Adventures from the Julian Alps to the Majestic Soča River Valley
Hiking in Slovenia
Overview
From the jagged granite summits of the Julian Alps to villages of Venetian Gothic architecture on the Adriatic, Slovenia is simply gorgeous—and still relatively undiscovered by travelers, which makes it perfect for a WT adventure. We enjoy a fantastic mix of history and culture as we hike amid the pristine glacier lakes and waterfalls of Triglav National Park and in the idyllic valley of the emerald-green Soča River, said by many to be Europe’s most beautiful river. We’ll also visit the pretty 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 Soča River Valley, one of the most beautiful natural spectacles in Slovenia
- Savor exceptional cuisine with both Italian and Austrian influences
Itinerary
From Ljubljana, a fairy-tale town of red-tile roofs dominated by a hilltop castle, we head to the charming town of Ptuj for a vineyard hike, lunch at an organic farm, and a private wine tasting.
We’ll set out for hikes in 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 stone cottages and traditional farmsteads.
In the Renaissance-era town of Radovljica, we’ll taste honey at its unique beekeeping museum and hike along the Radovna River. A gondola ride brings us across alpine Lake Bled to the tiny church-topped island at its center, and at mountain-ringed Lake Bohinj, our trail leads through a deep gorge along the tumbling green Mostnica River.
We enjoy a day’s hike along the breathtaking Soča River and into the pristine Soca River Valley, visit the peaceful 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 Ŝkocjan 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 Sečovlje. 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 Level 3, Moderate. It is a hiking journey with day hikes on most days over moderate to steep terrain. You will carry just a daypack on the hikes. 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.
Review Trip Level Details
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
"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
"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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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.