Outdoor adventures are usually high on the list of priorities of visitors to this region; in winter there's great skiing, while in summer climbing, hiking, and river-based activities are among the best in the country. One of the top all-round outfits in the Soca Valley is Kobarid-based X Point, Stresova 1 (tel. 05/388-5308 or 041-692-290; www.xpoint.si), which offers rafting, kayaking, paragliding, canoeing, hydrospeeding, canyoning, trekking, and mountain-biking excursions; the company can also set you up with a good ski instructor. Ask owner Dejan Luzar about the company's multiactivity packages. If X Point can't oblige, try Kobarid newcomer Positive Sport, Markova ulica 2 (tel. 040-654-475; www.positive-sport.com), also recommended. Note: Private use of the Soca for watersports activities requires a license costing 1.60€ ($2.05) per day.
Canyoning -- X Point has excursions (all equipment included) for different levels of experience; most outings last 2 1/2 to 3 hours and cost around 48€ ($61).
Horseback Riding -- You can ride Lipizzaners in the Soca Valley through Pristana Lepena (www.pristava-lepena.com). Based in Trnovo ob Soci, between Bovec and Kobarid, Alpin Action (tel. 05/384-5504; www.alpinaction.it) offers a variety of horse-riding packages.
Mountain Biking -- Bovec's bike specialists are Outdoor Freaks, Klanc 9a (tel. 05/389-64/90 or 041-553-675; www.freakoutdoor.com); they can rent you a suitable mountain bike and put you onto a number of trails in the Kanin mountain bike park (www.mtbparkkanin.com), which opened in 2003. In Kobarid, contact Positive Sport .
Paragliding -- Avantura (tel. 041-718-317; www.avantura.org) offers tandem paragliding in Bovec. X Point offers first-time courses as well as tandem jumps (99€/$126). Skiers should inquire about a combination package in which you paraglide from 1,800m (5,904 ft.) after being on the slopes.
Rafting & Kayaking -- X Point and Positive Sport offer all-inclusive rafting excursions, with some four rapids (38€/$48 per person, including transfers); you'll spend some 90 minutes on the water. Positive Sport runs a kayak school. Also offered by X Point, hydrospeeding is a less taxing option, which involves wearing a wet suit and gripping a hand-held navigational board as the current sweeps you down the river.
Skiing & Snowboarding -- High-altitude skiing in the Kanin Mountains is popular and rewarding. Cable cars take you into the mountain ski areas from Ski center ATC Kanin, Dvor 43 (tel. 05/389-6310; 13€/$17), just beyond Bovec. The circular cabin cableway offers hourly departures from the ski center starting at 8am; the half-hour ascent takes you an altitude of 2,200m (7,216 ft.), from where there's skiing in winter (Dec 20 to early May) and fantastic hiking in summer. As of the 2008/2009 winter season, a new ski pass will be available allowing enthusiasts to sample the slopes on the Italian side of the border. To ask about the various ski passes, head for Bovec's Information Office, Trg golobarskih zrtev 47 (tel. 05/389-6003; Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1-4:30pm, Sat-Sun and holidays 8am-noon). Note that while out-of-bounds skiing is a possibility, it is dangerous, as navigation in the Kanin is difficult. Local adventure companies can design a bespoke skiing program for you, perhaps taking in three different sets of slopes -- on Kanin, Kranjska Gora, and Vogel.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
