Is “try out extreme sports and adventures” on your bucket list? Visit Soca valley in Slovenia to tick off that item from your list. You can have an active vacation surrounded by dramatic landscapes and strengthen the bond between friendships. Soca valley and Bovec are perfect starting points for adventures like canyoning, rafting and zipline. Bovec is a cute little town surrounded by mountains and many tour offices are located there. So I’ll share all the details you have to know about canyoning, rafting and zipline in Bovec and Soca Valley, Slovenia. 

These extreme activities were the highlights of our 4-day Slovenian road trip. I travelled with 3 of my friends, Nóri, Eszti and Ria, and we’ll never forget this adrenaline rush.

Don’t think that you have to be super adventurous and sporty for these activities! You don’t have to. You just need some curiosity and enthusiasm. I’m not super sporty, and I didn’t say yes to everything (until this time), but I have to tell you these extreme sports are MUST-TRY. You’ll never forget your Slovenian trip, and the happy memories will make you smile (I’m still smiling 🙂 ). I’m sure you’ve heard before that the best things happen out of your comfort zone 😉 

Get ready to have fun on the ground, water and air! 

Watch the travel video on YouTube to find out which extreme activity to try out in Soča valley, Slovenia? Canyoning, rafting or zipline?

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Where to stay in Bovec and Soca valley, Slovenia?

Tiptop Apartment in Bovec 

We booked our accommodation on Booking.com in advance. Tiptop Apartment is located in the centre of Bovec, a half minute walk from the main square and street. The building has 4 apartments, and our chosen “Standard Apartment” was perfect for the 4 of us. It was well equipped and modern. The private bathroom had a shower, toilet and bide, and of course, a sink. The modest kitchen and foreground area was perfect for preparing our quick dishes. The spacious bedroom had 2 comfy double beds with some cabinets and a dining table. 

After the booking, it turned out that the hosts, Betty and Balázs, are also Hungarians. Both of them were super friendly and helpful. Betty showed us around the apartment, recommended places to eat and shop. She greeted us with walnut palinka (spirit). It was so so tasty, so we had another round. After our adventurous hike on Slemenova Spica, it felt like medicine, but that’s another story… 

About Tiptop Apartment:

• Price for 4 people in mid-July 2021 for 2 nights with tax (booked in advance on Booking.com) – 224 EUR
• Location: Trg golobarskih žrtev 44, 5230 Bovec
• Free public parking a minute from the apartment 

Must-try adventures and extreme sports in Bovec and Soca valley

During our 4-day Slovenian road trip, we stayed only 2 days in Bovec. Our time was enough for only 3 activities: canyoning, rafting and zipline. Next time, we’ll definitely try extreme canyoning, kayaking and paragliding. We booked all of our adventures with Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities.

Top extreme sports in Bovec with Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities:

• Basic and long rafting trip
• Kayak trips and school
• Beginner and extreme canyoning 
• Tandem paragliding
• Zipline 
• Caving

You don’t need to bring any special equipment. They provide you with everything, including transportation and experienced guides. Before every tour, they’ll let you know what to get and what not to bring.

How and when to book your adventure sports in Soca valley?  

Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities arrange tours for everyone, not only their guests and try to have small groups for a better experience. We communicated on the platform of Booking.com, and they assured us that it’s enough to book the activities 1 day prior. 

2 extreme sports are recommended for one day because of their duration and your energy level 😉

Pro tip!

Our trip was in the middle of July in 2021, so the tourism wasn’t as busy as usual. Make sure to secure your spot somehow with the tour organiser. You don’t want to miss these unforgettable adventures! 

Bovec has many adventure tour offices. If Tiptop activities are already booked, I’m sure you’ll find another tour provider.

Here are 3 adventures you cannot miss in Bovec and Soca valley, Slovenia 

Canyoning Susec, Soca valley 

Things to know about Canyoning Susec

• Price with Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities – 55 EUR/person
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Tour start: 9 am, 2:30 pm 
• What to wear: swimwear 
• Best time for canyoning: summer, though the neoprene outfit will protect you also during spring and autumn (season: mid-March – end of October)

Our pickup was at 9 am at the apartment, then we went to the Tiptop hub to grab our 8 mm thick neoprene outfit, shoes, helmet and carabiner set. After a 15 minutes drive, we reached Susec waterfall and had to leave our regular clothes and additional items in the car. So don’t bring any valuables. 

The 1st part of the canyoning adventure was a hike on a steep hill in swimwear, carrying our neoprene set on our back. What a start! Hiking in swimwear and canyoning on the same morning! 

The neoprene socks and shoes were surprisingly comfy, and the rocks didn’t hurt our feet. After half an hour, we arrived at the beginning of the stream, and it was time to dress up. Putting on the thigh and thick overall wasn’t easy, but it was a good warmup for the canyoning. Don’t worry, if it’s not that comfy at first, it will adjust to your body in the water.

Before going into the water, our guide, Geri, taught us some basics about canyoning and signs. Geri was so friendly, helpful, patient and also funny. He always encouraged us when we hesitated to jump. 

The canyoning started with shorter walks, slides and jumps. After the warmup, we slid and abseiled from higher cliffs through waterfalls, climbed and sometimes crawled on rocks, jumped from more prominent cliffs into clear ponds or just levitated on the water. We even slid backwards and climbed to jump again and again. 

