Slovenia, sustaining a spectacular wilderness

Whilst Slovenia is no longer the big secret it once was, this understated yet startlingly picturesque little country continues to delight and surprise both first-timers and those who have visited before. It manifests an extraordinary range of geographically diverse landscapes; darkly forested limestone mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, subterranean wonders and sweeping vineyards, and that’s just for starters. Blessed with such astonishingly varied natural heritage, it comes as little surprise that sustainable initiatives are at the very heart of Slovenia’s tourism strategy – and its green credentials are certainly persuasive.

Aside from having a substantial proportion of its territory protected under the auspices of Natura 2000 (which seeks to preserve rare or endangered habitats), Slovenia now has four European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) awards in the bag, which are given to those places that demonstrate a high level of commitment to sustainably conceived tourism products. Other recent developments include a new ecological hotel resort in Bohinj, and a new, low energy hostel in Ravne na Koroskem, up near the Austrian border, while Slovenia also boasts an increasing number of EU eco-label accredited tourist facilities, such as spas and tourist farms.

Tourist farms represent all that is good about Slovenia’s increasingly energetic approach to sustainable forms of tourism. These idyllic, family-run rural retreats offer the perfect opportunity to sample life in the slow lane; as the kids tend the animals, you can chill out with a glass of wine before sitting down to a long, leisurely home-cooked meal prepared using ingredients harvested straight from the garden. Even in the country’s sophisticated capital city, Ljubljana – where you could do a lot worse than kick back with an espresso down by the willow-fringed riverside – the large and colourful daily market is sustained with fresh produce from neighbouring allotments.

Such an abundance of natural resources means that there’s unlimited potential for recreational pursuits, and the starting point for the best that the country has to offer is the magisterial Soca Valley, Slovenia’s premier adventure sports destination. Hardened extreme sports enthusiasts can get all their adrenaline-fuelled kicks on a multi-sports break, which packs in exhilarating pursuits such as white-water rafting, kayaking, canyoning and hydrospeed, and in a similar, albeit somewhat gentler, vein, an eight-day multi-activity adventure holiday features some of those same water-borne activities alongside lovely rambling amongst the serried peaks of the Julian Alps. And if you’ve got young ones in tow, no problem; local instructors are well versed in dealing with groups of families, so many of these activities can be adapted as required.

Slovenia is an easy country to navigate, thanks in the main to a well co-ordinated network of trains and buses – and with some ten thousand kilometres of marked cycle paths and mountain trails to suit all abilities, who really needs a vehicle? In fact, so popular is cycling here that dedicated cyclists’ accommodation is fast becoming a staple feature of the Slovenian countryside – and cycling holidays are booming too. Based in Tolmin, four-day mountain biking holidays explore the little known Nadiza Valley, sited close to the town of Kobarid. A popular destination in its own right, Kobarid is home to a fine museum, as well as a clutch of superb, family-run restaurants, where sumptuous dishes are fashioned using locally-sourced, organically grown ingredients.

But Slovenia is not just all about summer fun, far from it. While the country’s dense concentration of mountains have long catered to skiing enthusiasts of all denominations – skiing remains Slovenia’s number one sport – snowshoeing has quite some tradition here too. The thickly forested plains at the eastern extremities of the Julian Alps, in particular the area around magnificent Lake Bled, lend themselves perfectly to this invigorating pursuit. So what better way to comb this enchanting tract of land whilst at the same time minimising the impact on the local environment than a snowshoeing holiday; no ski lifts or specially maintained pistes required here, just good old fashioned snow trails amongst some otherwise usually inaccessible terrain, followed by an overnight stay in a local guesthouse or in one of the mountains many convivial huts.

With peaks and plateaus as popular with walkers and cyclists in summer as they are with skiers in winter, and lakes and rivers ripe for so many thrills and spills, it’s little wonder that this magical landscape exerts such a powerful pull.