This remote off the grid retreat on the outskirt of Triglav National Park in Soca Valley, Slovenia, is entirely self-sufficient. Located on 1077m above sea level, surrounded with unspoilt nature with unforgettable views from mountain peaks till Adriatic Sea. Given the remote location of the property there is the lack of power and water supply network. Chalet, which is rebuilt old shepherds house, offers accommodation in pristine nature, however while staying there you can still enjoy all modern amenities.

We strive to make as little impact on the environment as possible. Read on for a few of the measures we take to minimise our footprint on this beautiful planet.

Heating system and solar panel
Our system for the central heating is extremely efficient, by using only sustainable sun energy and wooden fireplace everyone staying at Chalet AstraMontana is producing very little waste. The thickly insulated walls, newly installed loft insulation and triple-glazed windows ensure that we don’t even need the radiators all the time during the winter months to stay warm and cosy. Installation of underfloor heating provides a constant temperature in all weather conditions. Hot water is heated primarily by our solar panels. Only when there are a lot of consecutive grey or rainy days we need to rely on fireplace system. 
We encourage guests to be conscious about how they use the lighting and heating in their rooms, and to turn off lights and heating when they head out for their daily adventures.

Water supply
Rainwater which is recycled and collected in 8000L tank is ready to use. Thanks to quality triple filtration and practical solutions by German rainwater filter specialist the compact filtration system and UV water disinfection ensure clean and microbiologically safe drinking water.
Additionally we have our own water supply that comes to us directly from a natural spring the mountain side. This means that we don’t have to worry about transporting water up to AstraMontana through a pump system or by vehicle. It also tastes incredible and is filtered by nature. Our guests often say it’s the purest water they ever tasted. 

Hot Tub
There is nothing better than having a relaxing soak in our hot tub. Especially as we avoid the use of chlorine and other chemicals, and keep it clean through a natural salt cleaning system. We use Epsom Salts and Dead Sea salt, full of magnesium and especially beneficial for tired legs at the end of a long day of hiking in the Alps. The hot tub is wood-fired, so is only heated by burning sustainable firewood that we source from one of the farmers in the local village. It takes us a few hours to light and heat the hot tub, but it’s always worth the wait, and somehow much more satisfying than just switching on a button.

Suppliers
We cook with organic and locally-sourced food where possible. Likewise, we try to get all our other supplies from nearby, independent businesses.

Waste Management
We are lucky that there is a fantastic recycling service provided by our local community. We make the most of this service to reduce the amount of landfill that we produce and also try to limit our use of single-use plastics on a day-to-day basis, using glass jars and buying ingredients in bulk. We have a large composting system for food waste, but in general not much food goes to waste around here it’s too tasty!

Cleaning Products, Bed Linen & Towels
We do all of our own cleaning and washing of bed linen and towels. We try to minimise our use of harsh detergents and chemicals in the cleaning process and where we do have to use them, we choose washing detergents that are ecologically friendly. We dry most of our laundry on the washing line outside in the sunshine during the summer season. Guests are encouraged to use the same towel for the duration of their stay to help us reduce the number of washing loads that we put on.

We believe that if we can all take baby steps to a more sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle within the realms of daily life – such as reusing our towels and napkins, air drying linen, reusing and recycling, we can reduce our impact on the natural environment we love so much, and in doing so, improve our quality of life and health here at AstraMontana.