Rafting on the Soča, Bovec's emerald river

The classic Soča raft, Log Čezsoški to Trnovo

The most popular descent, according to the Soča Valley tourist board, is 10 km. It starts at the bridge in Log Čezsoški, right by the Boka waterfall, and finishes at Trnovo ob Soči. It opens with gentle rapids so the crew can learn to paddle on the guide’s call, then moves into the busier water. Expect 2 to 3 hours in all. You don’t need experience, just to be able to swim, and when the level is right it suits families and all ages.

The agencies provide kit and transport, and it’s sensible to let them handle it. The river has a navigation regime with permits for entry and exit points, and the tourist board links to a site with up-to-date river conditions. The river itself, its source and its pools, I cover under the Soča River.

What about canyoning?

To me it’s the most fun you can have in the valley, though not the most relaxing. You make your way down a gorge by jumping into pools, sliding down rock chutes and abseiling waterfalls, always with a guide. The Sušec, about 7 km from Bovec towards Kobarid, is the one I’d start with, at 2 to 3 hours. The Fratarica, near Log pod Mangartom, drops down the Parabola waterfall on ropes, and the Predelica finishes at the Mangartski potok stream. Both lie in Triglav National Park and require registration through a park app. Globoški potok is a full day of about 8 hours, and the Prščak in the Trebuša valley has a 27 m drop. The tourist board also counts the Kozjak gorge among the country’s favourites.

Kayaking, hydrospeed and flat water

The Soča has rapids from grade I to V, so it works for learners and for anyone after technical water. Paddling the Soča or the Koritnica needs a special permit, and beginners are told to go with a guide. For calm water, the lake at Most na Soči is fine for starting out. Hydrospeed, which means riding the river face down on a float with fins on your feet, runs on the Soča and the Sava with a guide and only for strong swimmers.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Bovec on Expedia and filter by area before price.

Rafting beyond the Soča

Not all Slovenian rafting is in Bovec. The tourist board lists guided descents on the upper Sava, the Savinja in Štajerska, the Kolpa River in Bela krajina and the Krka in Dolenjska. There are also traditional timber-raft rides on the Drava, the Sava and the Krka, which are a different thing entirely, more lunch and accordion than white water.

Two nights in Bovec, day by day

I’d spend two nights in Bovec. Rafting on the first morning with the afternoon free for the river pools, then canyoning or the Kanin ziplines the next day. With a third night I’d walk the Great Soča Gorge and the Kozjak waterfall. The whole area is covered in the Soča Valley guide.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Bovec on Booking.com and filter by area before price.