Boasting an exceptionally diverse landscape of snowy peaks, emerald rivers and scenic coastline, Slovenia is a paradise for outdoor lovers. From the dramatic Julian Alps to the famous waters of Lake Bled, our Slovenia walking holidays guide you among many natural gems. And the most amazing part is that much of Slovenia remains largely unexplored so you can avoid the crowds that usually head to the honey pots. Bordering Austria and Italy in the north, Slovenia adopts the Alpine culture of its neighbours while also holding its own unique identity.
Join one of our Slovenia walking trips and you could begin your adventure in the fairytale town of Bled, where you’ll wind your way up through the verdant pastures of the Karavanke range, and even take on the more challenging heights of the Julian Alps and Mount Triglav.
If it’s history and culture that excites you, you’ll find plenty of that too as you explore rustic towns and villages awash with Gothic architecture, traditional Hungarian farmhouses, and castles that are full of drama and intrigue. And you mustn’t forget the Slovenian cuisine that fuses flavours from Austria, Italy and Hungary. Tuck into authentic dishes such as pasta dumplings or gibanica, nicely washed down with a crisp Slovenian wine.
Home to the soaring Mt Triglav, Triglav National Park lies between Italy and Austria and is home to the country’s finest natural sights. Walk through the valley of the seven lakes, flanked by towering pines and mountains, watch huge waterfalls tumbling down steep gorges and follow alpine trails to the most phenomenal viewpoints.
Pokljuka Plateau: This alpine plateau stands in the Triglav National Park and stretches for almost 20 kilometres squared. Its diverse karst surface is home to pretty valleys, grassland and pine forests, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers to go walking in Slovenia. As well as colourful wildflowers carpeting the ground, you’ll find shepherd’s huts, alpine cows grazing in the pastures, and an array of birdlife hovering overhead. If it’s wildlife and tranquillity that you crave, the Pokljuka Plateau is the place to explore.
Lake Bohinj: Reflecting the rugged mountain peaks on its shimmering, emerald surface, Lake Bohinj is ridiculously pretty and is less crowded than Lake Bled during the summer months. It has a real authenticity about it and the views from here are jaw-dropping. The path around the lake lets you get back to nature as you walk below the circle of mountains that fringes its shores. In the warmer months, you can take a dip in the gin-clear water or simply relax and breathe in the fresh mountain air. At the western end of the lake, you’ll also find the cable car which takes you up to Vogel for some of the most extraordinary views over the Julian Alps.
Karavanke Mountain Range: This chain of limestone mountains stands on the border of Slovenia, Austria and Italy and is home to more than 1,200 species of flora. Walking in Slovenia is unparalleled and the Karavanke Mountains offer some of the best trails in the country. Winding along alpine peaks, along valleys and waterfalls and below giant gorges, you’ll discover indigenous animals and learn about the region’s cultural heritage along the way. There’s a wide choice of trails suitable for both easy hikes and more demanding climbs. On our Lakes and Mountains tour of Slovenia, we head up to Golica mountain, known for its fields filled with wild white daffodils.
Martuljek Gorge: This beautiful gorge can be found at the end of a forest trail inside Triglav National Park where a series of waterfalls tumble down the steep sides. There are two walking routes that lead you to the waterfalls, each following quiet forest tracks where you’ll meet some of the local wildlife. En route, there are several viewpoints where you can rest and take in the scenery, including the Lipovceva Hut which sells homemade soup and fruit juices from the open kitchen.
Lake Bled: The most famous of all Slovenia’s lakes is Lake Bled, spanning approximately 6km in length within Triglav National Park. The views surrounding its shoreline are to die for and you can complete the circular walking route in around 1.5 hours, allowing for plenty of time to stop and take photographs. At the glacial lake, you’ll see its small island and castle, and there are many beautiful hiking trails that start from here. Alternatively, you might just want to sit by the banks and absorb the scenery or go for a dip at one of the several swimming spots.
This trip was unforgettable! Many people choose to do the Annapurna Circuit on their own and they mainly follow the Jeep track, which didn’t appeal to us. We were so happy and grateful that we decided to go with Exodus – we had the best guides! Sukman and his assistant guides Dipendra and Lakpa Sherpa were fantastic.
We had knock knock tea in the mornings – loved that part, and followed a mix of alternate trails (that weren’t well known) with certain sections along the main Jeep track. On those quieter trails, we rarely encountered other trekkers and definitely no other tour groups. We did pass herds of goats and met local people. We only saw other people along the main jeep track.
Two days before reaching Thorong La Pass, we had heavy snow. Thanks to Sukman’s expertise, he made the difficult decision to backtrack immediately. Many trekkers without guides, or those who chose to wait out the storm, ended up stranded at high camp and had to be rescued. We were fortunate to make it safely off the mountain in time, though it meant rerouting the second half of our trip. Even with the detour – we thoroughly this trip thanks to the amazing team. The porters were also incredible companions. Without them, carrying all of our belongings for three weeks would have been tough!!
The most stunning trek you can imagine. The Himalaya’s really are great cathedrals of nature. Walk alongside 3 of the top 10 peaks in the world, with an itinerary set up to ensure you succeed at altitude and make it over the amazing Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. Most competitors do the trek in 2 weeks, missing large sections or not acclimatising properly – the 22 day version means you complete (just about) everything.
I really enjoyed this area and all the walks we did, and the day off on the coast. Overall a very positive and friendly experience for my first group holiday on my own for 25years. The walks we did were essentially all in a semi-circle area around a valley, though each day had a slightly different character and feel to me. All were either started from the pension or a short drive away. We saw some goats and buzzards, though overall less wildlife than I am used to. All the paths were relatively quiet compared to many English popular areas, which I enjoyed. There was a drive down to a stream through narrow town streets that was fun and a chance to buy local olive oil (which did survive the flight back). I enjoyed getting up to see each pretty sunrise. Both towns we visited either side of Benidorm on our day off I also surprised myself by enjoying and are worth visiting.
