Slovenian Alps Walking Adventure

Settle into the serene mountain town of Kranjska Gora, a favourite base for walkers and adventure seekers. At around 6pm we meet our tour leader and fellow travellers – a relaxed first gathering to hear what lies ahead – before sitting down together for a warm Slovenian welcome dinner. If you would like extra time in Kranjska Gora or Ljubljana, you can arrange additional hotel nights before the tour with your sales representative.

Our opening hike leads into the Zelenci nature reserve, home to carnivorous plants, frogs and breeding birds. We follow paths on the western side to the emerald spring that gives the reserve its name, then continue into Planica Valley, passing one of the world’s most famous ski jumping hills. As we explore the valley, vertical slopes and white limestone peaks shine in the sun, and we return to Kranjska Gora on foot.

We travel to the village of Gozd Martuljek for a hike beneath the sharp spire of Špik. Two waterfalls steal the show here – the lower rushing through a rocky gorge, the upper plunging more than 360 ft (110 m) over a sheer white cliff. The route includes steps and bridges, rewarding us with views of jagged summits and tumbling water. Back in Kranjska Gora, the afternoon is free – you can relax or explore at your own pace.

We take the bus to Bled, a scenic town on the shores of Lake Bled wrapped by the Julian Alps. You have free time to climb to Bled Castle or stroll beside the water – and perhaps try the local cream cake. A 15 minute transfer then brings us to Vintgar Gorge, where we walk one of Slovenia’s loveliest trails, crossing small wooden bridges, passing pools and mini waterfalls, and ending with a view of the Šum waterfall. After the gorge, we enjoy a scenic walk around Lake Bohinj before returning to Kranjska Gora.

We begin just over the Italian border at the glacial Fusine Lakes. Our hike starts at Lago Superiore, where the water can mirror Mount Mangart on a clear day. We trace the shoreline to quieter Lago Inferiore, then climb a nearby trail for a panoramic view of both lakes framed by dense pine forest. Afterwards we return to the bus and cross back into Slovenia to Možnice Gorge, where a path threads between mossy boulders, wooden bridges and turquoise pools fed by mountain streams – a peaceful corner that lets us savour the alpine scenery in relative quiet.

Our bus winds up the Vršič Pass, the highest road in Slovenia, and we set out for Slemenova Špica, a grassy summit famed for its photogenic view of Jalovec, sometimes called the Matterhorn of Slovenia. The hike is not long, but the rewards are immense – alpine flowers, sweeping ridges and far reaching views – before we return to Kranjska Gora in the afternoon.

We drive through the countryside to the Kamniška Bistrica valley and ride the cable car to the pastures of Velika Planina – a journey with wide views of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the valley below. On the plateau we step into a traditional shepherds’ settlement of wooden huts. We visit the Preskar Museum, housed in a reconstructed shepherd’s hut, to learn about the herdsmen’s summer life, then enjoy a cheese making demonstration introducing trnič, the pear shaped cheese once decorated by shepherds for loved ones. We hike across meadows dotted with seasonal wildflowers before descending by cable car, and back in Kranjska Gora we share a farewell dinner at the hotel.

You have traced rivers through narrow gorges, walked to waterfalls and stood high above the Julian Alps – now it is time to begin your journey home. If you would like to extend your adventure, you can speak to your sales representative about available extension options.