pohorje, which hosts the annual World Cup women's slalom and giant slalom Golden Fox competition.

The highest ski center in Slovenia is on Mount Kanin, where the snow remains well into the spring.

Also among the most popular destinations for alpine skiers are Krvavec, not far from Ljubljana, Rogla in the Zreče Pohorje region, and Golte above Mozirje. Cerkno Ski Centre is the most modern family ski slope in Slovenia. The larger ski centers also maintain trails for snowboarding, sledding, cross-country skiing, and even ski touring.

Trails for cross-country skiers are found by many lakes and on high plateaus such as Pokljuka, which hosts a World Championship bi-athlon.  Groomed cross-country trails are also found in Logarska dolina and close to many tourist areas where small local ski hills and lifts are also often available.

Winter pleasures can be diversified with snowmobile rides, which are possible in Kranjska Gora, Pohorje, Pokljuka, Krvavec . . . In some places, tourist rides are offered on dog sleds and horse-drawn sleighs.

Across Slovenia, there are organized sled runs, even outside the ski centers. Especially attractive is sledding down the roads from snowed-in mountain passes that are closed for the winter (Mangart), which are organised by qualified sport agencies. On Pohorje, sledding is even possible in summer at the Adrenaline Park!

See our main Ski page for more details

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HIKING AND CLIMBING

 The country has over seven thousand kilometres of marked paths.

The main climbing and walking destination is the Julian Alps, the heart of which is  Mount  Triglav(2864m), the country’s highest peak.

There are many more peaks going up to 2500m both in the  Julian Alps  and northeast towards the Austrian border.

Lower hills, but still excellent walking country, include the Pohorje Massif near Maribor, and the Sneznik hills south of Postojna.

For gentler rambles look to the Triglav  National Park  set in the hills of Cerkno and Idrija, or the forests of Dolenjska.

The country’s longest complete trail (Slovene Alpine Trail) runs from Maribor to the  Gulf of  Trieste.

ADVENTURE SPORTS

Slovenia is the ideal place for adventure sports and activities, and especially on its rivers, which attract enthusiasts from all over  Europe

each summer.

The foaming, emerald  Soca  River  is one of the finest white-water rafting rivers in  Europe.

Canyoning, paragliding and bungee jumping are three more adventure sports to be found around .

CYCLING

There are cycling routes in Slovenia suit all ages and abilities, from the grassy plains of Prekmurje, to the gentle undulating hills of Dolenjska to the gruelling mountain passes in the  Alps, cycling in Slovenia will take you through a scenic wonderland. There are an increasing number of marked tracks and paths giving both local and regional routes

Slovenia is the meeting point of the Mediterranean, Panonian and Dinaric worlds. It offers extremely diverse views due to the variety of its landscapes and the distances can be managed by bicycle.

There are cycling trails for short and long tours with a variety of difficulties. Cycling maps of Slovenia and individual areas are available for lovers of cycling at local tourist organizations as well as tourist information centres in the cities and towns.
There are tours for road cycling which lead through regional parks, the surroundings of health resorts and through interesting areas of Slovenian countryside. 
Besides this, there are a wide number of local cycling paths which are often circular. There has been an increase in possibilities for mountain biking in Slovenia.

Those who enjoy new challenges can explore the underground of Peca by bike and visit its deserted lead mines. Lovers of longer cycling trips can experience crossing of the border between Austria and Slovenia at Brod čez Muro where there is the start of the Slovenian project Euro Velo, connecting the Baltic with the Adriatic. 

HORSE RIDING

Slovenia the  disputed home of the noble Lipizzaner horses.

Born black these noble beasts turn White as they grow.

There are dozens of horse riding centres throughout the country many sited in fabulously scenic locations.  Many offer trail and arena riding and classes and courses.  Some of the tourist farms also offer the opportunity to enjoy more relaxed riding through the beautiful countryside.

FISHING

Go freshwater fishing in in some of the finest rivers, streams and lakes in  Europe.  The emerald  Soca  River with its brown trout, rainbow trout and marble trout.

The Kolpa, Krka, Sava Bohinijka and Unica rivers have stocks of perch, pike, chub and eelpout.

Fishing is permitted from boats in  Lake  Bohinj and  Lake  Cerknica.

The main fishing season runs from April to October. Permits can be obtained from local tourist associations, tourist offices,

some hotels and campsites.

OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Although the Slovene coast is only 47km long, it’s possible to enjoy water sports such as :-

 SCUBA-DIVING, SAILING, and WINDSURFING

are all very popular.

The Adriatic Sea is safe for swimming or there are indoor swimming pools in most of the towns.

There are ten golf courses most amidst stunning scenery and many tennis courts for hire