Famous East to West Passage of Slovene Alps
Embark on a stunning adventure with the Slovenian Traverse Self-Guided Tour, taking you through some of Slovenia's most beautiful landscapes. This tour features iconic spots like the emerald waters of the Soča Valley, the serene Lake Bohinj, and the world-famous Lake Bled. Hike through alpine meadows on the Pokljuka Plateau, enjoy breathtaking views of the Julian Alps and Mount Triglav, and experience the rich culture of Slovenia’s charming villages. Perfect for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts, this journey promises unforgettable vistas and a deep connection with Slovenia’s natural beauty.
This tour can, with a moderate adjustment it can also be combined with our Julian Alps Peak Walk. Please ask for a detailed advice.
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN BLED
Lake Bled is a charming town by a stunning glacial lake, known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Take a leisurely walk around the lake, visit its unique island church, and explore the medieval castle perched on a cliff, offering spectacular views. It’s a perfect blend of nature and history. (Accommodation in 4* hotel, example: Hotel Savica)
Day 2: BLED – POKLJUKA HIGH PLATEAU (intermediate, 6 hrs, ↔ 14 km, ↑ 710 m, ↓ 640 m)
A short morning car transfer brings you to the beginning point, on top of Pokljuka high plateau (1280 m) – starting point of many hiking trails in Julian Alps. The hike will lead you over mountain pastures and through dense fir forests to up to Lipanska Hut. A typical hikers' lunch can be taken there. The afternoon walk will bring you along a panoramic route (excellent views of Karawanke range, Pokljuka plateau, Krma valley and Bohinj Mountains) to biathlon centre of Pokljuka where you stay for the night. (Accommodation in 3* hotel, example: Hotel Center Pokljuka)
Day 3: POKLJUKA – USKOVNICA SADDLE – LAKE BOHINJ (intermediate, 4 hrs, ↔ 15 km, ↑ 50 m, ↓ 850 m)
Your hike begins from hotel, taking you through mountain pastures and past rustic farmhouses to a breathtaking viewpoint over Bohinj Valley. On your descent, stop at the historic village of Studor, where you can step back in time and explore its charming past. Your journey concludes at Lake Bohinj, a true gem nestled in the heart of Triglav National Park, alongside a quaint village on the lakeshore. (Accommodation in 4* hotel, example: Hotel Jezero)
Day 4: RIBČEV LAZ / BOHINJ – SAVICA – KOMNA HUT (5 hrs, 14 km, ↑ 1,280 m, ↓ 390 m)
Your path starts on the northern side of Lake Bohinj. The trail winds between a crystal clear lake below the steep slopes of the mountains. At the end of the valley with a few extra steps you can visit the famous Savica waterfall. The water, which originates in the Valley of the seven Triglav lakes, falls a mighty 70 meters in depth. The scene served as the background for the Slovenian epic poem Krst pri Savici. In the afternoon, you climb over a wide forest path above the valley to the hut on Komna, from where there is a beautiful view of Bohinj lake. (Accommodation in mountain hut, example: Komna hut)
(Today your main luggage gets collected at Ribcev Laz hotel and is safely stored in Helia’s head office in Bled until you reach Lepena Hut at the end of the walk on day 5. You will not have access to it until then so make sure you have everything you need in your backpack) (mountain hut accommodation, dormitory).
Day 5: KOMNA HUT – KRN LAKE – LEPENA VALLEY (5 hrs, 11 km, ↑ 330 m, ↓ 1,200 m)
The highlands you will walk on, were the hinterland of the Isonzo Front during the First World War. As you walk along the narrow path across the blossoming meadow flowers, you will be able to see many military remains. The former barracks of the Austrian Imperial Army still serve as shepherd's stables today. You will have a stop for lunch by the romantic Krn Lake. Your destination is the Lepena valley, where you will spend the night in the peace of the mountains. (Accommodation in mountain hut, example: Lepena hut)
Day 6: LEPENA VALLEY – BOVEC (6 hrs, 14 km, ↑ 150 m, ↓ 380 m)
The last day stage begins at Šunikov gaj, a park of many lively water springs. The leading thread of the day is the Soča River. Due to its vivid turquoise color, it is known as unique in the world. Follow the river that winds along the narrow riverbed through deep gorges of the Trenta valley to your final destination of the traverse - the town of Bovec. (Accommodation in 3* hotel, example: Hotel Alp)
Day 7: DEPARTURE
After breakfast or extension of your stay. Bovec is famous as the adrenaline capital of the country.
