Untitled Document
(photo B. Kladnik - Slovenia-Tourism)
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Slovenia is an excellent
place for sport and recreation; active holidays are possible in all parts
of the country during all seasons. In summer by the waters and the sky
above Slovenia, in spring and autumn by the colourful hiking and cycling
trails… Numerous clubs for parachuting, hang-gliding, paragliding,
ballooning and flying centres offer the experiences of enjoyable winds.
The Slovenian coast of the Adriatic sea is a nice starting
point for lovers of sailing, surfing and diving. The Soca and other rivers
present a challenge to kayakers, canoeists and rafters.
Everywhere across Slovenia there are riding clubs, and
there are well-marked mountain and other hiking trials. Bicycling is also
possible almost everywhere – from the temporary tourist to the lovers
of more challenging rides, who will enjoy specially prepared and marked
cycling trails.
Most resorts and health centers in Slovenia have well
maintained tennis courts, some of which allow winter use. Rental of tennis
equipment is available at some tennis centers as well as the services
of a tennis pro. As a part of Slovenian tourist centres,
especially health resorts, many sport halls, tennis courts, squash courts
etc. are available.
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With its natural location and variety of terrain, Slovenia
is one of the most attractive countries for ballooning enthusiasts. In 1994,
the 9th European Hot-Air Balloon Championships were organized in Murska Sobota
and Ptuj.
GOLF
Golf has become an increasingly
popular sport among the lovers of active holidays; it is played not only
by Slovenes but also by our foreign visitors. It has been popular in our
country since the year 1938. At that time the golf course at picturesque
Bled was opened. Today golfers are welcome to eight golf courses and numerous
practice areas.
Those who connect relaxation with golf clubs, balls and
wide greens, can come to Slovenia and enjoy not only the golf
clubs, golf courses and practice areas but also diverse
landscapes of the charming green plains.
There are eight golf courses in Slovenia and fourteen practice areas from
the panonian north-east to the karst south-west, from the meadows under
the Julian Alps to the hills by the Sava River.
Besides their well kept greens, their favourable points are also accessibility,
openness and different possibilities of golf learning – for individual
enthusiasts who want to improve their knowledge and also for beginners,
children, and families… .(Photo:
A. Fevžer Slovenia-Tourism)
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The Bled
golf course has the longest tradition in Slovenia; it was visited
by players before WWII. In 1976 there was also the first golf tournament in
Slovenia. A decade ago the new Lake Course with water hazards was added to
the King’s Course overlooking the alpine peaks. Other golf courses are
available to golfers besides the courses at Bled, such as Lipica,
the cradle of white Lipizzaner horses which is also a starting point for exploring
the Karst, in Arboretum
Volcji Potok, with its attractive ancient park, in Mokrice
sheltered by the picturesque castle and near the Terme Catež, in Moravske
Toplice in the picturesque Panonian landscape with thermal
waters, in Ptuj,
which attracts visitors with the tradition of the oldest Slovenian town, in
Slovenske
Konjice where the course is sheltered by vine growing hills,
and Podcetrtek
near the Olimja Health Resort. Besides the golf courses in the countryside
there are also numerous indoor practice areas for golfers in Slovenia.
CYCLING
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Slovenia is the meeting
point of the Mediterranean, Panonian and Dinaric worlds. It offers extremely
diverse views due to the variety of its landscapes and the distances
can be managed by bicycle. There are cycling
paths for short and long tours of different difficulties.
Cycling maps of Slovenia and individual areas are available for lovers
of cycling at local tourist organizations as well as tourist information
centres in the cities and towns. There are tours for road cycling which
lead through regional parks, the surroundings of health resorts and
through interesting areas of Slovenian countryside.
Besides this, there are a wide number of local cycling
paths which are often circular. There has been an increase in possibilities
for mountain cycling in Slovenia. Two important centres are in the Mountain
cycling park in the Koroška Region and in the Cycling Village on
the Pohorje.
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(photo B. Kladnik - Slovenia-Tourism)
Those who enjoy new challenges can explore the
underground of Peca by bike and visit its deserted lead mines. Lovers
of longer cycling trips can experience crossing of the border between
Austria and Slovenia at Brod cez Muro where there is the start of
the Slovenian project Euro Velo, connecting the Baltic with the
Adriatic. In Slovenia, many cycling routes can be combined with
railway transport and along longer cycling routes there are accommodation
facilities, services and guide services.Slovenia
offers an abundance of competitive challenges. Worth mentioning
are the yearly event ¨Juriš na Vršic¨, a winding
cycle climb to the highest mountain pass in Slovenia, Cross-country
Run and Mountain Cycling of the Three Counties in Kranjska Gora,
numerous cycling marathons and traditional climbs of different peaks.(photo
B. Kladnik - Slovenia-Tourism)
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(photo B. Kladnik - Slovenia-Tourism)
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Horseback Riding
The picturesque regions of Slovenia attract the
lovers of horsemanship
from both near and far. Lipica,
the cradle of the Lipizzaner horses has been offering a special
experience since the 16th century. Lovers of classical horseback
riding according to the principles of the Spanish Riding school
in Vienna with sport dressage and riding in a carriage and pair
will enjoy the noble white horses. Today, Lipica is an important
tourist centre which offers Classical Riding Courses, visits of
trainings and performances as well as unique views of karst countryside
from the saddle or carriage.
