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 Printable version of itinerary Alps of Slovenia Slide Show    |
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| Slovenia lies at the eastern end of the great arc of the Alpine range. It's a small but beautiful country that some have called "Europe in Miniature." The great news for mountain hikers is that Slovenia offers memorable trail experiences in a less-frequented part of the Alps. In Slovenia's Julian and Kamnik-Savinja Alps you'll find the quintessential elements of the Alpine landscape--soaring peaks, deep forests, lovely mountain villages, and flower-bedecked meadows. For those of you who love the Dolomites of Italy, the Alps of Slovenia provide the perfect way to continue an exploration of the scenic eastern Alps. | |||
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Pre-Trip Arrival Day Arrive in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, a city which had its origins in a Roman settlement that was known as Emona. If you desire, you can join an optional afternoon walking tour through Ljubljana's old town center. Here, stone bridges like the famous Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), cross the Ljubljanica River, and a medieval castle (Ljubljanski grad) perches above the town on a wooded hill. Your centrally-located hotel means you have easy access to the core of old Ljubljana which in large part is set aside as a pedestrian zone. |
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Day 1 Overnight in Bled Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Depart Ljubljana for the lakeside town of Bled set at the eastern edge of the Julian Alps. En route, stop for a hike through the expansive, mile-high meadows of the Velika Planina, the scenic crown jewel of Slovenia's Kamnik Alps. Picturesque wooden huts and hayracks accent the landscape while the snow-flecked peaks of the Kamnik Alps rise in the background. Overnight near the shores of lovely Lake Bled (Blejsko Jerzero, in Slovene), one of the most beautiful lowland lakes in the Alps. |
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Day 2 Overnight in Bled Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Travel by vehicle to the Pokljuka Plateau where today's hiking options begin. Hike across the grassy expanse of the Planina Javornik dotted with picturesque wooden barns and back-dropped by the peaks of the Julian Alps. Ascend through cool woodlands to arrive at the mountain refuge known as Blejska koča na Lipanci surrounded by meadows and larch trees. From here you can choose to continue further to the summit of the peak of Debela Peč for stunning mountain vistas that include the peak of Triglav, Slovenia's highest summit and icon of the Julian Alps. |
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Day 3 |
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Day 4 Overnight at Bohinjsko Jezero Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Ascend by cable car into the mountains to the south of Lake Bohinj. From the top station of the cable car, begin your hike toward the crest of the open, alpine Bohinj Ridge (Spodnje Bohinjske gore). The shorter hiking option brings you to the summit of the peak of Šija from where, weather permitting, you can gaze out toward the distant Adriatic Sea. Those seeking a more challenging option can head east along the crest of the ridge from Šija on a thrilling "sky-walk" toward the peak of Rodica. This high ridge marks the southern extent of the main body of the Julian Alps, and the views are gorgeous and unforgettable! Return to the cable car station for the descent to Lake Bohinj. |
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Day 5 Overnight in Kobarid Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Travel to the small village of Kobarid (known as Caporetto in Italian, and Karfreit in German) in the valley of the Soča River. Kobarid (only five and a half miles from the current-day Italian border) was center stage during the Battle of Caporetto in 1917, an event documented by Ernest Hemingway in A Farewell to Arms. Enjoy a hike on the well-developed Kobarid Historical Trail, a route that will lead you by important historic sites including Roman ruins along with those associated with the World War I Isonzo front. This trail presents a wealth of natural features as well, from cyclamens blooming in the shade of beech woodlands to the wonderful spectacle of the Slap Kozjak (waterfall) plunging into a cavern-like gorge! A more challenging hiking choice begins in the high pastures of the Planina Božica (where wonderful cheese is produced) and ascends to the summit of Stol mountain for far-reaching views that extend from the Adriatic Sea to the core of the Julian Alps. |
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Day 6 Overnight in Kobarid Breakfast, lunch & dinner included This morning a short vehicle shuttle will bring you to the broad meadows of Planina Kuhinja set on the southern slopes of the sheer-walled limestone peak known as Krn. From here you can ascend through open meadows to the prominence known as Kožljak where the view extends up the Soča River valley; below you lie the lovely villages of the Drežniški Kot close under the peak of Krasji Vrh. If you desire additional challenge, continue on the switchbacking trail that ascends to the Krn Pass (Krnska škrbina) between the peaks of Krn and Batognica. From this high vantage point you have a superb view of the rugged limestone high country of the Julian Alps. To the north, and two thousand feet below you, nestles the Krn Lake (Krnska Jezero), one of the few large alpine lakes in the Julian Alps. On a clear day you can see all the way to Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak. |
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Day 7 Overnight in Kranjska Gora Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Travel by vehicle up a twisting cobblestoned highway to Vršič Pass from where you'll begin the hike to the larch-ringed mountain meadows of Sleme, dotted with small ponds and back-dropped by the massive Jalovec peak. The is perhaps "the" classic hike in the Julian Alps and the views are unforgettable! Before returning to the trailhead, amble upward on grassy slopes past picturesque ancient larch trees to reach the top of Slemenova špica from where you'll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Experienced hikers can opt to hike beyond the meadows of Sleme dropping steeply into the Tamar Valley before concluding the hike at Planica, an important winter sports center. |
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Day 8 Overnight in Kranjska Gora Breakfast, lunch & dinner included Today, embark on an exploration of the limestone range that forms the border between Slovenia and Austria. Known as the Karawanks or Karawanken Alps (Karavanke, in Slovene), this mountain range offers spectacular hiking along its main crest with expansive views toward the Julian Alps to the south and over the Drau River Valley in Austria to the north. In the morning, travel by vehicle from Kranjska Gora to the high country north of the town of Jesenice. From the trailhead on the Austria-Slovenia border hike up the slopes of the broad, grassy peak of Golica. Enjoy a loop hike over and around Golica's summit, or set off on a longer hike following the international border along the crest of the Karawanken range to the peak of Dovška Baba. At the end of the day, descend from the high country to meet up with your vehicle for the ride back to Kranjska Gora. Cap off your Slovenian alpine adventure with a farewell dinner this evening in Kranjska Gora. |
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Departure Day Departure from Kranjska Gora Breakfast included Morning transfer by vehicle from Kranjska Gora to Ljubljana Airport for your departure. |
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Other Details about this
Trip Trip Dates: September 9-16, 2013 Price: $3,795 Single Room for entire trip: $400. Single accommodations are subject to availability and may be limited. Meeting Point: Trip begins on the morning on September 9 at the hotel in Ljubljana. We suggest you plan your arrival in Ljubljana for September 8. Flights into Ljubljana, Slovenia (airport code LJU) from the U.S. normally require a connection at a European hub. Please note that your lodging in Ljubljana on the evening of September 8 (the evening before the trip begins) is not included in the trip price, but we are happy to help you with these arrangements. Departure Point: Tour services conclude on the evening of September 16 in Kranjska Gora. Your overnight accommodations and breakfast the following morning are included in the trip price. One complimentary morning transfer to Ljubljana Airport on the morning of September 17 is available. Accommodations: Eight nights at hotels and lodges in private rooms with private bath. Eight breakfasts, eight lunches and eight dinners are included.
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The photos from Stol,
the photo of Karawanken, and the photo from Krn are by Asen Marinov |
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© Mountain Hiking Holidays, Inc. |
The Julian Alps as seen from the summit of
Stol.
