Soca Valley

The Soca river runs through its valley in the western Julian Alps in a colour that has to be seen to be believed, a luminous, milky turquoise, tumbling over rapids, cutting slot gorges and pooling emerald green beneath the peaks. A paradise for rafting, kayaking and hiking, and the scene of terrible First World War battles, it is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Alps.

What you actually see

• The turquoise river - the extraordinary milky-green Soca and its pools.
• The Great Soca Gorge - the narrow slot the river carves.
• Rafting and kayaking - the whitewater sport the valley is famous for.
• The First World War heritage - the Kobarid museum and the Walk of Peace.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn for the river, rafting and hiking; snowmelt gives the river its fullest turquoise in early summer. The Vrsic Pass access closes in winter.

Honest expectations

It is a valley of scattered spots and activities rather than a single sight, so a car and a plan help. The river is cold, beautiful but bracing. The war history adds a sombre depth to the beauty.

Nearby

Triglav National Park and the Vrsic Pass are to the east; the Italian border and Friuli lie west.