Price
Season A: 14.6. to 1.8.2025 895 EUR
Season B: 2.8. to 13.9.2025 975 EUR
Date of day 1 sets the seasons price
Price includes:
• Six nights accommodation in hotels 3*/4* in two bedded en-suite facilities room and dormitories inside mountain huts, on basis of bed & breakfast. Bedlinen in huts is included.
• Personal transfer on day two
• Luggage transfer – one piece, max 23 kgs / 50 lb. Lufthansa airline dimensions. Every additional piece 60 EUR per trip, payable on spot. Between overnight addresses in hotels (during high altitude walks, from day four to day five clients need to carry their own clothing / personal items with them).
• 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 walk
Supplements:
• Single travelers season A 435 EUR, season B 485 EUR. Applies when a person travels alone, includes single room supplement.
• Single room season A 345 EUR, 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 EU.
Additional nights:
• 4* Hotel in Bled: Season A 95 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 105 EUR. Season B 105 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 200 EUR.
• 4* Hotel in Ribčev Laz, Bohinj: Season A 105 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 180 EUR. Season B 115 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 195 EUR.
• 4* Hotel in Bovec: 115 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 155 EUR.
Discounts:
• Children up from 5 to 12 years: when sharing room with parents and sleeping on an auxiliary bed - 40% on basic price
• Third adult in the room -10% on basic price, applies to third person only.
Not included: lunches, dinners, entrance fees, saunas and massages in hotels
Hike Profile
3/4 - Hiking tour. More challenging with some long walking days and often a longer trip duration. Tough underfoot in places with changing terrain, some prolonged climbs and steep hills, these walks are designed for experienced walkers looking for a challenge. The average sum of all daily ascents is between 400 m and 800 meters. A good level of fitness and experience is required as the terrain can be rough and exposed in places. Not suitable for children under 12 years.
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: 4* Hotel Savica, Kompas, Lovec, Triglav or Astoria 3*Sup in Bled
Day 2: 3* Hotel Center on Pokljuka
Day 3: 4* Hotel Jezero in Ribčev Laz, Bohinj
Day 4: Komna mountain hut, dormitory
Day 5: Lepena mountain hut, dormitory
Day 6: 3* Hotel Alp or 4* Hotel Mangart in Bovec
Travel Options & Local Transfers
Starting point of this trip is Lake Bled in NW Slovenia.
Getting there...
By plane: closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it (check connections here). From the airport you can travel to Bled by bus (change once, takes about 2 hrs) or book our transfer (faster - 20 mins) - see here below!
By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce-Bled on the Villach - Ljubljana mainline, 4 kms from town centre, you'd need to take a local bus. The other option is Bled-Jezero on the Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline; only a few trains a day. 2 kms away from town centre.
By bus: Flixbus stops at Lake Bled.
By car: take exit Lesce from A1 motorway Ljubljana - Jesenice. Please consult us about parking options in Bled.
... and away
By plane: closest airports are Trieste (TST) in Italy, Ljubljana (LJU) and Klagenfurt (KLA) in Austria. Several airlines serve them. To 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 (Jesenice Nova Gorica line) in Slovenia and Tarvisio Boscoverde in Italy (Venice - Villach line), in both cases a transfer takes 45 min, please check with us for costs of relevant transfers to these train stations from Bovec.
By bus: Flixbus stops at Tarvisio, Italy.
By car: closest entry is Tarvisio on Italian motorway A23 Alpe-Adria Venice - Vienna. To get here take the road over Predil Pass to Bovec, 30 kms, nice scenic road!
Local transfers
Ljubljana Airport to Bled: 1–3 persons: 85 EUR, 4–8 persons: 120 EUR
Ljubljana City to Bled: 1–3 persons: 120 EUR, 4–8 persons: 160 EUR
Villach to Bled: 1–3 persons: 170 EUR, 4–8 persons: 190 EUR
Klagenfurt Airport to Bled: 1–3 persons: 200 EUR, 4–8 persons: 230 EUR
Lesce Bled Railway Station to Bled: 1–3 persons: 20 EUR, 4–8 persons: 30 EUR
Trieste Airport to Bled: 1–3 persons: 375 EUR, 4–8 persons: 420 EUR
Bovec to Venice Marco Polo Airport: 1–3 persons: 325 EUR, 4–8 persons: 365 EUR
Bovec to Trieste Airport: 1–3 persons: 185 EUR, 4–8 persons: 200 EUR
Bovec to Ljubljana Airport: 1–3 persons: 200 EUR, 4–8 persons: 225 EUR
Bovec to Ljubljana City: 1–3 persons: 220 EUR, 4–8 persons: 240 EUR
All price per transfer. Other transfer routes prices on request.
