The Valley of river Soča in Slovenia & stunning canyons

This post about Soča Valley contains links which could help me to earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you for reading and supporting Under Flowery Sky.

Slovenia is a small mountainous country and its hidden treasure lies in nature. The valley of river Soča is such a gem, a secluded oasis in the shelter of the Triglav mountain. The divine colours of Soča attract the numerous visitors in the bunch of attractions.
Discovering Soča canyons fills the soul with charm but you can also go kayaking, zipling, rafting and much more. The hiking trails offer the mesmerising basis in Bovec town.
I’ve been yearning to visit the Soča valley for years but due to my summer job, rains and Covid it was challenging.
The picturesque town of Bovec is a perfect choice to find an accomodation, but you can also choose Tolmin. Unfortunately, I didn’t go to Tolmin canyons but I visited Soča canyons. This is the story about this gorgeous place. Visiting Soča canyons means admiring one of the most stunning canyons in Europe.

After Slovenia think about the fabulous Croatian peninsula Istria, which is not far away. The world of waterfalls awaits you deep inside Istria, following the trail of river Mirna.

Canyons of the river Soča

Only 15 minutes by car from Bovec these canyons dwell at the refreshing spot of the stunning Soča river.

The trail is extremely easy and charming, following the route of the Big and Small canyons. Even the camping place is located near the Big canyons.
The colours are stunning, the water crystally clear. I didn’t try swimming, but I would love kayaking. They offer this activity in the hostel, at the place near Boka waterfall.
The trail takes about 2h.

How to reach Soča canyons

Of course, getting by the public transport is difficult so I needed to hitchike from Bovec. I would try a bike but renting it from a hostel is pretty expensive.

To arrive, you need to follow the directions of Lepena but turn at the Big canyons of Soča. If you continue straight, you will arrive at Soča village.

Where to stay

Hostel Soča Rocks
I love this hostel, so cozy and modern in the picturesque ambience of Bovec town. You can enjoy your coffee and drinks at the lovely terrace or bar. Cooking is possible and few shops in the town have various offer and plenty of stuff. Many foreigners come to visit so it’s a perfect place to explore the nearby summits like Mangart. Or you can reach the Valley of Seven lakes at Triglav. It’s been a dream for so long, hopefully I’ll come back soon. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time. It would be interesting to find a company of like inded people.

The hostel also offers the bunch of activities like zipline, kayaking, rafting or paragliding. Unfortunately, the most of them are a bit pricey. Bikes to rent are also very pricey- maybe 18€.

Other accommodation options

Plenty of hotels offer the accomodation opportunities, large or boutique hotels. Many of them are located in Bovec.

In Bovec:
Hotel Mangart– new hotel near the river
Hotel Alp– the budget hotel in the centre of Bovec
Hotel Sanje ob Soči– offers bungalows 3 km from the Soča river (as it doesn’t flow in Bovec but it’s very near)
Boutique Hotel Dobra Villa– cozy place with lovely decoration
Hotel Soča– big hotel with the outdoor pool and only 1,6 km from the skiing centre Kanin-Sela Nevea
Apartments Kaninska Vas– budget offer in the centre of Bovec

Great Soča Canyons:
Kamp Soča Boštjan

In Tolmin:
Bar & Hostel Paradiso
Hostel Hildegarden

Couchsurfing
That’s how I discovered Soča Valley. Actually, I was sending requests to couchsurfers from Ljubljana but they were actually in Tolmin.

How to reach Bovec

The best way of exploring Soča Valley is definitely by car. Having an equipe would be tremendously helpful. The drive from Ljubljana by car takes 2h but with the bus it’s 4h. Luckily, there’s a direct bus but rare options out of the summer.
Alternatively, you can also take hop off-hop on once where you arrive to explore the Valley. Unfortunately, only during July and August these buses go from Bovec to Mangart mountain and other places. Exact schedule find at the official site.
Bovec is so close to Italy and the nearest place is Nova Gorica.

When to visit Soča Valley

In spring during the sunny wheather as during rain Soča is not that beautiful. Summer is also a great option. Tolmin canyons are open from the end of March till the middle of November. Tolmin canyons are located 45 minutes of walking from the town. There’s a possibility of the shuttle transport from Tolmin, see the shedule here.

Final thoughts

Soča Valley deserves the visit of one week as plenty of activities attract at the natural paradise. Unfortunately, I was low with money and time but still decided to come for 2 days. Difficult to reach, I would definitely recommend to travel by car.
The tranquil beauty of Soča valley is truly a hidden gem in Slovenia thanks to its secluded location. The breathtaking colours of Soča surrounded by mountains amaze with the infinite allure.

PIN IT FOR LATER: