Soca from Source to Sea book review
A New Paddling Guide for an Iconic River by Rok Rozman

A good guidebook isn’t meant to do the job for you – much like a life jacket or a paddle – it’s a tool. It won’t replace experience or curiosity, but will remove some guesswork from logistics and planning, helping paddlers reach those valuable learning moments faster and safer. The Soča from Source to Sea – Paddling Guidebook, released by Leeway Collective and Balkan River Defence (BRD) in December 2024, was created with exactly this intention.

This 216-page guide, written by BRD founder and biologist Rok Rozman, is designed to cover the whole Soča River, from its alpine source in Slovenia to where it meets the Adriatic Sea in Italy. Available in English, Italian, and Slovenian, the book balances practical paddling information with a strong focus on environmental awareness and river etiquette.

Rather than giving away every secret of the river, it enhances the paddling experience while leaving space for personal discovery. Inside, you’ll find put-ins, take-outs, difficulty ratings, paddling times, QR-coded Google Maps links, and tips on optimal water levels — all laid out stage by stage. Each section starts with a photo spread and includes key details like campsites, restaurants, and portage routes.

Unwritten river rules
But what makes this guidebook unique is its emphasis on unwritten river rules. Leave No Trace principles, safety guidelines, and etiquette reminders are woven throughout, promoting a culture of respect for nature and fellow paddlers. A dramatic photo of a pinned kayak reminds readers of the river’s raw power, while pages dedicated to wildlife behaviour teach paddlers how to move through this fragile environment without causing harm.

The guidebook includes a glossary of whitewater terms and an explanation of river difficulty classifications to help new paddlers. These pages offer humour and insight, assisting readers and their curious friends and families in understanding what it means to run rivers safely.

In line with the river advocacy work that Balkan River Defence is known for, the guidebook covers the region’s history of proposed dam projects and current environmental challenges, offering readers a deeper look at the socio-ecological context of the Soča.

Recent controversies
The guide also addresses larger issues. It acknowledges recent controversies over river ticket pricing and inspires paddlers to explore lesser-known, fee-free sections of the Soča. The book aims to ease tourist pressure on popular stretches and protect the river’s health by encouraging off-season visits and promoting responsible use.

The cherry on top of this comprehensive book is a stunning 100 cm folding photo map of the Katarakt, the river’s most challenging whitewater section, tucked neatly into the back cover. This is more the kind of photo-map you would pin to the wall of your camper van than take on the river with you, but it’s a proper representation of the magic of this stretch of river.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Soča veteran, this guidebook is your passport to exploring the river fully and safely and better understanding its ecology and culture. The Soča guidebook can be purchased for €35 at many local paddling shops and on the Balkan River Defence website: https://balkanriverdefence.org