The best trekking routes in Slovenia

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Slovenia offers a wide variety of possibilities for hiking, trekking and mountain biking, especially in the famous Julian Alps, although they are not to be underestimated.

INDEX

• The Julian Alps of Slovenia "
• The Karavanke Mountains "
• The Slovene Mountain Trail (Transverzala) "
• Other routes "

The Julian Alps

The Julian Alps are located in the small independent republic of Slovenia, at the south-eastern end of the Alpine chain. The dramatic limestone peaks drop steeply through forests to blooming meadows, and will give you a feast for the eyes no matter which way you turn. Its highest peak, the Triglavwith 2,864 metres.

Slovenia's Julian Alps are an underrated hiking gem, with some of the best routes in the Alps for their culture, beauty and variety.

Practical guide

When to go?

Early summer to autumn, late May/June to late September and early October.

Difficulty

The excursions in the valleys do not require experience and can be done by the general public. The ascents are reserved for experienced mountaineers. The peaks are snow-free in early July in normal summers, so ice axes and crampons are not normally needed. Difficult sections are protected with ferrata-type equipment (the use of ferrata equipment and a helmet is recommended).

Not to be missed

• The Julian Alps - Triglav, Jalovec, Mangrt, the Triglav lakes, the lower Bohinj Mountains, Špik, Škrlatica, Krn
• Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj and its surroundings
• The Vršič Pass
• Limestone formations, alpine flowers.
• The World War I mountain battlefields of the Soča Front.

The routes

The walks are organised around five bases: Kranjska Gora, Bovec, Kobarid, Bled and Bohinj. All of which have a wide range of accommodation and public transport facilities. Routes in the Julian Alps range from valley hikes and forest trails to high mountain routes, including Triglav at 2864m, and multi-day treks.

Kranjska Gora

• Zelenci
• Peč (Jingle)
• Srednji Vrh
• Slap Martuljek (Martuljek Waterfall)
• Vršič pass
• Visoki Mavrinc
• Vitranc/Ciprnik
• Sleme
• Tamar and Planica
• Mala and Velika Mojstrovka
• Mala Mojstrovka via the Hanzova pot
• The Vrata Valley
• Jerebikovec
• Prisank
• Jalovec
• Špik
• Škrlatica
• Triglav via the Tominškova pot and the Prag route
• Triglav along the Plemenice (or Bamberg) route
• Kanjavec

Bohinj

• Lake Bohinj Tour
• Slap Savica (Savica Waterfall)
• Rudnica
• Korita Mostnice
• Pršivec
• Vogel and Rodica (15.2km 621m 5.5-7h, difficulty: moderate)
• Črna prst
• Spodnje Bohinjske gore (Lower Bohinj Mountains)
• Bogatin and Mahavšček
• Triglav Lake Valley and Veliko špičje
• Triglav -from the south
• Bohinj Pastures Route (17.5km 807m 5-7h, difficulty: moderate)

Bovec

• The Bovec Basin
• Kluže
• Svinjak
• Čelo
• Izvir Glijuna and Slap Virje
• Visoki Kanin and Prestreljenik
• Rombon
• The Soča Trail
• Pogačnikov dom and Kriški podi
• Planja and Razor
• Križ, Stenar and Bovški Gamsovec
• Krn
• The battlefield of Mount Krn (22.8km 1,579m 9-11h, difficulty: high)
• Mangart

Bled

• Lake Bled Tour
• Osojnica

South of Bled

• Bohinjska Bela and Kupljenik
• Ribenska Gora
• Talež
• Vintgar Gorges
• Galetovec
• Debela peč, Brda and Lipanski vrh
• Debela Peč (11.0km 722m 4.5-5.5h, difficulty: medium)
• Viševnik

Kobarid

• The Historic Promenade
• Drežniški kot
• Krasji vrh
• Stol
• Matajur

Karavanke Mountains

The 120 km long Karavanke mountain range forms a natural border between Slovenia and Austria. The range is naturally divided into two sections: the western Karavanke, up to the Košuta ridge, is more or less a single intact ridge, while the eastern Karavanke is divided into several massifs. The typical pattern along the entire range is that of steep rocky walls on the northern Austrian side, while to the south of the Slovenian side there are steep grassy slopes and terraces.

It is one of the longest mountain ranges in Western Europe, but remains relatively unvisited and unknown. Visitors tend to rush to the much better known Julian Alps, leaving these mountain gems untouched, so they have not yet experienced the magnitude of commercial development known to the Western Alps.

Practical guide

When to go?

The hiking season runs from the end of June to the beginning of September. In May we can enjoy the wonderful spring flowers and until mid-October we will be dazzled by the incredible autumn colours.

Cities & Services

Access is mainly from the Slovenian valleys, with bases in unspoilt towns and villages.

Kranjska Gora, Mojstrana, Jesenice, Tržic, Solcava, Slovenj Gradec

Difficulty

Although the Karavanke lacks the steep rock and arid heights of the nearby Julian Alps, several of the peaks are above 2,000 m and many are below this altitude; some of the routes include short, steep sections of rock protected by steel cables and pickaxes.

Not to be missed

• The most important peaks of the Karavanke such as Stol - the highest at 2236m and a breathtaking backdrop to the beautiful Lake Bled.
• Uršlja Gora - the most distant peak in the east with its fine mountain peak.
• The majestic Košuta Olševa ridge with its prehistoric cave.
• Visit to Golica in May to see the white daffodils.

West Karavanke

• Peč (Jingle)
• Trupejevo poldne and Vošca
• Kepa
• Dovška Baba
• Hrušica to Planina pod Golico
• Golica
• Hruški vrh and Klek
• Dovška Baba to Planina pod Golico
• Ajdna
• Stol (2,236m), the highest in the mountain range, overlooking the beautiful Lake Bled.
• Vajnež
• Stol from Austria
• Dobrča
• Preval
• Begunjščica
• Vrtača
• The Ljubelj Pass
• Košutica
• Košuta

East Karavanke

• Hochobir (Ojstrc)
• Olševa
• Peca
• Uršlja gora (Plešivec)

The Slovene Mountain Trail (Transverzala) "

The Slovene Mountain Trail or Transverzala, 550 km through Slovenia. Starting in Maribor, near the Austrian border, to Ankaran, on the Adriatic coast, through the Pohorje region and the limestone mountains of the Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja and Julian Alps.

Other routes

• Slemenova Špica (5.0km 350m 2-3h, difficulty: easy)
• The way of the Pagan Girl (2.5km 77m 1-1.5h, difficulty: easy)
• Mount Tosc (13.6km 1,048m 6-7.5h, difficulty: moderate)
• Kredarica (16.0km 1,563m 7-11h, difficulty: high)
• The Valley of the Seven Lakes (25.7km 1,190m 9-11h, difficulty: high)
• Komna and Lanževica (24.1km 1,381m 9-11h, difficulty: high)

The most impressive places in Slovenia for trekking and mountaineering:

• Triglav