SLOVENIAN TOURIST BOARD INVITES GCC FAMILIES FOR AN ADRENALINE-CHARGED HOLIDAY ADVENTURE IN SLOVENIA

Keeping true to its promise as a green, active and healthy holiday destination, Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) introduces a new and exciting holiday idea perfect for GCC and Middle Eastern families looking for an adrenaline-packed holiday destination this summer and beyond.

Family bonds are best strengthened in unspoilt nature and through adrenaline-filled experiences! Slovenia is a paradise for those who love being active and going on active holidays. In every landscape type, families can find different adventures. Adrenaline parks are around almost every corner. Climb a rock face like real climbers on secured climbing trails or via ferrata trails, and go down ski slopes on summer toboggans. Learn about the tradition of rafting on Slovenian rivers.

Here’s the ultimate bucketlist for families looking for a unique and exciting way to spend the rest of the summer and holiday season:

1. Not a usual WALK IN THE PARK!

Conquering heights, a giant swing, finding balance, and feeling the rush of adrenaline through your veins – accept the challenge and visit one of the numerous adrenaline and adventure parks in Slovenia. Test your abilities by taking on challenges high up among tree trunks and tree tops, led by experienced instructors. Right on the shore of Lake Bohinj, you can visit the Bohinj Adrenaline Park.

At the Soča Fun Park in Solkan, you can begin your family adventure by crossing the river on a raft, and you can finish it by sliding down a zipline from one side of the River Soča to another.

At the Celjska Koča Adventure Park, in addition to other daring devices, the Monkey Tree will get your pulse going. Near Otočec Castle, you can find adrenaline-filled experiences at the Otočec Adventure Park, and near Osilnica on the River Kolpa, you can feel the power and courage of the folk hero Peter Klepec at the local adrenaline park.

Adrenaline-filled experiences can also be enjoyed by young children.

Visit the GEOSS Adventure Park in the very centre of Slovenia. The whole family can have some fun at the Postojna Adventure Park, just a stone’s throw away from the Postojna Cave.

A special experience at the Lake Bukovnica Adventure Park is the Stork's Flight, the longest climbing trail spanning 27 metres.

Find the Betnava Adventure Park in the forests of the Pohorje Hills, and in the direct vicinity of the remains of Vurberk Castle between Maribor and Ptuj, visit the Vurberk Adventure Park.

For those who are curious about how the Earth was formed and about geological processes, a visit to the Vulkania Adventure Park in the Goričko Hills or to the Geopark Karavanke, which also crosses the Slovenian-Austrian border, is just the right choice.

2. CLIMB every mountain!

Climb a rock face safely like a true climber.

Are you tempted to climb a rock face and safely enjoy magnificent views? Then, secured climbing trails, known as via ferrata, are just the thing for you. You can find them in different places in Slovenia.

All you need is basic climbing equipment (helmet, harness, self-locking devices), which you can also rent. The first modern via ferrata trail in Slovenia was installed on Mt Gonžarjeva Peč in Vinska Gora near Velenje. The view of the idyllic mountain villages of Mojstrana and Dovje will take your breath away as you climb the Mojstrana Via Ferrata Trail on the rock face of Mt Grančišče; after you finish climbing, you can also visit the Slovenian Alpine Museum. Admire the nature in the vicinity of the Jezersko Valley on the Češka Koča Via Ferrata Trail, and near Tržič, in the direct vicinity of the Zelenica mountain cabin, you can try climbing on the Spodnji Plot Via Ferrata Trail. In the Posavje region, you can climb up to Mt Lisca on a via ferrata trail that is divided into five pitches and is approximately 130 metres long. To see a wonderful view of Vipava, climb on the secured Furlan Trail.

3. Let it SLIDE!

Ski slopes are fun in summer as well. At the iconic Lake Bled, there is a summer tobogganing course on the Straža ski slope, where you can enjoy a ride with a view of the lake and the castle. You can also find an exciting adrenaline experience for the whole family on the Besna Pehta tobogganing course in Kranjska Gora. Slide in a summer toboggan down the Celjska Koča ski slope. Find even more adrenaline-filled experiences at the Zlodjevo toboggan run on Rogla and the Pohorjet toboggan run with a beautiful view of Maribor.

4. Rolling (and Rafting) in the River!

Experience Slovenian rivers on rafts.

Learn about the tradition of Slovenian raftsmen and go on exciting adventures on rafts. Embark on a journey through time and space with the raftsmen of Koroška or take a ride on a raft to treat yourself to a different view of the city of Maribor. When your journey ends, visit the Rafting Museum in the village of Javnik. You can also enjoy the River Sava on rafts. Begin your river adventure in Radeče, where the rich rafting tradition is also revived through a traditional ethnographic event titled Days of Rafting on the River Sava.

A total of 76,163 visitors from the GCC visited the Slovenia in 2016, resulting in a 10 percent increase compared to 2015 figures. Amongst those, the number from Saudi Arabia was the highest at 43,483 travelers, which was an increase of 11.5 percent compared to the year before. Visitors from the United Arab Emirates were the next highest, followed by visitors from Kuwait.