Rafting the Soča, Slovenia

The Soča is the river people picture when they think of Slovenia: water so clear and so green it looks edited. It drops out of the Julian Alps through Triglav National Park and runs straight past Bovec, a small town that has built most of its life around the river. Rafting here is less about raw size than setting. Limestone walls, white gravel banks and alpine peaks surround you the whole way down.

Most trips run a stretch of river near Bovec with roughly 90 minutes on the water. In summer the rapids sit mostly in the Class II to III range, which suits first-timers. In spring, snowmelt raises the level and the same stretch gets noticeably punchier. What never changes is the temperature. The Soča stays cold all year, often around 8 to 12°C, so outfitters kit you out in a full wetsuit, neoprene booties and a splash jacket as standard.

Bovec is also the base for canyoning, kayaking and hiking in the Soča valley, so it is worth staying two or three nights rather than treating it as a day trip. The season runs April to October. Go in May or June for the biggest water, or July and August for a warmer, calmer day that works for families.