Day 6, Lake Bled – Lake Bohinj
You have a day to explore the area. Active families may enjoy hiring bikes and cycling into the Radovna Valley, in Triglav National Park. This is a great route, perfect for families as it is quite flat but extremely beautiful. The valley floor is wide and often covered in wildflowers, but with pine-clad mountains beyond.

Alternatively, you might like to visit Lake Bohinj, which is much quieter and less touristy than Lake Bled. Again you can hire a SUP for the day, follow the trail that skirts the lake (and enjoy a picnic lunch en route), discover the lake by kayak, or visit Savica Waterfall.

Another popular activity is the hike through Vintgar Gorge, but this can get extremely busy in the summer and we prefer the less touristy Tolmin Gorge that you can visit later in the trip.

Day 7, Lake Bled – Kranjska Gora cycling – Bovec
Today you have a spectacular drive deep into the Julian Alps. Start your journey with a trip to Kranjska Gora and the Nordic centre Planica, which host the best ski jumpers of the world every year. From here you can walk to Tamar Valley, where there are spectacular views of the surrounding peaks! The journey also takes you over the stunning Vršic Pass with superb views over both Austria and Italy.

En route, we can arrange for you to pick up rental bikes in Kranjska Gora. The ideal way to explore this beautiful area, the cycle paths are wide and very family friendly, and there is a great route through the Planica Valley into Italy!

From here continue into the Soča river valley to Bovec. This river runs through the heart of the Julian Alps and is renowned for its startling turquoise colour. Bovec itself is a charming little town and a great base for the many adventure activities in the area.

There are a number of different accommodation options here depending on whether you want to stay in town or in a rural area.

Day 8, Bovec rafting and ziplining
Bovec is the centre of Slovenia’s adventure activities and there are plenty of options to choose from today. A popular activity is white water rafting, perfect for a dose of adrenalin but in a particularly beautiful section of the river. There are different routes available depending on the ages of your children (minimum age is 5), with varying degrees of difficulty. Whichever you choose, there will be a mixture of rapids and quieter sections where you can jump off the raft and swim alongside.

This afternoon we can include an exciting ziplining activity. Your guide will provide you with a safety briefing before you set off, strapped into a harness and whizzing between platforms, with stunning views over the surrounding landscape. Great fun for all ages!

Day 9, Bovec canyoning
One of our favourite adventure activities in Bovec is canyoning (aged 9+) in which you follow the course of the Soča river, climbing over rocks, abseiling down waterfalls, squeezing down crevices and jumping off (low!) cliffs into beautiful emerald pools.

Afterwards perhaps head down to one of the sandy beaches and have a relaxing few hours swimming and soaking up the views. Or, if you’re still feeling active, you could walk to Virje waterfall or take a cable car to the highest ski slopes in Slovenia; Kanin at 2293m!

Day 10, Bovec – Piran
Today you will head out of the mountains to the coast. There are a number of places that you can stop en route. First is the Tolmin Gorge; this is a great alternative to the much more touristy Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled. Here the beautiful clear waters of the Tolminka River have carved a deep gorge out of the cliffs. You can follow a raised wooden walkway through and across the gorge, stopping along the way to swim in one of the many pools.

Another stop you may like to consider are the Škocjan caves, a vast subterranean cave system that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here the Reka river has carved out huge caverns and tunnels, all featuring numerous stalactites and stalagmites in an otherworldly landscape.

Nearby is Predjama Castle, the largest ‘cave castle’ in the world, perched in an impossibly dramatic location in the middle of a 123m high cliff face.

You will end the day in Piran, on the Adriatic coast.

Day 11, Piran
You have a full day to explore Piran. This is a gorgeous little town, sitting at the end of a peninsula, with terracotta-roofed buildings, a bustling harbour and medieval walls. It’s rather like a mini-Dubrovnik, with all roads leading to the beautifully clear waters of the Adriatic.

Spend the day wandering around the cobbled streets, climb the Bell Tower for panoramic views or find one of the seafront restaurants and sample the seafood dishes for which the town is famous.

Day 12, Piran – Ljubljana
Drive back to the airport, where you will drop off the car before flying home.