Jure Gašperšič
FOUNDER
Jure is the founder of Adventure Slovenia, a vibrant travel company, created to showcase the beauty of Slovenia. Jure’s principal goal is to create an environment, in which travelers are able to enjoy tailored small-group adventures that highlight the essence of Slovenian nature, gastronomy and entertainment.
Jure has worked exclusively in the tourism industry over the past nine years, gaining valuable insight into what true travelers want on their tours. His experiences range from ingrained cultural understanding of Slovenian historical sites to his specialty in adventure travel. Using his 11 years of certified outdoor leadership as inspiration, Jure continues to enjoy the thrills of paragliding, biking, sailing, skiing, and hiking as often as he can. When he's not busy guiding trough his own country of Slovenia, Jure enjoys traveling and reveling in the company of new people. His true passion and source of pleasure are firmly rooted in all that is within the borders of Slovenia.
Tim Starčič
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Tim is the managing director of Adventure Slovenia, who joined the team in 2015. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Management, is an entrepreneur, a car enthusiast and a world traveler. His addition to the company is fresh energy, which resulted in overall brand recognition and establishment in the fast-growing world of tourism. With his leadership experience, acquired in his studies at one of best Swedish universities (Linköping University), he managed to quickly and efficiently transform the team and company into a prominent high-end tourist agency in Slovenia. Yet the team is far from letting this be their peak and they are unanimous in saying: “This is only a small milestone on our way to show the world who Slovenians are and what sLOVEnia has to offer.”
Domen Vertačnik
OFFICE AND LOGISTIC MANAGER
Domen is a part of Adventure Slovenia team already since early stages. He studied a MSc in International Business, during his postgraduate studies he consistently performed in the top 5% among all the students. In the first year, he studied abroad at the Poznan University of Economics, where he learned a lot about cultural differences and market approaches through relevant cases studies, as well as gained first-hand international experience by interacting with other exchange students. In his previous job as event manager, he worked hard to gain relevant practical experience in different areas, including business, communication and management. Through sport he became disciplined, developed strong interpersonal and communication skills and experienced the importance of teamwork. His practical experiences further helped him develop his organizational and communication skills as well as got him excited about traveling, food and music festivals. There are three passions in life that inspire him and drive him forward, namely his passion for traveling and constant self-improvement through learning and meeting new people.
Jure Kocjan
LEAD CYCLING GUIDE
Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Jure was a pro-cyclist between 2007-2015. He competed at the highest levels for Euskaltel World Tour team and Slovenian National team. Now he lives near lake Bled with his wife and two kids. Since he spent many years traveling and racing bikes around the globe, he wanted to stay connected to the ''two wheels'' even after the end of his cycling career. When he’s not guiding tours with the bicycle, he is always busy with the kids and his biggest passion – vintage and collectible bikes.
Jure will take care of you on Adventure Slovenia bike tour – from the sparkling emerald- green lakes, rivers and soaring peaks of the Julian Alps to Brda wine region near the Italian border. His enthusiasm and cycling experience will help our travelers enjoy their time on the bike.
P.S. He is always ready for some extra miles.
Matej Bolka
MOUNTAIN AND MULTI – ADVENTURE GUIDE
Matej was born in the heart of the mountains in Kranj. First contact with sports was at the basketball court where he was thought how to be a team player. From there on, he pursuit a sport with more of a individual note. His grandfather introduced him to rock climbing. He fall in love with it and it had become his favourite hobby. With his enthusiasm he passed to the love and respect for the nature with teaching and training climbing. His profession is full-time firefighter and owner/handler of a search and rescue dog. When he finds some free time in his schedule he likes to trail run, rock climb, cross country skiing or spent time outdoors with his family.
Peter Podlogar
MULTI-ADVENTURE GUIDE
A fresh university graduate in business and economics as well as a professional freestyle snowboarder, for the past 8 years competing for the Slovenian snowboard national team. Growing up in Bled, this amazing part of Slovenia, allowed Peter to pursue his love for sports and thrilling outdoor activities. Cycling, hiking, rafting, climbing or just simply jumping of trees in breathtaking lakes of Slovenia is just a few of them. His heart and soul belong to movement and nature, when combining these two, you will introduce yourself with a new level of freedom and peace.
