Hut to Hut Hiking Slovenia: Everything You Need to Know (original) (raw)

Slovenia is a riveting destination for hut-to-hut hiking. Hut to Hut hiking is a type of multi-day trekking, where you overnight in mountain huts along the way. In Slovenia, there are both managed huts (Dom and Koča) and unmanaged shelters (Bivouac). We’ll be concentrating exclusively on the managed hut system.

Managed huts offer hikers a mattress, or bed in a dormitory, or shared room. Warm food as well as hot and cold beverages are served throughout the day. Mountain huts have indoor and outdoor seating and shared bathroom facilities.

Some huts have showers and most huts have running water, with the exception of the high-altitude huts. A Slovenian mountain hut is like a hostel with food, but far better, because everyone is on the same schedule.

Unlike other alpine regions in Europe, there’s very little ski infrastructure (cableways/chairlifts) in the Slovenian Alps. That means that the most majestic landscapes and trails cannot be easily accessed on a day hike, unless you’re willing and, or able to hike 12-13 hours in a day.

Hut-to-hut hikes enable you to explore quieter paths and peaks in the Slovenian Alps. It’s the best way to experience the incredible beauty and wildlife of the mountains. It’s also the only way to overnight in the backcountry. Wild camping is strictly forbidden in Slovenia.

An added bonus of overnighting in Slovenian hutsis being able to watch the sunrise and sunset in the heart of the mountains.

In this guide to hut-to-hut hiking in Slovenia, you’ll learn when and where to go hut-to-hut hiking, how to make hut reservations, what to eat and drink, what to pack, and what to expect (checking-in, payment, hut facilities, etc…).

Triglav Lakes Hut, Slovenia

When to Go Hut to Hut Hiking in Slovenia

Julian Alps, Slovenia

Julian Alps

Most mountain huts in Slovenia are seasonally managed from late-June/early July until late-September. Opening and closing times shift each year, depending on snow conditions.

We recommend planning your hut-to-hut hikes in July, August, and early-mid September.

It’s possible to hike hut-to-hut in June, after a short winter. However, we recommend planning June trips spontaneously, when you’re certain that the conditions are favorable.

The only hut-to-hut hiking trail that is doable starting in mid-May is the Alpe-Adria trail (Slovenian Stages). Consider booking this private, 3-day guided Best of Alpe-Adria Trail hiking tour, or these self-guided hiking tours: 4-day Alpe Adria Trail Adventure or 8-day Best of Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trail.

Some huts may stay open until early-mid October, weather depending.

October can be either the beginning of winter, or a brilliant extension of summer. It changes each year. So, we don’t recommend hut-to-hut hiking in October. October is better for day hiking and road trips. Read visiting Slovenia in October for tips on what to see and do in autumn.

How to Plan a Hut-to-Hut Hike in Slovenia

Dom Planika, Mount Triglav, Julian Alps, Slovenia

Dom Planika pod Triglavom

Choose Your Destination

The Slovenian Alps are made up of three mountain ranges: the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Karawanks. We recommend planning a hut-to-hut hike in either the Julian Alps or the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

The Julian Alps – home to Mount Triglav – attract the most visitors each year. The Kamnik Alps are just as majestic, but far less popular. We always encourage experienced hikers to consider a hut-to-hut hike in the Kamnik-Savinja range.

Decide How Long You Want to Hike

Some people like short and sweet 3-day hikes. Other hikers like trekking hut-to-hut for 2 weeks, or longer. Kati and I prefer hiking for 4-6 days. After 6 days, we just need a proper shower and fresh clothing.

Plan Your Hut-to-Hut Hiking Route

Jezero v Ledvicah, Seven Lakes Valley, Slovenia

Seven Lakes Valley

This is the hard part. So, unlike other Alpine States, there aren’t a lot of established multi-day hiking routes in Slovenia.

The only official alpine hut-to-hut hike in Slovenia is the Slovenian Mountain Trail (30+ days). You can use the Slovenian Mountain Trail (Slovenska planinska pot) as inspiration for shorter treks, or hike the whole thing. Read this Cicerone Guide: Trekking in Slovenia: The Slovene High Level Route.

