Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia

Name: Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (18 reviews)

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8 Days from

CAD 2,945

incl. Taxes

4.5/5 from

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

TVL

Walk in the heart of the peaceful Julian Alps

The Julian Alps are the most easterly extension of the great Alpine Range. The jagged limestone peaks hold some of Europe's best scenery and walking, with Mount Triglav (the highest in Slovenia) at the centre of the range, and the glacial lakes of Bohinj and Bled far below. During the week we will enjoy five varied walks, both inside the national park and on the more distant peaks of the beautiful Karavanke Range. Taking in beautiful wild meadows, along the shores of the lakes, through thick forest and across wild open mountain ridges.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

Highlights

Discover the Triglav National Park and Karavanke Mountain Range
Varied day walks in the mountains and forests
Free day to explore Lake Bled, or historic Ljubljana
Traditional 19th century alpine pension

Key Information

7 nights family run pension with en suite facilities
5 days centre-based walking, 1 free day
Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
Altitude maximum 1835m, average 1000m
Travel by private minibus
Not recommended for those who suffer with Vertigo
Option to travel by train to your adventure

Countries visited: Slovenia

What's Included

All breakfasts and 3 dinners
All accommodation
Free group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas and Vaccinations
Single supplement

5 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Moderate: 5-6km/3-4miles an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; good paths with some steep ascents

Day 2

16 km / 9.9 miles

Day 3

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 4

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 6

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 7

12 km / 7.5 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
Lunches are catered by local families that run the Mountain huts.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
We only walk on official paths that have for the most part been constructed to be resistant to erosion.
Recycling and waste management are well established in the areas we operate.
We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Solar and wind power are used in the Mountain huts.
As this is a walking holiday it provides a low impact way of exploring the destination.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

Join the group in the early evening at the pension in Radovljica, just 20 minutes north east of the capital, Ljubljana. This is our base for the whole week.

Pension Kunstelj or similar

After breakfast we enjoy a walk direct from the pension to explore our surroundings. The historic town of Radovljica dates back as far as 1296 sitting on the confluence of the Sava Bohinjka and the Sava Dolinka. The old town is full of traditional inns, galleries, churches and surrounded by the largest medieval moats in the country.

The local area is extremely pretty, dotted with small churches, quaint villages, lush forests and a beautiful river. Our leader will decide the exact route depending on the weather, but walking to Lake Bled is our most likely route, a perfect warm up through gentle rolling farm land and pretty villages.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Starting at the small village of Gozd Martuljek we are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of the Špik mountain range. One of the most beautiful mountains in the Julian Alps, Mount Špik - 2472m is known at the Slovenian Matterhorn and its pyramid summit dominates the Martuljek range.

Leaving the valley our forest trail takes us into Martuljek Gorge, here we slowly start our ascent following the stream, where we arrive at the Lower Fall, cascading down to the valley. The trail snakes its way through the forest where we arrive at our rest stop and enjoy the view. Lipovceva Hut has a lovely setting and is known for its open natural kitchen with delicious home-made mountain soups and juices, made from pine, elderflower and berries.

From here we head up to the stunning Higher Falls, passing a monument dedicated to Slovenian climbers. This is a lovely walk into the gorge, suitable in all weathers and offering some fine views of two beautiful waterfalls.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The Karavanke Mountains are the natural and official border between central and Western Europe where Slovenia, Austria and Italy meet. The ranges position has a great effect on Slovenia's climate - hence the soft south Slovene side in comparison to the harsh northern side in Austria. Here you can also find an abundance of alpine fauna and flora, with over 1200 different plant species, as well as having wonderful views into two naturally contrasting countries. We aim for Golica (1836m), part of the longest ridge in Slovenia (120km) and one of the least travelled trails in the area.

Radovljica itself has plenty of possibilities for the rest day. Alternatively, it's a short bus ride to Lake Bled - here rowing boats and canoes can be hired. Others may wish to take the public bus further into the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Another popular alternative is the Postojna Cave Park, home to one of the largest cave systems in Europe.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today’s walk is flat, but incredibly pretty. This circular walk takes in the whole of the lake and the pretty village of Ribcav Laz with the famous church of St John the Baptist. There are open views all the way to Mt Triglav - Slovenia's highest mountain and fabulous views of the surrounding mountains. Lake Bohinj is surrounded by a ring of mountains so even though you are in the valley there is plenty to see.

An alternative route today takes us through the Mostnica Gorge; this route is more likely if the weather is poor as it is less exposed.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The beautiful forested area of Pokljuka, visible from Lake Bled, is stunning. Virtually uninhabited, it is home to alpine cows, rolling pastures, shepherds' huts, forest trails and some lovely open views of the surrounding peaks. Time stands still on Pokljuka, enabling wild flowers to flourish; the flora and fauna of the high plateau is unique to this area and bird life is abundant. There is a wide variety of trails with many possibilities for the day’s hike. Our guide will determine the route based on the weather and the group's ability during the week.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Our tour ends after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Slovenia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Slovenia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Slovenia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 3 dinners included.

