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Walking the Slovenian Alps

Overview

Peak beauty… find it in the dramatic Julian Alps with a tour leader who knows all the best views and trails

With the snow melted and the skiers in colder climes, the Julian Alps of Slovenia transform into a hiker’s dream. Dramatic limestone spires, mirror-like glacial lakes, tumbling waterfalls, they’re yours to discover, if you know where to look. So, join a tour leader who knows every twist in every trail to explore a land of extraordinary natural beauty. Our base is a wonderful mountain lodge in the tranquil alpine town of Kranjska Gora, providing easy access to the best hikes in the region and a wellness centre for post-excursion relaxation.

Key Information

Travel Style Superior: Adventure with a softer landing, thoughtfully elevated through upgraded stays and added comfort: Superior
Activity: Walking & Trekking
Activity Level: Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Trip Code: TVL2
Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Superior
Countries: Slovenia
Carbon Footprint: 7.1kg CO2e per person per day
Terrain: Low altitude; good paths with some steep ascents

What's Included

All accommodation: 7 Superior Comfort nights (Hotel Kompas)
All breakfasts and two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private minivan) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, local taxes (approximately €3.50 per night) are not included. Also, check out Bosnia & Beyond, which you can combine with this adventure.

Highlights

Discover the dramatic beauty of the Julian Alps: limestone peaks, glacial lakes and tumbling waterfalls

Marvel at the magnificent dual waterfalls under Špik mountain

Gaze over the two iconic lakes of Slovenia: Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled

Take a detour into Italy to hike around the glacial Fusine Lakes

Itinerary

First Destination: Kranjska Gora
Next Destination: Kranjska Gora

Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:5 km / 3.1 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:7 km / 4.3 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:9 km / 5.6 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:12 km / 7.5 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Kranjska Gora
Next Destination: Kranjska Gora

Begin your adventure in the tranquil mountain town of Kranjska Gora, a hub for hikers and adventure seekers.

Around 6pm, say živijo (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather for the first time to hear more about the days ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Slovenian welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Kranjska Gora or Ljubljana? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Setting out directly from our hotel, we head to Krnica Valley. Surrounded by dense forests and dramatic mountain peaks, the valley offers a perfect introduction to Slovenia’s alpine landscape and provides an excellent first walking day of the tour.

Following a forest trail, we gradually make our way towards Krnica Lodge, enjoying the tranquillity and mountain views. The route is relatively gentle, allowing everyone to settle into the rhythm of the week and become familiar with the hiking conditions of the Julian Alps.

We then continue to the crystalline waters of Lake Jasna. Relax on the shore and admire the mountain peaks, enjoy a drink at one of the lakeside cafes, or, for the bravest, take a refreshing swim in the lake.

A short walk then brings us back to our hotel.

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Travel to the village of Gozd Martuljek for a hike beneath the triangular spire of Špik mountain. Two waterfalls plunge dramatically here: the lower cascades through a rocky gorge, while the upper drops more than 360ft (110m) over a sheer white cliff.

The route includes steps and bridges, rewarding us with views of jagged peaks and tumbling water.

After returning, the afternoon is free to relax or explore Kranjska Gora.

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Travel to Vintgar Gorge, where the Radovna River has cut a narrow course through limestone cliffs. The route through the gorge runs for 1mi (1.6km), following wooden walkways and bridges above the water, with pools, small falls and rock formations shaped by the river over thousands of years. The walk leads towards Šum Waterfall, a 43ft (13m) drop that gives the gorge a fitting finale.

Later, we continue to Bled, where you have free time for lunch and your own choice of lake time. You might visit Bled Castle, walk part of the lakeshore, or take a traditional pletna boat to Bled Island, rowed standing up by a pletnar. After time to enjoy Bled at your own pace, we return to Kranjska Gora for the night.

Distance:5 km / 3.1 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We’re off to Italy today! Our destination is the beautiful Fusine Lakes, a pair of glacial lakes nestled beneath the towering peaks of the Alps.

