Walking the Slovenian Alps

Begin your adventure in the tranquil mountain town of Kranjska Gora, a hub for hikers and adventure seekers. Around 6pm, say živijo (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather for the first time to hear more about the days ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Slovenian welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Kranjska Gora or Ljubljana? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Our first hike takes us into Zelenci, a wetlands reserve home to carnivorous plants, frogs and breeding birds. Hiking on the western side of the reserve, we find the emerald lake after which the nature reserve is named (zelenci means green) and continue to Planica Valley, passing one of the most famous ski-jumping hills in the world. Exploring the valley, we enjoy spectacular views of vertical slopes and white limestone mountains that sparkle in the sun. We return to Kranjska Gora on foot.

Travel to the village of Gozd Martuljek for a hike beneath the triangular spire of Špik mountain. Two waterfalls plunge dramatically here: the lower cascades through a rocky gorge, while the upper drops more than 360ft (110m) over a sheer white cliff. The route includes steps and bridges, rewarding us with views of jagged peaks and tumbling water. After returning, the afternoon is free to relax or explore Kranjska Gora.

Travel to Vintgar Gorge, where the Radovna River has cut a narrow course through limestone cliffs. The route through the gorge runs for 1mi (1.6km), following wooden walkways and bridges above the water, with pools, small falls and rock formations shaped by the river over thousands of years. The walk leads towards Šum Waterfall, a 43ft (13m) drop that gives the gorge a fitting finale. Later, we continue to Bled, where you have free time for lunch and your own choice of lake time. You might visit Bled Castle, walk part of the lakeshore, or take a traditional pletna boat to Bled Island, rowed standing up by a pletnar. After time to enjoy Bled at your own pace, we return to Kranjska Gora for the night.

Start today just over the Italian border at the glacial Fusine Lakes. Our hike begins at Lago Superiore, the upper lake, where the water is so clear it can reflect the snow-capped peak of Mount Mangart. Track the shoreline trail to Lago Inferiore, the slightly smaller and quieter of the two lakes, before hiking up a nearby trail for a panoramic view of both lakes framed by dense pine forest. Finishing, we return to the bus and cross back into Slovenia to Možnice Gorge, where the emerald tones of the Soca Valley and rugged cliffs set the stage for our next adventure. Here, a path leads between mossy boulders, wooden bridges and turquoise pools fed by mountain streams. It’s a quieter spot than some of Slovenia’s more famous valleys, giving us time to enjoy the alpine landscapes in peace.

Our bus takes us up the switchbacks of the Vršič Pass, the highest road in Slovenia. From here, we set out for Slemenova Špica, a grassy summit known for its photogenic view of Jalovec, sometimes called the Matterhorn of Slovenia. The hike isn’t long, but the rewards are immense, with alpine flowers and panoramic ridges surrounding us throughout. We return to Kranjska Gora in the afternoon.

Leave Kranjska Gora and travel towards Velika Planina, a high pasture in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps with one of Europe’s largest herdsmen’s settlements. Upon arrival, take the cable car up to the plateau, gaining height quickly as the valley drops away below us. The bottom cable-car station is near Kamnik, around 6mi (10km) away, and the cable car runs from Kamniška Bistrica. On the plateau, we visit Preskar Museum, set in a restored shepherd’s hut in the heart of the settlement. It gives us a closer look at the seasonal life of the herdsmen, who still bring cattle here to graze in the warmer months. We also watch a cheese-making demonstration introducing us to trnič, a pear-shaped cheese once carved with decorative patterns by shepherds for their loved ones. Later, we walk across the plateau, following trails between pastures and the distinctive wooden huts, with our tour leader helping us read the landscape. We then descend by cable car and drive back to Kranjska Gora for our farewell dinner.