The location where the group will have their 3rd dinner will be decided on tour according to the groups preferences.

Breakfast: Continental breakfast with tea, coffee, cereal, bread and a selection of meats and cheeses, jams and yoghurt.

Lunch: Will usually be in a local hut in the mountains. Options can be limited, but all meals are cooked from scratch using fresh local ingredients, and will include hearty soups and juice made from wild berries and elderflower.

Evening meal: This will consist of 3 courses. The main dishes can be: risotto, cheese dishes, fish, spaghetti and grilled meat. The guesthouse uses delicious salads and vegetables from the gardens as well as other locally sourced produce. 3 dinners at the pension are included, for the other nights you're free to enjoy the local restaurants in Radovljica.

Vegetarians are well catered for, but please let Exodus know in advance if you have any dietary requirements.

Weather

Slovenia has a mixed alpine climate with summer temperatures in the range of 18 to 25ºC. In the mountains cool mornings are normally followed by warm pleasant days, with temperatures in the Alps being ideal for walking. During summer months afternoon showers of rain cool down the humidity, giving way to clear skies and pleasant temperatures.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

All walks will be on well maintained paths, although some may be have loose stones underfoot. Each day there will be some ascent and descent (maximum of 700m, average of 500m). Generally you should expect to walk between 4 to 6 hours a day, plus stops.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Marin Popa

Reviewed July 2022

an enjoyable walking week in a quiet and green place

Various enjoyable hikes in green and beautiful scenery – lakes, gorges, woods, mountain peaks.
The base was at Kunstelj Pension, a well-run two-star pension situated in the quiet and picturesque Radovljica.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The experience was enhanced by the exceptional leadership offered by Buggy & Rock, our two guides. Professionally, they seamlessly adapted each day’s trip to the changes in the weather and to the ability of the group. With good storytelling, they gave noteworthy information about the geography and the history of the places visited, and they were always calm, helpful, relaxed, good-humoured, and friendly. They love what they do and we felt good in their company.

Helen French

Reviewed July 2019

Hiking in Beautiful Slovenia-don't miss it.

Slovenia is friendly place with unspoilt scenery in the lakes and mountains of the Julian Alps. The group of 15 members of wide age range from UK,USA and Canada gelled really quickly Five days of varied walks including low level at lake Bled and two different mountain ascents to 1800m and 2000m. All at a steady pace and achieved by all the group members. We had hearty soups and delicious strudels at rustic mountain refuges. The base in Radovljica was central family run hotel conveniently located in the old town.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the hill on the Poljuka Plateau with views of Triglav mountain and into Austria.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Katija and Alaj were a great team both with good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some hiking in your local hills before you do the trip.

Gordon Brown

Reviewed June 2019

Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia

Brilliant walking holiday (my first with Exodus) with some challenging walks and a group of 15 that got on so well with each other.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of BRDA with spectacular views of the Julian Alps

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 group leaders who were highly professional and experts in their field.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Put your trust in the walk leaders and you will not go wrong.

Jacky Wilson

Reviewed June 2019

Beautiful country

Slovenia is beautiful – clean, green, unspoilt, with beautiful lakes, waterfalls and mountains.

The hotel is great with excellent evening meals and lovely views.Rooms are spacious with a really good shower and comfortable bed. The staff are very friendly.

Radovljica is an excellent base for the week – the old town is pretty with a few decent restaurants, an ice cream shop (!) and regular buses to Bled, Ljubljana etc. Buses are cheap.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing to the viewpoint above Lake Bled and taking in that stunning view. Admiring the thundering waterfalls and flower-filled meadows

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bugy and Aleš were expert mountain guides and a good laugh.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A short city break in Ljubljana before the week’s walking starts is highly recommended - say from the Thursday. You’ll be too tired afterwards! Take poles! If you can fit in two pairs, both lightweight shoes and boots with ankle support are useful. Boots are essential. The easy (lake) walks really are easy and the harder (mountain) walks really are hard, harder than other Level 3 holidays I have been on. Three of the walks aren’t great if you’re not good with heights.

Suggestions

It was quite expensive compared to other holidays as no picnics were provided and only 3 dinners. On all other Exodus holidays, We have had picnics provided. Mountain huts serve soup, or soup, or soup and you’ll pay around €10 for, er, soup - and a drink. I guess the idea is to support the guys running the mountain huts, which is fine, but beware the additional budget needed. I really wish the hardest walk wasn’t planned for the last day on Exodus trips. ! By the last day people are a little tired and may be carrying a few niggling aches and pains. An easier day to wind down would be better.

Karla Bascaran

Reviewed September 2018

Slovenia mountain and lakes

Very beautiful nice hikes would rather not have rest day trip to short.

Most Inspirational Moment

Slovenia is a very beautiful country very clean

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

No rest day

Mary Bambrough

Reviewed July 2018

A clean, green, mountainous country.

