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The Soča River- The Emerald Beauty
The Soča River, characterized by its vibrant emerald-colored water, flows through western Slovenia and into northeastern Italy. It becomes known as the Isonzo River in Italy, where it terminates at the Adriatic Sea close to the town of Monfalcone. The source of this 86-mile (138 km) alpine river, often called ‘The Emerald Beauty’, lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps. We got our first peek at this natural beauty following a very curvy drive through the Alps on the Vršič Pass. Sure, this river is gorgeous to look at, but the best way to experience the Soča River is to go whitewater rafting in Slovenia!
Behold, The Beauty of Bovec
The Soča River Valley is a place for nature lovers and adrenaline junkies. The popular activity hubs of Bovec and Kobarid attract visitors from all over Europe and beyond who are looking for adventure in the Alps!
Activities such as kayaking, whitewater rafting, canyoning, hydrospeeding, and paragliding are most popular in this region. We’ve been whitewater rafting a few times back in the States and couldn’t wait to take a trip down the refreshing Soča River!
WATCH NOW: Rafting in Slovenia on the Soča River
Though it was an extremely hot August day when we went rafting in Slovenia, the water temperature was frigid! The water of the Soča is quite chilly even during the summer months, at less than 60 degrees F (15 degrees C). Thank goodness we were provided with wet-suits! Because it was so hot, we all opted for sleeveless wet-suits, which turned out to be a very good idea.
Adventure in Bovec
We booked with Fröccs in Bovec for a 3-hour rafting adventure! The adventure on the river was only about an hour and a half, as some of the time was spent suiting up, driving to and from the river, and getting our rafting safety briefing and instructions. That whole process was a little long, probably just because it was so stinkin’ hot out, so we were grateful to finally get in the frigid waters of the river!
The water levels were a little low due to lack of recent rainfall, but we still had a crazy good time with several class-two and -three rapids throughout the course of our river adventure!
Our guide did an excellent job navigating the rocks and the rapids, giving us precise paddling instructions to keep us safe and upright! There were many other boats on our tour, including several kayaks with brave individuals willing to navigate the rapids on their own. Honestly, some were in a little over their heads, figuratively and literally.
With smiles plastered to our faces the entire trip down the river, we can definitely say we had an excellent time! There were a few opportunities for swimming in the calmer sections of the frigid waters, which we all took advantage of. Sam even thought it would be a good idea to jump off an enormous rock, which required climbing metal foot-holds bolted into the side of the massive boulder.
Our goofy guide, the refreshing water, and the surrounding breathtaking scenery provided us with fun memories we won’t soon forget! We strongly recommend you put rafting in Slovenia on your itinerary for your next visit to western Slovenia.
We’d like to thank Fröccs for providing us with a complimentary rafting trip in exchange for us sharing our experiences with you. All copyright photos are compliments of Fröccs. Book your next adventure with them and they’ll provide you with a link to purchase affordable memorable photos from your trip. They also offer canyoning, ziplining, tubing, and hydropspeeding. Fröccs is conveniently located in near the Tourist Information Center in the heart of Bovec.
Discover Slovenia, a nature lover’s paradise in our video of this beautiful country: