adventures from the julian Alps to the majestic Soca River Valley
Hiking in Slovenia
Overview
From the high mountains of the Julian Alps to seaside villages of Venetian Gothic architecture on the Adriatic, Slovenia is simply gorgeous—and perfect for a WT-style adventure. We’ll enjoy a fantastic mix of landscapes and discover a culture rich with folklore as we hike among the pristine glacier lakes of Triglav National Park, along the emerald waters of the Soca River, and in the grand Logarska Dolina valley. We’ll also visit the renowned town of Kobarid, where Hemingway set A Farewell to Arms. It’s hard to put into words just how green, beautiful, and unspoiled Slovenia is—come see for yourself!
Arrive: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Depart: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Highlights
- Enjoy superb hikes in an uncrowded alpine realm of Old World villages
- Hike in the glacial valley of Logarska Dolina, with its amphitheater of steep peaks
- Cross Lake Bled by gondola, enjoy beautiful Piran on the sunny Adriatic Coast
- Follow a trail through the Soca River Valley, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Slovenia
- Savor exceptional cuisine with both Italian and Austrian influences
Itinerary
From Ljubljana, a fairytale town of red-tile roofs topped by a hilltop castle, we head to Ptuj, the oldest recorded town in Slovenia. We’ll take a vineyard hike, enjoy a private wine tasting, and explore Ptuj’s pedestrian-friendly medieval center.
We hike in the grandeur of Logarska Dolina, a magnificent glacial valley flanked by 6,000-foot peaks. It’s one of the most stunning natural settings in Europe, dotted with traditional farmsteads dating back hundreds of years.
In Renaissance-era Radovljica, we’ll taste honey at its beekeeping museum and hike along the Radovna River. A gondola ride brings us across alpine Lake Bled, and at mountain-ringed Lake Bohinj, we hike along the tumbling green Mostnica River.
We enjoy a day’s hike along the breathtaking Soca River, one of the most beautiful in Europe, visit the village of Drežnica, dramatically set below Mt. Krn, and explore historic Kobarid, where a young Hemingway documented the 1917 Battle of Caporetto.
In Slovenia’s karst landscape, we walk through the Škocjan Caves, a World Heritage Site, then head to medieval Piran, where cafes line the seafront promenade. One afternoon, we’ll boat out to Piran Bay’s wetland reserve and visit the historic salt flats at Secovlje. Depart on Day 12 via Ljubljana.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is a hiking journey with day hikes on most days over moderate to steep terrain, including rocky and uneven trails. The hiking itinerary is planned in advance, but as with any mountain trip, we need to remain flexible with regard to weather and other conditions in selecting our daily hiking routes.
Average Hiking Day
- 4 miles
- 2-3 hour
- 800' ascent/descent
Some of the trails are on rocky and uneven ground, including a combination of gravel roads, forest paths (with attendant roots), riverside paths, and typical alpine mountain trails. The majority of our hikes are in the alpine valleys and forests, but on our hikes in the Logar Valley and the Pokljuka Plateau we encounter real mountain terrain, with some rocks and steep paths. On two hikes, we cross a suspension bridge across the Soca River. It is important that your footwear be comfortable with a good hiking sole and hiking poles are beneficial on many days. On non-hiking days, we'll still be on foot for many hours as we explore the towns and sites.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
The months we run these trips are the optimal ones, weather-wise. However, mountain weather is fickle. The weather can range from blue skies with the temperature in the 60s°F and 70s°F to cloudy, wet, cold days on which rain gear and wool garments are necessary. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. Summer can be hot, and rain can occur at any time; there is a chance of snow in the mountains in May.
We stay in a variety of hotels. Rooms in these hotels are not always of uniform or international size. However, our leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that single rooms in European hotels tend to be small by US standards.
Cuisine in Slovenia is varied and excellent. Logarska Dolina and Bohinj have an Austrian influence, while the Soca River and Adriatic regions are Italian in style, with seafood and pasta. Wine is excellent throughout the country. In the north, there are mostly dry white wines, and as we approach the coast, more reds are produced in the Vipava Valley and the coast. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Most of our driving is on narrow mountain roads. There are several days with early starts (ready to go by 8:00 am!).
Client Testimonials
"The lodging was ideal, and it was wonderful having the meals included, especially the breakfast spreads at each of the hotels. The treats during hikes were not expected but were much appreciated, and they were timed perfectly!"
Amber K.
North Olmsted, OH
"This was a beautifully designed, well executed trip supported brilliantly by the two Trip Leaders and the van driver."
Barry G.
New York, NY
"A superb combination of cultural, sightseeing, and hiking that let me experience the beauty and uniqueness of Slovenia."
Bill R.
Winter Haven, FL
"This was our third trip with WT, and another memorable experience. Well organized, beautiful country, good hikes, good food, good memories. Thanks!"
Bruce H.
Santa Fe, NM
"Slovenia should be on everyone's list of places to travel. It's beautiful and WT's itinerary couldn't be better. It's a rich combination of hiking, culture, and adventure. We loved the museums, castles, salt pans, etc. in addition to the challenging hikes."
CB B.
Santa Fe, NM
"This trip was an excellent mix of hiking, culture, and food. We got to experience many different aspects of Slovenia. As we have come to expect with WT, both guides were excellent and worked very well together. They were enthusiastic, had a good sense of humour and were proud of their country. The trip was well organized and we learned a lot from them about Slovenia."
