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The idea of “Glamping” has been intriguing to me for a while, due in equal parts to my very real fear of toilet snakes (which is magnified with more rustic camping sites), and my love of a clever name. I finally got to fulfill my glamping dreams at Big Berry in the Bela Krajina region of Slovenia.
Getting to Big Berry:
Big Berry is located right on the border of Slovenia and Croatia, making Zagreb the closes airport to the campsite, which a little over an hour drive. Though, at and hour and a half, Ljubljana is a fine choice too. I flew in to Zagreb and enjoyed the scenic drive through charming towns that dot the Croatian and Slovenia countryside. I also got to cross my first ever land border. Their stamps have cars on them! (It’s the little things).
If you end up visiting Big Berry by car, be sure to keep your passport on your person in case you want to explore a bit of neighboring Croatia.
First Impressions:
Pulling into the Big Berry campsite was immediately peaceful. Sandwiched between the beautiful Kolpa River and pastoral farmland with grazing cattle, Big Berry is the perfect place to unwind.
The clear waters of the Kolpa River steps from your front door!
Slovenian countryside in your backyard.
At check in, guests are presented with a welcome basket full of local goodies for their stay.
Local beer and wine, the best kinds of goodies!
The Big Berry houses themselves are adorable and hardly feel like “roughing it.” There are a few different sizes to choose from based on your party size. There are houses that sleep 2, 4, or 6. I stayed in house number 3 which sleeps 6 and would be perfect for a family or group of friends.
The house for 6 people has 2 bedrooms; the “master” with a double bed, and a second bedroom with 2 sets of bunk beds.
All of the houses have one bathroom, one living room, and a full working kitchen, though the configuration is a bit different depending on the size of the house.
These are fully equipped modern houses with electricity, wifi (though at times spotty), and TVs, that if you’re like me, you’ll never use. Who needs a TV when you’ve got this outside?
Sunrise on the Kolpa
The outside of the Big Berry homes is even more impressive than the inside, because that’s where the hot tub is! Each home has a porch with a hot tub, two lounge chairs, and a dining table for communal dinners outdoors.
The Big Berry Difference:
Big Berry describes themselves as a “lifestyle camp.” I’ll admit I was confused about what that meant, and a little concerned I was joining a cult (which I may have, I do really want cut ties with everyone and live there forever).
Big Berry is more than just a beautiful place to stay, it’s an all inclusive experience. While staying at the camp, all of your food and activities are included and there is plenty to do, but the most impressive part of a stay at Big Berry is the people.
The camp is small enough that you’ll get to know your neighbors and the staff. The Big Berry team is comprised of super friendly interns from all over the world eager to swap stories and show you around their new home. They were even nice enough not to make fun of me for being completely out of shape on the worlds longest bike ride (story to follow as soon as I recover enough to share it with the world). If you leave Big Berry without a few new friends, you’re doing it wrong.
The Food:
Every morning a friendly staff member will deliver a gorgeous basket full of local foods for breakfast. You can expect to find fresh yogurt, milk, honey, fruits, juices, eggs, and plenty of pogača (a bread local to the region that is similar in both taste and pronunciation to focaccia).
Big Berry also partners with local restaurants that provide food to guests of the camp. Simply take your key with you and show it at any of the participating restaurants, or some will even deliver to the camp.
“Young Stag” from Gostilna Muller
Pana Cotta from Gostilna Muller
My favorite local restaurant was Gostilna Muller, which has been serving traditional food to the area since 1965 (before it was even Slovenia). The restaurant is beautiful and has a patio that overlooks the river. I enjoyed this restaurant so much I ended up going back twice in the 4 days I was staying at the camp.
On the weekends the Big Berry staff and guest fire up the grill and come together for a BBQ. This is a great chance to sample some local flavor, or try your hand at cooking (I opted to let the capable folks at Big Berry do most of the work for me 😉 ).
The Activities:
There’s plenty to do without ever leaving the camp. The Kolpa River water is some of the cleanest around. You’ll see plenty of guests and local taking a dip. The water was a little too cold for this Floridian, but others disagree.
The camp has canoes and bikes for guests use during your stay, as well as a communal BBQ area, and these dreamy open air beds.
Oh, and how could I forget outdoor swinging chairs?!
There is also a volleyball court available for guests. Unfortunately, I was there during a local volleyball tournament, so I had to skip the sportsing and take pictures of these shirtless Slovenian athletes. My job is full of sacrifices.
Field Trips:
It’s difficult, but worthwhile to pry yourself away from the camp. One thing that makes Big Berry so unique is that the offer trips to local producers in the region. Remember all of those delicious items from breakfast? Well, now you get to find out how the sausage is made ( or milk, wine, honey, bread, etc.).
I had the privilege of visiting a 4th generation beekeeper and sampling some delicious honey,
learning a bit of regional history and sampling some freshly baked pogača.
trying my hand at traditional egg dying (*spoiler alert… I need some practice)
tasting every imaginable kind of oil and learning of their medicinal properties,
and best of all, drinking local wine, in a vineyard, by a church, at sunset. This is the stuff dreams are made of.
It’s impossible to visit all of the local artisans in the area in one trip, which gives me a perfect excuse to come back.
Big Berry also offers trips further afield. My Big Berry neighbors and I got to spend a lovely afternoon exploring the capital of Ljubljana, which was a nice surprise.
The Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia
The Details:
Big Berry Camp is open seasonally from April-October and is booking for next year. A house will run you € 200/night. When you consider that includes room, food, and activities for up to 6 people it’s really a steal. There are currently only 5 houses being rented out, so if you’re looking for a unique getaway, head to the Big Berry website and reserve your spot now!
