Slovenia is a miniature, picturesque country located in the heart of Europe between the Alps and the Adriatic sea. Due to its untouched nature and extraordinary geographic diversity it is often refered to as the beauty-spot of Europe.

Also known for its amazing water scenery with an abundance of SUP terrains as diverse as the country itself – from still Alpine lakes, emerald-green rivers, ever-changing intermittent lakes, to warm Adriatic sea and urban paddling in the capital’s Old Town. Unfortunatelly, on Slovenian coast, there are no waves to be ridden with a sup board.

Slovenia has five regions – five entirely different worlds, reflecting their diverse characters through their landscapes, climate, local spirits, cuisine and traditions. On this quest for inner peace, you can paddle through the veins of nature, discover the treasures of old cities, deceive the witches of Cerknica and slay the dragon of Ljubljana.

Seasons

Photo: Samo Laharnar

Small in its size but Slovenia has a lot to offer to the stand up paddler year round. Most of Slovenia is temperate, with four distinct seasons. The climate is continental with cold winters and warm summers, but at the coastal areas there is pleasant submediterranean climate. The average temperatures in summer reach 20-25°C, but sometimes quite higher, 30°C or more and around 0°C in winter. The typical SUP season starts in March, with the water temperature around 10°C, and ends in mid November. The weather near the coast is typically warm and sunny through most of the year. Winters tend to be milder and if there’s no wind you can easily paddle for Christmas.
Summers are warm and mostly dry, so there’s no need for using wetsuit. Spring is fantastic as you become a part of nature’s renaissance and in early autumn the palette of colors is just magical. Winter, on the other hand, is very special for its natural contrasts and tranquility.

Highlights

Photo: Rafael Marn, Samo Laharnar

Small and special, close to everything

Located between the Alps and the Adriatic sea, so close to Europe’s capitals and yet so far from the frantic tempo of urban life. Countless traveler’s attractions are concentrated within one- to two-hour drive radius. Here, in a single day one can paddle on still Alpine lakes in the morning, bathe in the Adriatic sea in the afternoon and relax at a fancy dinner in the lively streets of Old Town of Ljubljana in the evening. Or jump to Venice, Italy, if you wish! Two hours later you are sipping an espresso at the Canal Grande. That is a traveler’s fantasy! And there aren’t many places like this.

Find more pictures of Slovenian locations in the SUP holiday tours section.

More than just sight seeing

While exploring Slovenia’s SUP spots one can also discover the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage and fall in love with delicious local foods and world-renowned wines.

• Ljubljana’s Old Town
• Lake Bled: the island and Bled Castle
• Bled’s world-famous cream-cake
• Bohinj Lake
• The Savica River and the Savica Waterfall
• The Alpine Dairy Farming Museum
• The Soča River
• The Tolmin Gorges
• The Kobarid World War I Museum
• Piran, the Sečovlje Salt Pans
• The Intermittent Lake Cerknica



• The Kolpa Canyon, fern areas
• The Autumn Vineyards of Bela Krajina
• Kostanjevica on the Krka River
• The Božidar Jakac Gallery
• The Ljubljanica River
• Ljubljana Night Paddle

Paddling from the source of river Ljubljanica and other SUP events

Year round – when conditions permit, and frequently in warmer season, you can join us for a 25 km SUP trip on river Ljubljanica. The downstream paddle will take you from the river source throughout the unspoiled Barje National Reserve to the very center of Ljubljana’s Old Town – The Three Bridges.
Around 10 SUP events are organized each year, both for elite and recreational paddlers. Slovenian Sup Cup, now held for the second year, is also becoming more and more popular.

Hot Spots

Alpine Lakes, Bled and Bohinj – one hour drive from the capital of Ljubljana

Photo: Rafael Marn

Lake Bled is pretty tiny, measures only 2 kms across. A unique scenic paddle takes you around the The Church of the Assumption on the little Island. Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia, perched atop a steep cliff rising 130 metres above the lake and offers a spectacular view of the lake and the island. Be sure not to leave Bled without tasting the original Bled Cream Cake.
Lake Bohinj, just 30 kms from Bled is a great SUP destination and offers fantastic views. It is located in Triglav National Park (named after Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia). Trip across Lake Bohinj to the mouth of the emerald-green Savica River, the water source of the lake, is 4 kms long.

Piran

Photo: Ubald, Samo Laharnar, Primož Hieng

Piran is situated at the tip of the Piran peninsula on the Gulf of Piran. It borders Croatia to the south, and faces Italy across the Gulf of Trieste and the Adriatic Sea. It is a town with narrow streets and compact houses. It offers numerous possibilities for short or long sup tours. Visiting Salt Pans of Sečovlje is a wonderful experience. The symbiosis between man and nature is marked with the centuries-old tradition of salt-making. If lucky you will be able to catch a glimpse of some of the 272 bird species nesting in the surrounding wetlands.

The Soča River

Photo: Beno Saradžić, Samo Laharnar

Because of rapids on the upper part, Soča river is mostly too wild for SUP (exept for whitewater experts). Great touring on emerald blue water is possible and much safer on the lower part of the stream. It is said to be one of the rare rivers in the world that retain such a color throughout their length. Its color is such because from the source to the middle stream, river passes through a limestone rocks, which dissolve. When those rocks melt, they emit calcium carbonate …

Lake Cerknica

Photo: Samo Laharnar

In the heart of Notranjska, the most distinct Karst landscape in Slovenia, in a Karst field sheltered from the southwest by the densely wooded Javorniki Hills, lies the illustrious Cerknica Lake. It is an intermittent lake, filled mainly by autumn rains and the early spring thaw, which stops in May or June, sometimes even in mid-winter. Sort of intereresting, paddling above the fields on a crystal clear water. Transparency allows us to see all the submerged lanscape in detail.

You can find more photos, videos and information on Lake Cerknica in our Blog post – The Mysterious Lake Cerknica.