Hiking Slovenia's lakes and valleys | Kranjska Gora - Bled

8 days

Duration

Easy to Moderate

Difficulty

Slovenia

Location

April-October

Availability

Hike through Slovenia’s flower-filled alpine valleys beneath the snow-capped mountain peaks

Cool off with refreshing swims in the crystal-clear alpine lakes

Criss-cross the swirling Radovna River on the 1600 m wooden walkway through the Vintgar Gorge

Pop into Austria and Italy at the triple-border summit of Mt. Peč

Visit Medieval castles, churches and traditional mountain villages

Self-guided walking in the Triglav National Park

A hiking holiday through glorious alpine scenery with stunning panoramic vistas. The highlights of this walk are the famous Lake Bled, with its picture-perfect island church, and of course Mt. Triglav National Park – one of the largest national reserves in Europe. This is a pristine and enchanting world of rocky mountain peaks, river gorges, ravines, lakes, canyons, caves, rivers, waterfalls, forests and Alpine meadows. You will begin in the famous ski resort of Kranjska Gora and enjoy a couple of beautiful walks in the Jasna Valley and to the summit of Mt. Peč, a 1,508 m high peak, located at the triple border between Slovenia, Italy and Austria. Your trip finishes by the blue-green waters of Lake Bohinj; the largest lake in Slovenia and the jewel in the heart of the Triglav National Park.

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

From €865 per person sharing*

*Discounts are available for children (under 12) and for a third adult sharing
*A high season supplement of €25 will apply from 13 May – 15 Sept
*A single supplement charge will apply to solo walkers

ACCOMMODATION

In 3* and 4* family-run hotels with en-suite rooms, on a bed and breakfast basis.

AVAILABILITY

You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April 15^th and October 14^th.

INCLUDED

7 nights in 3* or 4* hotels in double rooms
7 x breakfasts
Transfers on days 3, 4 and 6 as per itinerary
Luggage transfers between hotels
Detailed route notes and maps (in electronic form)
GPS tracks
Local tourist and other taxes
Backup service (hotline) during the walk

NOT INCLUDED

Flights and travel insurance
Airport transfers
Lunches & dinners
Personal expenses (drinks, phone calls, tips, etc.)

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Additional nights before, during or after the walk
Single room supplement
Set of printed route notes & maps on arrival (€30)
Transfer from Ljubljana airport to Kranjska Gora (€110 1-3 people or €140 4-8 people)
Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana airport (€130 1-3 people or €170 4-8 people)

DIFFICULTY

This is a collection of easy valley floor and forest-covered hillside walks. Though in an alpine area, no climbing experience or equipment is necessary. The route passes through the most well-known Slovene alpine towns and villages; more than half of the walks are done within the central area of Slovenia’s only national park.

Suitable for hikers of very average fitness and highly recommended for photography enthusiasts.

Day 1: Arrival in Kranjska Gora

The popular ski resort of Kranjska Gora, most famous for hosting the annual World Cup Slalom every January, is the starting point for this tour. You will spend your first night here in the shadows of the mighty western Julian Alps.

Overnight: Kranjska Gora, 3* family-run hotel

Day 2: Jasna Valley loop walk

Distance: 17 km | Ascent/Descent: 400 m | Alpine walk

Your warm up walk will take you out past the first of many beautiful lakes you’ll visit on this trip: Lake Jasna. With the jagged peaks of the Julian Alps behind it, Lake Jasna is the perfect spot for relaxing. But save it for the walk back because there’s more ahead. Continuing along the trail to the end of the Jasna Valley, you’ll be greeted by the incredibly scenic surroundings of the Prisank and Razor Mountains. A typical hiker’s lunch can be enjoyed in Krnica hut. You’ll return via the “Russian Chapel” dedicated to Russian POWs who died during WW1 building the military road over Vršič Pass.

Overnight: Kranjska Gora, 3* family-run hotel

Day 3: Podkoren – Triple Border

Distance: 15 km | Ascent/Descent: 640 m | Forest and mountain meadows trail

This walk takes you along forest and mountain meadows to the summit of Mt. Peč (1,508 m) where the Slovenia, Italy and Austria borders meet. At the top you can soak up the dramatic views across the Julian and Carnian Alps, with Hohe Tauern, the highest alpine range in Austria, forming a picturesque backdrop. The trail then descends through the valley to the source of the beautiful Sava River, the longest in Slovenia, back to Kranjska Gora.

Overnight: Kranjska Gora, 3* family-run hotel

Day 4: Radovna Valley – Vintgar Gorge – Lake Bled

Distance: 11 km | Ascent/Descent: 200 m | Valleys & meadows

After breakfast, you will be driven through the lush Radovna Valley, an untouched wilderness between the Pokljuka and Mežakla plateaus. You will be dropped off at the start of the stunning 1.6km Vintgar Gorge, carved 150 m deep into the mountains by the Radovna River. The trail leads along a wooden walkway through the gorge and onwards to the world-famous Lake Bled, via the lovely Katarina Church viewpoint. Your hotel is on the western side of the town, overlooking the lake

Overnight: Bled, 4* family-run hotel

Day 5: Lake Bled – Bohinjska Bela – Bled

Distance: 15 km | Ascent/Descent: 270 m | Hillsides and panoramic walk

Today you will take a leisurely stroll into Bled, a popular town on the shore of a beautiful glacial lake, with its unique island church sitting proudly in the lake, and the castle perched high upon a cliff standing guard over the town. A short panoramic walk can be taken to the villages of Kupljenik and Bela. For the best photos of the lake, castle and Karawanke range, photographers will want to hike up to the Mala Osojnica viewpoint from the western side of the lake. End the day with the local speciality – the cream cake “Kremšnita” – in one of the great little lakeside tea shops.

Overnight: Bled, 4* family-run hotel

Day 6: Pokljuka – Lake Bohinj

Distance: 12 km | Ascent/Descent: 200 m | Mountain meadows & treeline walk

You will be driven up to the Pokljuka Plateau, where you will begin your hike across mountain pastures and past old farmhouses where you will come to a viewing point providing outstanding views into the Bohinj Valley. As you descend, you can stop at the little historic village of Studor, where you can visit the museum and see how people lived 150 years ago. Your final destination is Lake Bohinj, the jewel in the heart of the Triglav National Park, and the small settlement of Ribčev Laz (Fisherman’s Pass).

Overnight: Bohinj, 4* family-run hotel

Day 7: Lake Bohinj

Distance: 16/23 km | Lakeside and valley walk

Spend the day strolling around this wonderful, tranquil alpine lake setting, in the shadows of the immense mountain peaks of the Julian Alps. Warm weather permitting, you can swim in its crystal-clear water. Try the delicious Bohinj trout. At the western end of the lake is a short trail up to Savica Waterfall, the source of the lake and the Sava Bohinjka river. Then you can take the cable car up to the 1.532 m-high Vogel Mountain for a spectacular view of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in the Julian Alps. Spend the evening in one of the cosy village pubs and try the local homemade honey brandy.

Overnight: Bohinj, 4* family-run hotel

Day 8: Departure after breakfast

Getting to Kranjska Gora

	The closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). From the airport, you can travel to Kranjska Gora by bus (change once in Kranj, takes about 3 hrs) or book a taxi transfer (faster). Transfers need to be ordered when booking the trip.
	The nearest railway stations are Tarvisio / Italy (useful for arrivals from Trieste or Venice), Villach / Austria (for arrivals from Munich or Vienna) or Jesenice / Slovenia for arrivals from Ljubljana.
	Flixbus stops at Lake Bled, 42 km away.
	If travelling by car, take exit Karavanke from the A1 motorway Ljubljana – Jesenice, Karavanke and then follow signposts to Kranjska Gora. From the motorway Villach – Venice, take exit Tarvisio in Italy or exit Villach West in Austria. Unguarded parking at first hotel for the duration of your trip costs 5 EUR per night.

Getting from Bohinj

	A return transfer to Ljubljana airport from Bohinj is available for 130 EUR for 1-3 people or 170 EUR for 4-8 people. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to book this.
	Bohinj has a railway station at Bohinjska Bistrica, 5 km from your last hotel. It is on the Jesenice – Nova Gorica sideline, only a few trains a day. Useful for travel in all directions.
	If your car is in Kranjska Gora, you can get there by local bus (change once in Lesce, travel time is around 2 hrs) or we can transfer you for 130 EUR 1-3 people or 170 EUR 4-8 people.