A hiking oasis along the Nadiza River

The Soca Valley, Bovec, Kobarid, the Nadiza River, Tolmin... These are just a few of the interesting destinations in the north-western part of Slovenia, our beautiful country, that I absolutely adore. It's nothing new that we really like to spend our free time in the Soca Valley and its surroundings. So, we headed to the area once again. For us, there is still a lot to discover in the area, and we are happy to visit it over and over again.

The river Nadiza, with its pools, attracts many visitors during the hot summer months. Its water warms up to a pleasant temperature much more quickly than the Soca River. On its banks you will find many visitors eager to refresh themselves. With a little bit of ingenuity, you will be able to find a spot all to yourself. There are many hidden places along the river with small pools and white sandy beaches.

Nadiza River is also a natural monument with a very fragile natural environment. To protect this fragile environment, the local authorities have imposed a number of bans and restrictions along the river, including parking only in designated pay-and-display car parks. Cars are not allowed on the banks of the river Nadiza, and any action that harms nature is prohibited, from open fires, sleeping in the open, washing cars, washing dishes and even bathing dogs.

Nadiza rises in the Breginj corner, below the Mt. Stol ridge. Its torrential character creates numerous gravel pits, pools and gorges. One of the cleanest and warmest rivers in the Alps, it is said to heal wounds and have a healing effect. On its way, the Nadiza crosses the Slovenian-Italian border, where it continues its journey. In Italy, it is known as Natisone. This name is known from the time of the ancient Romans.

We spent a beautiful sunny Saturday in July on a wonderful trip. We were in the grip of a heatwave, so we decided to head in the direction of the Soca Valley, which is at its peak tourist season at this time of year, to find some refreshment. We drove to the village of Robic, where we left the car in a parking lot behind the village. There is also a cafe with a few sports fields.

From here, we were only a few steps away from the beautiful pools on the Nadiza River. Here we started our planned hike from the village of Robic, along the riverbed of the Nadiza, to the village of Podbela, where there is a small but boutique campsite. We followed the road to the right of the cafeteria and followed the left bank of the Nadiza. Soon we came to a footbridge over the river, where there is a sign for the Nadiza Gorge.

On this spot you can go down to the river and explore the small pools above the bridge. Really exceptional! It is difficult to describe the beauty of the Nadiza in one word. The water is crystal clear, a turquoise-blue colour or a turquoise-green, and full of life. The numerous pools and white rocks and gravels only add to the splendour of this beautiful river.

After a short photo stop, we continued on our way upstream. The path narrows a bit at this point and the gradient increases, which of course we noticed ourselves in these temperatures with our elevated heart rate and sweaty clothes. The path soon widens again, and this is how it gets to Camp Nadiza, located in the village of Podbela.

I can’t’ say that the road is scenic, but is interesting. We crossed a track for mountain bikers, which takes riders downhill from the higher areas, as evidenced by the wooden ski jumps that are placed along the way. We didn't meet any, maybe it was better this way, since I can’t imagen how they would stop if we would cross their paths 😊

The road was crossed by numerous small streams that flow confidently across our trail from higher ground. Wooden bridges and wooden planks are placed at many places to prevent visitors from getting their feet wet.

We also came across a paintball range, which was not in operation at the time of our visit. My son was very disappointed with their opening hours 🙃

Just outside the village of Podbela, there was a camp where the scouts had set up their camp. At the moment we have school holidays, so many children decide to spend a few days in harmony with nature in this beautiful environment.

After a few minutes walk, we arrived at the Nadiza campsite, located in the village of Podbela. This was our final destination. We had planned to continue our journey towards Napoleon's Bridge, but due to the high temperatures, we abandoned this idea and postponed it until our next visit.

Situated on the edge of the forest, right next to the River Nadija, Camp Nadiza offers many opportunities for swimming, fishing and other water sports. It offers tent, caravans and campervan camping and is very popular with locals and foreign tourists. The campsite is ideal for families with small children, as it has a playground and is close to the River Nadija, where they can swim and play safely. The campsite also offers various sports activities such as basketball, beach volleyball, football and table tennis. The campsite is also an excellent starting point for many hiking and cycling trails.

In addition, the restaurant serves exceptional local cuisine. We tried the traditional “frika”, a fricassee made with potatoes and local cheese, served with grilled polenta.

When we arrived back in Robic, there were children and elderly people splashing around in the pools, not hiding their enjoyment. We were very overheated from the high temperatures and our walk. We rushed to the riverbed, stripped off our clothes and just jumped into the refreshing river. We didn't even check or wonder how many degrees the water was and how cold it was.

We had a sobering, first shock of contact with the cold water, which I think was about 21C,..... and a few moments later pure enjoyment of this enchanting river. As there were quite a few bathers in the river, we simply assumed that if the water was warm enough for them, it would be warm enough for us. We enjoyed ourselves and surprised ourselves by spending 15 minutes in the water. And we didn't get cold at all! It was fantastic.