The final “slide” was the Susec waterfall. Geri mentioned it at the beginning of the hike, but we were just laughing 🙂 Well, it wasn’t a joke… For a few meters, we abseiled with the help of Geri, then he let us slide down with the water and splash! Wooooow! 

The whole canyoning was so fun and exciting. I won’t go into more details, you’ll have to experience this adventure, and you won’t forget it! Believe me 😉  

Furthermore, the canyon and the nature were so scenic. We went through impressive cliffs, crystal-clear ponds, stunning waterfalls and fantastic caves. Something beautiful popped up after every cliff. 

Canyoning Susec is for beginners, although Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities also offer extreme canyoning, so you can discover Kozjak and/or Fratarica waterfalls during canyoning. Higher jumps and longer ropes are waiting for you. 

Rafting on the Soca river 

Things to know about rafting in Soca valley

• Price with Tiptop apartment & outdoor activities – 50 EUR/person
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Tour start: 9 am, 1 pm
• What to wear: swimwear
• Best time for rafting: summer is the best season for rafting because, during spring and autumn, the water level raises (season: mid-March – end of October)

Tiptop Betty picked us up at 9 am, then drove to the Tiptop hub to collect our equipment, including neoprene outfit, shoes, helmet and the boat with the paddles. After a 15 minutes drive, we arrived at the rafting start point at the Soca river. We dressed into our neoprene outfit and had a little training on the ground by Betty, our instructor and guide. She was so cool and friendly. We had to learn commands like right forward, left backwards, all backward, paddle up, into the boat and pull each other into the boat. Then we practised and repeated every instruction on the slow water before catching the big waves. 

Then let’s go! 

This was my first rafting. I didn’t have expectations, just wanted to have fun. And I had sooooo much fun and excitement! When we hit the waves the adrenaline was pumping in our wains, the waves were crashing around us, cliff from the right, big wave from the left, the boat moved up and down. We just followed the instructions of Betty, forward, forward, right forward, left backwards and then hurray!!!

Between the rocky parts, our boat was just flowing with the Soca river, and we could enjoy the clear turquoise water and the view of the surrounding mountains. 

The water was refreshing with its 7°C, though it didn’t seem that cold thanks to the adrenaline and our enthusiasm. And the neoprene outfit, of course 🙂 We even drank from the water, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not on purpose. There were also opportunities to slide and jump into the water. 

First, we were sliding into the water on a flipped boat in various positions. Nóri went to the next level with the “Elvis position”, Ria settled with the “Granny position”, and my favourite became the  “Superman position”, when you slide on your belly with your hands in front of you. It might look crazy, but you’ll feel like Superman 😉

Betty thought we are badass girls, so she brought us to the tallest cliffs to jump. Totally worth climbing up to that cliff. From the top, the water had an even more beautiful turquoise colour.

And climbing was more challenging than jumping, so you’ll jump 😉

Rafting wasn’t only rafting. We could test our rowing, swimming, jumping and sliding skills in an unbelievably beautiful place, surrounded by gorgeous mountains. 

Zipline in Krnica valley, Bovec

Things to know about the biggest zipline in Slovenia

• Price with aktivni planet – 55 EUR/person (group of 4-15 people)
• Duration: 3 hours
• Tour start: between 8 am – 6 pm, in every hour
• What to wear: not too short trousers and a T-shirt/top, a small backpack if needed. Closed comfy shoes, which are suitable for small hikes. 
• Best time for ziplining: It operates all season, depending on the weather conditions. Try to go in the morning or choose a later appointment to avoid high temperatures during the summer. 

Betty from Tiptop booked us a zipline tour to aktivni planet. Their office is located on the main square of Bovec. They provided us helmet, gloves and a climbing belt with a carabiner. 4×4 vehicles brought us, a group of 15 people and our 2 guides, up to 1300 m above sea level. Try to avoid sitting at the back of the car. Ria didn’t have space at the front, so she didn’t feel fantastic on the curvy and bumpy road on the way to the zipline starting point. 

At the arrival point, our guides, Betty and Rossi, presented the most important things to know, like flying positions, breaking, avoiding turning, etc. Then everyone had to test and show what we’ve learnt on the small practising wire. Both of our guides were so helpful, fun and friendly. During the activity, they always instructed us and made this adventure even better. 

With its 5 lines more than 3,3 km in length, this is the biggest zipline in Slovenia. You can fly with 60-70 km/hour speed, 200 m above the ground of Krnica valley. A guide will fasten you on the wire with the pulley, you just have to enjoy flying and break when the other one gives you the breaking sign on the wire’s other side. 

Every second I felt safe and free. Flying above the valley and enjoying the view to the valley with the mountains in the background made me speechless. 

The length of the lines was between 550 and 700 m. Every wire had its surprise. The 2nd line was tandem, the 3rd was the fastest, and the last was the longest. The adventure finished with a bit of hike to the pickup station, and we were transferred back to the centre of Bovec. 

Don’t bring valuables. If you want to take photos, have your phone and/or camera in a small backpack, and you can take pictures on the platforms between the ziplines. 

Honestly, I won’t be able to choose just one from these extreme sports, all of them different and memorable in different ways, so I can’t just rank them. 

Canyoning brought up our hidden bravery, and the captivating canyon was full of adventures.

Rafting made us feel alive, and the unique turquoise colour of the Soca river amazed us. 

Zipline gave us freedom and speed with a view!

Leave a comment below and tell me, which one would you try out?

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