Soča River Permits 2026: Everything You Need to Know (Bovec & Kobarid)

 Last updated: June 2026 | Current status: Information relevant for Summer Season 2026 (Updated with new Bovec municipality regulations)

Let’s be honest: nobody comes to the Soča Valley because they enjoy filling out forms and studying local regulations. You’re here to splash in emerald waters, enjoy the mountains, and maybe scream a little (from joy, of course) on the rapids.

But then… you hear about the Soča River Rafting Permits. Sounds serious, right? Like something you’d need a lawyer for.

Don’t worry! It’s just a little piece of digital paper that lets us enjoy the Soča river. To save you from drowning in bureaucracy, we’ve put together this “Human-to-Human” guide. We’ll skip the boring legal talk and get straight to what you actually need to know so we can get back to the fun stuff – rafting and kayaking!

EVERYONE

The short answer: Everyone. Whether you are an experienced kayaker or a first-time rafter, every person in the boat needs a valid permit.

Adults: Yes.
Children: Yes, kids of all ages need their own permit.
Our Guides: Don’t worry, we take care of our team; you only need to take care of yourselves.

NO

This is the most common question we get! To save you some time and money, here is the rule:

• You need this permit ONLY for activities that take place on the Soča river (Rafting and Kayaking).
• You DO NOT need it for Canyoning (Sušec, Fratarica) or Zipline tours.

Quick Check: Do I need to buy a permit for my activity, if I booked with you?

• GROUP RAFTING: ✅ YES (Permit required)
• PRIVATE RAFTING: ❌ NO (Permit included in the price)
• PRIVATE KAYAKING: ❌ NO (Permit included in the price)
• CANYONING: ❌ NO (No permit needed)
• ZIPLINE: ❌ NO (No permit needed)

Because the Soča River flows through two different municipalities (Bovec and Kobarid), they have different pricing systems this year.

Group Rafting Tours: The permit is NOT included in the price of the tour. You need to purchase the permits yourself.

SUMMER HIGH SEASON (01.06. – 15.09.2026)

Permit Price: 21 € / person (Combined 6 € Bovec + 15 € Kobarid permit)

PRE & POST SEASON (15.03. – 31.05. and 14.09. – 31.10.2026)

Permit Price: 10,50 € / person

Who pays? YOU DO. For all our standard and group rafting tours, the premit is NOT included in the price of the tour. You need to purchase the permits yourself.

The Exception: If you have booked a Private Rafting tour, the permits are already included in the price.

50% DISCOUNT

Yes, kids of all ages need their own river permit to go rafting. The good news is that children under 15 years old get a 50% discount.

However, before you run to buy them online, please check our important family advice:

• The Online System Catch: If you buy the discounted children’s tickets online, the system will ask you to upload a photo of your child’s passport or ID.
• Our Recommendation: We strongly advise parents NOT to upload photos of minor children’s documents online.
• The Easy & Safe Way: Simply walk into the local Tourist Info Center (TIC) Bovec when you arrive (it’s just a 5-minute walk from our office). The local staff will only look at the passport to verify the child’s age and print the ticket on the spot—leaving zero digital footprint and keeping your data 100% safe!

WAIT

DO NOT buy your permits more than 24 hours in advance. Mother Nature is unpredictable. If the water level rises or falls too much, we might change sections or cancel. Since permits are non-refundable, wait for our confirmation!

YES and NO
 It depends on which adventure you chose!

• ✅ FOR KAYAKING: YES.

We’ve got you covered. Since kayaking typically stays in the Bovec sector, the permits are “no-name.” This means we can buy them for you in bulk, and they are already included in your tour price.

• ❌ FOR RAFTING: NO.

For all standard and group rafting tours, you must purchase the permits yourself (except for Private Rafting tours).

Why the “No” for Rafting? The rafting section crosses into the Kobarid municipality, and their new 2026 system is much stricter. They require each permit to be issued directly in the guest’s name.

Because of this “named ticket” rule, we legally cannot buy them for you in advance. Think of it like a flight ticket – it’s personal, and the system requires your specific details and payment.

1. Buy Permits in Person (TIC)

Visit any of the following Tourist Information Centers. Please check their working hours here.

TIC Bovec: Trg golobarskih žrtev 47, 5230 Bovec | +386 5 302 96 47 | info.bovec@dolina-soce.si

TIC Kobarid: Trg svobode 16, 5222 Kobarid | +386 5 380 04 90 | info.kobarid@dolina-soce.si

TIC Tolmin: Mestni trg 6, 5220 Tolmin | +386 5 380 04 80 | info.tolmin@dolina-soce.si

2. Buy Permits Online

This is the fastest and easiest way. You can do it from your phone in just a few minutes, even while you’re having coffee in Bovec.

To make it super simple for you, we have prepared a detailed step-by-step guide with screenshots so you’ll know exactly which buttons to click and which sector to choose.

Once you’ve read our guide, you’ll find the link to the official payment portal right at the end of it!

Let’s get back to the fun part!
Now that the paperwork is sorted and the “permit-shmermit” mystery is solved, you’re all set for the real reason you’re visiting the Soča Valley. The emerald rapids are waiting, the rafts are pumped, and our team is ready to show you the best time of your summer.

Don’t let the bureaucracy slow you down—book your seats today, and let’s go rafting!