His snowboard journey as a professional competitor took Peter all around the world, experiencing so many incredible places; and yet still he says that there is no place as stunning as Slovenia, his home!
Greatest achievements in his snowboarding career:
- Five-time national slopestyle and big air snowboard champion
- Two-time overall European big air snowboard champion
- 3 rd place slope style snowboard overall in European cup 2016/2017
- Winner of SnowFest Festival Poland 2016
- Competitor in FIS World Championships, World Cups and FISU Winter Universiades
Luka Švegelj
MOUNTAIN AND MULTI-ADVENTURE GUIDE
Born in Kranj, Slovenia. Although he is a civil engineer by profession, he has changed the office for far more pleasant environment of Mother Nature. Former Slovenian Waterpolo national team member. Licensed guide of Slovenian Alpine Association. Outdoor enthusiast, committed to the mountains and mountain activities.
Luka Podlogar
MOUNTAIN AND MULTI – ADVENTURE GUIDE
Born in Jesenice near lake Bled. Luka grew up in the mountain region of Slovenia (Carniola region) and was introduced to the Julian Alps as a child. Over the years of rock climbing and freeride snowboarding, he has experienced the mountains in many ways and is now an International snowboard instructor, trekking, canyoning guide and a true outdoor enthusiast always ready to take you on an adventure.
Licences:
- Snowboard coach pro (ISF)
- White water rescuer
- Canyoning guide II
- National mountain/alpinist guide (ZGVS)
- International mountain guide UIMLA license trainee (https://www.uimla.org/)
Achievements:
- 2 years Snowboard freestyle national team member
- 2nd place discipline Big Air in the European Cup
- Filming for Untouched movie project 3 seasons
- 4 years head organizer for National Cup of Slovenia in freestyle snowboarding
Stanislava Krapež
EXPERT HISTORY, CULTURAL AND CITY GUIDE
Born in a small town near Ljubljana, now living in Ljubljana, a proud mother of two wonderful children – no matter how old they are!
As a certified local tourist guide and a freelance lecturer, she has a unique insight into this small, but truly amazing capital city of Slovenia. She is always very passionate about sharing her knowledge and love for Ljubljana and Slovenia, whether it’s tourists or her students of Hospitality and Tourism studies. She has a wide range of interests, from architecture, music, history, art, and, as a lifelong learner, she is constantly trying to broaden her horizon.
Staša is always eager to spice up her tours with enchanting stories and anecdotes from the past and present which cannot be found in a guidebook.
The greatest reward for her is when tourists say that the tour was once-in- a-lifetime experience for them. This is what one of her traveller said about her: »Staša's enthusiasm for her home town is contagious, and her energy level is remarkable.«
Boštjan Podbevšek
FLY FISHING GUIDE
Boštjan started waving a fly rod at a young age of eight in fathers’ company. In 1983, he officially joined the large Fishery Society of Slovenia by passing fisherman states exam. Between years 1990 to 2000 passed the kayaking and rafting instructor exam and represented Slovenia as a member of national rafting team in years 1994 in Aosta, Italy and 1995 in Zambezi, Zimbabwe, receiving a world champion title.
Since 2000, he has been actively working as a professional fly-fishing guide. The years of guiding have enriched him with a vast experience of all Slovenian rivers. As a fly tier he has been a member of International Fly-tying Competition for nine years. His life fishing the Slovenian waters, and skills at fly tying, have grown into his mentality and personality, intertwining his life with art of fly fishing. He is mature and patient man, but most of all, focused and determined to give each of his clients the best experience possible.
