Decked out in our fabulous new Stubborn Mule apparel, we pretty much covered the breadth of the country, travelling from Ljubljana up to the picturesque Logar Valley. We had a stop in Lake Bled to take a boat ride, kayaked in Lake Bohinj and cycled over the border to Italy. Our last night was in magnificent Bovec, surrounded by incredible mountains, before heading back to the airport with a quick stop at a vineyard. Everywhere we visited is included in our sample itinerary Highlights of Slovenia.

Autumn off-peak timings meant we didn’t get the warm Mediterranean summer weather that Ljubljana enjoys, but that didn’t deter us. We loved our walking tour of Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, with its pretty river, cobbled streets and castle view.

The tree-fringed River Ljubljanica runs through the capital, crossed by historic bridges in the centre. You can even paddle under them by SUP, past pastel-painted baroque churches, or you can just relax and take it all in from café terraces lining the river. Ljubljana is fairytale-esque, with a medieval old quarter, cobblestoned alleyways and pretty squares to amble around. Mainly pedestrianised in the centre, it’s also one of the greenest capital cities in all of Europe.

The weather forecast told us we were experiencing an ‘Extreme Weather Condition’. Was it accurate? Ohhhh yes! But undeterred, drenched to the skin, we still all loved the remote glacial Logar Valley. The waterfalls were in full flood and the mountains peeped out occasionally from behind the clouds and we managed to block out Sinead (one of our Slovenia experts) telling us how very beautiful the valley is in the sparkling sunshine.

Moving on to the Julian Alps, shimmering Lake Bled is much-loved for its paddleboarding, row-boating, and wild swimming – it has many wooden jetties from which to throw yourselves into its crystalline waters. We opted for traditional pletna boat, kind of like a giant gondola, and then climbed the 99 steps to the church to ring the bell for good luck.

Here we are getting kitted out for kayaking at Lake Bohinj. South-west of Bled, this is a much quieter spot where you can also go paddleboarding, follow a hiking trail right around the shoreline and be refreshed by the Savica waterfall. Both our sample Slovenia itineraries include Lake Bohinj.

Lake Bohinj is perfect for a family kayaking adventure as it’s very calm and you can strike out under your own steam and potter around at your own pace. Here we were thrown into the metaphorical deep end of team-building, learning how to navigate the lake whilst striving with varied levels of success, for synchronised paddle harmony in our double kayaks.

Our kayaking adventure on Lake Bohinj was watched over by the Goldhorn (Zlatorog). According to legend, this white chamois roamed the heights of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia. Its golden horns were said to hold the key to treasure hidden in the mountains. Next time perhaps.

Slovenia offers very varied accommodation from cosy mountain lodges to stylish modern hotels. Some have spas, some have goats. You can choose!

Heading deeper into the Julian Alps, we set off by bike to follow a cycle path across the border into Italy. Much of the trail in Kranjska Gora is flat, so it will suit everyone.

While the route is mostly gentle, there’s a killer last section leading to a beautiful lake. In summer you can relax and refuel over pizza here but by late September, it was closed so we just soaked up the views.

Between the sparkling-green Soča River and the Julian Alps lie some of the most exciting adrenaline-charged adventures, including whizzing along a network of zipwires giving you magnificent views of Mt Triglav and other peaks. There are actually two zipline parks here, both among the biggest of their kind in Europe – and with a strong claim for boasting the most beautiful settings.

The exhilarated whoops of our youngest Mulettes, as they flew over the gorge, echoed all the way down the valley. Everyone made it back down safely, and most importantly, all of us loved it… despite some initial misgivings!

At the bottom of the ziplines, you arrive at the Soča River, where other members of the group went white-water rafting – also huge fun, and something active families will love. Read what other Stubborn Mule travellers say about Slovenia’s adventure activities in our customer reviews.

White-water rafting on the Soča was brilliant. The river ranges from thrilling rapids to quieter sections where you can hop out and swim next to the raft. And when you’re tired of it all, you can stop on sandy beaches and catch your breath.

As we looped back towards Ljubljana, we stopped off in Istria, near the Italian border, to visit an award-winning vineyard. We sampled delicious fizz and a selection of pinot noirs. In truth, this probably wouldn’t hold the attention of most children, but the team enjoyed it!

The food was a real highlight in Slovenia, all beautifully presented and utterly delicious. There was hearty mountain fare (think stews and soup), delicious fish dishes, extensive salads and sensational pasta (Italy is just a stone’s throw away). We had a range of dietary requirements, all of which were very easily accommodated so vegetarians, vegans and gluten free can all eat extremely well.

One of our Slovenia experts, Sinead, sums up what we all feel – “I love the country for a whole array of reasons – not least of them the fact that it offers ‘a bit of everything’ – gorgeous alpine scenery, translucent blue-green waters in rivers and lakes, and lots of excitement for families at whatever level of activity they want”.