TOP 5 WATERFALLS IN SLOVENIA

Everyone enjoys a nice waterfall. They might not be the largest in the world here in Slovenia, but we definitely have a variety. A surprising amount of them too - 11 over a 100 meters in height and at least 77 others (according to Wikipedia) or 253 (according to a website dedicated just to waterfalls in Slovenia).  Some can be seen from the main road and some are difficult to access, with some even hidden underground.

Here I'd like to list some of my favourites, however now that I’ve found out there are 253 waterfalls, I'm certain this list could change soon:

Rinka waterfall. Source: Ivana Bole

1. Rinka

Often listed as the longest or the second longest waterfall in Slovenia. Wrong. With its 90 meters of height and a straight vertical drop, it is not the longest but surely one of the most famous and popular ones to visit. The fact that it is located right at the end of one of the most picturesque valleys in the country probably contributes to that fame. Logarska valley lies at the heart of the Kamnik Savinja Alps in the north of the country. There are walking & cycling paths that criss-cross the valley, and they eventually bring you to the end of this Alpine beauty. If you are not afraid of getting your heart rate to a quicker beat you can ascend the final few meters in only about 15 minutes and you will reach the point where the forest cover opens up. You end up face to face with the narrow waterfall that loses its stony bed and drops down into a natural amphitheater in its endless performance.

Boka waterfall from the main road. Source: Ivana Bole

2. Boka

The waterfall with the greatest volume of water can be seen from the main road that connects Bovec and Kobarid, two towns in the valley of Soča river. For those who want to see it in all its glory, the best time to visit would be during spring when the snow is melting in the Alps. The water that feeds it actually comes from an underground karst spring and keeps it flowing all year long. A fairly easy path can take you right to the foot of Boka waterfall if you can spare 1,5 hours. To give you a better idea of the magical feel of this place, a river scene from Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was filmed just a little bit further down the road.

Peričnik waterfall. Source: Ivana Bole

3. Peričnik

There are a lot of waterfalls that you can observe from a distance. Peričnik is not one of them. This one is for people who like to get up close and personal. Not only can you get right next to it, but also above and behind. It consists of two waterfalls, Upper Peričnik Falls and Lower Peričnik Falls. The lower one is easier to get to, thus also more popular, and there is a path which goes under the rock and around the waterfall. It makes for a tremendously nice gentle shower in hot summer days and a spectacular sight in the coldest days of winter, when the waterfall freezes.

4. Savica

This one could be called most cultural waterfall. Our greatest poet, France Prešeren, immortalized this waterfall in an epic poem about the ancestors of our nation, the pagan Slavs and their struggle with Christianity. The poem is titled "Baptism on the Savica" - you can read the translated prologue here. Savica is the largest tributary of Bohinj lake which then continues into the Sava river, connecting the edge of the Alps with places as far away as the Black Sea.

Savica waterfall. Source: Shutterstock

5. Kozjak

This one is by far my favourite. A stranger to superlatives, it does not boast any of the common "the largest", "the longest", "the widest", but many people would agree that it is one of the most impressive. Getting to Kozjak waterfall is a trip into a world of fantasy. A fan of Tolkien will feel like a hobbit on the Road from the Shire while walking through the forest, after crossing a hanging bridge over Soča river, and following the Kozjak stream on small stone bridges. And then you get to the end of the road and climb a rock where there is a seemingly hidden path to get onto a wooden boardwalk that takes you around into a cave. Once you make the bend with no idea what is on the other side, you realize you are staring into a green so vivid that would make Frederico Garcia Lorca jealous. And in the midst of that, a waterfall so surprising, falling into an inviting pool nested between huge glorious rocks that guard this nature's little secret.

Kozjak waterfall. Source: Shutterstock