The Ultimate Julian Alps Walking Holidays

Today is all about settling in your comfortable hotel by the magical Lake Bled and exploring its surroundings on the doorstep of the Julian Alps. Depending on the time at your disposal, you can take a walk around the lake, try a bite of the famous local “kremšnita” creme cake, or visit the Bled Castle on a little hilltop overlooking the lakeside. Let the adventure begin!

The day will begin with a short and scenic hike to the top of the panoramic viewpoint above Lake Bled, Mt. Ojstrica. Being up there during sunrise rewards you with views like you’ve never seen before, but you’ll have to get up early! Then, you’ll walk across the fields above Bled to Vintgar Gorge, where Radovna River cut a deep ravine, which visitors can now traverse along a series of boardwalks fixed along the side of the steep stone walls. After a day filled with new experiences, you’ll return to Bled for another night at your hotel.

You’ll be moving bases today, taking a bus from Bled to Bohinj, which is less touristy but just as (or even more) stunning. Your first day in Bohinj includes a hike on Mt. Vogel, a famous Slovenian ski resort. You’ll hitch a cabin ride above Lake Bohinj, quickly gaining elevation, thus allowing you to enjoy a scenic and not-too-strenuous hike on the plateau above. The views include the quaint Bohinj Valley and Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. You’ll descend back to the valley and check into your hotel in Stara Fužina.

Your second day in Bohinj will introduce you to one of the most beautiful corners of the Julian Alps – the Voje Valley. The initial kilometres will lead you through the stunning Mostnica Gorge, where you can stand in awe of the rock shapes sculpted by the sheer power of water. The next part takes you along a quaint meadow with wooden shepherd’s huts dotting the landscape before you reach the booming Mostnica Waterfall at the end of the valley. Here, you’ll take a brief moment of serenity before returning to Stara Fužina.

You’ll take a free shuttle from Stara Fužina to Bohinjska Bistrica, from where there’s a train connection to Most na Soči. There, a private transfer will take you to Tolmin. After you check into your hotel, you’ll hike through the Tolmin Gorge, a scenic ravine delved by the Tolminka and Zadlaščica rivers. The gorges are the lowest entry point into the Triglav National Park but probably the most stunning as well. As today includes a lot of travelling, the hike itself is less strenuous and allows taking at a more relaxed pace.

After a night in Tolmin, you’ll catch a bus to Kobarid, home to the famous Kobarid Museum, displaying exhibits from the Isonzo front during World War I. Today’s hike begins with an ascent towards the idyllic village of Drežnica, which lies below the majestic Mount Krn on a small grassy plateau. Leaving Drežnica, you won’t follow the same path but take a different route, which will take you past the Kozjak Waterfall, a jewel of the Julian Alps, hidden in a charming amphitheatre. The path then circles back to Kobarid, crossing Napoleon’s Bridge across the emerald Soča River.

As you’ve seen everything there is to see in Kobarid, you’ll take a bus to Bovec, a year-round sports hub in the Soča Valley. First, you’ll check into your hotel, from where you’ll walk through the town towards the village of Plužna. There, a short shaded path will take you to the Virje Waterfall and the spring of the Gljun stream. It’s a peaceful spot, ideal for taking a short break and drinking in the calming surroundings of pristine nature. Then, you’ll continue towards Boka Waterfall, the mightiest and most water-rich waterfall in Slovenia. Afterward, you’ll hike back to Bovec for deserved rest.

In the morning, you’ll board a bus line connecting Bovec and Kranjska Gora. It will take you through the Soča Valley, where you’ll hop off at the stop near the Great Soča Gorges. From there, you’ll follow the scenic trail along the banks of the Soča River back to Bovec, crossing wooden bridges, listening to the humming of the river, and soaking in the scenery of Slovenia’s most beautiful valley. Upon returning, you’ll spend another night in Bovec.

A new day brings about a hike to one of the most scenic and easily accessible viewpoints in the Julian Alps – Slemenova Špica, which stands above Tamar Valley. A bus from Bovec will take you to the top of Vršič Pass, from where you’ll follow an ascending path to a saddle, from where the path weaves and undulates below the Mojstrovka mountains before making the final climb to the panoramic summit. Don’t let the hike’s length fool you, as the terrain is uneven and unforgiving, thus requiring sure-footedness. After returning to Vršič Pass, you’ll catch a new bus and end your day in Kranjska Gora.

From Kranjska Gora, you’ll follow a pleasant gravel footpath along the Pišnica stream, passing Lake Jasna and eventually reaching the entrance to Krnica Valley beneath the mighty mountain faces of the central Julian Alps. You can hike to the hut in the valley or continue upwards, ascending past the Russian Chapel beneath Vršič Pass. Soon, you’ll reach Visoki Mavrinc, a panoramic viewpoint offering a different perspective of the surrounding mountains. Then, it’s time to return back to your hotel.

Tamar Valley is one of Slovenia’s most beautiful glacial valleys and is home to the Planica Nordic Centre. Another short bus ride will bring you to Rateče, where the hike begins. You’ll head towards Mountain Lodge Tamar in the heart of the valley. You can enjoy the views of the northern faces of the towering Mojstrovka mountain peaks and Mt. Jalovec, the symbol of the Alpine Association of Slovenia. Then, you’ll retrace your steps and return to Kranjska Gora by bus.

Your holiday comes to an end, but you’ll be leaving Slovenia filled with new experiences and majestic views you witnessed over the last few days. To make the day as easy-going for you as possible, we can arrange a transfer to the airport or Ljubljana. Make sure to grab some souvenirs before you leave!