Try Stand-Up Paddle Boarding In Slovenia

Slovenia’s coastline is pretty tiny: a sliver of land between Croatia and Italy connects the Mediterranean to the rest of the country. But there’s enough water here to keep anyone happy: rivers rush down from the peaks of the Julian Alps and wind around green hills and through cities, while aquamarine lakes are ringed by snow-capped mountains.

Of course, you can gaze on it all from the safety of land, but where’s the fun in that? In this outdoor adventure-loving country, you can sail, swim, kayak or raft – or try your luck on a stand-up paddleboard. It’s a surprisingly easy sport to pick up (most beginners get the hang of it after 20 minutes or so), and the slow pace and ability to pause and check out your surroundings make it a great way to immerse yourself in Slovenia.

There are several places where you can try this relaxing outdoor activity, but the Ljubljanica River makes for a serene choice

Where to go

Numerous operators can set you up on a tour of anything from two hours to a multi-day epic. Almost all are open to novices, and sessions usually begin with training. Most also factor in time for activities like taking a swim, leaping from board to board and competing in playful challenges. You can go stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on rivers and lakes all across Slovenia, in the sea, and even through cities, with most opportunities in the west of the country.

Ljubljana is a popular option, partly because it’s the only European capital you can paddleboard all the way through. The Ljubljanica River heads under the city’s famous Triple Bridges, which connect the medieval and new parts of the city, and passes the city’s 15th-century castle and famous Art Nouveau buildings. But while it offers a great cultural tour of the city, if you’d rather just enjoy the sunshine as you drift past willow trees and under bridges, you’ll still be right at home.

A great lake

Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s undoubted stars, a glorious lake overlooked by cliffs and castles, with an island-set church in its centre. It’s well set up for adventure sports and is phenomenally popular – to the point of feeling busy in mid-summer. But even if you come in July and August, you can escape most of the crowds on a paddleboard. Itineraries typically take in Bled Island, as well as pausing so you can soak in those perfect views.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.