What is canyoning?

Perhaps it is easier to say what it is NOT. It is not a competition, nor is it an extreme sport. It's not even a sport! It's simply a slow and safe descent of a natural watercourse and an adventure in undeveloped nature.

Because of heavy rainfall in Slovenia over thousands of years, the water has worn away natural channels of polished rock which are totally hidden to the outside world and can only be appreciated by the adventure of canyoning. It's like a God-made adventure park! No photos or oral descriptions can do justice to what you will find out for yourself when you join Bob on this fun trip.

Everybody knows that water runs downwards, not uphill! This means that the canyoning route starts at a higher point than that of the finishing point. To reach the finishing point, you will use a variety of techniques such as sliding, jumping, abseiling and others. Don't worry! No experience or high level of fitness is necessary. Initial feelings of trepidation quickly vanish as the journey continues and are soon totally replaced by elation and pride.

Canyoning techniques will be taught on-the-spot and, once learned, you will put your newly acquired skills to use by lowering yourself down some of the descents under constant supervision.

Under the watchful guidance of Bob, you will learn as you go – and that is where your sense of accomplishment will come from, because YOU completed the course YOURSELF. Along with your fellow adventurers, you will have such overwhelming feelings of camaraderie that you will surely be disappointed when the journey comes to an end.

Are there any dangers?

Canyoning can only be dangerous if you are without a guide and don't know what you are doing and also if your guide isn't a local resident with lots of experience and know-how. Ideally, the guide should be accredited with a CIC qualification and membership (Commission Internationale De Canyon.) Water levels and weather forecasts must be constantly monitored. Only a full-time guide (not someone working in their spare time) can be experienced enough to correctly assess when it is safe to begin the descent and how much time is needed to complete the course before any new rainfall. Safety is paramount. Bob will call the whole trip off rather than take a chance with peoples' lives, if he thinks that the water is too high or fast-flowing. Greed or materialism never ever come before safety.

Is canyoning a new activity?

It first became popular in the U.S.A. in the late 1970's and early 1980's and was known as canyoneering. It was around the year 2000 that canyoning started to take off in Slovenia and has been one of the fastest growing outdoor activities ever since. With good reason! Slovenia and especially Bohinj are ideal locations, primarily due to the abundance of beautiful, natural watercourses and easy access to them.