The turquoise emerald green Soča is one of the most beautiful and mesmerising rivers in Europe. It’s a staple in the Triglav National Park. They honoured the Soča valley with the title of “European Destination of Excellence” (EDEN). Hiking and water sport hearts will skip a beat.
In the presented text, I’m going to talk about my brief visit to the Julian Alps and what the Soča – valley offers.
Table of Contents
Getting there and season period
The Soča – valley is located in the west of the Triglav National Park. The prime tourist season is from the start of July and ends after September. For transport, you preferably use a car. They offer a shuttle services from the airports from Slovenia to Bovec and a bus line from Kranjska Gora to Bovec and back during the season.
Activities
If a hiking trail along the Soča is too boring, they can impress you with the versatile offer of water sport activities. Besides rafting and kayaking, you have the chance to fish for the soča trout, the local speciality. A good starting point for all these activities is Bovec. If you are a bike enthusiast, there are plenty of tours.
Accommodations
If you want to stay longer, you can choose between hotels and holiday flats. Typically found in cities such as Trenta and Bovec. If you only want to stay for a short period, maybe camping is the right thing for you. About every 7 kilometres in the Soča – valley you can find a camp.
Equipment
If you are going for a hike, sturdy and good shoes are a must. The hiking trail is mostly on level with minor elevation changes. You are going on Forest Streets, roots and stones. Having a small snack and staying hydrated can be beneficial. In certain camps, dining at a restaurant can give you a small boost.
My experience
Early in the morning, my friend and I embarked on a journey. Our first stay was at the high rope course "Geier". After the prior instructions and a warm up course, we unknowingly challenged the toughest parkour; this was a poor decision in the aftermath... Because of that, we left with swollen hands and some bruised fingers. At late afternoon we travelled to our night stay in the Julian Alps.
Our starting point was Camp Korita. Unfortunately, their website does not provide any information regarding their opening hours. We arrived at 8:30 pm and were fortunate because the receptionist was about to leave. It turns out that the opening hours are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Our starting point remained the same thanks to that fortunate accident.
We had planned to hike the entire Soča-Trail from its source to Bovec initially. Due to inconvenient bus schedules, we had to begin midway. Otherwise, a continuation of the journey on time would have been impossible.
We woke up at 6:00 am after a good night’s sleep. With a hearty breakfast and a tent hidden away, we donned our hiking shoes and trekked alongside the Soča. Besides the shining turquoise water, the valley’s wonderful path with many suspension bridges is a significant benefit that makes it memorable. Suspension bridges are prone to wobbling, therefore, be mindful and take careful steps while crossing them.
It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to arrive in Bovec. Following a calm lunch break, we set off on foot for the journey back. Despite having to go back the same way, which can be a little dull, I captured some missed photos. 3 hours later, we were back in our car. We’ll just have to drive around the complete Triglav National Park to get to our planned starting point for tomorrow. Our preferred camping spot was lake Bohinj .
Our path led us through rural roads and mountain passages. After an hour and a half, we arrived in the spa town Bled. I didn’t hesitate to seize the chance to capture the breath-taking view of the lake surroundings. Taking a break, we discussed if we really wanted to take on our planned route for tomorrow. We would traverse a mere 25 kilometres with a 1300-meter altitude change, all in just 9.5 hours...
After checking our bodies roughly, we had to acknowledge a slight ache in our knees. Furthermore, my colleague had excruciating pain in their buttocks. Thus, we opted to move on instead of following our plans. What was the lesson we got from that? It’s important to bring cream with you at all times.
With mixed feelings of disappointment and satisfaction, we headed to Villach and stayed at camp Seehof. By coincidence, the Harley meeting in Faak am See was hosted the following day. We attempted to stop by out of curiosity, but with sobering astonishment, they declined our passing. Only motorcycles are granted access. With nothing left, we drove back home.
We stopped near St. Veit an der Glan for a short sightseeing of fort Hochosterwitz. Although it was crucial during the 30 Years’ War and the Turkish siege, this historic fort was not included in my history lessons.
After a brief stay, we carried on with our journey home.
As we depart Triglav National Park following a slight mishap, we eagerly anticipate our return to trek the Triglav 7 Lakes Valley and climb to the top of Triglav peak.
More pictures in Gallery .
