Exploring Slovenia: A Campervan Adventure on the “Sunny Side of the Alps”

Justine explores Slovenia's stunning scenery, incredible locations and some exhilarating outdoor pursuits.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – View of Lake Bled from Ojstrica Viewpoint

Inspired by reading the Sunny Side of the Alps, which chronicles Roy Clark and his wife Justi’s move from Scotland to Slovenia, we headed off in our campervan to discover this country of soaring mountains, fairy-tale castles, epic caves, and crystal-clear rivers for ourselves.

Slovenia is best known for picturesque Lake Bled and incredible hiking in the jagged Julian Alps, as well as the vast cave systems in the Karst region. Despite its small size, it packs a punch as an exciting destination and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

Our trip included three campsites in Slovenia: Camping Bled, Camping Pivka Jama and Forest Camping Mozirje with a one-night stopover in Strasbourg at Camping de Strasbourg to break the journey.

Camping de Strasbourg proved to be a perfect enroute choice; easy to reach from the motorway and ideally placed to visit the Alsace medieval city by bike or public transport. Waterways encircle the streets of gabled half-timbered houses straight out of a storybook, and the gothic medieval cathedral is an iconic landmark not to be missed. We made sure there was time to have a dip in the heated campsite pool. Then planned an early start for the big drive across Germany and Austria the next day to reach our first Slovenia destination of Lake Bled.

Photo by: Justine Higgins - View of timbered houses on the waterway, Strasbourg

It proved to be a long day, but on the final approach to the campsite, driving along the southern edge of Lake Bled in glorious late evening sunshine, with views across to the lake’s iconic Island, we knew it was worth it.

Five-star Camping Bled had it all—a perfect combination of excellent facilities and an ideal location on the shores of Lake Bled, with a great range of pitch options from standard to super premium. We indulged in the super premium. It was huge and featured a wood-fired jacuzzi and a wooden terrace overlooking the campsite below—perfect for relaxing and feeling like a VIP!

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Camping Bled, Super premium pitch with hot tub

Bled's beauty is undeniable. We visited historic Bled Castle perched high above the lake and took a stand-up paddleboard tour around Bled Island. We also indulged in a traditional Bled cake at the elegant Belvedere Café, once the summer residence of the Communist President of Yugoslavia - General Tito. From the terrace is a perfectly framed view of the Island and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – View of Bled Island from the Belvedere Café Terrace

Away from the lake our ‘must sees’ were; the Vintgar Gorge, Lake Bohinj, and the thrilling Zipline Dolinka.

The 1,600 metre-long Vintgar Gorge made a spectacular walk along the galleries beside the crystal-clear Radovna River, with its waterfalls, pools, and rapids. A surprise was the beautiful walk back along the “King of Triglav” path, with its far-reaching views over the valley to Bled Castle.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Vintgar Gorge, near Lake Bled

Lake Bohinj, accessible by local bus, offered a peaceful retreat. We enjoyed a boat ride, hiked to the Savica Waterfall, and took the Vogel cable car for breathtaking panoramic views of the lake and Alps. On our hike to the summit of Sija we rang the wishing bell, in the hope it would grant us a return visit to Slovenia.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – The Wishing Bell Orlove Glave, Vogel

Photo by: Justine Higgins – View of Lake Bohinj and Julian Alps from Vogel

Not to be missed - Zipline Dolinka – was simply amazing! This zipline adventure took us across the Dolinka River on seven ziplines totalling 4 km. It was an exhilarating way to take in the valley’s natural beauty and a thrilling highlight of the trip for all of us. It made an unforgettable last day before we moved to our next base at Camping Pivka Jama to explore a completely different landscape.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Zipline Dolinka

Pivka Jama is a low-key campsite set in the forest above the town of Postojna. A short drive from the campsite took us to Postojna Cave, which features an underground train to a magical subterranean world of huge caverns, stalagmites, and stalactites. There is a joint ticket with the nearby 800-year-old Predjama Castle, a fortress built in a cliff with its own secret cave system. An awesome sight as you approach!

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Predjama Castle

The planina of Slovenia are high mountain pasture areas where herdsmen take their cattle in summer to graze. A day hiking through this unique landscape was on our must do list. The route to our next campsite, Forest Camping Mozirje, gave us the opportunity to visit Velika Planina, boasting some of Slovenia’s best-preserved traditional herdsmen’s settlements set against a backdrop of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

Reached by Cable car and chair lift from the valley floor, our day wandering through the magical landscape of wild flower meadows, spruce-shingled wooden huts and cattle herds was delightful.

Photo by: Justine Higgins - Velika Planina herdsmen’s settlement

Forest Camping Mozirje was our base to discover a lesser-visited area of Slovenia, the Logar Valley (Logarska Dolina).

Photo by: Justine Higgins –Forest Camping Mozirje

There was a warm welcome from our hosts at Forest Camping Mozirje with slivovka (plum brandy) or ice cream, which added a nice personal touch to our stay. Set among the tall trees, the eco-friendly campsite is a destination in itself, encouraging visitors to enjoy nature—whether relaxing with a book in the hammocks or tubing on the river. Fire pits are dotted around for evening chats with your neighbours, and children are encouraged to play games on the football/basketball pitch in the centre of the campsite.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Driving through the Logar Valley (Logarska Dolina)

It was a 40-minute drive up into the mountains to Logarska Dolina. This alpine glacial valley, with its mountain farms, wildflower meadows, and impressive waterfalls, was a paradise. It was a place to breathe in the beauty of nature in the magnificent valley and take time to admire the spectacular views. The hike to Rinka Waterfall, followed by a refreshing drink at the perilous bar, was an unforgettable experience.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Hike to Rinka Waterfall and bar in the Logarska Dolina

We couldn’t miss the charming capital city, Ljubljana. It’s centrally located and makes a convenient stop off in between campsites or in our case, as we were heading for home. The Dolgi Most park-and-ride offers convenient motorhome parking, with a bus or cycle path leading to the city centre. Ljubljana's blend of historic charm and vibrant café culture made it an enjoyable stop on our journey, and an excuse to sample another traditional cake.

Photo by: Justine Higgins – Capital City Ljubljana

Slovenia exceeded all our expectations with its magnificent mountain scenery, crystal clear rivers and outdoor adventures. Its compact size enabled us to explore so much within a two-week visit, from the enchanting Lake Bled to the awe-inspiring mountains and caves. One thing is certain - we will definitely be back to the Sunny Side of the Alps!

Camping de Strasbourg, Camping Bled, Camping Pivka Jama are all bookable through the Caravan and Motorhome Club European Sites and Forest Camping Mozirje via Alanrogers.com

• If Justine has inspired you to visit the region, please visit camc.com/overseas to book the featured campsites and see other options.