Slovenia is synonymous with slow travel – be it a gentle walk or a long hike, time spent rejuvenating at an outdoor yoga retreat, or unwinding at one of its many spa resorts. The country is famed for its wellness, thanks to a longstanding tradition, where nature is both the setting and the spa itself.
“Slovenia is an outdoor paradise,” says Rok Zalokar, a mountain guide who grew up in, and still lives among, the Julian Alps in the north-west of the country. “There are so many gems to discover. The breathtaking landscapes invite us to move and activate our bodies – feeling your heartbeat in every part of your body gives an immense sense of being alive.”
Walkers will find themselves spoilt for choice. Blessed with great swaths of beautiful mountains and forests along with shimmering wetlands and lush green hills, Slovenia has more than 6,000 miles (10,000km) of marked hiking trails. The only question is, which will you decide to walk? “As we change from season to season, every hike feels different and exciting,” says Zalokar.
But you don’t have to go hiking to absorb the tranquil surroundings, stunning scenery and pure mountain air that Slovenia has in abundance. Many of the country’s spa retreats are situated in these gorgeous landscapes.
There are countless wellness offerings, which focus on the health benefits of locally sourced natural ingredients. Head to the Adriatic coast for salt therapy and treatments utilising mineral-rich mud from the Piran salt pans. Or to the heavily forested Pohorje hills, in the north-east, for peat baths and wraps from local peat. And where better to enjoy a honey wrap or honey massage, than Slovenia – which has a particularly strong tradition of beekeeping, exceptionally good honey, and more beekeepers per capita than any other country in Europe. Treat yourself to a wine bath or wine peeling in Ptuj, at the heart of the Styrian wine region – or try a beer bath in Laško.
Slovenia has more than a dozen hotels with wellness offerings, as well as natural thermal spa resorts, mostly in the gently rolling hills of the east. Slovenia’s thermal spa credentials go back a very long way – the Dobrna spa and thermal springs are mentioned in written records in 1403. More recently, the country has welcomed the Indian wellness tradition of yoga; its alpine regions are the perfect places for outdoor yoga weekends or a week-long retreats, where you can rebalance mind, body and spirit.
As well as indulging in treatments in spectacular settings, you may like to lace on your walking boots and head for the great outdoors. In the Julian Alps, the stunning landscape of the Triglav Lakes valley makes it one of the most popular hiking areas, accessed by a trail from the Bohinj valley. Or take a hike alongside Slovenia’s most beautiful river, the Soča.
If you are after something longer, there’s the Juliana Trail – or a section of it. The 170 mile (270km) low level circuit below the Julian Alps was designed to explore less well-known areas as well as must-see places such as Lake Bled and the Soča Valley. The idea is to give hikers a more authentic experience while spreading the impact and revenue from tourism wider. Its ethos is all about taking your time – stay in local huts and guesthouses, try the local food, explore the area further.
For a less well known alternative, the Pohorje hills are great for walkers as well as wellness seekers. There you’ll find the Lovrenc Lakes – a cluster of about 20 small lakes and ponds reaching across a green plateau that is the largest area of high peat moorland in Slovenia. Explore the gentle meadows and mossy wetlands by following wooden boardwalks that meander through the landscape and help to protect this unique and fragile area.
In sharp contrast are the Kamnik-Savinja Alps – directly north of Ljubljana – which boast 30 craggy limestone peaks reaching at least 2,000 metres high. The valleys are richly green with meadows that give way to forests as the slopes rise. This beautiful landscape has trails to suit all abilities, taking in waterfalls, rivers and lakes.
Best of all, many of these experiences in the heart of Slovenia’s breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes come accompanied with authentic local food, served with a sense of genuine hospitality. Little wonder visitors head home feeling renewed and revived.
