Join wildlife photographer Ben Sutcliffe on a 5-night visit to Slovenia’s southern Dinaric Alps region in search of brown bears and other photographic opportunities during spring.
From our base in the Dinaric Alps we will explore the surrounding Notranjska region, famed not only for our main highlight of viewing brown bears, but also for its karst topography and scenery.
Our mornings will vary with sessions in bird photography hides along with visits to intricate cave networks and disappearing lakes, whilst our afternoons and evenings will be spent in purpose built photography hides to observe and capture images of the local brown bear population.
Read our blog to learn more about watching bears in Slovenia.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Fly to Ljubljana, transfer to Stari Trg pri Lozu
After arriving into Ljubljana we transfer to our guesthouse. This evening we enjoy a traditional Slovenian dinner before an overview from our experts of what to expect in the coming days, as well as hide etiquette.
Accommodation: Guest House Ana, 5-nights
Day2: Bird & brown bear photography
This morning will be one of our earliest starts. After an early breakfast, we walk the short distance from our guesthouse to a purpose-built bird photography hide with a water pool. This hide will offer opportunities to photograph a number of subjects found within the forests of the Dinaric Alps at eye-level including crossbill, woodpeckers, jays and red squirrel. It's essential we head out early, as this is when the species are at their most active and therefore providing more photographic opportunities.
After lunch, we transfer by 4-wheel drive to one of the specially designed photography hides in the forests of the Notranjska region. The brown bear population in this region is thought to number over 400, which are part of the wider Dinaric population. We stay in the hide to observe the bears until darkness falls at around 9pm when we return to the guesthouse for dinner. Our afternoons/evenings for the next few days will follow a similar pattern.
Day3: Excursion to Rakov Škocjan Valley and Lake Cerknica; afternoon brown bear photography
This morning we visit the Rakov Škocjan – a wonderfully wild karst valley. Two natural bridges frame each end of the valley which is rich with karst topography phenomena.
We also visit Lake Cerknica – one of the largest intermittent lakes in Europe. The lake is a designated Wetland of International Importance for the preservation of endangered birds and its incredible biodiversity, home to 276 bird species, 45 mammal species, 125 butterfly species and 15 amphibians species.
After our morning excursion we will return to the guesthouse for lunch before a second afternoon spent in one of the hides to continue with our brown bear photography experience.
Day4: Visit Križna jama cave; afternoon brown bear photography
Our morning is spent exploring the unique network of the Križna jama cave. The tunnels and passages of the cave are filled with water and we travel through on foot and by inflatable boat. Starting with large halls, we enter a tunnel to sail over our first lake of the network, before continuing further into the cave following low ceiling water tunnels before we reach our second lake. Each of the lakes can be up to six metres deep and cover a fascinating array of ground stalactites and stalagmites.
Late this morning we return to the guesthouse for lunch and a third afternoon spent in one of the various brown bear hides.
Day5: Brown bear photography
Today we spend the day focusing on the main highlight of the trip, with a final visit in the afternoon to the forest hides to observe and photograph the brown bears. In the morning, we may wish to revisit the bird photography hide or explore the area around the before returning for some leisure time and lunch, followed by our afternoon session in the forest hides.
Day6: Fly back to the UK
This morning will be an early breakfast to allow one final opportunity to photograph wildlife at the brown bear hide nearby, before our transfer to Ljubljana airport where we fly back to the UK.
Please note: Wildlife is extremely wary around people and patience is an absolute must – you will spend up to five hours at a time in the hides. When in the hides there will be no access to toilet facilities. A full briefing on hide conduct will be given on your first night of the tour. Due to the various landscapes we visit - which can at times be rocky and uneven underfoot with some hides being accessible by ladder only - a reasonable level of fitness is required for this tour. The exact order of the itinerary may change depending on local conditions.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 6 daysfrom £2,595 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 6 daysfrom £2,395 pp
Ben is a published wildlife photographer with over 10 years experience, specialising in British mammals and birds.
Ben has been shortlisted in many high end competitions such as the British Wildlife Photography Awards and looks to further improve on this in the near future.
Ben has travelled to many countries from a young age including North and Central America, as well more widely in Europe. Ben's fascination for travelling helped fuel his passion for wildlife photography and couple with his infectious enthusiasm, he is an excellent young leader.
Located in southern Slovenia, the Dinaric Alps is a mountain range that stretches from Italy across Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro before ending in Albania. Noted for their rugged karst topography and valleys, they also offer rich forests filled with brown bears.
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Where: Southern Slovenia
Ideal for viewing: brown bear, Ural owl, scarlet rosefinch, pine marten, black squirrel
