An Insiders View on Slovenia

Maja 

Slovenia, very green and diverse country between the Mediterranean and the Alps, boasts all the beauties of the Old World. When you want to learn about Europe in one stroke, come to Slovenia. In just 20,273 square kilometers there are wonderful Alps, charming coastline, pristine lakes, breath-taking crystal clear rivers, thermal springs, beautiful valleys, magnificent Karst cave world, antique castles, medieval cities, ancient villages, and countless vineyards with top quality wines. Here in this small and easily covered area one can find 4 geographic regions, 3 climate regions and 3 wine growing regions. This is Slovenia, compact and astonishing, a diversity of Europe in miniature. More diverse experiences await you all year round.

What makes Slovenia an ideal travel destination for all?

Not many countries can offer such a wide variety of amazing possibilities like Slovenia can. It is an ideal travel destination, among the most biologically diverse countries in the world and stunningly beautiful nature, small distances, one of the cleanest countries in Europe, excellent culinary & wine.

Tell us something that every traveller should know when travelling to Slovenia? 

Slovenians are respectful of the rules in public places and appreciate the kindness and good manners from others. Slovenians also recycle and try to keep the country clean. Also very important: tap water is clean and drinkable. Most of Slovenians speak English and are kind to tourists.

Any essentials that one needs to carry when they are travelling?

To bring euros and some sports shoes because there is a lot of places in nature to discover, especially away from the capital.

Which are the most surreal places to visit when in Slovenia?

Vintgar Gorge, Velika Planina, Logarska Dolina, Soca valley, Krizna cave, Postojna Cave, Skocjan Cave, Bled.

Can you tell us a little about the life of the locals?

Locals try to have the best quality of life, working hours are from 8 am until 4 pm or from 9 am to 5 pm which leaves almost all afternoon free for different activities in nature or just to spend quality time with the family and friends. When the weather is nice, locals also like to spend time in the city centre, just having a drink in one of the bars along the Ljubljanica river. During weekends, people like to have a short getaway in one of the different places in Slovenia, because everything is about one hour to two hours away from the capital.

What are the local delicacies/drinks which one must try and where Slovenia?

Local wine in different regions of Slovenia, Kranjska sausage, struklji (composed of dough and various types of filling), Potica (a dessert, rolled dough cake with different fillings, most common is nut filling), Bled cream cake, jota (a stew with sour cabbage and beans).

What are things which one must buy when in Slovenia?

Licitar heart, olive oil from different Slovenian producers, honey from different Slovenian producers, lace from Idrija, salt or chocolate with salt or different products from Piran saltpans, Slovenian schnapps (from blueberry or plum or similar).

Which is the most romantic places to visit in Slovenia?

Bled, Piran.

Which are the local festivals one must come to attend in Slovenia?

There are a lot of culinary events and wine events throughout the year in whole Slovenia. For example, Cherry Festival in Goriska Brda, Fish fest on Slovenian coast, Beer & flower festival in an Eastern part of Slovenia, Ljubljana Festival, Ethnomusic festival in Bled.

The things that guidebooks will not tell anyone about?

Some things should remain unpublished for guests to discover them on their own during their visit.

According to you what is the best thing about Slovenia?

That everything is close, you can go to the mountains and to the coast on the same day. There is a lot of nature which gives you a sense of freedom. Water is clean and drinkable. Slovenia is also very diverse and one can do so many different things, there is something for everyone.

Check out our latest package on Slovenia 

Through the lens:Uma Iyer in Iceland

By Uma Iyer

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As a travel outfit, it prides us, when one of our travelers come back with exciting stories from the land they have visited. Uma Iyer is just back from Iceland and she has put down her experience in an enticing way! She actually touched the very chord of Iceland: it being a land of paradox. Adorned with abstract nature, it is a photographer’s paradise. Ms. Iyer brought home many such images (of course, all of them are copyright protected and any reproduction of any sort will attract penalty!). Enjoy her words and snapshots of happiness!

Over to Uma Iyer:

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A misnomer of Iceland being all ice while Greenland is all green – came out to be quite true during my recent visit to Iceland on a fortnight’s trip to the South and West of this beautiful and geologically diverse country.

The trip was organized by my agent, Farzana Haque from The Wanderers Leisure Travel Pvt. Ltd. and the entire tour of this magnificent country was seamlessly planned from the day I landed in Reykjavik till the day I left the country (with a heavy heart of course).

It makes you wonder why when you look at the globe, Iceland is more oddly green while Greenland is covered in ice. This is for many reasons and most importantly geographically being thanks to the Gulf stream, Iceland’s sea temperatures are 6 degrees Celsius warmer than Greenland. Which then means that Icelandic summers are intensely green throughout Iceland, even though 11% of that country is covered in ice.

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So, like most travellers (especially from the Tropics), exploring a new country, I opted for the summer to visit this beautiful country –imagining that the summer would be the ideal given the maximum temperatures reaching up to 18 /19 degrees Celsius while minimum could be around 5/6 degrees. That was manageable.

As luck would have it, the country welcomed me with warm sunshine throughout my entire trip except for one day where it rained a bit (if you had a jacket – you would do fine). This country is a land of sharp contrasts – FIRE AND ICE – it’s simmering hot springs or geysers, lava fields, volcanoes, vast sand deserts contrasted with thundering waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, and fjords. Last but not the least – those who want are interested in the flora and fauna can be rest assured, they won’t be in the least disappointed – be it whale watching or the hundreds of species of birds or the variety of plant species. It is also a hikers paradise.

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I had the choice between Iceland and Norway – and am glad I finally opted for Iceland as I wouldn’t have seen such diverse topography as I did when I travelled far South and then to the west right up to the western most tip of Europe. One of the highlights of my visit to Iceland is exploring the Westfjords. Very few tourists opt for this part of Iceland given its remoteness and unspoiled wilderness. That’s what visiting this place made it even more special. I would recommend everyone travelling to Iceland – not to miss this part of the country if you want to experience true Icelandic wilderness.

The summer’s midnight sun allows you to spend the entire day and night outdoors and enjoy all the wonderful treats of its Viking heritage, food and beautiful ‘scapes’ it has to offer.With global warming threatening to diminish the ice cover everywhere and thereby bringing catastrophically geological and climatic changes, I would recommend everyone who loves nature, to visit Iceland. Talk to ‘The Wanderers’ – they will guide you and give you a memorable experience.

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PS: I am going back – for a winter experience. It is a country that beguiles you and casts you under a spell. Once is not enough. There is still so much to see and experience from this tiny, isolated but breathtaking country. The northern lights beckon and its wish shall be fulfilled hopefully soon.

Are you inspired? Explore more on our Iceland Country page