- 3
Karavanke Range and Julian Alps in one hiking holiday
This walking tour is a collection of different grade walks. However - none of them have a climber's rating. You will be walking along mountain ridges, meadows and valley floors, slowly descending from east to west. It is a picturesque alpine trail with stunning views at every turn, and is suitable for experienced walkers with appropriate equipment. This walk generally follows the international Via Alpina track - the Violet Route section - from East to West.
Walk highlights:
• stay in a tranquil mountain village
• walk through ancient feudal tunnels
• discover hidden mountain valleys
• visit Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
• wander over mountain pastures
Itinerary
DAY 1. ARRIVAL in Jezersko. (guesthouse 2*).With its idyllic location in a basin between the towering Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karavanke Mountains, on the border with Austria, the small romantic village of Jezersko will be the starting point for your hike. You will spend the next two nights here.
DAY 2. JEZERSKO - ČEŠKA KOČA
Round trip 13 km, 6 hrs walking/ascent & descent 665 m. (guesthouse 2*).
A warm-up hike to Česka koča mountain hut.
This short walk leads up to just above the treeline. Sitting quietly in the imposing shadow of the north face of Mt Grintovec is one of the oldest alpine huts in Slovenia (113 years old). Have lunch here amid majestic alpine peaks and soak up the view into the two parallel valleys. Your return route takes you past the lovely Shepherds Lake.
DAY 3. JEZERSKO - GOLI VRH
16 km, 5 to 6 hrs walking/ascent and descent 870 m. (3* hotel).
Today you hike up the northern side of the Kamnik Alps - Goli Vrh. A meadow and forest walk brings you to an amazing viewpoint above Jezersko Valley. With one foot in Slovenia and the other in Austria you'll enjoy splendid views of the Grintovec mountain arena. In the evening there'll be a short car transfer to Preddvor.
DAY 4. PREDDVOR - JACOB'S CHURCH - HUDI BORST - PREDDVOR
13 km, 6 hrs walking/ascent and descent 850 m
(or a short version 3 hours / ascent 450 m) (3* hotel).
A slightly more demanding yet wonderful hike packed with splendid vistas. It begins with an ascent up to St. Jacobs church, which in the days of Turkish raids served as a refuge, fortress and shelter. The walk continues through a deep fir / spruce forest and across steep hillsides covered with alpine flowers to Hudicev Borst, the perfect picnic spot. After a full day's walk, you can refresh yourself in Crnjava Lake just before returning to your hotel.
DAY 5. PREDDVOR - LJUBELJ - BEGUNJE
15 km, 4 to 5 hrs walking/descent 900 m, ascent 380 m.
(4* historic & modern hotel).
Starting at Ljubelj, on the Austrian border, the trail leads through a short underground tunnel originally dug by merchants in order to reduce the traveling time between Carniola and Carinthia. As you emerge at the other side, the trail then follows the old shepherd's route before entering the peaceful Draga Valley, which takes you on your final leg into the historic village of Begunje, hometown of the famous Slovenian folk musician Slavko Avsenik / Oberkrainer band. Two km down the road you can visit the ruins of Kamen Castle.
DAY 6: RADOVNA VALLEY – VINTGAR GORGE – LAKE BLED
11 km / ascent 200 m. Valleys & meadows (4* hotel).
A member of our team will drive you to the lush green Radovna Valley, amid soaring mountain peaks, to where the Radovna River has carved the 150 m-deep Vintgar Gorge. You can then walk the trail that leads along a wooden walkway through the gorge and onwards to the world-famous Bled Lake, via the lovely Katarina Church viewpoint. Your hotel overlooks the lake.
DAY 7: POKLJUKA – USKOVNICA SADLE – LAKE BOHINJ
14 km, 5 hrs walking, descent 850 m, ascent 50 m.
Mountain meadows & treeline walk (3* hotel).
From the Pokljuka Plateau, you will begin your hike across mountain pastures and old farmhouses, where you will come to a viewing point providing glorious views into the Bohinj Valley. As you descend you can stop at the little historic village of Studor. Your final destination is Lake Bohinj, framed by the soaring mountains of the Triglav National Park. Arrive early enough and you can take a walk to the other side and either hike the trail up to Savica Waterfall (the source of the lake) or take the cable car up to Vogel Mountain ski resort for the best view of the lake, valley and Triglav Mountain (the highest in Slovenia).
DAY 8. End of tour or extension of stay in Bohinj. You may also wish to continue hiking onward over our Goldhorn Trail!
Price
Price: 670 EUR per person based on two people sharing.(Currency converter here)
Price includes:
• seven nights accommodation in above-mentioned hotels/guesthouses in a two-bed room with WC and shower, on a bed & breakfast basis
• car transfer on days three, five, six and seven
• luggage transport between hotels (one piece per person, max 20 kgs / 45 lb). Every additional piece 10 EUR, payable on the spot
• information pack including detailed route description (in the form of a picture book) with corresponding maps (one per booking)
• GPS data
• local tourist and other taxes
• welcome meeting upon arrival
• backup service (hotline) during the walk
Optional extras:
• single room supplement 130 EUR
• transfer from Ljubljana airport to Jezersko - please ask us for a favorable quote!
Additional nights:
• in a 3* Hotel in Bled 65 EUR per person in standard double room, BB. Single room 120 EUR
• in a 4* Hotel in Bled 85 EUR per person in standard double room, BB. Single room 140 EUR
• in a 3* Hotel in Ribčev Laz / Bohinj 65 EUR per person in standard double room, BB. Single room 80 EUR
Discounts:
• children up to 12 years when sharing room with parents -30% on basic price
• third adult in the room -10% on basic price
• one night less in Jezersko - 30 EUR
Price excludes: flights, entrance fees, meals not mentioned in itinerary, drinks with meals.
Travel options
Starting point of this trip is Jezersko in NW Slovenia, on the Slovene - Austrian border.Getting there...
By plane: closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it (check connections here). From the airport you can travel to Jezersko by bus (change once in Kranj, takes about 2 hrs) or book our transfer (faster): please ask us for a favorable quote.
By train: nearest railway station is in Kranj, but it is difficult to get from there to Jezersko. It is better to order our transfer - please ask us for a favorable quote.
By car: take exit Kranj Zahod on A1 motorway Ljubljana - Jesenice, Karavanke and then follow signposts to Jezersko. There is a free but unguarded parking lot in Jezersko.
... and away
By plane: need to get to the airport? Our transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana airport - please ask us for a favorable quote
By train: Bohinj has a railway station in Bohinjska Bistrica 5 km from your last hotel. It is on the Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline, there are only a few trains a day.
By car: if your car is in Jezersko, you can get there by local bus (change once in Kranj, travel time is around 3 hrs) or we can transfer you - please ask us for a favorable quote
