Slovenia is a charming Central European country with a diverse landscape, encompassing the majestic Julian Alps, picturesque lakes, and a small but stunning coastline along the Adriatic Sea. Its capital, Ljubljana, exudes old-world charm with a vibrant cultural scene. Steeped in history, Slovenia gained independence in 1991, and its culture is a beautiful fusion of traditions and modern influences. It is most famous for Lake Bled and its island castle, the fascinating Postojna caves, and for hiking and outdoor adventures in Triglav National Park. During our time in Slovenia, we ticked off all the major highlights and the only place we came across the hordes was in the caves and at Lake Bled. I have been into large caves throughout the world but the ones in Slovenia were clearly the most impressive so you can excuse the fact that it feels like you are in Disneyland as you are ushered onto a toy train with a hundred of your closest friends. Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful places on Earth so its attraction is understandable, but my advice is to take the classic photo and stay up the road at Lake Bohinj – much quieter and closer to the many hikes in the area. We drove most of Slovenia using the backroads, (much to the disgust of Google Maps which kept trying to redirect us), and rarely saw another tourist, despite passing through many world heritage areas. Sure, there were many roads that were technically not wide enough to fit our hire car and half a dozen cows or too steep for a 2WD, but the experience was worth every minute.

Slovenia has been actively promoting sustainability initiatives and responsible tourism to preserve its pristine natural beauty and cultural heritage. The country is committed to preserving its biodiversity and has implemented various eco-friendly practices, including renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, and sustainable agriculture. Everywhere you go there are signs of this. A free electric golf cart transports visitors through the old town, you can buy milk and cheese direct from a farmer via a vending machine, there are water drinking fountains everywhere, although the recycle bins leave you totally confused as they cover every colour of the rainbow.