Speleo Camp

Natural wonders abound in this part of Slovenia, where both the Alps and the Adriatic are within easy reach. For a local natural haven, try Cerknica Lake (30 minutes' drive), a huge intermittent body of water where an eerie lunar landscape appears at low tide. For a greener spot, try Rakov Škocjan valley and its spectacular natural bridge (20 minutes).  In terms of caves, nearby waymarked routes are on hand under a kilometre from base. These range in length and take between two and four hours to complete (ask the friendly site staff for tips on how to safely explore the area's underground geology before setting out). Further afield, Postojna Cave (20 minutes) has a five-kilometre network of caverns and underground rivers that can be explored from the comfort of a miniature railway.  For city jaunts, make tracks for Ljubljana (30 minutes). The Slovenian capital's city centre is pedestrianised, making it easy to explore highlights like the castle and covered market; visitors can also sort tours of the emerald Ljubljanica river by paddleboard. Over the border in Italy, Trieste's harbour, waterfront castles and grand canal are equally worth a gander (50 minutes).