Hopefully it comes across well from our website that even though Green Slovenia is easily the most beautiful country in Europe per sq KM, it is actually the local people who will fill your heart with even warmer memories.

And if you take our advice then you will make time in your (probably too short) Slovenian schedule to get to Most na Soci and hop aboard Captain Dejan's paddle steamer for the most stunning views of the Tolmin valley, the Tolminka river and the uberstunning Soca river, allowing the skipper to entertain you and your family or friends along the ride!

A boat trip you never heard about on a lake you never heard about..

Despite visiting the uber beautiful mountain & river areas around Tolmin many times in our early days of living here, it was only when we decided to explore the road from the other side of Tolmin leading towards Idrija, that we stumbled upon the Soca lake and the pretty little village of Most na Soci, which means the "Bridge over the Soca river".

It was pretty much "bang on the brakes / wow time" when after just a few minutes outside Tolmin, we suddenly saw this huge mass of turquoise emerald water, so we simply had to just stop, hop off and explore.

A lake with the colour of the Soca river and the Alps in the background..

It is just like a dream when you first see an entire lake the same colour as the uber beautiful Soca river, but it makes sense when you know this IS actually where the Tolminka river joins the Soca river.

We squeezed into a narrow parking space near the beautiful bridge that gives the village it's name and became transfixed by a long paddle steamer boat popping out from under the bridge and making its way into the aqua blue centre of the lake.

The boat ride starts by going under this bridge to an exclusive part of the uber beautiful Soca river..

We found out later this lake is actually a man made reservoir for the river Soca, so this is why it has such a beautiful colour and we were drawn like a magnet, following the lakeside along the pretty path that leads away from the village, to a special jetty (mooring) where the boat had now parked up and people were disembarking.

We soon got chatting with the friendly captain Dejan and found out there were boat trips most days on this stunning lake and we just couldn't believe we had discovered yet another secret Green treasure!

Captain Dejan should be given a medal of honour for tourism services to Green Slovenia..

Unfortunately the boat had returned from the last trip for the day, but such is the man, Captain Dejan insisted he took the boat for another quick spin on the lake and even did a "donut" just for us, waving enthusiastically and tooting the horn, so we could get a photo of the boat on stunning aqua water!

We told him we would be back and we have been true to our word AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN, when family and friends come to visit, we always surprise them by appearing back here at the jetty to join the skipper for a spin on the Soca Lake.

Riding the Lady Lucia on the Soca river..

We usually combine this special Soca day out with a visit to the best waterfall in Slovenia, the Kozjak waterfall and the uber epic Tolmin Gorge to make such a wonderful Green adventure trip.

You can see from our Secret Places to Visit section that there really are so many choices for things to do & see in Green Slovenia, but sitting on this paddle steamer on a sunny day with Captain Dejan at the wheel takes a lot of beating..

Without doubt, if you think you have seen Slovenia and not sailed on the Most na Soci lake, then you have not seen Green Slovenia at all!

Plenty of space on board for families, friends and couples..

How to go aboard the Lady Lucija Paddle Steamer..

This is what you need to know..         

The paddle steamer has room for just over 100 lucky passengers and sails regularly in July & August, with plenty of sailings in April, May, June and September..

The boat's name is "Lady Lucija" and here is a link to their excellent WEBSITE.. where you can find the sailing times..

Our advice is to do a reservation in advance or phone up and just check the times to be sure the boat is sailing at your preferred time on your preferred day. 

Parking Tip: Don't bother trying to park in the village of Most na Soci, it's really small and has very few spaces, which are also time limited..

Here is the car park next to the zebra crossing on the main road to Tolmin..

So all you have to do is drive out of Most na Soci direction Tolmin where there is a zebra crossing and a little car park on the right hand side..

The boat ride is about an hour, so a two hour parking ticket will do, unless you plan to visit the village or find a little white beach to sit on and enjoy the lake some more, after the boat trip..

Approaching the bridge..

Just cross the road from the car park and then it is a short walk lake side to the jetty from there. There is also a very nice looking lakeside café with fantastic views of the turquoise water opposite the car park, but the cafe is for the local kayak club, so maybe it will be open, maybe not.

