Walking the garden of Eden
Hiking in Slovenia, western part. A collection of different grade walks, from medium to hard, it features walks along mountain ridges, meadows and valley floors, slowly descending from north to south. This is a very picturesque alpine trail with stunning views at every turn, and is suitable for experienced walkers with appropriate equipment.
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN in KRANJSKA GORA
Also a famous ski resort, this alpine town is the starting point for the tour. You will spend your first night here surrounded by the beauty of the western Julian Alps. Spend the evening in one of the many great restaurants here and try the famous Kranjska Klobasa (sausage).
Day 2: KRANJSKA GORA - TRENTA‚ VRSIC PASS (hard, 7 hrs, ↔ 19 km, ↑ 890 m, ↓ 1.080 m)
A fabulous start to Alpe Adria Trail begins with a hike over Vršič, Slovenia's highest mountain pass. Panoramic views into the heart of the Julian Alps, its most majestic peaks, and down into the Trenta Valley will accompany you as the River Soča thunders along beside. At the end of the day, transfer by car to Bovec.
Day 3: TRENTA - BOVEC (intermediate, 6 hrs, ↔ 21 km, ↑ 280 m, ↓ 440 m)
Short transfer by car from Bovec to Trenta valley. The Soča Trail takes you along the sparkling emerald Soča River as it snakes its way through the valley. Reputed to be one of the planet's most beautiful rivers, you will crisscross wooden bridges and follow it through the Great Soča Gorge (Velika Korita). This section is so magical that the Chronicles of Narnia was partly shot in this location.
Day 4: BOVEC - DREZNICA (hard, 7 hrs, ↔ 23 km, ↑ 480 m, ↓ 390 m)
A day of waterfalls. Firstly, the beautiful Virje Waterfall. Pure alpine water flows down from the nearby Kanin mountains in the form of the Gljun River and bursts out into a multi-stranded waterfall 20 m wide, cascading into a beautiful pool of varying shades of green. Then you will be hiking on to Boka Waterfall, the biggest in Slovenia. You'll stay the night in the little village of Dreznica, set high above the Isonzo valley. Heavy fighting took place here during WW1, so be sure to visit the small military museum with its collection of war memorabilia.
Day 5: DREZNICA - TOLMIN (hard, 8 hrs, ↔ 21 km, ↑ 740 m, ↓ 1,090 m)
Today you'll join the Path of Peace, a trail that marries the heritage of the Isonzo Front with the stunning scenery of the Western Slovenian Alps. This is a memorial trail dedicated to the casualties of WW1, which runs through six outdoor museums and numerous chapels, including the lovely Kapela na Planici.
Day 6: TOLMIN - TRIBILJ SUPERIORE (hard, 6 hrs, ↔ 20 km, ↑ 1,260 m, ↓ 820 m)
The high point of this hike is the ascent via the Kolovrat Ridge. Enjoy breathtaking views of distant alpine summits on one side, and serene landscape stretching as far as the Adriatic on the other. The route takes you into Italy, along the famous Walk of Peace (Sentiero della Pace / Pot Miru). During WW1, Kolovrat Mountain was the scene of bitter fighting and there are many impressive monuments along the way, including an open-air museum. No less impressive are the various emplacements and bunkers along the trail towards Tribilj Superiore.
Day 7: TRIBILJ SUPERIORE - CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI (hard, 7 hrs, ↔ 24 km, ↑ 440 m, ↓ 940 m)
To begin with, you'll follow an old connecting path between the plain and the mountain villages of Stregna and Drenchia municipalities, traversing chestnut woods and old pasture land, and passing WW1 fortifications. Then, from the medieval pilgrimage town of Castelmonte, the oldest shrine in the region, there is an open view of the Friulian lowlands. The well preserved sanctuary is one of the most magnificent churches of the former patriarchy of Aquileia. Cividale del Friuli was one of the most important settlements of the Lombard Kingdom in Italy.
Day 8: DEPARTURE
After breakfast or extension of your stay.
Price
Price per person in a double room sharing:
Low season: May 20 to June 2 and September 16 to October 14, 2023: 890 EUR
High season: June 3 to September 15, 2023: 930 EUR
(Currency converter)
Price includes:
• seven nights accommodation in above mentioned hotels 2* and 3* / guest-houses 2* in a two-bed room with WC and shower, on a bed & breakfast basis
• luggage transfer between overnight addresses (one piece max 20 kgs / 45 lb per person)
• car transfers on days 2 and 3
• information pack including detailed route description and an overview map in electronic form
• GPS data
• local tourist and other taxes
• welcome meeting upon arrival
• backup service (hotline) during the walk
Supplements:
• single traveler 330 EUR
• single room 220 EUR
• printed information package in English including route notes and corresponding maps delivered upon arrival 30 EUR
Additional nights:
• 3* Hotel in Kranjska Gora 85 EUR per person per night in a standard double room, B&B. Single room 135 EUR
• 4* Hotel in Cividale del Friuli 75 EUR per person per night in a standard double room, B&B. Single room 105 EUR
Discounts:
• children up to 5 years: free of charge when sharing bed and room with parents
• children up from 5 to 12 years: when sharing room with parents and sleeping on an auxiliary bed -40% on basic price
• children up from 5 to 12 years: when sharing room with parents and sleeping on a regular bed -20% on basic price
• third adult in the room -10% on basic price
Not included: flights, entrance fees, meals not mentioned in itinerary, drinks with meals
Transfers:
Ljubljana Airport to Kranjska Gora
1–3 persons: 110 EUR
4–8 persons: 140 EUR
Ljubljana City to Kranjska Gora
1–3 persons: 130 EUR
4–8 persons: 180 EUR
Cividale to Ljubljana Airport
1–3 persons: 170 EUR
4–8 persons: 190 EUR
Cividale to Ljubljana City
1–3 persons: 180 EUR
4–8 persons: 210 EUR
Cividale to Kranjska Gora
1–3 persons: 160 EUR
4–8 persons: 190 EUR
Cividale to Trieste Airport
1–3 persons: 130 EUR
4–8 persons: 150 EUR
Other transfer routes prices on request
Accommodation
Helia supports responsible travel. On our trips we therefore use small, authentic hotels and guesthouses with character operated by locals or their families. Here you can find the list of standard accommodation we primarily use on the trip. The actual hotels may differ from this list, depending on time of booking and rooms availability.
Day 1 3* Hotel Miklič Kranjska Gora
Day 2-3 4* Hotel Mangart / Hotel Sanje ob Soči Bovec
Day 4 3* Guesthouse Jelkin Hram / Dreznica
Day 5 3* Hotel Dvorec / Tolmin
Day 6 2* Guesthouse Tribilj Superiore
Day 7 3* Hotel Roma / Cividale del Friuli
Travel options
Starting point of this trip is Kranjska Gora in NW Slovenia, at the Slovene / Austrian / Italian border.
Getting there...
By plane: closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it (check details here). From the airport, you can travel to Kranjska Gora by bus (change once in Kranj, takes about 3 hrs) or book our transfer - please ask us for a favorable quote!
By train: 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.
By bus: Flixbus stops at Lake Bled, 42 km away.
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 per car.
... and away
You can choose one of the options above.
