Julian Alps of Slovenia
Drive & Hike Tour
Holiday Type:
Drive & Hike
When:
June to October
Centres:
Kranjska Gora & Lake Bohinj
Length:
7 days (suggested)
Grade:
Flexible
2024 Price:
From £ 990.00
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Hike amongst the rocky peaks of the Triglav National Park
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Walk up to the panoramic viewpoint of Slemenova Špica
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Enjoy the slower, relaxed pace of the Slovenian Alps
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Wander the natural flower gardens above Lake Bohinj
The Julian Alps of Slovenia are perfect for those looking for a quieter, but no less spectacular, corner of the Alps. Dramatic limestone peaks rise steeply above sparkling lakes and wildflower meadows - topped off by Triglav (2,864m), the highest mountain in Slovenia. Abundant wildlife can be found here - marmots, chamois, ibex are common sightings. Very different to many other Alpine destinations, Slovenia offers a slower pace of life, where villages are quieter and footpaths less busy.
Our Drive and Hike itinerary makes the most of the area, staying first in the village of Kranjska Gora, sitting between the Karavanke range and the Julian Alps. From here it’s a short drive up to the Vršič Pass, from which you can head into the high mountains, firstly up to the panoramic viewpoint of Slemenova Špica. Your second base is in the Lake Bohinj area - situated in the Triglav National Park. An excellent base for accessing the Julian Alps from the south side, along with the lower Bohinj mountains and their beautiful, natural flower gardens.
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Our Drive & Hike holidays take you to some of the best hiking destinations in Europe, on a self-drive basis, giving you complete flexibility to travel on your own timetable. Spend a few nights in each location, in comfortable accommodation, rather than checking in and out daily. Our itineraries are designed to feature walks which are all within approximately 1 hour’s drive of your accommodation, with a few hours’ driving whenever you change location. Our packages include a hire car as default, but you are also welcome to use your own vehicle if you prefer.
Each day we have set out a specific hiking route which makes the most of the area. A detailed guidebook, map, online mapping and GPX route is provided for each route. However, as this is a self-guided trip, you can of course choose an alternative hike, depending on your preference, and perhaps the weather! Your information pack will therefore also include plenty of alternative hiking routes in each area, of varying difficulty.
Photo Gallery
Julian Alps of Slovenia Itinerary
▼ Day 1: Arrive in Kranjska Gora
Arrive in Kranjska Gora, in the upper Sava valley. With the Julian Alps on the South side, and the Karavanke range on the North, it makes a great base for hiking in the area. Ljubljana and its international airport is a mere 1 hour drive away. Alternatively, it’s 2.5 hours to Venice and the same to Zagreb.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kranjska Gora
▼ Day 2: Ciprnik from Kranjska Gora
11.5km & 157m ascent (7.1 miles & 515ft)
From Kranjska Gora make use of local chairlifts to cut the most of the ascent off the climb up the mountain of Ciprnik, which sits to the South West of the town. From the top of the cable car, it’s a relaxed walk with panoramic views along the Vitranc ridge, to the Ciprnik summit - the perfect spot for a lunch break with sweeping vistas of the Julian Alps. From here, drop into the beautiful Planica valley, filled with flower meadows and pasture, for a gentle walk back to Kranjska Gora.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kranjska Gora
▼ Day 3: Slemenova Špica from the Vršič Pass
5km & 380m ascent (3.1 miles & 1246ft)
From Kranjska Gora make the 25 minute drive up to the top of the Vršič Pass - a brilliant launching point for walks in the Julian Alps. We recommend hiking to Slemenova Špica, a stunning viewpoint amongst mountain grassland and limestone peaks - arguably the best in Slovenia. The spot has a great feeling of wilderness, for what is a relatively easy walk.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kranjska Gora
▼ Day 4: Kranjska Gora to Lake Bohinj, via Lake Bled
Approximately a 1 hour drive
The drive from Kranjska Gora to Lake Bohinj is a little over an hour, so we would recommend stopping for a walk around Lake Bled along the way (a 1 to 2 hour walk). It’s a popular area, but justifiably so - the picturebook setting of a church, on an island, in a lake, with a backdrop of rolling hills, is difficult to dislike. Arrive at Lake Bohinj, a great base for exploring the Julian Alps from the South side.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel near Lake Bohinj
▼ Day 5: Triglav Lakes Valley and Hut
12.3km & 1229m ascent (7.6 miles & 4032ft)
A short drive from your accommodation will take you to Savica. From here it’s a fairly steep start up through the Komarča crags, with a possible diversion to the beautiful Slap Savica waterfall. Soon the terrain will flatten out a bit, and you’ll begin a more gradual ascent into the Triglav Lakes Valley, a wonderland of quiet forest and open hillside. Your objective is the Triglav Lakes Hut, overlooking the twin lakes of Dvojno jezero, where you can try some local specialities for lunch.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel near Lake Bohinj
▼ Day 6: Črni Prst from Ravne
9.4km & 1110m ascent (5.8 miles & 3641ft)
Make the short drive to Ravne this morning, from which you can start your ascent of Črni Prst. The peak is a wonderful viewpoint, but make sure to look out for the fields of beautiful wildflowers, for which this area is famous.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel near Lake Bohinj
▼ Day 7: Depart from Lake Bohinj
Similarly to Kranjska Gora, Lake Bohinj is a short (1 hour 20 mins) drive to Ljubljana and its international airport. Alternatively, it’s 3 hours to Zagreb and 3.5 to Venice.
Julian Alps of Slovenia Route Map
What’s Included?
✔ 6 nights accommodation
✔ Breakfast every morning
✔ 7 Days Hire Car
✔ Detailed Itinerary, Map & Guidebook
✔ GPX Waypoints and online mapping
✔ 24/7 Emergency Phone Number
What’s not Included?
X Travel Insurance
X Flights to and from the holiday
X Lunches
Optional Extras
? Rail Transport to and from the holiday
? Taxi Transfers to and from the holiday
? Luggage Transfers
Accommodation & Prices
On our Drive & Hike itineraries we aim to book all accommodations on a B&B basis. However, we will always ensure that there are options for dinner either at your accommodation or nearby, and provide restaurant recommendations in your information pack. Our packages are priced on the assumption of an Economy Manual Hire Car - please just let us know if you would prefer to upgrade or remove this.
Standard
2024 Price: from £ 990.00 GBP per person (Request a Quote)
Accommodation will be in en-suite rooms, in a mixture of 2 to 3 star hotels, or good quality, comfortable Guest Houses.
Luxury
2024 Price: from £ 1,355.00 GBP per person (Request a Quote)
Accommodation will be in en-suite rooms, in a mixture of luxury 4* star hotels, or boutique Guest Houses.
FAQs
What is a self-guided holiday? When is the best time to travel? How do I get to the start of my holiday?
Please head to our FAQs page for all answers. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call with any questions about our holidays.