Mountains to Sea Walking (original) (raw)

Day 1: Emona, Laibach, Ljubljana

Reach Ljubljana on your own and explore one of Europe’s cutest capital, also the historic capital of Habsburg’s Carniola region.
Enjoy its cultural atmosphere and catch the best city view at the hill castle. Should the time allow, go on a biking trip around town, have a gourmet expert take you on a food tour or a city guide on a witty walking journey through time of Emona, Laibach, Ljubljana,…

Overnight: 3* hotel in Ljubljana

Day 2: Walk, ride & paddle at Lake Bled

In the morning you’ll get a transfer to the stunning Lake Bled.

Set off for a fun, joyous, sightful and experiential miniature triathlon to ride through small countryside villages, walk to a stunning viewpoint above the lake and through the famous Vintgar Gorge, then swim, row or paddleboard to Bled island, which is the only island in the country. Upon a jump into the 30 m-deep lake, note that there are 19 different fish species to swim along to the island. On the island you can choose to experience the groom’s wedding day when the bride gets carried up the 99 steps and ring the wishing bell. You can easily opt to walk the area, discover the legends on a traditional ‘pletna’ boat ride across the lake, beneath the cliff with the castle.

Upon return to the lakeshore, soothe a growling stomach or a sweet tooth with the famous Bled cream cake or honey tasting when meeting the local beekeeper.

Biking: 16 km / elevation gain +150 m, -150 m / approx. 1.5 hours
Hiking: 8 km / elevation gain +300 m, -300 m / approx. 1.5-3 hours
Overnight: 3* hotel in Bled
Transfer: 45 min

Day 3: Hike the Triglav National Park and Vrsic pass

Upon a short transfer to the ski town of Kranjska Gora in the north-western corner of the country, you’ll begin the 4-day hike from Mountains to Sea, including bike & raft trip through the central Julian Alps. Carry day packs only, while your main luggage is transported between accommodations.

You’ll adore passing by the lake Jasna, reflecting the jagged limestone peaks, and enjoy exploring the beautiful beech, spruce and larch forests within the National Park Triglav. Enjoyable trails among the highest mountains in Slovenia serve amazing views all along to the natural divider between the sparkling Soca and Sava river valleys. That is the well known Vrsic Pass you’ll reach by late afternoon when some of the highest Slovenian peaks and their impressive limestone walls shine in all their glory.

‘It’s not the mountain that’s mad, it’s the one climbing it’ as locals say, thus call it a day here and enjoy traditional Slovenian mountain food.

Hiking: 13 km / elevation gain +900 m, -300 m / approx. 5 hours
Overnight: mountain hut in 1/2, 1/4, and 1/6 bedrooms with shared washroom
Transfer: 30 min

Day 4: Hike the Russian Road through the Julian Alps

Walk along an old road, built by Russian prisoners of war during World War One in the part of the Julian Alps added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Before the day takes you deep into the Julian Alps with the luxuriant Soca valley – the Garden of Eden, we recommend a sunrise hike extension to a viewpoint at the feet of the Mount Mojstrovka, revealing a beautiful glacial valley at its toes, all glamming in pink and orange sunlight.

Upon return you’ll walk quite a steep downhill, to reach the source of the Soca river, one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. There the emerald water spring bursts out of a small underground lake then jumps a narrow gorge in Zadnja Trenta Valley, until it finally calmly runs away to the Mediterranean Sea as the Isonzo river.

Here you’ll overnight in a beautiful alpine hotel on a blossoming meadow amidst the sky-piercing mountains you’ll find it difficult to leave.

Hiking: 14 km / elevation gain +470 m, -1000 m / approx. 6 hours
Overnight: lovely alpine hotel in the upper Soca valley

Day 5: Walk and bike the abundant Soca Trail

Today’s section is very long, thus opt for half walk and half mountain bike ride with some short climbs on your way to the town of Bovec – the Slovenian outdoor adventure capital.

You’ll enjoy walking the beautiful Soca Trail alongside the Soca River and riding its scenic gravel and asphalt roads. Find yourself in the world of special natural features and preserved shocking heritage of World War I, where typical suspension footbridges and abundant hidden spots for relaxation by the water await for you to experience them. While enjoying an explosion of green, dare to swim in one of the turquoise pools.