En route, we stop at Planica Valley, birthplace of ski flying, to admire one of the world’s most iconic ski-jumping centers before continuing across the border into Italy.

Arriving at Lago Superiore, we enjoy a leisurely walk along the shoreline, where crystal-clear waters reflect mountains and forest. We then continue to Lago Inferior, a quieter lake offering equally impressive scenery and excellent photo opportunities.

After exploring the lakes, we return to Slovenia and head towards the Soča Valley, one of the country’s most scenic regions.

Upon reaching Možnica Gorge, we follow an easy trail through this hidden natural gem, crossing wooden bridges and passing alongside emerald waters, dramatic rock formations and lush alpine vegetation.

In the late afternoon, we return to Kranjska Gora.

Distance:7 km / 4.3 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Our bus takes us up the switchbacks of the Vršič Pass, the highest road in Slovenia. From here, we set out for Slemenova Špica, a grassy summit known for its photogenic view of Jalovec, sometimes called the Matterhorn of Slovenia.

The hike isn’t long, but the rewards are immense, with alpine flowers and panoramic ridges surrounding us throughout. We return to Kranjska Gora in the afternoon.

Distance:9 km / 5.6 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We’re off to Rudno Polje on the Pokljuka Plateau, a vast forested area within Triglav National Park. From here, we hike through fragrant spruce forests and open mountain pastures towards Zajamniki, one of the most photogenic mountain pasture settlements in Slovenia, famous for its traditional wooden shepherds huts.

We then continue to Uskovnica, another idyllic alpine pasture surrounded by meadows and forests.

Here, we have free time to relax at the mountain lodge, enjoying lunch or a traditional homemade dessert while soaking up the tranquil mountain atmosphere.

After our break, we complete our circular trail back through the forests and alpine meadows to Rudno Polje, where we meet our transfer back to our hotel.

Distance:12 km / 7.5 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Kompas (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

You’ve walked to waterfalls, traced rivers through narrow gorges, and stood at viewpoints high in the Julian Alps, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Hotel Kompas, Kranjska Gora

Handpicked for its excellent amenities and unrivalled location, Hotel Kompas is the ideal spot for a hiking adventure in the Julian Alps. When you’re not on the trails, unwind in the wellness centre, perhaps with a dip in the pool or a muscle-soothing moment in the sauna, or take a stroll through the gardens, enjoying wonderful views of the surrounding peaks.

At the hotel restaurant, there’s plenty of choice to fuel your activities, while the Ice Bar provides an excellent place to come together and bond with group, re-telling tales from the day.

The town of Kranjska Gora is a well-known adventure hotspot, for skiers in winter and hikers in summer. There are plenty of amenities in town, including a thriving food and drink scene.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Room upgrades: For even more comfort, Hotel Kompas offers room upgrades with a balcony. Please speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: All walks are on well-maintained paths, although some may have loose stones underfoot. Each day there are ascents and descents and three to four hours of walking. This tour is not recommended for those who suffer with vertigo.

Joining Instructions

Start hotel: Hotel Kompas, Borovška cesta 100, 4280 Kranjska Gora
Phone: +386 4 589 21 00
Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing around 6pm on Day 1, followed by a group dinner
Airport: Ljubljana Airport (LJU)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 50 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Consider taking the train

Reach this trip by train from the UK or across Europe and lower your carbon footprint. Our partner, Byway, can take care of the planning and booking.

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.

Traditional Slovenian cuisine is hearty and tasty, with plenty of stews, sausages and dumplings to fuel your hikes. Vegetarians are well catered for, but please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements.

Slovenia has a mixed alpine climate with summer temperatures of 18C-25C (64F-77F). In the mountains, cool mornings are normally followed by warm pleasant days, with temperatures in the Alps ideal for walking. During summer, afternoon showers reduce the humidity, giving way to clear skies and pleasant temperatures.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.