Ljutomer
is also an important place of Slovenian horsemanship boasting its
harness horses – fast racing horses. At the Ljutomer hippodrome
there are at least four important harness races. Harness horses,
not only American, can be admired at the horse-breeding centre Brdo
where the best Slovenian horses and drivers compete every year on
the sandy lane with tidy tribunes.
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Horseback riding courses, trainings
and cross-county riding are offered by the riding centres as that
in Struga beside Castle Otocec, at Prestranek with its stud-farm inside
the Prestranek Manor or at the Lepena lodge with the beauty of the
Triglav National Park. There are excellent riding facilities at ranches
and tourist farms, which similarly to riding centres, also organize
riding courses for all levels, cross-country riding, carriage rides,
care for horses and more. In many places there are ponies available
to children and there has been an increasing number of riding clubs
which offer rides on Icelandic ponies. ......
b ..... .... .. ... (photo B.
Kladnik - Slovenia-Tourism) |
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Yachting
(Photo: A. Fevžer Slovenia-Tourism)
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The Bay of Piran is a great starting point for
sailing and cruising around the Adriatic, as well as for exploring
the interior of Slovenia. The coast region enraptures nautical guests
with its friendly ports, attractive destinations in their hinterland,
and the nearby karst region with its unique points of interest.
On the Slovene coast of the Adriatic Sea, there are modern
marinas in Portorož,
Koper,
and Izola,
where there is also a special yachting center devoted to technical
services in the shipyard. All the marinas supply fuel, and there
are fuel pumps located on the public piers in Piran and Izola. On
the Slovene coast, the sea border crossing points in Koper and Piran
are open year-round, and the border post in Izola operates from
May to October.
Slovenia boasts the largest international nautical
salon on the Adriatic: Internautica, which attracts numerous exhibitors
to Portorož from Slovenia and abroad every May.
The Bay of Piran attracts sailing enthusiasts.
Yacht and sailboat rental is possible all along
the coast. Proof of sailing qualifications is necessary, but yachts
can also be hired together with an experienced captain. There are
several sailing schools on the coast as well as
yacht excursions. Many Slovene lovers of the sea acquired their
first sailing experience on lakes in the clubs that organize courses
for captains, navigation courses, and sailing-schools far from the
coast.
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Water Sports
Slovenia’s rivers and
lakes and the Slovene part of the Adriatic Sea offer various water-related
sports from traditional boating for relaxation to adrenaline-inducing
whitewater descents over waterfalls and rapids.
Among the most popular destinations for the truly adventurous is
undoubtedly the Soca River with its challenging tributaries.
Here, the courageous test their strength not only in
kayaks,
canoes, and rafts but also canyoning
through the narrow gorges of streams and small rivers or plunging
over waterfalls into deep pools with hydrospeed boards. Adrenaline
encounters with whitewater can also be found on the Sava and the
Savinja,
and a range of kayaking, canoeing, and rafting outings are also
possible on the Krka, the Kolpa, and many other Slovene rivers.
Many of these adventures can be arranged with experienced guides
from sport agencies, which also organize kayak and canoe schools
and rent the necessary equipment. On the more peaceful parts of
the rivers, family rafting is an option, and a descent of the Kolpa
River can take several pleasant days.
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 (Photo:
A. Fevžer Slovenia-Tourism) |
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Rowers can often
be spotted on the tranquil waters of the Ljubljanica, Drava, and
Mura rivers, and many, of course, on lakes such as Lake
Bohinj and Lake Bled, which was the scene of a
world rowing championship, as well as on many other lakes and
reservoirs across Slovenia with organized recreation areas. As
on Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, boat rentals are available on Zbiljsko
jezero, Ptujsko jezero, Velenjsko jezero, and many other lakes.
On many lakes, windsurfing is also possible: the disappearing
Cerknica Lake is a paradise for windsurfers - when it is filled
with water, of course.
On the coast there are schools for diving, sailing, and
nautical skills, as well as swimming lessons. Various agencies
rent boats and water scooters along with other equipment for water
sports. Also available are the thrills of parasailing, water skiing,
and windsurfing. |
Diving in Slovene rivers, lakes, and sea is permitted
everywhere except in the fish hatchery in Lake Bohinj and in shipping
lanes and harbour areas. The police issue diving permits.
Diving in karst caves in Slovenia is also permitted, but only under
the supervision of a professional guide.
Fishing
Slovenia still has many fishing areas which have kept their natural
beauty and have not been spoiled by water management projects. In
Slovenia the fisherman can find fast clear alpine rivers and lakes,
dreamy karst waters, meadow streams, lower mountain rivers, and extremely
interesting intermittent karst lakes which offer a rare opportunity
to become familiar with the most varied natural biotopes and their
distinct conditions.
The Fisheries Research Institute administers some of the most typical
and best preserved Slovene fishing regions on the Soca (Isonzo), Sava
Bohinjka, Radovna, Krka, and Unec rivers. In these rivers, stocks
of the most diverse fish are carefully and well maintained, among
which some of the salmonids endemic to the Adriatic river system represent
a special treasure.
Hunting
In Slovenia's hunting areas you can hunt brown bear, roe and red deer,
wild boar, chamois, moufflon, fallow deer, small game (hare, pheasant,
duck), and small predators (pine marten, fox, stone marten, badger).
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