David P.
Stratford N5A 5C1, ON
"Loved the location of the hotels, away from the large tour group areas—they were in the old town areas where we could easily walk around on our own and get a feel for daily life there."
Denice S.
Newbury Park, CA
"I loved every aspect of this trip. Beautiful land, challenging hikes, delicious local food, just enough local cultural highpoints, and very important, great guides!"
Denice S.
Newbury Park, CA
"Outstanding trip leaders and itinerary, beautiful scenery and hikes, wonderful food and wine, and a delightful group made this one of my favorite trips with Wilderness Travel!"
Don M.
Atlanta, GA
"Beautiful country, wonderful guides, very good group, good hikes!"
Fred F.
Denver, CO
"The landscapes, cityscapes, hiking, food, and guides were all wonderful."
Jack and Priscilla H.
Tyler, TX
"A first class operation!"
Jane K.
Wilmington, DE
"Thank you for a wonderful adventure! I had an overwhelmingly positive experience with all elements of this trip, and will certainly consider Wilderness Travel for future trips."
Jean L.
Gettysburg, PA
"One of the best trips I”ve taken in years—my 10th WT trip. From beginning to end, lots of variety."
Jim and Jenna B.
Arlington, VA
"Much more than a hiking trip, this was a great overall introduction to Slovenia, a charming little country the size of New Jersey. It was a great opportunity to visit many of the country's regions, explore its food and wine, and hike in some interesting places."
John K.
APO New York, AE
"This was my first Wilderness Travel experience and I couldn't have asked for more. The guides were knowledgable, caring, and a whole lot of fun to travel with. Slovenia was breathtakingly beautiful and the variety of locations and special experiences that we had really made the trip exiting. I feel as though the trip really fed my soul."
Joyce P.
Ukiah, CA
"This was my first Wilderness Travel experience and I couldn't have asked for more. The guides were knowledgable, caring, and a whole lot of fun to travel with. Slovenia was breathtakingly beautiful and the variety of locations and special experiences that we had really made the trip exciting. I feel as though the trip really fed my soul."
Joyce P.
Ukiah, CA
"Fabulous experience all around! Thank you for all of the behind the scenes efforts that make a trip like this feel seamless!"
Julie F.
Mission Viejo, CA
"We were blown away by Slovenia...it is a beautiful and charming country. It was a very special trip with many fond memories!"
Julie G.
Sykesville, MD
"This was my 9th WT trip—certainly one of the best. I did not want this trip to end!"
Karen J.
Madison, WI
"This was our 5th WT adventure and our best yet. The trip did a fantastic job of showcasing the beauty of Slovenia, the outstanding hiking trails, the culture, and history of such a magical country, as well as the delicious food, whether served in the alpine huts, the tiny villages, or the best hotels."
Kathy and Jack M.
Woodbridge, VA
"I loved this trip! Slovenia is such a beautiful country and this trip is designed to see the country's different landscapes (mountains, valleys, gorges, rivers), cities/towns and historical sites. The trip was a perfect mix of hiking, cultural exploration, and, of course, delicious food and wine!"
Lee R.
New York, NY
"Slovenia is so beautiful and I am so happy that I chose to travel to this beautiful, quiet, graceful country filled with beautiful forests, mountains, wine, and delicious food."
Maggie C.
Naples, FL
"The thing I liked best was how unspoiled Slovenia was: cosmopolitan but clean and inviting. Being able to hike in places where there were virtually no other groups was a huge plus."
Magrieta W.
Bloomfield, CT
"LOVED IT! This trip exceeded my expectations in every regard—beautiful country, amazing hikes, history, culture, fresh and healthy food, wine, friendship, and laughter. A fabulous trip in itself, very much enhanced by our trip leaders' knowledge and passion and a fun group and diverse group of fellow travelers. I laughed so hard on this trip that my stomach hurt!"
Mary Jo B.
Aurora, CO
"Slovenia is beautiful and I highly recommend this trip."
Mary M.
Stillwater, MN
"My first impression of Slovenia was positive and I owe it to our guides, and driver—all were professional, yet a lot of fun to talk to. The food, hiking, hotels, and transport were excellent!"
Paula M.
Aurora, OH
"I learned so much about Slovenia on this trip—I wasn't even aware it existed before I read about the trip! It was wonderful in every respect. My only regret is that the scope and breadth of its beautiful landscape could not be captured on my camera."
Susan H.
Minneapolis, MN
"Slovenia is an underrated, unspoiled, and unbelievable hiking destination. We are from Colorado we we know the mountains! It was wonderful and we fully enjoyed it. The guides (plus our driver Micho) made the trip a great pleasure."
Susan O.
Grand Junction, CO
"We feel like we saw the best Slovenia had to offer—a fantastic mixture of hiking, towns, history, and culture. It's astonishing that Slovenia is still somewhat ‘unknown’ among travelers; go quickly before everyone discovers it!"
Suzanne and Brady M.
Friendswood, TX
"This was a terrific trip, one of the best we've ever been on—a perfect blend of hiking and cultural activities. We definitely plan on taking more WT trips."
Suzette L.
Lafayette, CA
"This trip was exactly why we look to Wilderness Travel first when we are planning our trips. Super guides, an active and diverse itinerary, and an overall excellent experience."
Terry R.
Milwaukee, WI
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.