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I was kindly invited as a guest of Big Berry, but all opinions expressed are my own and I would recommend this once in a lifetime experience to anyone!
I might just go camping at this kind of place. It seems like a hotel within a camp
That place looks so nice. I want to go there some day.
Amazing pictures. This place is breathtakingly beautiful! must be impossible not to relax in there
Wow! Now THIS looks like my idea of camping! Beer and wine upon arrival… does it get any better than that?
Wow, this sounds like a fantastic place to get away to. I wish I was still living in Budapest! I’d totally go and check it out. Also, pogaca are amazinggggg. I miss them every day
I love the idea of glamping but this camp takes it to another level. I love those meals and BBQ’s.
Oooooh, this place looks awesome! I’m also dying over your sacrifice. The things travel writers endure, huh? I’m totally kidding.
Big Berry looks fantastic. I’ve heard Ljubljana is a fantastic city. I’d love to visit (and uhhhh, learn how to pronounce it correctly)!
This destination seems to be very popular with travellers as of late. Its easy to see why with fresh local produce and amazing countryside on offer
Oh wow! I had no idea Slovania was so beautiful and had so much to offer. This looks like an amazing place to visit <3
I’ve never seen anything like this before, and it looks absolutely delightful. I love the blending of minimalist indoor space with the great outdoors! Adding this to my list of places I’d like to visit.
I could totally get on board with glamping as I’m not much for hardcore camping.The cottages look very comfortable and I love that activities are part of your stay. The location seems favorable as well, from visiting Slovenia’s capital city to crossing the border to explore a bit of Croatia.
Whoa! It looks so cool!I wanna visit that place!
I don’t think I would ever want to leave such a relaxing place! This is what I love about living in the country instead of the city. Life is so much more relaxed and you’ll be able to stop and appreciate everything especially the good company and the food.
This is such a beautiful place and it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and the bustle of the city! The view is fantastic and I like that people come together for food!
I was just telling the hubs the other day that I want to go to Slovenia and I know exactly where I want to stay!
That looks like an awesome place for camping. All the food looks amazing! I hope someday I can take my family there.
Ok, I’m on it, I’ve never been one to camp but glamping sounds great! My family and I have always wanted to visit Slovenia and Big Berry sounds just amazing. I’m going to have to stay here with my family soon!
Now it looks like you had a blast! Beer and wine upon arrival… does it get any better than that? Loved your pictures!
This looks like such a fun place to visit. Glamping definitely sounds like my style of vacation.
Um, I need to get myself to Big Berry. Soon. From the lodging to the food to the tours, it looks like such a unique experience! (not to mention the shirtless volleyball players…) Slovenia has been high on my list for a while – ever since I went to Croatia and loved it – so I will pin this and refer to it when planning my trip. Thanks for the recommendation!
I have read so many positive reviews about the Big Berry Experience. It definitely looks like the type of place I would love to try when we visit Slovenia some day. We will need to stay a few days so we can try out the experiences as well.
I never realized land crossings had a little car on the passport stamp–too funny! I would love to stay at Big Berry sometime. It sounds like such a fun experience and I love that food and activities are included–that’s such a good deal, especially if you split it 6 ways! I love those open air beds and swing chairs, too!
This looks like the perfect getaway. I love that food is readily available, and so fresh too! Would definitely give this a go when I’m in Slovenia.
This looks so interesting!! I bet this was such a fun trip!
I have never heard of this place, but it looks like a ton of fun. I bet my kids would have a blast.
Wow, I wouldn’t have even considered camping, let alone glamping in Slovenia! Very unique way to spend your time, and the communal vibe sounds really great for meeting like minded people. What kind of wine is that in the basket?
Greig
Now this is my kind of camping! What a beautiful place to spend a night or a weekend! I would be in absolute heaven!
From the river to the local wine and beer to the BBQ and all those swings to relax on I think it looks like the perfect getaway. Need to make it back to Europe soon!
Ha! That’s pretty cool. definitely lots of things to give you that ‘vacation feel!’
Awesome, I’ve heard so much about glamping and this looks very good! Love all the amenities and the food, most definitely!
I’m officially dying to visit here now. Slovenia has been on my list and now Big Berry is as well. What fabulous cottages and seemingly delightful hosts. Thanks for introducing me to this great spot!
This camp looks amazing. I love all the glamping aspects of it, and that river is beautiful.
I am just loving it, sounds like a wonderful place to visit. The pictures are quiet amazing that you would want to stepin right away for a soothing experience. The Kolpa River is absolutely beautiful!
Ah we would love glamping at this camp! How very convenient and you get to enjoy both worlds. I think this one’s great for family trips. This would make it easier when you’ve got kids with you.
Omg, so jelly!! This looks so awesome, and the fact that some local restaurants deliver that delicious food to you is even cooler!
That must have been an amazing experience! The place is beautiful! You can’t go wrong with delicious food and a hot tub outside!
Whoa that’s awesome. I would like to try this too. But I don’t know if we have this in our country.
[…] Krajina is a small area of Southeastern Slovenia where Big Berry Lifestyle Camp is located. Bela Krajina is home to many local producers and artisans keeping Slovenian […]
Oh my gosh! These are so cute! Sign me up!
My grandparents love love camping, this site is absolutely amazing, beautiful and perfect for their next holiday. will share with that. thank you
I love the style of the houses it looks like it made in a bamboo i mean made in wood. This is the house i like to live in.
Anyways, this place is looks like you are in the province. The life there is so simple and so easy. That place is so perfect to people who want to relax and to rest. Perfect everything.
[…] city lies in north-east Italy at the mouth of the Gulf of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea next to Slovenia. The unique town has a diverse history, having been a part of the Roman, Venetian, Austro-Hungarian […]