A big thank you to the Slovenia Tourism Board for hosting my visit so I could write this detailed review of my experience.
My bare feet felt at home on the rocky ground of the alpine wilderness, as I walk along the serene Logar Valley, in view of the Alps. I could feel the nature on Hotel Plesnik‘s barefoot path, as this walk passes important energy points and I am told that these little simple steps will strengthen my immune system and help me feel better. Guests are also encouraged to lie down to listen to the waterfall as the sound provides meditative calm for the mind. As I connect with the mossy, grassy, and rocky ground in Slovenia, I am reminded of being a kid – happily barefoot – as I make the trudge to Palenk waterfall, where a pond with cold water settles at the base and guests can sit and soak their feet.
Slovenia deeply values wellness. So much so that the Slovenian government gives citizens two weeks of complimentary spa use and treatments for rehabilitation. Mother Nature is the key to Slovenian wellness, as the therapeutic effects of thermal waters, guided meditation in the forest, energy zone walks and fresh mountain air and water are part of daily life. It’s easy to recharge in this nature-laden country of emerald lakes, fairytales forests and soaring peaks of the Julian Alps.
Therapeutic wellness is a way of life in Slovenia, making it easy to connect with the land and to cultivate your own spirituality. Find your Zen all around, among the tallest mountains and wildest waters, in spiritual castles and the underworld of karst caves, and in vineyards/gentle wine growing hills and primeval forests. Get to know this small European country through its natural healing powers.
As a country about the size of New Jersey with diverse landscapes and bordered by Italy, Croatia, Austria and Hungary, begin your Slovenian adventure exploring the fairytale capital of Ljubljana, with its hilltop castle, Medieval and Baroque buildings standing side by side, and illuminated river with a romantic stretch of outdoor cafes, restaurants, and bridges. Then, head out to explore this active healthy country in central Europe, the first country in the world to be declared a Global Green Destination.
10 ways to connect with Slovenia’s natural wonders
Stroll barefoot to a waterfall
At Hotel Plesnik in the Savinja Valley, a chalet-style property in view of the Kamnik Alps, guests can easily find peace with the awe-inspiring mountain valley views and fresh drinking water. But the hotel’s spa and wellness area may be the ultimate sanctuary for relaxation, with options like steam room, outdoor heated whirlpool, Turkish, Finnish, and bio saunas, and outdoor pool perfect for a cold plunge in fall. A 78-meter waterfall adds to the property’s stunning setting, where guests can stroll barefoot on their Kneipp path straight to the waterfall, stimulating circulation and grounding themselves in nature. Rest and rejuvenate with an herbal bath, massage, ayurvedic practices, or magical nighttime torchlight walk through the forest to breathe in the fresh air and become one with the stars.
Stay in a treehouse or former hayrack
Also located in the Upper Savinja Valley, Hiša Raduha’s charming family run establishment showcases Slovenian hospitality, sustainability and culinary tradition. Your dream of sleeping in a treehouse – enveloped by nature – can come true with the added bonus of the Savinja River babbling right outside your treetop abode. Soaking in a warm tub amongst the tree branches is pure bliss and in summer, taking a cool dip in this crystal-clear green river right outside your door is utterly refreshing.
You can also choose to stay in a charming hayrack, a unique Slovenian construct to dry hay and architectural gem redone here at Raduha, with innovative glass enclosures so the outside becomes one with the inside. Unwind in a cozy hammock, retreat to the raised sleeping quarters, or find your Zen in the meditative nest, complete with private tub for a blissful soak under the stars. Participate in a guided meditation by the river to stay grounded in the present moment.
A few feet away, dine at Hiša Raduha to experience ingredients grown right on the property, as Chef Martina Breznik brings passion into her cooking creating dishes based on what is available in nature – from the gardens, fields, and forest. Don’t miss Obrnjenek, her traditional dish made with buckwheat flour, eggs confit, and an airy foamed yogurt.
Climb to the treetops in the heart of the Pohorje forests
Ascend through the forest and between the canopies on this 3,000-foot-long stairless treetop walk to arrive at forested panoramic views. In October, the mist swirls through the treetops in the Pohorje forest, creating a mysterious setting.
The Treetop Walk in Rogla spirals up to 100 feet high as the Observation tower feels like you have become one with nature and the birds. Read about the flora and fauna at several learning stations along the way and if you are really brave, zip down the 200 foot tunnel slide back to the forest floor.
Connect with the land at Rogla Energy Park
Located next to Hotel Rogla, find your healing path at the peaceful Rogla Energy Park that encompasses 7 geosphere energy points – with healing properties influencing the spine, kidneys, bladder, stomach, heart, throat, and head. The area is known for its energy field as energy points with bioenergetic pulsation in the shape of a flower promote regeneration.
Book a guided meditation exercise to connect with the trees, rocks, and land. Hug a tree and feel its energy or connect and commune with the healing stones. As you walk barefoot on natural materials (pine cones, bark, tree stumps, gravel, etc.), feel the wind, listen to the birdsong and forest sounds, and smell the herbs and flowers of the forest. Become one with your breath and nature.
Follow the quiet energies at a monastery
Gregorian chants greet you upon arrival at Zice Charterhouse (Zicka Kartuzija), once a monastery, now a towering beautiful ruin. For almost 900 years, in the Valley of St. John the Baptist, this former monastery has attracted visitors with its calm beauty and special energy fields. Imagine the Carthusian monks in the 12th century, who only spoke once a week to each other. Today, only grassy hill bumps remain of their solitary ground homes and this special area is known for its calming vortex.