Loved the airy, uncrowded mountain walks with profuse meadow flowers and views of rocky pinnacles. The two lakes were also incredibly picturesque and not spoilt. We enjoyed the family-run accommodation, food and wine as well. The day in Ljubljana was enjoyable (despite pouring rain) but I personally enjoyed the small town with its church, old houses, bee-keeping museum, wine merchant and ice cream parlour just as much.

Most Inspirational Moment

Suddenly coming upon a fabulous mountain view after a steep walk up through meadows.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two very assured and competent leaders. They knew their patch very well. I felt I was in safe hands at all times whether they were leading walks or driving us, and when they suggested a variation to a walk they were right. They also had a good sense of humour. They worked hard at the various huts, taking our orders and bringing them, to avoid potential language problems.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are not difficult overall in terms of length and terrain, but do be prepared for some steep gradients from time to time on the mountain days. They are well worth it but require quite a lot of puff!

Suggestions

We particularly liked the recommended wine-tasting with ham and cheese-board at the local wine merchant.

Peter Norris

Reviewed July 2018

Slovenia - yes; Exodus - maybe

This was part of a first trip to Slovenia. I’d definitely return. Whether I’d go with Exodus is another matter.
The pluses: the base (Radovljica) is a very pleasant town. I’m glad we were there rather than Bled, which is on the cusp of getting over-touristed. The hotel (to which we were transferred three days before the holiday) was good (probably better than the first choice). Generally, I liked the food.

Less good: I was a little disappointed with the balance of the walks (though because I was unwell I ducked out of one day that might have been spectacular). Two waterfall walks were pleasant but rather similar to each other. A walk around Lake Bled was taken in the company of hundreds of others. I’d have liked at least one day walking from the hotel rather than driving to somewhere allegedly more spectacular.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing chamois at nearly 2000 metres. Or maybe they were ibex. We asked one of our guides which they were but, rather than taking a dozen steps and looking at them, she asked whether they had long horns. Subsequent research indicates that female ibex and chamois have similar horns.....

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two leaders. They led us efficently, sorted out lunchtime bills without fuss, were prompt and personable. They obviously have a great love for Slovenia and nature, but what I found frustrating in retrospect is that they said very little about the flora and landscape we were walking through, and the animals and birds we might see. Possibly this is a language issue, though their English was good (and, of course, far better than anybody's Slovenian).

Suggestions

We joined the holiday at the end of a week's cycling in Slovenia. We had liaiased with the Exodus office to ensure that we arrived in time for the introductory briefing, which necessitated leaving the Slovenian coast earlier than we might have otherwise. We were told the briefing would be at 7.30. We arrived in the dining room for the briefing at 7.10, to find everyone else seated, waiting for their first course, the briefing over. Not a great way to start, and easily avoidable as we'd been at our hotel since 3 pm. We were asked to be ready for the minibus at 8.30 or 9 each day. Sometimes the activity was finished by 3 pm. I'd have been happy with an earlier start and finish. This didn't seem to be negotiable.

Pauline leeson

Reviewed June 2018

A country of mountains, lakes and rivers

good walking. great company. we had lovely weather although it does rain a lot.

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming in Lake Bled and everyone making it to the top of the mountain on the last day. Priceless!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Budgie and Alex were excellent. very experienced walkers. gave us all a lot of confidence in their ability to lead the group and keep everyone safe. there were also a lot of laughs. great skill at helping group to gel ad get the best out of everyone regardless of their ability. We also had lessons on the geography, history, politics and culture of Slovenia. immensely enjoyable and very interesting.

Advice for Potential Travellers

get yourself fit so that you get the most out of the walking. and bring a swimming costume.

Suggestions

beautiful green country. go there before it is spoilt!

Neil Rank

Reviewed June 2018

Another excellent Exodus holiday

Slovenia is a lovely country with lovely people – helpful and friendly. I can but pass on the advice given to me which was “go before it gets too popular”. An important factor in making the holiday is the Leaders and the Group. In both instances they were excellent. Walks are well planned and whilst some previous posts have commented re lunching in restaurants rather than a packed lunch, I preferred the former, which, with one exception, are not restaurants but mountain lodges. All helps the local economy. Weather can be changeable but aside from our Lake Bled day, we enjoyed good weather. When it rains, it rains.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking along the ridge which marks the Border between Slovenia and Austria. The trip to the capital on the free day is also very enjoyable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two Bugy (or Boogie Woogie as he is more affectionately known) and Alesh. Both are excellent guides with a great sense of humour. Very attentive and caring.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go before the country gets discovered. Be prepared for changeable weather.

Suggestions

The hotel is good - no frills but clean with friendly staff - but the Wi-Fi can be a bit frustrating as the weather can impact on its reliability.

Katie Estruch

Reviewed November 2016

Lakes and Mountainsee trip

This was my first Exodus trip and I loved it! The guides were hilarious, friendly and knowledgeable. The accommodation had amazing views, good food and cheap booze. The walks were all different and had breathtaking views. I never realised how beautiful Slovenia is. I would fully recommend this trip if you like walking, good food and good views.

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming in the lakes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent!

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You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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