Hiking Slovenia's Julian Alps

Day 1: Pick-up at Ljubljana Airport and group transfer to Ljubljana: Rendezvous at the Ljubljana Airport for an afternoon group transfer to our hotel in the center of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. After checking into our hotel, we will have time to wander the quaint, narrow streets of the old city along the left bank of the Ljubljanica River. Baroque townhouses, stately churches, and medieval bridges give the Old Town the feel of a smaller, less-crowded version of Prague. We can also climb to the Ljubljana Castle on Castle Hill, overlooking the city. From the clock tower of the castle, there are far-reaching views of the city below and beyond to the Kamniske Alps to the north. Welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 2: Vintgar Gorge – Radovljica – Lake Bled – Bohinj: After breakfast, we will head northwest to the province of Gorenjska, which encompasses Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps. En route to the start of our hike, we will first stop at Lake Bled. With its fairytale island church and mountainside castle against a backdrop of distant mountain peaks, it’s one of the most picturesque lakes in Slovenia.

An easy walk from Bled will bring us to the Vintgar Gorge. A wooden walkway built in the late 1800s traces the Radovna River, spectacularly passing pools and rapids on its way to the 40-foot waterfall of Šum. Following lunch in the old medieval town of Radovljica, we’ll have time for a walk around Bled lake before heading to our hotel situated on Lake Bohinj. We’ll have to time relax and enjoy the pool or possibly have a swim in the lake before dinner.

Day 3: Triglav National Park: Bohinj to Seven Triglav Lakes Hut: Today we begin our hut-to-hut circuit through the beautiful, scenic heart of Triglav National Park; also known as a Kingdom of the Goldenhorn, after the well-known folktale. (You will have to wait until you are on the trail to learn more about the tale!). Our route today leads us through rich picturesque forests and open green pastures. Along the way, we’ll get a glimpse into the unique way of life of the Slovenian shepherd.

A morning transfer will bring us to the start of our hike above the lake. First hiking up through the alpine pastures of Vogar, we’ll continue to Planina pri Jezeru (4,767’), a small glacial lake surrounded by a smattering of shepherds huts and the mountain hut of Koča na Planini pri Jezeru. We end our hike at the terminus of the Valley of Seven Triglav Lakes (5,528’) and our mountain hut for the night. There is no better place to spend a night than on the shores of a mountain lake.

Day 4: Valley of Seven Lakes to Vodnik Hut: In the early morning, we’ll head deeper in the Valley of Seven Lakes. Here we’ll find some of Slovenia’s finest mountain scenery. It is a spectacular landscape of dark green lakes, limestone peaks and pastures littered with giant boulders.

Surrounded by peaks that reach over 6,000’, we’ll reach the highest point of the day, the pass of Cez Hribarice (7,734’) before descending to the green fields of Velo Polje. A final short climb will bring us to our mountain hut for the night, Vodnikov dom (5,961’). Set just below Slovenia’s highest mountain Mt. Triglav (9,396’), on the western flank of Mt. Tosc (7,463’) and overlooking Velo Polje, this is the hut from which many climbers begin their climbs on Triglav. Francka, our host, prepares fresh bread every morning!

Day 5: Vodnik Hut to Vogar Hut: After a nice breakfast and donning our hiking shoes again, we’ll meander along paths with wide-open views of the green pastures and the surrounding Julian Alps. From our high point at Jezerski pass (6,381’), we’ll slowly descend to the pastures of Krstenica(5,480’). Here the high alpine scenery becomes softer. As we hike through blossoming meadows we may catch a glimpse of Lake Bohinj in the distance. Overnight at Vogar Hut (3,458’).

Day 6: Vogar Hut to Kranjska Gora: Today’s hike takes us to the Mostnica River Gorge, a natural wonder considered to be one the most captivating sections of the river in the country. Soft forest trails lead us down to the river and close enough to easily spot trout swimming in the crystal-clear currents. We’ll follow this 2-kilometer narrow gorge as it slices its way through the lower Voje Valley forming emerald green pools and amazing limestone rock formations. Coming full circle, we’ll arrive back at Lake Bohinj finishing our circuit through this part of the Julian Alps. From here we have an 80-minute van transfer to Kranjska Gora, where a well-deserved, long shower, followed by a nice local dinner, is waiting for us.

Day 7: Vrsic Pass – Sleme – Soca valley: A 30-minute drive will bring us up to Vrsic Pass (5,316’), one of the most scenic mountain roads in Slovenia. The pass once marked the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From the pass, we’ll take a hike up to open green pastures of Sleme. On a clear day, there are breathtaking views and with a bit of luck, we may spy the delicate white edelweiss flowers along our route. We’ll have a picnic lunch next to a charming tiny glacier lake before returning to the pass and continuing our scenic drive along the winding road brings us to Soca Valley. This valley, carved into the white limestone of the Julian Alps, boasts an array of wonderful colors, with its waterfalls, pools, ravines, and canyons. It also has its own distinct flora and fauna, including the marble trout.

The upper Soca Valley is the westernmost part of Triglav National Park. Like parts of the Dolomites, this area saw quite a bit of fighting during WWI and was used as a setting in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. We’ll have time for an hour-long hike along the Soca Trail before heading back to our accommodations in Kranjska Gora.

Day 8: Kranjska Gora to Ljubljana: Returning to Ljubljana we’ll drive back by way of the Vrata Valley. Literally translated as “doors,” Vrata is the entrance that leads to the highest mountain of Slovenia. From a distance, we’ll get our last views of Mt. Triglav's north face, where some of Slovenia’s world-class alpinists first honed their skills. We’ll stop for a short walk up to and under the towering Pericnik Falls, returning to Ljubljana for a free afternoon of exploring old streets and bridges. Farewell dinner in the old town.

Day 9: Depart Ljubljana: The trip will end with a group transfer in the morning to Ljubljana Airport.