Wander the Silent Energy trail along ancient walls and you may notice symbols engraved by stone masons, as more than 400 interesting signatures of builders have been discovered. Drink from the stream with the most energetic water and stand in awe as a climb will take you to the new innovative retractable roof of the church above the valley. Next door, satisfy your hunger at Spargus Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Slovenia, showcasing authentic hyperlocal elevated Slovenian flavors.
Sip Mother Earth’s bounty in the vineyards
While Slovenia may be best known for the Primorska region near the Italian border, venture to Zlati Gric’s “Golden Hill” vineyards to discover more enchanting lands – 80 hectares of vineyards (close to 200 acres) – and to sample wines in their underground cellar and architecturally fascinating open air slanted concrete atrium. White wines of various varietals such as Sauvignon, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Rhein Reisling dominate due to tradition and natural conditions, as the continental climate results in higher acids in the grapes contributing freshness to their wines.
The surrounding serene rolling hill vineyard landscape makes it easy to connect with Mother Earth, especially over an outstanding sparkling wine produced in the classic method as the terroir is similar to the Champagne region. “Wines are emotions,” the winemaker reminds us. You may be so moved by the landscape in the Slovenian Styria that you’ll want to spend a night in their 15th century Winegrower’s mansion, a cultural monument atop of the vineyard hill with a 9-hole golf course at its foot.
Dine in the countryside at a Michelin Green Star restaurant
Repovz Restaurant is a renowned culinary gem and 2024 Michelin Green Star designee, celebrated for its authentic Slovenian cuisine, organic farm produce, and charming atmosphere. Nestled in an alluring picturesque setting, this JRE member (an association of young chefs and restaurateurs that was founded in France in 1974) combines traditional flavors with contemporary flair. While there, we learned their chef team was being flown to Los Angeles to cook for Slovenian LA Kings hockey star Anže Kopitar.
Forest bathe in silence
At Hotel Balnea, anti-stress wellness programs abound at Terme Krka – such as revitalizing treatments, sound baths with a gong and Tibetan bowl, indoor and outdoor thermal spring pools, and a nudist outdoor terrace to catch some vitamin D. Find inner harmony with a silent meditative walk from the village through a forest, led by a counselor to help practice mindfulness, stillness, and compassion. In the surroundings of the renowned health resort Dolenjske Toplice, the nearby forest with 100-year-old trees and the Sušica stream help calm the mind during this phoneless silent traipse that might be enhanced with the sound of distant church bells (if you’re lucky). Various stretching poses are outlined along the path too. This type of activity is shown to improve cognitive abilities and the ability to concentrate.
Sauna power at Hotel Bohinj
All hotels I stayed in Slovenia offered complimentary therapeutic spa offerings (thermal pools, sauna, steam, jacuzzi) but my favorite was Hotel Bohinj, with its sprawling lawn, fire pit and glowing pink thermal rectangular pool – surrounded by nature in view of Lake Bohinj and the highest mountain peaks of the Julian Alps. The larch wood interior combines traditional alpine elements with modern architectural features like large glass windows to highlight the natural beauty with guest terraces boasting panoramic views.
The most unique spa experience I encountered was a sauna session enhanced with music and various scents wafted in guests’ direction by a powerful woman whipping a towel, and a gigantic fan in tune to the music like a whirling dervish. Guests were instructed to enter naked with a towel and as the heat intensified, a cool compress with the spa’s shaved ice provided a fabulous conclusion for the body to be relaxed and detoxified when dipping out. Saunas are known to help improve circulation.
Switch up your dining from the hotel’s offerings with a three- to six-course set menu down the road at heritage adults-only Sunrose Seven. This cozy 18-room hotel keeps its 1890 façade but features a modern restaurant located next to a rushing river, with floor to ceiling glass windows that frame a mountain-hugging idyllic view.
Find serenity on and above Lake Bled
Embark on serene Lake Bled on a “Pletna” or traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat, rowed by a “Pletnar” standing up as he glides you to the center of the island to climb the steps to the Assumption of Mary Church. Ring the church bell and make a wish with one pull of the rope as a new bell by a pope was erected as compassion for a tragic widow’s tale.
Afterward, savor a lunch at the Lake Bled Castle Restaurant, a 12thcentury castle perched on a cliff that offers dazzling views across the lake’s emerald waters and surrounding Alps. Be sure to sample the famous Lake Bled Cream Cake.
Be in awe deep underground
An astonishing 15,000 caves exist in Slovenia. In these unusual subterranean worlds, spirituality is easily felt, especially on a private tour where a guide might turn the light off to let you meditate deep underground and the humid air is beneficial for breathing.
A mini electric open-topped cave train might remind you of a Disney ride as a child, but one in Postojna Cave careens deep through five miles of exploration, becoming dramatically more shocking and exciting throughout the journey. This is by far one of the most impressive natural wonders in the world. Fifteen miles of underground passages and halls of stalactites and stalagmites exist with “spaghetti strings” dangling from the ceilings with frosting-like towers, shapes that appear as melted candle wax, and “curtains” growing from every direction. Over 2 million years in the making, it takes 100 years to grow 1 cm of a stalactite. Tiny droplets are the cause of the endless parade of limestone and crystal formations. The interior cave (one of many) was discovered 200 years ago.
Guests can walk through this wonderland and get a glimpse of a “baby dragon,” a blind white cave salamander with pink fins called an Olm, an amphibian that exists in the dark. They can live to 100 years old.
Another amazing cave feels like a hidden secret from the front, with the Predjama Castle – the largest cave castle in the world – a former cave hideaway sculpted by underground rivers cutting through the porous limestone. Located near Hotel Jama, tour the castle privately at night, where legends of brave knights come alive and was once the hideaway for 15th century robber baron Erazem Lueger who, like Robin Hood, laid wagons in the deep forest and handed goods over to the poor.
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