Slovenia Alps Hiking Hut to Hut and More

You ready to put the LOVE in SLOVEnia, boo?! Welcome to the sunny side of the Alps, where you’ll first encounter Ljubljana – even more fun to pronounce when tipsy.

Ljubljana is the Capital of Slovenia with a population of around 300,000. It’s the largest city in the country, predating the freaking Romans, with an original city center that took shape in the Middle Ages. Grab your lute and your walking shoes as we explore charming narrow streets and the breathtaking banks of Ljubljanica River. On the top of the hill above the city, Ljubljana Castle guards the town while posing for all the Insta pics.

Take a stroll and have a drink on the riverbanks. Walk to the castle or take the funicular to take in the best view of Ljubljana from the top of the tower.

Your Explorer Chick crew will get together at 5PM for a saunter around town and a nice welcome dinner in one of the hip restaurants run by young talented chefs. Your guide will give you all the trip details to prepare you for max adventure!

Prediction: You’ll fall in love with the Ljubljana in under an hour.

Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel within 5 minute walking distance of City Centre, Shared Doubles
Meals: Welcome Dinner

Throw in a Katniss Everdeen braid, Explorer Chick, because you’re embarking on a three-day hut-to-hut hike, the best summer hike in the Julian Alps! The trail will take you off the beaten track, along forest paths and rocky mountain trails just beneath Slovenia’s highest mountain – Mt. Triglav.

First, you’ll cross mooing alpine pastures in the hills near Lake Bohinj, where you can taste and buy fresh cheese and sour milk at the small working farms you’ll pass. (Feel free to shout the word krava, Slovenian for cow!) Later on, you’ll ascend mountain passes and wonder why you don’t own a B&B in the Alps.

Your feet will feel lighter as you gain your highest elevation. The trail snakes alongside the mountains before it turns downhill. A short descent later, you’ll find yourself crossing wildflower-strewn mountain meadows dotted with lazing krava. Few people trek in this part of the Triglav National Park.

As your Explorer Chick mountain hut appears on the hillside, you’ll spy the highest mountain in Slovenia, Mt. Triglav (2864m) and enjoy the evening light over the jagged peaks of the Julian Alps.

Hiking Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3,300’+/820′-
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Drive Time: 1 hour

Accommodation: Mountain Hut. Rooms are 4-12 beds with flush toilets.
Meals: B-L-D

Emerge from your mountain hut, shimmy your bosom and pinch your bottom: You’re here! With the most amazing women on earth! Sip on coffee and enjoy the gorgeous morning vistas amongst goddesses. After a relaxing start to your day, continue with your trek.

You’ll warm up by walking along a hillside path through a dwarf pine forest. A gravel path will take you over rocky terrain through stunning alpine scenery to a high mountain pass. Catch your breath and enjoy the best view of Mount Triglav. Here you’ll have the chance to climb a fantastic peak (extra 1 hour and 250 meters altitude gain), which rewards you with breathtaking views over the highest summits of the Slovenian, Italian and Austrian Alps.

As the gravel path turns downhill, you’ll reach the valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes and find your mountain hut perched on a ledge high above the Soča Valley.

If your hips are willing, take an amazing 2 hour hike to Mt. Malo Spicje to enjoy one of the most beautiful and solitary views in the Julian Alps.

Hiking Distance: 6.5miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,800’+/2,100′-
Hiking Time: 7 hours

Accommodation: Mountain Hut. Rooms are 30 beds with pit toilets and no running water.
Meals: B-L-D

Memo to your thighs: It’s a gosh darn glorious downhill walking day. We start along the Valley of Seven Triglav Lakes – a valley of geological and biological importance, where you’ll spot karst mountain formations, fossils and endemic flowers. You won’t be able to miss the fur babies dotting the landscape around the trail. These are marmots (!) chillaxing on the sunny side of the rocks. If you don’t see them, you’ll hear their whistles.

You’ll leave the higher peaks behind and walk through lush forests and past beautiful mountain meadows. Our last mountain lunch will be enjoyed in a tiny hut before reaching the road and boarding a short transfer to Lake Bohinj.

Settle in our hotel close to the lake shore and gulp down an amazing terrace dinner.

Hiking Distance: 9miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 500’+/3,450′-
Hiking Time: 7 hours

Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel in Bohinj. Shared Doubles. Flush Toilets and Hot Showers!
Meals: B-L-D

Pop your stand-up-paddle cherry on Lake Bohinj! We’ll snag our boards near the hotel and enjoy the early morning peace as the first rays of sun zap the mist above the water.

Later we head back to the hotel for breakfast, check out and drive to Lake Bled. It’s just as beautiful IRL so make space in those camera rolls! We’ll hike to a popular viewpoint and photo spot of the lake, island church and clifftop castle, with the Karavanke Alps in the backdrop.

We’ll stop for lunch at the villa of the former Yugoslav president and communist leader, Tito. Get a sense of the communist flare and enjoy one of the best views of Bled’s island. Or jump into the water and swim to the island. You do you, Boo!

Our next quest is a scenic drive on a winding road among the limestone walls leading to the Vrsic mountain pass. The road was built by Russian prisoners during World War I! We’ll go for a short walk and learn more about the formative WWI events in the region.

We’ll reach a lovely alpine homestead embraced by the rugged peaks of the Julian Alps later in the afternoon for an early dinner and even better, we get to stay overnight! Do you live in a mountain fairytale now? Is this your hike-ily ever after? Yes and Yes.

Hiking Distance: Several Shorter Hikes
Total Driving Time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Alpine Homestead Stay in Soča. Shared Doubles.
Meals: B-L-D

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll enjoy a wonderful walk along the river, passing gorges, hanging bridges and turquoise river pools.

We will meet our flower-power friend Natasa, a local pharmacist, nature lover and wild flower specialist. She’ll show us all the edible wild plants that we’ll pick and prepare into a special picnic on the banks of the Soča river. Bonus: There’ll be ice cold beer from a local craft brewery!

In the afternoon we’ll swap the hiking shoes for neoprene and hop a rafting boat! Float along the Soča river and enjoy a completely different perspective! The water level is usually quite low in the summer, so the rafting experience will be pleasant vs adrenaline-pumping.

After rafting we’ll transfer one hour further south to reach the wine hills of Goriska Brda aka the “Slovenian Tuscany.” So you know what comes next!

Hiking Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 500’+/250′-
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Total Drive Time: 1.5 hours

Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel in Goriska Brda. Shared Doubles.
Meals: B-L-D

Today we explore Goriska Brda with two wheels in the dirt and our glasses in the air! Hop aboard your e-bike and zoom across the wine hills, through fruit orchards, olive groves and hilltop villages.

We will make stops along the way until we get to the part you’ve been waiting for: wine tasting! Slovenian wine makers take their work super seriously yet without a hint of snobbery. We will visit an amazing local winery, sample orange wine (whaaaaat?!) and enjoy a fabulous farewell dinner overlooking the vineyards.

E-Biking Distance: 25 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,300’+/2,300′-

Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Goriska Brda. Shared Doubles.
Meals: B-L-D

After an easy morning and final breakfast, we’ll head back to Ljubljana with one drop off at the airport and then to our rendezvous hotel. Plan flights after 2pm.

*Sniff

We hope…*Tear

…to see you soon…*Snot Bubble

…for more boundless adventures!

Total Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Meals: B

Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.