Soča Valley Slovenia adventure
Waking up in Bovec, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. In reality, for most of this trip, I have no idea what to expect. I am essentially along for the ride. Since Sara did all of the planning, everything is new to me. I didn’t really study the areas we will be traveling to either.
Unreal
That is what comes to mind about this area. It doesn’t seem real. The Glamping Gozdna Jasa tourist farm is situated in a valley between two mountains that are over 5,500 feet. Last night, we had a beautiful full moon floating right over the crest of the mountain, and waking up, we had perfect clear blue skies.
It seems like we were in for a good day today, and it turned out quite well.
Breakfast at the Tourist Farm
We started out with a lovely breakfast in Soca Valley Slovenia, pretty typical to what we have been getting most mornings. It was a continental-esque breakfast but with a little more flair (European style). There was cereal, yogurt, fruits, hard-boiled eggs, pancakes, and so much more. There was a coffee machine that could make espressos or lattes.
Filled to the brim, we were ready to head off to our day of bike riding. Sara reserved e-bikes for us, and they were delivered from town. Our hosts, Monika and her husband, showed us where to ride our bikes and gave us local insider knowledge.
They also helped Sara find some tools online so she could do more family research.
Biking Bovec
We left camp at around 11 a.m. and headed for the bike path. Though not a dedicated path, it was a sparsely used road. There, we found many hikers and cyclists.
First stop was straight up the mountain to a Soca Valley Slovenia overlook. I could have probably ended the ride and day here. It was amazingly beautiful. The climb to the overlook on e-bikes took around 20 minutes or so; coming down seemed like only a few. What a blast!
Luckily, we didn’t end the day with this overlook because we were about to find more beauty. The Soča River. Though we had crossed over it at the beginning of the ride, we were now approaching parts of the river cutting through a gorge. The water was crystal clear and has a turquoise blue tint to it. Think pictures you see on Instagram, but in real life.
We saw some kayakers playing in the rushing water, seemingly having a great time. We thought of kayaking too, but the water was a bit cold, and tomorrow is expected to be rainy.
For today, it is mainly exploring by bikes Soca Valley Slovenia, with a little bit of hiking at a few locations. Off the initial road, that turned into an unpaved path, we crossed the Soča River and made our way onto the road. This area has a lot of cyclists (recreational and bikepackers), so cars are quite aware and respectful.
The Great Soca Gorge
After a few miles on the main road, we made it to the Great Soča Gorge. It was a quick stop, but it was extremely beautiful. Here, the river has cut through the rocks for millions of years, creating a gorge that is a few hundred feet or more deep. The crystal-clear blue water was rushing through quite quickly.
Back to the bikes and on to the road, we stopped at a little market, but unfortunately, it was closed. But there were a few fly-fishermen sitting outside—two men from the US (one from California, the other from Georgia) and a local tour guide. We spoke for a while, and the local guide told us some interesting history of the Soca Valley Slovenia area.
Back to Bovec
It was starting to get late, and the bikes needed to be back by 6 p.m., so we started to head back. We needed to make our way to Kal-Koritnica, then to Bovec. There were a few landmarks that we were supposed to keep an eye out for, and sure enough, we found them. A beautiful scenic ride through the countryside of Soča Valley was amazing.
The landscape has never-ending beauty here. You think you’ve seen the most beautiful thing, then you turn the corner and are amazed again. Crossing another cable hanging bridge on our way to Bovec, we saw a sign for a castle, so we had to detour for that.
DFort Kluze
We rode our e-bikes through some rugged terrain (this was mainly a hiking trail) until we couldn’t go any further with the bikes. We locked the bikes up and continued on foot. Another hanging cable bridge over more crystal-clear water and up and over two hundred feet of stairs to the top, we found the Fort Kluže.
The fort was quite cool, but it was only from the late 1800s. So, a quick walk up top, and we made our way back to the bikes.
Earlier, coming up the trail, we ran into a couple and their kids that were from Spain but living in Germany. Eager to use my Spanish in Slovenia, I pounced on the moment. They spoke perfect English too, but I thought it would be fun to speak in Spanish. We ended up running into them two more times on our way back to Bovec.
Bakery Stop
Back on the bikes, we made our way into Bovec and came across a little bakery. We got some croissants, a pastry, and a slice of pizza for 10 euros. The pizza was awesome, and the croissants were crispy and yummy.
We made our way back to our glamping site (we stayed in a room, not a tent) at around 5 p.m. A perfect day of riding was had.
Dinner at Boka
We showered and got changed so we could go to dinner at Boka Hotel. Monika made us reservations for 7 p.m. The hotel is situated less than a mile from the glamping site.
This place is beautifully situated next to the river. We got a lovely table right near a window and had a perfect view before the sunset. We had a 4-course meal that was amazing. I had the BBQ ribs that were so tender the meat just fell off the bones, and Sara had the local trout.
It was Monika’s birthday, and we saw her and her family there having dinner and celebrating with her. If your host is there eating, you know it is good food.
The service was really good. Dinners here are quite long, typically lasting 1-2 hours. So be prepared.
After an adventure-packed day, we were ready to call it a night. I believe today will be a tough day to top, but I have been surprised before. If Slovenia is on your bucket list, Soča Valley is a must!
For Tomorrow
Tomorrow, unfortunately, we are leaving Soča Valley, but we might do a little bit of exploring first. It is expected to be rainy, so we will have to wait and see. After that, we are heading to Brda (Beer-da), which is the wine region of Slovenia. Until then, keep exploring.
SUPPORT JAYLO CYCLING
Did you enjoy this blog? We will be exploring Slovenia and Croatia for 14 days. Make to follow along for the rest of our journey. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. If you have any suggestions of reviews or things you would like to see in the future contact me.
Please consider checking out my Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook accounts to show me support there. If you feel generous and have the ability, consider buying me a coffee to help support this site. Thank you for taking the time to check out my website and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter too.
Day 4 – Lake Bled Slovenia: Epic Hikes, Iconic Lakes, and Thrilling Drives to Bovec
