Customized longer group tours in Slovenia
Guided by: Paul Veenvliet, Licensed Guide and Biologist
Every year, I organize one or more longer custom tours for small groups on request of tour agencies and nature societies. These tours are all-in: I organize accommodations, meals and transport, while I do the guiding myself. I prefer small groups of 6-8 participants, because this allows us to go to vulnerable areas. Also, the chance to see mammals and birds increases when there is just a few of us. I find that an optimal duration for such tours is between one week and 10 days.
Each day we visit a different nature area, but the exact program of such tours depends on the interests of the participants as well as the season. I can organize specialized botanical or butterfly tours, or more general nature tours. In cooperation with local providers, I often include an evening with brown bear observation and a visit to a cave.
Whenever possible, I prefer locally produced meals from ecological farms. Such tours also include seeing information- and visitors centres that provide in-dept information about the area. Many people like to take pictures and the pace is often slow. Occasionally, I may split the group: some may decide to stay at the spot to observe butterflies and flower while I hike with others to a particular spot. This all depends on the wishes of each participant!
Contact me for information and booking biologist.paul@gmail.com or tel ++386 41 902 110
Sharing Nature with Bears
Brown bears are making a comeback in Slovenia: from a low of about 600 in the last years of the previous century to well over 1000 at the moment of writing. In response to the population growth, bears also disperse into areas where they were not seen for decades and even centuries. For many nature-loving tourists, the prospect to share the area with bears is an exciting and positive one; some of my guests specially choose to come to Slovenia because of the bears. At the same time, brown bears are large and strong animals and confrontations are not without risks. During this hike, I will tell (and hopefully show) how to recognise the tracks and traces that bears leave in the landscape, as well as what to do, and what not to do, when you see a bear.
