There’s perhaps no phrase more ripe for retirement in writing about Slovenia than “hidden gem”, especially when it comes to the places that are usually mentioned in travel articles introducing the sunny side of the Alps to a wider audience. Many of these simply detail already well-visited locations, like Ljubljana’s Old Town, Bled, Piran, Postojna, and so on, with many of the, eh, more obscure jewels remaining unpromoted.
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And of course, this focus on a few places means that these get put on the must-do itineraries of many visitors – for what’s a two-day trip to Slovenia without kremšnita and a hike to that bench? – and this, if nothing else, creates some logistical problems with regard to parking, overcrowding and so on, not to mention “ruining” the places for some, including local residents with no direct interest in the tourist industry.
To this end the Slovenian Tourist Board, among others, has been working to promote some of the less-trafficked locations in the country, aiming to spread the prosperity that can come with travel and tourism, extend the stays of visitors (which are still, on average, less than two days), and show more of what makes the young nation such a pleasant one, and perhaps encourage more folk to relocate or invest here.
One organisation that’s also working in this regard is the national broadcaster Radio SI, which just announced the winners of its hidden gems competition. The final list, obtained after a selection of options was put to a vote, draws more attention to 18 tourist packages and products that aim to show off the diversity and wealth of Slovenia’s of natural and cultural heritage, from historic sites to gourmet experiences, hiking tours to craft beer adventures.
The list of 18 recommendations is presented below, with a link to the main webpage at the end, while simply clicking on the name will tell you more about each offer.
1: Laško craft beer experience
5: Exploring the history, scenery and taste of Brežice
6: Hard coal and fragile glass in the Zasavje region
7: Delights of Count Blagaj’s land
8: Underground adventures in Geopark Karavanke
9: Exploring Tolmin and the remnants of the Isonzo Front
10: Mediterranean flavours of Slovenian Istria
12: Hidden treasures of Slovenj Gradec and Mislinja Valley
13: Idrija Adventure
14: Charming Slovenia Herbal glamping resort
15: Among the Herdsmen on Velika planina
16: The Valley of Kolpa’s green beauty
17: Green Adventures in the Vipava Valley
18: Getaway to the Red Planet (the Karst and Terran wine)
The full story on Radio SI can be found here
