Camp Lijak has recently been upgraded and expanded. The campsite caters to hikers, cyclists and skydivers. Since the campsite is situated close to the most popular drop zone in the region, skydivers make up the bulk of the visitors to Camp Lijak. The campsite also has its own drop zone.

After the recent expansion, Camp Lijak has been renamed Park Lijak. The campsite has a new reception centre, a restaurant, and a shop selling local crafts and locally-sourced produce. Aleksander Mladovan, the owner and manager of the campsite, said at the opening ceremony: “After 15 years of hard work and investing 500 thousand euros, Park Lijak has finally become what we’ve wanted it to be. We are now seeing an increasing number of visitors, so I believe we’re on the right track. We’ve got big plans for the years ahead, and our goal is to prove that green tourism is the future for this region.”

Paid for out of their own pocket
Everything you see at the campsite has been paid out of the couple’s own pocket. “Our surpluses are reinvested into the campsite. We haven’t treated ourselves to anything for a very long time. Our whole family, including our sons Nino and Rikardo, believes in our vision. We’re very stubborn people. The satisfaction of our guests is our top priority,” said Aleksander’s wife Martina Mladovan.

The family is especially proud of having received the prestigious Zoover Award for the country’s best campsite. The award was based on guest reviews in 2014. In 2013, Lijak received the Zoover Recommended Award. UK’s The Guardian also ranked Lijak among the top 10 campsites, cabins and B&Bs in Slovenia.

Mojca Dumančič; translated by D.V.