But you can get drinks & ice cream on the boat and there are some nice cafes in the village and a few restaurants too!

Look out for limestone cliffs, waterfalls and river birds along the journey..

The Boat Trip..

This is one of the few inland boats in Green Slovenia with most boats registered for the sea! Whilst it looks and feels like a paddle steamer, the Lady Lucija has been converted to electric power, so this really is a truly Green Slovenian adventure!

The skipper can manoevre the boat on a sixpence and is a highly skilful driver.. These skills are put to the test almost immediately as he glides the paddle steamer smoothly under the arch of the beautiful "MOST" Bridge, that gives the village of "Most na Soci" it's name..

Once through to the other side you get to see a whole unique bit of the beautiful Soca river, only accessible by boat, or with a fleeting glance from the train that crosses a rail bridge next to the river then quickly disappears into a tunnel!

It is almost unbelievable THIS boat will fit under THAT bridge..

Captain Dejan and his staff are absolutely fabulous with kids and as the "old lady" makes her way up river all the kids get to steer the boat, wear the captain's hat and most importantly.. toot the ship's horn, several times! 

And ladies, don't be surprised if you are also invited to the wheel with the captain! He really is a fantastic host, telling jokes in several languages and other facts about the boat, lake and the 2 stunningly beautiful rivers that merge to make this lake.

The scenery is absolutely breath taking and you might not have even imagined a European country could look like this!        

Mums and children get invited to drive the boat and wear the captain's hat..

Anyone who has had a wedding day will know that wonderful feeling of smiling all day until your cheek muscles hurt by the evening.. well this is one of those jaw aching experiences as you will be smiling and laughing all trip! 

The ride takes a little over an hour and you sail under the bridge to a secret, exclusive part of the Soca river, with crumbling white rocky cliffs and jungles of green vegetation lining the stunning aqua water..

Originally, there were two trips to choose from, one up river to the confluence with the Tolminka river and this ride through the bridge down river along the Soca, but nowadays the Soca section is the only trip, but most beautiful.

Having done this other trip up river towards Tolmin a few times to where the lake narrows and the crystal clear water becomes more shallow, we know there are lots of hidden white sand beaches along that shore!

Along the river..

White sandy beaches and this colour of water is just not fair to the rest of Europe, so make sure you hike up to see them and if you do have a swim, just keep an eye on the little ones and tots, cos this part of the lake is more of a river and the current is deceptively fast!     

We do not exagerate when we say that Captain Dejan, his team & his boat are SLOVENIAN NATIONAL TREASURES, representing all that is so fabulous about a holiday in Green Slovenia.. stunning natural beauty, unexpected adventures and warm friendly locals.. what else could you want from a holiday?!

The paddle steamer is fired up and ready to go..

We have been on the crammed boat at the "famous" Plitvice lakes in Croatia and that is absolutely nothing in comparison to this cruise in Little old Slovenia!

So we do our very best to introduce and explain the secret places of Green Slovenia to you, as we know full well that you might probably not get to know about them if we didn't tell you! 

We are lucky enough to live here yet we are the same as you guys.. tourists exploring Slovenia.. so we know exactly what you might like to do and see if you only knew about it and so take it from us..

A trip with Captain Dejan should be at the top of your list!

Would you even believe this photo was possible in Europe..

By the way that road from Tolmin via Idrija, then Planina direct to Lipizzaner Lodge, turned out to be another fantastic way to do a loop road trip from the Lodge to the Soca river.. With the WHOLE return journey from Tolmin to the Lodge being off motorway on beautiful local roads!

It also opens up ANOTHER set of possible Secret Places to Visit on this leg of the trip.. IF you take the first Lucija sailing of the day then there is time to follow the beautiful river road to Idrija, maybe visit the amazing Mercury mine or book a trip to go find the Secret WW2 Printing Press..

Maybe go for a swim in yet another fantastic Bela (white) Idrija river or turn off before Idrija to go see the uber epic Franja WW2 Secret Partisan Hospital following the quiet country roads with stunning scenery all the way home!