Julian Alps Highlights

Our self-guided itinerary allows you to travel on your preferred dates (subject to availability), with private transfers and advice from our locally based staff. You’ll be picked up each day with a private transfer at times arranged to suit your walking pace and abilities. We’ll provide you with a briefing to get you started, the resources you’ll need to stay safe, two transfers each day and book great accommodation for you where you’ll have breakfast provided each day.

Welcome to Slovenia! Today you make your way to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city. Arrive early to explore the area. This small city hosts an array of vibrant cafes, squares, bars and shops and is best explored on foot or by bike. Perched high above the city is Ljubljana Castle, the city’s main attraction, perfect for delving into Slovenian history and admiring the superb views over the city below.

On your first evening you will meet our local representative for a welcome drink and briefing. You’ll hear more about your itinerary, what to expect along the way and you’ll also have the opportunity to ask any last-minute questions. Afterwards, feel free to head out to  discover the culinary delights of Ljubljana.

The morning starts with a 1-hour transfer to the ski town of Kranjska Gora. Here you will enter the Triglav National Park, one of the largest national reserves in Europe. Enjoy hiking beautiful trails surrounded by epic limestone peaks, including some of the highest in Slovenia, as you make your way towards the central Julian Alps. This pristine wilderness offers majestic views from every angle. As you approach Vršič Pass and your cosy mountain hut accommodation, you’ll hike through beautiful beech, spruce and larch forests. Vršič Pass sits at 1611m and is an incredibly scenic spot to rest for the night.

1020m ascent, 320m descent

Meals: B

• There is an option to extend today’s hike with an additional 3km (300m ascent).
• Accommodation in the mountain hut is shared (max 4-bed dorm). Waking up in this stunning location makes the shared accommodation worth it.

You set off early today on a lovely hike to Slemenova Spica through peaceful, flower-filled valleys to enjoy one of the best views in the Julian Alps. On a clear day you will be able to see Austria and Italy in the distance. Continuing on, your route descends steeply on narrow trails to the stunningly beautiful Soča Valley. Once you have reached the source of the Soča River, you follow the trail through the valley to the rustic homestead that will be your accommodation for the night. Here expect a warm welcome from your hosts Joži and Mitja, who will show you to your charming log cabin, nestled in a beautiful meadow beneath the Jalovec Peak, before serving up a traditional homemade dinner.

650m ascent, 1400m descent

Meals: B

This morning you leave your little alpine haven behind and follow pretty trails through lush vegetation, alongside the Soča River. You will cross several hanging bridges over water that varies in colour from ice-blue to turquoise and emerald. It is no exaggeration to say that the Soča River is one of the most beautiful in the world. Here you can rest a little, taking your time to relax in a nice hidden spot. In the late afternoon you will take a short transfer to reach Bovec, Slovenia’s ‘outdoor sports capital’. This is an area where adventurous visitors hike, bike, raft, kayak and ski. Your evening meal is in your hands tonight, with several great options around town to choose from.

250m ascent, 680m descent

Meals: B

This day can be shortened with a taxi transfer (at your own expense) to skip the last section.

A large part of this picturesque stage runs along the left bank of the Soča river, finishing in the tiny mountain village of Drežnica. You will walk past the charming Virje Waterfall to the magical world of Narnia – literally, as this area was the setting for part of Walt Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. At the majestic Boka Waterfall, hundreds of cubic metres of water plummet into the valley below from a height of 106m. The trail then follows the emerald-green Soča River again, before ascending to Drežnica village with its iconic church located below the mighty Mount Krn.

Meals: B

630m ascent, 550m descent

Today’s hike climbs to the foothills of Mount Krn, scene of many WWI battles. However, now it is a place of peace and serenity and home to several Alpine dairy farms producing tasty mountain cheeses during summer. A long descent brings you to the town of Tolmin, which rests at the confluence of the turquoise Soča and Tolminka rivers and is famous for holding various music festivals.

750m ascent, 1100m descent

Meals: B

Today you will walk your final section along the beautiful Soča river and begin your first section of the Juliana Trail. It is a flat and easy path from Tolmin to Most na Soči. From here, you will board a train for a 40-minute journey through lovely countryside and a series of tunnels before reaching the Bohinj region on the other side of the Julian Alps. After disembarking, you have a relaxing afternoon walk ahead of you. You’ll walk beautiful meadows and enjoy the stunning mountain views before reaching your hotel on the shore of Lake Bohinj. Less crowded than the more well-known Bled, Bohinj Lake is a tranquil oasis, perfect for swimming, canoeing and evening ambles.

400m ascent, 400m descent

Meals: B

Another glorious day of hiking the Juliana Trail awaits you today. The path starts flat and follows the lovely Bohinj Valley, through typical local villages and past iconic hayracks. These wooden structures are primarily used for drying fodder (animal food) and other products like maize and can be seen dotted through the fields. Further on you’ll ascend to the Pokljuka Plateau, one of the loveliest viewpoints above Lake Bohinj and an ideal spot for a picnic. You will continue on through charming alpine hamlets to a local mountain hotel in the heart of the Triglav National Park, surrounded by dense spruce forests.

1000m ascent, 280m descent

Meals: B

Beautiful trails await you on the last day of your hike. The trail takes you through extensive spruce forests and several Alpine meadows where you will be able to try local cheeses. Enjoy the spectacular sight of the local shepherd’s cottages being framed by mountain backdrops. After a long descent you’ll be at the steep walls of Pokljuka Gorge. From here, continue through small traditional villages all the way to the shores of the picture-perfect Lake Bled, where you spend your last night of the trip.

Located at the foothills of the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s main attractions. It’s a great place for sports activities like hiking and biking, and you can also swim, row or stand-up-paddle across the lake to explore the famous island and its church. Don’t forget a visit to the medieval castle that sits high above the lake – it is rumoured to be the oldest castle in Slovenia. Perhaps sign off from your hiking adventure with a glass of Slovenian wine matched with a local cheese to celebrate.

180m ascent, 950m descent

Meals: B

Your tour ends this morning after breakfast.

Meals: B

Looking for more or less on your walk? We can customise and provide flexibility around your travel plans. Speak with us today to design your trip.

• 8 nights accommodation in hotels or mountain lodges with ensuite bathrooms
• 1 night in a mountain hut: 4-bed dorm rooms with shared bathroom
• All transfers as per the itinerary ( except local train day 7)
• Transfer from Soča River to Bovec on Day 4
• Daily luggage transfers
• 9 breakfasts
• RAW Travel’s exclusive interactive navigation app
• 24-hour emergency support contact in Slovenia and Australia

• Single supplement – ask for a quote if you would like a single room (no private room available for one night at mountain hut)
• Train tickets on day 7 for local train transfer
• Lunches and dinners
• Travel insurance
• Flights