Soča River Valley photography guide

One of the most interesting events is the Drežnica carnival on Shrove Saturday. This is a very local experience where villagers follow long-standing traditions. It’s not a show put on for tourists but you will be welcome to join in. See my Drežnica village spot for more details.

Spring is the best time to come to the Soča valley with waterfalls and rivers at their most impressive, forests lush green and meadows carpeted with alpine flowers. Summer is busy but the weather is reliable and great for hiking. In autumn you will enjoy more quiet moments and incredible autumn colours in the forests. Winter is incredible if you are lucky with snowfall and low temperatures, but it makes it more challenging to get around the area.

My advice is to base yourself in Bovec and make short trips to the photo locations. Bovec has everything you need; good rooms, nice restaurants, supermarket and a petrol station.

Allow at least three nights in the area. You will be able to cover most of the highlights in this time, but to explore further I would suggest at least five nights. An overnight stay at one of the mountain huts is also recommended.

Five unmissable spots are Kozjak waterfall, Korita Soče, Mangart mountain road, the Vršič pass drive and Šunik Water Hurst. But there is so much more than I can describe in this guide!

In the valley there is no real sunrise or sunset light. You will need to rely on interesting skies and clouds in order to get nice images at these times. That said, sunsets are usually better on this side of the alps. When you get to higher elevations (Mangart road, Predel and Vršič pass) you will have better options to capture the last sun rays of the day.

This is a very outdoor-oriented destination and you will need to be reasonably fit in order to get the most out of it. Many of the spots are easily accessible, but some will require some experience or even climbing skills.

Make sure you have proper hiking boots and comfortable outdoor wear. It pays to have a warm layer with you at all times as well as a rain jacket. There is an Outdoor Sports shop in Bovec town.

Often there will be no mobile signal in the valley (which can be a blessing!), although on most roads and in towns the signal is good, and Bovec has good internet connectivity.

There is no border control between Slovenia and Italy so it is very easy to travel between the two countries via the Predel pass.

There is a choice of routes to reach Bovec. From Ljubljana and Lake Bled you can drive to Kranjska Gora and over the Vršič pass. Alternatively you can continue from Kranjska Gora to Tarvisio (Italy), to Lago di Predil and over the Predel pass back into Slovenia and towards Bovec. Another way is from the South, via Nova Gorica towards Tolmin, Kobarid and Bovec. The latter is often the only way in winter and before setting off you should double check that the mountain passes are open.

Most of the valley is part of Triglav National Park and thus protected by the park rules. Please respect them as the nature in this area is already heavily impacted by tourism. Some of the most basic rules are very easy to follow: stick to the trails, no littering, no flying drones, no camping, no fires. Please also show respect to fellow outdoor enthusiasts such as fly fishermen, hikers and kayakers amongst others.