Follow the hiking trails of breathtaking Soča valley
A self-guided walking holiday based in the town of Bovec, which takes you on a series of hikes along the turquoise river Soča. Our specially designed trails will take you beside historic monuments, across alpine pastures covered with wildflowers and under cascading waterfalls. Enjoy moments of respite with dips in the invigoratingly cool springs, or observe rainbow trout gracefully moving through the crystalline waters of the glacial Soča River. All of this is set against the backdrop of the majestic alpine landscape of the western Julian Alps.
Suitable for hikers of very average fitness and highly recommended for photography enthusiasts.
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN BOVEC
Soča Valley's capital, the town of Bovec offers plenty for hiking enthusiasts. With the Julian Alps above, the Soča River below and Triglav National Park all around, you could spend a week walking in the unspoilt nature without ever doing the same thing twice. It's beautiful country and Bovec's a pleasant town in which to base yourself for outdoor activities. (Accommodation 4* hotel, example: Hotel Mangart)
Day 2: BOVEC – MOŽNICA CANYON – KLUŽE FORTRESS – BOVEC (intermediate, 3 hrs, ↔ 9,3 km, ↑ 100 m, ↓ 200 m)
A morning car transfer brings you to the starting point of your walk – entrance to the Moznica river canyon. The landscape and surrounding mountains you will walk through were once background to many WW1 battles. Several bitter battles were fought here between the Austrian Empire and the Italians. Stop at Kluze Fortress. Built more than a century ago to block access to Southern Austria, it has survived all subsequent wars and is now an impressive anti-war museum. The trail passes by the remains of many once mighty fortifications.
Day 3: BOVEC – VIRJE WATERFALL – BOVEC (easy, 3 hrs, ↔ 10,9 km, ↑↓ 210 m)
A relaxing stroll brings you to the western town of Bovec, where the theme is pure water. A little stream with an impossibly pronounceable name, Gljun, is fed by the vast underground world of the Kanin limestone range. Depending on the weather and season, its waters tumble down a 30-foot waterfall before entering the Soca River. The return to Bovec takes you through broad meadows resplendent with summer wildflower, whose backdrop is dominated by the “Slovene Matterhorn” Mt. Svinjak.
Day 4: BOVEC - LEPENA VALLEY – TRENTA VALLEY (intermediate, 4 hrs, ↔ 14 km, ↑ 150 m, ↓ 410 m)
After a short car transfer the days walk takes you to the "Queen of the Alpine Waters" – the turquoise colored River Soca. Its breathtaking colors have wowed many walkers and water sportsmen for centuries. Follow the trail along the river, look into the lime-stone canyon and freshen up in one of the shallow ponds.
Day 5: BOVEC
Free day to rest or enjoy other adrenaline sports – white water rafting, kayaking or supping on Soča, mountain-biking, canyoning or paragliding. Spoilt of choice!
Day 6: BOVEC – KANIN – BOVEC (medium, 6 hrs, ↔ 13 km, ↑ ↓ 770 m)
The walking day begins with a gentle ascent along the sunny slope of Kanin. You climb up beneath the former cable car to the still active mountain pasture, where you will encounter shepherds and sample their delights. From the mountain pasture, you'll be treated to a breathtaking viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the Bovec region, the encompassing Slovene and Italian mountain ranges, and the picturesque Soča River Valley. As you commence your walk, you'll traverse mountain pastures adorned with a vibrant array of wildflowers, occasionally passing by charming sheep farms.
Day 7: BOVEC – SRPENICA – ČEZSOČA – BOVEC (easy, 4 hrs, ↔ 15 km, ↑ 280 m, ↓ 190 m)
Car transfer to Srpenica. From this quaint little village, crossing the 63 m long hanging “Bridge of lovers”, you will walk along the right bank of river Soča back to Bovec. The river bend is also the best spot to see the huge Boka waterfall. The waterfall is fed by waters from underground caves of Kanin range and can at best water levels reach the height of 100 meters. Take a lunch in one of popular local pubs in Čezsoča and head back to Bovec.
Day 8: DEPARTURE
After breakfast your holiday ends.
Price
Price per person based on two people sharing:
Season A: 17.5. to 28.6. and 28.9. to 4.10.2025 955 EUR
Season B: 29.6. to 27.9.2025 1.125 EUR
Price includes:
• Seven nights accommodation in 4* hotel in two bedded, en-suite facilities room, on basis of bed & breakfast
• Personal transfers on days two, four and seven
• Tour description and maps in GUIBO application electronic form, one download per room
• Local tourist and other taxes
• Personal welcome meeting upon arrival
• Backup service (hotline) during the trip
Supplements:
• Single travelers season A 435 EUR, season B 485 EUR. Applies when a person travels alone. Includes single room supplement.
• Single room in season A 345 EUR, in season B 395 EUR. Applies when a person is traveling together with other persons in a party.
• Printed information package in English or German including route notes and detailed maps maps delivered upon arrival - 30 EUR.
Not included: lunches, dinners, entrance fees, saunas and massages in hotels
Hike Profile
Difficulty: 2/4 Walking tour. Daily distances increase on some days and the terrain may be rugged underfoot with some hills but not too strenuous. Perfect for those with a relatively good level of fitness. The average sum of all daily ascents is between 100 m and 400 meters.
A self-guided walking holiday based in the town of Bovec, which takes you on a series of hikes along the turquoise river Soča. Our specially designed trails will take you beside historic monuments, across alpine pastures covered with wildflowers and under cascading waterfalls. Take a drip in the refreshingly cool springs, or watch rainbow trout swirl in the crystal-clear waters of the glacial Soča River. All set in the majestic alpine landscape of western Julian Alps. Suitable for families and hikers of average fitness, recommended for photography enthusiasts.
Accommodation
Helia is committed to promoting responsible travel. In our journeys, we prioritize the use of small, genuine hotels and guesthouses imbued with local character, often run by local families.
Days 1-7: 4* Hotel Mangart or Hotel Sanje ob Soči in Bovec
Travel options & Local Transfers
Starting point of this trip is Bovec in NW Slovenia.
Getting there...
By plane: closest airports are Trieste (TST) in Italy, Ljubljana (LJU) and Klagenfurt (KLA) in Austria. Several airlines serve them. From all of them you need a local transfer, travel times are approximately 1h 30 min, please see here below.
By train: closest stations are Most na Soči in Slovenia and Tarvisio Boscoverde in Italy, in both cases a transfer takes 45 min, please check with us for costs of relevant transfers from these train stations to Bovec.
By bus: Flixbus stops at Tarvisio, Italy
By car: closest exit is on Italian motorway A23 Alpe-Adria Venice - Vienna. Exit Tarvisio. From here take the road over Predil Pass to Bovec, 30 kms, nice scenic road! Car can be parked for free at the hotel where you are staying for the duration of our tour.
... and away
Use above mentioned connections in reverse.
Local transfers:
Venice Marco Polo Airport to Bovec: 1–3 persons: 325 EUR, 4–8 persons: 365 EUR
Trieste Airport to Bovec: 1–3 persons: 185 EUR, 4–8 persons: 200 EUR
Ljubljana Airport to Bovec: 1–3 persons: 200 EUR, 4–8 persons: 225 EUR
Ljubljana City to Bovec: 1–3 persons: 220 EUR, 4–8 persons: 240 EUR
All prices per transfer, one way.
