It is always a memorable experience to observe free-living, wild bears in their natural habitat. In order to make this possible, we hereby summarize our recommendations.       

For the brown bear observation programs, organized by the Tourist Information Centre Loška dolina (TIC Loška dolina), RESERVATIONS are obligatory. For any enquiries, please contact us at or call: +386 (0)81 602 853

Organisation

Meeting point : Tourist Information Centre Loška dolina
Stari trg pri Ložu, Cesta Notranjskega odreda 24
SI-1386 Stari trg pri Ložu

In case you are delayed or if circumstances prevent you from coming altogether, urgently inform the staff at TIC Loška dolina via tel. +386(0)81 602 853.

Program
We start at TIC Loška dolina with a short introduction about bears and bear observations. Afterwards, one of our guides will take you to the hide, where you stay for 2-3 hours. At the end of the tour, our guide will take you back to the starting point.
During the tour, basic communication is mostly in English; for longer and more complex explanations the staff at TIC Loška dolina can be addressed. Transportation from the meeting point to the hunting hideout is guaranteed. The hideouts are about 15 minutes away from TIC Lož. It will take an easy, 10-minute walk through the forest to reach the treetop hunting hide.

Starting time
We start in the (late) afternoon; however, the exact time varies with the season, please check your confirmation letter or ask us at TIC Loška dolina.

Payment
The program fee has to be paid at TIC Loška dolina before the start of the tour. Payments can be made in cash or by credit cards (visa, Mastercard, Maestro).

If you don’t see the bear
Bears are free-living animals and, while you have very high chance to see them, we cannot give an absolute guarantee that you observe bears during our tour. In case you do not see any bears, we cannot refund your fee. Instead, we offer a 50% discount on our next observation tour.

Group size
Group sizes are limited to four, exceptionally six persons plus our guide. Our guide will remain with you during the entire tour.

Young children
Even the slightest noise in the hide may scare bears away. In our experience, young children have difficulties to remain completely quiet for the duration of the tour. Because of this, we instead recommend guided hikes in nature where children can find animal tracks and explore natural habitats https://www.loskadolina.info/posebna-dozivetja.html or explore the natural trail near Snežnik castle https://www.loskadolina.info/tracking-animal-footprints.html.
If you nonetheless decide to take children under 10 years of age on the bear observation tour, parents or adult guardians are responsible for the safety of their children. If a group including a child under 10 years of age does not see a bear, the participants are not entitled to a 50 % discount for another tour.

Physical difficulty
From the car to the hideout, we walk for about 10 minutes on uneven, unpaved forest roads and smaller trails. The hide has a wooden ladder. It is necessary to remain quiet and sit still for the entire duration of the observation, i.e., 2-3 hours. In case of any medical issues which may affect the observation tour, please inform the organizers at TIC Loška dolina, so that we can help to find an appropriate solution.

Clothes
Clothes and footwear must correspond to the season and weather. We recommend light walking boots or sports shoes in dry weather. The hides are situated at 700 m a.s.l., where the temperature may drop in the evening. We recommend that you take additional warm clothes, especially in spring and autumn. In summer, an additional long-sleeved shirt is usually sufficient.

Leaving earlier
We expect to stay inside the hide during the entire 2-3 hours of the bear observation. If, for any reason, you need to leave the hide beforehand, this will disturb the bears and may mean the end of the bear observation. Note that there is no toilet inside the hides. Please inform our guide in case of any discomfort.

 

Smells and sounds

Free-living, wild bears are highly alert, shy animals with keen senses of hearing and smell. They rely less on their eyesight; however, they are easily disturbed by flashes of light. The following instructions are meant to keep disturbance at a minimum, which increases your chances to observe bears.

“Silent” clothes
With their keen hearing, bears notice the slightest sounds which clothes may make. Soft clothes are recommended. If possible, avoid raincoats and similar fabrics, which make rushing or cracking sounds.

No perfume or insect repellents
Bears have a keen sense of smell. Therefore, perfume and insect repellent may also repel bears.
We recommend that you wear the least smells possible.

Food and water
It is not allowed to take any food with you in the hide. However, we recommend that you take a small water bottle.

Mobile phones
Mobile phones must be switched off or set to airplane mode during the bear observation. A ringing telephone will scare the bears away and means that the observation has ended for the day. It may even mean that bears do not return in the following days.

Photographing
You are welcome to take pictures; however, a few precautions apply:
Do not start photographing immediately: when a bear first arrives at the hideout, he is highly alert and can be disturbed by the slightest sounds. After a while, he calms down and the guide will indicate that it is now ok to take pictures. If possible, we ask you turn the shutter sound off.
No flash is allowed, because even a single camera-flash scares away the bears. Unfortunately, a single accidental camera-flash means the end of the bear observation for the day.
Many cameras show a red focussing-light, which bears also see. Please make sure that your camera is set to manual focus or cover this red light.
Please note that we do not provide specially adapted photo-hides and you view the bears from some hight.

 

Upon entering the forest, you must be well aware that it is primarily a habitat of numerous animal species. You should behave in a way that does not disturb or agitate the animals.

PUBLICATION: Be safe and responsible in nature