Saša Erlih
FLY FISHING GUIDE
An intimate connection with and love for the waters and pristine nature has forged Saša’s life, leading him into his Masters of environmental sciences. Born as a water-being, moved through various water sports – triathlon, free-diving, fly fishing. An avid fly fisherman with more than two decades of experiences from the field, has in the last decade progressively transitioned to professional fly fishing guide. Since 2007 a member of Slovenian Fly tying committee at Fishery Association of Slovenia, taking care for keeping the tradition of oldest fly tying contest alive. His fascination goes to Slovenian chalk streams, where massive mayfly and caddisfly hatches, create perfect conditions for selective trout. Also, ultra-selective feeding patterns of lake trout gets him pumped-up and make him returning to resolve the nature riddles. His mantra is to inspire anyone and helping everyone to protect wild trout and their habitat! Fly fishing for him means a ceremony that reaffirms his place in the natural world and help him resist further estrangement from the origins.
As a well-traveled fisherman will help you through diversity of fishing options and move you the direction of unforgettable Slovenia's fly fishing experience. Slovenian clear streams and brooks have enchanted him for the rest of his life – he is eager to share his passion with you!
Miha Laboda
MOUNTAIN AND MULTI ADVENTURE GUIDE
Coming from snowboarding and climbing background being outdoors has always been his passion. Being in the mountains made him appreciate nature in such a way that he always strives to learn new things about flora and fauna. He has been working with people whole life as a guide, mentor and instructor. His favorite subjects were always biology and history so sharing my knowledge is what he loves to do.
Miha is responsible, ambitious, communicative, well organized; and BIG outdoor fan;
Achievements:
- Member of Slovenian snowboard demo team
- Freeride snowboard/ski guide
- PADI Divemaster
- Snowboard coach pro (ISF)
- National mountain/alpinist guide (ZGVS)
- International FIS license for snowboarding judge
- ISIA License (International Ski Instructor)
Jure Vuga
EXPERT HISTORY, CULTURAL AND CITY GUIDE
Jure, Ph.D. in Art history, was born on 11th November 1983 in Koper, Slovenia. From 2010 he works also as a tourist guide with national license. He has been working in the field of incoming tourism (English speaking guests who visit Slovenia) and outgoing tourism (Slovenians travelling abroad), mostly in Italy, Central Europe and the UK. In the meanwhile, he was enhancing his academic portfolio with the intention to gain more recognition as a scholar. For his bachelor thesis on Botticelli Primavera he received the highest award granted by the University of Ljubljana, the Prešeren prize for students in 2010. In 2016 he successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis about Renaissance Venetian art, more precisely dealing with Giorgione and his famous painting The Tempest (La Tempesta). In 2010 he was a recipient of a scholarship granted by the Italian government and perfected his knowledge frequenting The Harvard Centre for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti, the Kunsthistorisches Institut and Istituto Nazionale di Studi sul Rinascimento in Florence.
Aleš Govekar
MOUNTAIN AND MULTI ADVENTURE GUIDE
Born in Kranj, the capital of Slovenian Alps, now lives with family on the countryside under the mountains and speaks the language of mother nature. His background in doing and teaching others different outdoor sports brought his professional life into tourism industry and team building event management.
After 20 years of working experience in tourism and 9 years with Adventure Slovenia, spending days as a tourist guide and group leader in Slovenia and abroad, he focused his guiding mission to bring visitors authentic adventure experience of Slovenia through the eyes of the locals and sustain our green story of Slovenia (unique alpine flowers, crystal clear water, diverse wildlife and natural parks) to keep this hallmark of our culture as it is and was for generations.
Professional licences:
- National mountain guide (The Alpine Association of Slovenia)
- National tourist guide (Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia)
- Sport climbing instructor (The Alpine Association of Slovenia)
- Adventure park constructor and guide
- Snowboard instructor – Level 3 (Slovenian Ski Association and Faculty for Sport)
- Alpine skiing instructor – Level 2 (Slovenian Ski Association and Faculty for Sport)
- Cross-country skiing instructor – Level 2(Slovenian Ski Association and Faculty for Sport)
Cveto
OFFICE TROUBLEMAKER
With his 7 years of experience in guiding he drives our founder crazy on a daily basis…