By: Lea Kalc Furlanič
The exceptional green-blue colour of the Soča River embraced by white rocks, freshness, green surroundings, mountains, breath-taking natural phenomena, rich cultural and culinary heritage… All of this and more is the Soča Valley. A retreat in this part of Slovenia during springtime undoubtedly brings exceptional experiences.
“The Soča Valley is a destination where nature flourishes in all its beauty,” as stated on the official website of the destination, which is starting its annual season these days. As explained by Andreja Jurkovič from the Public Institute for Tourism Dolina Soče, their efforts are focused on raising awareness about the natural and cultural values of the Soča Valley, rather than simply promoting it: “We work towards redirecting visitors’ choices – to opt for a visit to the Soča Valley in spring rather than during the summer. May and June are wonderful months for hiking. Spring is truly beautiful here. We have numerous trails of various difficulty levels, incorporating numerous natural and cultural landmarks.”
Soča Trout Festival throughout the month this year
The beginning of the season is just around the corner. Starting from April 1st, fishing on the Soča River will be open, and fly fishing will commence. As a traditional event marking the beginning of the season, the Soča Trout Festival is being organised. “This year, we are introducing a novelty by intertwining fly fishing with sustainability themes, and the festival will last for the entire month, from March 22nd, World Water Day, to April 22nd, Earth Day. Because we do not want tourism to harm our valley, we have made significant efforts to highlight environmental issues. To that end, three years ago, we created the collective brand ‘Iz doline Soče’, which supports local providers, their quality, and more. The quality label can be obtained by products, produce, and even dishes. It involves a very strict evaluation by special committees. We aim to further develop this brand. Currently, 39 providers with 111 products are included. This is one of the sustainable initiatives through which we emphasise local assets,” emphasises Jurkovič.
More immersive experiences in the Tolmin Gorges
Another sustainable initiative is raising awareness about preserving the natural treasure of the Tolmin Gorges, which opens on March 22nd. They have introduced an online ticket purchase system: “With this system, we aim to prevent overcrowding at specific times of the day in the gorges. We want to limit the number of visitors entering the gorges simultaneously, allowing them to fully experience the nature and pristine environment there. We already invite people to visit the Tolmin Gorges during the May Day holidays.”
This year, the Soča Trout Festival offers projections, various workshops, the opening of the fishing season, exhibitions on fly fishing, and more. Kindergartens and schools will also participate, as they opened an educational walking path along the Tolminka River last year, with the goal of encouraging children to think about nature conservation. Climate scientist Lučka Kajfež Bogataj will be a guest at the festival, giving a lecture on “How to Survive on the Planet”. They have organised clean-up campaigns and other activities related to nature conservation and fly fishing.
“As an institute, we strive to advise visitors to make advance reservations and not to come without one, to avoid disappointment in August when it is difficult to find available rooms. For this reason, May and June are especially suitable months for domestic guests to visit our valley, where it is peaceful, nature is bright green, and temperatures are pleasant. We have also opened the season for kayaking and rafting on the Soča River. April and May are the best months for water sports since the water level is most suitable during that time. Later on, the river can become crowded, and the water level may be low,” warns the interviewee.
Access to Javorca from April 1st
From April 1st, the Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca, one of the jewels of the Soča Valley, will be open to visitors. From April to June, access is possible by car, and later only with organised bus transport. The opening hours are published on the institute’s website. Visitors are greeted by a guide who provides detailed explanations. During summer, after June 25th, there is organised bus transport from the bus station in Tolmin. This bus has proven to be a good practice. A shuttle bus is also available for the Tolmin Gorges during the high season.
For those who wish to visit the Soča Valley, they can first check the website www.dolina-soce.si for initial information. The valley has three Tourist Information Centres (TIC) in Tolmin, Kobarid, and Bovec, and they also cooperate with Kanal and Podbrdo. The common email address is info@dolina-soce.si, and for contact information, you can call +386 5 38 00 480.
It is worth noting that the Soča Valley holds the Slovenia Green Gold environmental label. “To obtain this label, we had to meet several demanding criteria, renew, and maintain it every three years, continuously educate providers, and improve it through specific measures. The Soča Valley, with its exceptional natural and cultural heritage, is also part of the Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve and is the first biosphere reserve in Slovenia,” concluded Andreja Jurkovič.
