Travel spotlight: The natural wonders of Slovenia

Slovenia has been on my radar since high school, when I first saw an iconic photo of the island church on Lake Bled. I'd already had the chance to visit Switzerland at that point, and from what I could tell, Slovenia featured all the things I'd loved most about Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen.

My sister moved to Europe in 2011 and met an amazing man of Slovenian descent, who later became her husband. Hearing about their travels in Slovenia to visit their relatives only deepened my interest.

My parents later traveled to the country and came back with tales of its beauty. In 2022, my brother moved to Austria and began using his weekends to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations in Slovenia, as the countries are next-door neighbors.

So when I got the opportunity to meet up with my brother in Slovenia for a sibling adventure, I couldn't pass it up. Not even an 11-hour flight (I'm 6'8" and do not fit in airplane seats) could dim my enthusiasm.

An introduction to Slovenia

Slovenia covers 7,827 square miles (roughly the size of Massachusetts) and has a population of about 2.1 million people. It is one of six republics that made up the former country of Yugoslavia, along with Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was the first to leave the socialist federation in 1991. Slovenia was also the first of those six republics to join the European Union.

What it lacks in size, this country more than makes up for in natural wonders. Slovenia has one of Europe's highest percentages of forest cover, meaning you look in almost any direction and see vibrant shades of green. Thanks to its commitment to preserving all that natural beauty, Slovenia was the world's first country to be fully recognized as a Green Destination.

If you like pristine places, you'll love Slovenia. And if you're a budget traveler like me, you're in luck, because this country is a surprisingly affordable vacation destination.

Five highlights to explore

Kamnik

Nestled in a valley at the foot of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, this medieval town boasts a pair of castles, a monastery and lots of other cultural sites. We enjoyed stopping by some of the workshops on the main drag to watch artisans at work.

Drive up the road from this alpine town and you're soon surrounded by towering mountains. There's a cable car and chairlift route here that was actually my personal highlight from the entire trip. At the top is the Velika Planina plateau, home to the country's last remaining traditional herding community. Every summer, local shepherds bring their animals up to the pastures and live in the wooden huts scattered across the plateau. The whole place is like a beautiful time capsule, looking much as it did 400 years ago.

Lake Bled

Slovenia's most recognizable place definitely lives up to the hype. Nominated as one of the seven new wonders of the world, it's the type of place that looks stunning from every angle.

Hop in a traditional pletna boat and make the trip to Bled Island. It's a delight to visit the church, which overlooks the lake like a long-time resident who has seen it all a million times and never tires of the view.

There's plenty more to see in this area, so don't be too quick to leave. Vintgar Gorge tops the list, where you stroll across bridges and scamper around waterfalls.

Kočevsko

This lush region is dominated by nature. Roughly 90% of the terrain is woodlands, making it one of Europe's most wooded areas. As we rode bikes along mountain trails, it seemed like every different shade of green was on display around us.

With such a favorable tree-to-human ratio, animals thrive in Kočevsko. You'll find wolves here, as well as the elusive lynx. But the brown bears reign supreme. Slovenia is home to one of the continent's largest brown bear populations, with the majority of them calling this region home.

We saw numerous bear tracks during our time in the mountains, some of which were fresh. Your best bet for seeing a bear is to arrange a visit to one of the bear hides located in these mountains. We briefly stopped by one of the area's most secluded hides but weren't there long enough to encounter a bear.

Bela Krajina

Countless hiking and biking trails traverse this region, with many of them leading to the Kolpa River. Serving as a watery border between Slovenia and Croatia, it is unbelievably clear and warm. My brother and I come from a canoeing family, so instead of paddleboarding or rafting on the river, we rented a canoe and made our way several miles downstream.

Large fish cruised past us along our journey, making me wish I had a fishing pole so I could drag a spinner behind the canoe. I've heard there are nearly 40 species living in the river, including two of my all-time favorites: brown trout and northern pike.

Camping options abound in the Bela Krajina region, so if you like to sleep out under the stars, you've come to the right place.

Ljubljana

Most Slovenian adventures begin and end in the capital city of Ljubljana. While the spelling of the name may seem peculiar to Americans, it might sound familiar because NBA star Luka Dončić and several other world-class athletes grew up in this region. Or perhaps you've heard of it because Ljubljana consistently appears on prominent lists such as the greenest cities in Europe.

Located somewhat near the middle of the country, you can fly into Ljubljana and then easily make your way in whatever direction you like. But before leaving, make time for highlights such a Ljubljana Castle and the Dragon Bridge. And the food is amazing, whether you're eating at a restaurant or buying fresh produce at the outdoor market.

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