Because More to Explore is a family-run business which I built around the ethos of making connections, shared experiences and celebrating the unexpected.

I aim to bring people together and build community in amazing places with my guests at the heart.

We travel slowly, carefully and in partnership with the culture, communities and landscapes we are part of.

When I teach skills, I balance the pace and connect to each individual’s needs and expectations and believe that fun and enjoyment comes from learning new things, embracing being a beginner and supporting one-another.

As a country with 3 climate zones (alpine, continental and mediterranean) I believe that there are always adventures to be had, whatever the season and whatever the conditions.

I always have a plan b, which might mean changing our equipment, choosing an alternative route, or inviting you to enjoy a different location or activity. Both I and my small team of guides are all local experts and with flexibility built in, we are ready to share Slovenia with you whatever the weather.

Yes! I have a wide range of trips and I always welcome a wide range of folk along to join us.

Each trip includes a 'who's coming' section. Here I outline my recommendations for fitness, skill level and in some cases whether our trips are women-only.

I try to launch at least 6 months in advance, to give you time to prepare.

It may be that my trips offer some motivation to gain a little more hill fitness, ready for some of our journeys and I will always be here to support and encourage you.

The accommodation I use for all of my trips is carefully selected, and based on building excellent relationships with amazing hosts.

For Wild Swim Slovenia, we stay at a mix of farm stays, family run apartments, small boutique hotels and friendly luxury cabins.

For my winter trips, we usually stay in a mix of family run hotels, luxury accommodation and alpine cottages/huts.

You can view all the accommodation options on each trip page, and/or contact me to chat more about these.

Most alpine huts or Koče as they are known in Slovenia will require you to bring your own sheet liner for sleeping (e.g silk) with blankets provided by the hut. Sleeping bags are not allowed to maintain a clean and healthy sleeping environment.

Some do and some don't, I will always let you know in advance. At times you may need to pay for a hot shower, whereas cold showers are usually free.

In most locations you can pay with card, and for the majority of our trips you only need to pay for extras such as drinks and snacks. I recommend bringing a small amount of cash, especially for the huts, just in case the card systems are not working.

As with all alpine countries, our winters in Slovenia are changing. Above 1500M we often enjoy over 1m of snow, which is plenty for snowshoeing. However, snowshoes are simply the tools we use for winter hiking, and if there is less snow, we can enjoy incredible winter hikes, with slightly different equipment e.g I might lend you micro-spikes instead.

More to Explore was built on the idea of sharing amazing and unexpected experiences in Slovenia together.  Triglav is Slovenia’s highest mountain and also its most well-known, as such it is often busy and there is increasing strain on the huts and their surroundings.  I do not offer tours to Triglav, but I would love to share some of Slovenia’s lesser-known peaks and passes with you!  I never promise a peak, but I do promise amazing trails and adventures that share Slovenia’s incredible landscapes, culture and food. 

For alpine huts we will be in dormitory rooms that have always been privately booked for our groups. We try to split into male and female rooms, but in some cases we might all be sharing together depending on the location and group size.

In the valley and our other accommodation the rooms are usually twins and will be separated by gender unless otherwise arranged or you are travelling together. At times we may stay in accommodation with larger rooms and this will always be stated in advance.

All of our trips have the option for single room supplements, but these often do not apply to the alpine huts.

Each trip is slightly different, and you will always be sent a kit list in advance that is tailored to your itinerary.

We use a two round pin plug (type F and C) in Slovenia and the supply voltage is 230V.

Yes! I always do my best to ensure everyone feels welcome. Many of my guests are vegetarian and I can always make arrangements for your requirements. Get in touch to chat more about your specific needs.

I recently partnered with WeTravel for all our payments. For every trip there will be the option to pay in instalments, using your preferred payment method in your chosen currency.

If you feel you need a little more flexibility with payment, you are welcome to get in touch to discuss your options.

All of my terms and conditions can be viewed on our Contact page. Just scroll to the bottom.

I believe that adventure is for everyone and that diversity is a powerful partner for adventurous experiences. These form my core values and are always at the heart of my trips.

I welcome guests of all religions, races, genders, sexual orientations, countries of origin, ethnicities and abilities, no matter how we look, who we love, or where we come from.

I encourage questions, respect answers and embrace active listening. I accept different perspectives and aim to learn and grow together.

Some of our trips are for women only, and where this is the case, it will always be clearly stated. As a woman-powered business I believe that the demand and need for women-only adventures is an important one, increasing accessibility to our alpine environments, and for these trips you will always be joined by myself or one of my amazing female guides.

Solo travellers are always welcome on my group tours, in fact many of my guests choose to travel solo. 

I love to bring people together for joyful journeys in my home regions.

For single day tours, groups of any size can be arranged, including for solo travellers.

 Private multi-day bookings usually need to be for groups of 4 or more, although in some special cases smaller bespoke trips can be created, and I am always happy to chat. 

For every trip I ask that guests wait until we meet our minimum numbers before booking your flights. Once a trip reaches the threshold, I will send out my recommended flights, which will be in-line with my pick-up and drop-off times.

If you prefer to travel flight free there are some wonderful options to arrive here by train.

Here are just a few suggestions:

1. Train from London - Paris - Zurich - Ljubljana (via sleeper train from Zurich).

2. Train from London - Paris - Stuttgart - Ljubljana (via sleeper train from Stuttgart).

For folk who are visiting for self-guided or part-guided trips and bringing your car, here is a great option for reducing your mileage:

• Drive to Hull - Overnight Ferry to Rotterdam - Drive to Dusseldorf - Sleeper Train with car to Villach (only available in July to Sept, otherwise the arrival point is Innsbruck).

My first advice is always to discuss your attendance with a medical professional. I always try to be flexible and inclusive, so where adjustments can be made, I will work hard to ensure you are able to enjoy the experience from wherever you are at.

In Slovenia there is no set rule for tipping, it’s hardly ever expected but often appreciated.

In restaurants, rounding the bill up, or leaving around 10% tip is considered normal but you may choose to tip more for exceptional service.

For our accommodation hosts, sometimes guests feel moved to come together as a group and offer a tip on departure, but it is certainly not expected.

When I (Mikaela) am guiding for you, I never expect a tip. For me, hearing excellent feedback, reading thoughtful reviews and receiving word-of-mouth referrals, are the best ways to celebrate our journey together.