After a long day regain your powers with a hearty meal in one of the family-run restaurants.

Recommendation for adventure junkies: spend an extra day in Bovec and go canyoning in one of the stunning nearby gorges.

Hiking: 13 km / elevation gain +200 m, -500 m / approx. 4 hours
Biking: 16 km / elevation gain +250 m, -300 m / approx. 2 hours
Overnight: 3* hotel in Bovec

Day 6: Walk and raft to the historic Kobarid

If in for rafting, you’ll take a short drive to the rafting start point and travel the most attractive section of the Soca River by raft. Expect a very much fun activity in beautiful natural surroundings that will get you soaking wet.

After rafting, you’ll walk what we consider the nicest section of the long-distance Juliana Trail to the Great Kozjak waterfall at Kobarid. Kozjak is the last of the six waterfalls nestled within the southern slopes of Mount Krn. The trail leads through abundant green ambience and exceptionally spectacular steep narrowing walls to the photogenic waterfall curtain with a deep green pool placed in the stunning rock amphitheatre.

Once in Kobarid town pleasant aromas of the ‘čompe’ and ‘frika’ may tempt you for a local culinary treat.

In the late afternoon, you’ll get a short transfer to ‘Slovenian Tuscany’, the Goriska Brda wine hills. Yet if the time allows, visit the Kobarid Museum, devoted mostly to the Isonzo Front of the First World War, which even Ernest Hemingway found worthy of his words in a book A Farewell to Arms. Thus expect to be moved deeply.

Hiking: 10 km / elevation gain +300 m, -400 m / approx. 3 hours
Overnight: a local homestead in the wine hills
Transfer: 1 hour

Day 7: Bike Slovenia’s best wine region

The sun-drenched Goriska Brda wine hills look like a miniature version of the famous Italian wine region Tuscany, just more charming and not yet as touristy. Mostly because Slovenian winemakers are on the rise of being as famous, yet expect to be blown away by the excellence of their wines.

Explore the rolling hills topped with small settlements and churches, its hillsides lined with family-run grapevines, orchards and olive groves and discover Slovenia’s prime wine-growing region. We recommend biking as the best alternative to walking with hotel bike delivery. Yet, why not allow yourself some downtime to enjoy the views relaxed by the swimming pool, with a glass of orange wine or famous Ribolla on the side. Or take your taste buds on a tasting adventure with fresh local fruit, olive oil, prosciutto and more.

E-Biking: 40 km / elevation gain +700 m, -700 m / approx. 4 hours
Overnight: a local homestead in the wine hills

Day 8: Walk along the Adriatic coast

A 1.5-hour transfer will get you to the Istrian settlement Strunjan on the Slovenia coast, from where you’ll walk high above the cliffs, along the seashore, through olive groves and a pebbly beach to Piran.

The walking leads along the longest stretch of natural seashore in Slovenia, protected as a nature park. Reserve’s most distinctive part is the soaring wall of the Strunjan cliffs. The 80 metres high cliffs have been shaped by wind and rain for billions of years, forming the largest known coastal flysch wall on the entire Adriatic coast. Moreover, the Strunjan peninsula is scattered with lone houses spread out across farming areas with olive groves and plantations of persimmons.

You’ll walk in the quaint town of Piran as last, which is the jewel of the Slovenian coast, located on a narrow peninsula jutting out to sea and backed by coastal hills. As you navigate through the narrow arches of the city streets you’ll find lots of attractive little spots and laid back cafes. But the best view of the 43 km long Slovenian Riviera, connecting Italy and Croatia, awaits at the top of its city walls.

Hiking: 10 km / elevation gain +180 m, -200 m / approx. 3.5 hours
Overnight: 4* hotel in Piran
Transfer: 1.5 hours

Day 9: Thank you and welcome back

On this day your unforgettable Mountains to Sea walking adventure ends in south-western Slovenia. Therefore make the best of it by going for a final swim in the Adriatic Sea, knowing that there will be the next time.