The newly-created Juliana Trail circuits the Julian Alps, bypassing the high-alpine areas. Learn more: Trekking Slovenia’s Juliana Trail: Three-week trek: Bled, Triglav and the Julian Alps. The advantage of this trekking route is that it’s easy and can be hiked during shoulder seasons.

In addition, several long-distance trails traverse Slovenia, including the Alpe Adria Trail and the Via Alpina purple route. You may want to hike a section of those famous long-distance routes.

Book a Self-Guided Hiking Tour in Slovenia

If you’re interested in sampling the most beautiful stretches of the Juliana Trail and the Alpe-Adria trail, we recommend booking this self-guided Best of Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trail hiking tour, available between May and October.

The easiest way to plan a hut-to-hut route in Slovenia is to book a self-guided hiking trip with a local hiking tour operator like Slotrips.

Check out these self-guided routes in Triglav National Park: Crossing the Julian Alps (5-day hut-to-hut hike + arrival/departure), Triglav National Park Adventure (4-day hut-to-hut hike), and Mountains and Lakes Hut-to-Hut (4 day hut-to-hut hike + arrival/departure).

For an off-the-beaten-path adventure, take a look at this 4-day Trekking the Karawanks route.

Create Your Own Hut-to-Hut Route

Experienced hikers can purchase a paper trail map and use the following resources to plan trekking routes across Slovenia.

Hribi.net is a resource for all Slovenian mountain huts, peaks, and trail connections. This site is a reliable source of information for all things hiking and mountaineering in the Slovenian Alps.

Pzs.si is the official Alpine Association of Slovenia website. Use this site to find out opening times of huts, hut contact information, ascent routes and more.

stanje-poti.pzs.si/ – the interactive map on this PZS page indicates which hiking trails are closed. We always double check trail closures with the local tourist office, because sometimes this map isn’t up-to-date.

Our Hut to Hut Hiking Routes

Here are several hut-to-hut hiking routes we created. These hikes easily rank in our top 10treks in Europe of all time. And, many readers have since followed our itinerary and loved their experience.

Triglav National Park Traverse: Vršič Pass to Lake Bohinj

This is a 4-day hike in the Julian Alps suitable for hikers with alpine hiking experience who are confident hiking in limestone/karst/scree terrain. There are some secured passages along the route, but no via ferrata equipment is needed. Climbing helmets are always advisable in the Slovenian Alps.

You can book this trek across the Julian Alps independently. All the huts are bookable online.

However, there are many benefits to booking this self-guided Crossing the Julian Alps hiking tour with Slotrips.

It resolves many issues hikers encounter while organizing this point-to-point trek, including getting to the trailhead, extra luggage storage, extending the route, and the option to climb Mount Triglav with a certified guide.

Kamnik-Savinja Alps Traverse: Kamniška Bistrica to Zgornje Jezersko

This is a 4-day hike in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps suitable for highly experienced alpine hikers who are confident hiking and scrambling across exposed ridgelines and very difficult terrain. Stages 1 and 4 are relatively easy, but stages 3 and 4 are extremely long and challenging. A climbing helmet is a must.

Recommended women’s helmet: Black diamond women’s climbing helmet

Recommended men’s helmet: Black diamond men’s climbing helmet

Learn More: Kamnik-Savinja Alps Hut to Hut Hike

Triglav Summit Hike

There are many ways to ascend to the summit of Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. All hikes require a minimum of two days with an overnight in a mountain hut. The easiest ascent route starts on Pokljuka Plateau. To learn more about this ascent route, read Climbing Mount Triglav the Easy Way.

To reach the summit of Triglav, all hikers must tackle a via ferrata (secured climbing route). If you don’t have any via ferrata experience, we recommend booking this 3-day guided Best of the Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut with Slotrips, a local and reputable hiking tour company. During the booking process, make sure to add the Triglav summit climb (optional add-on).

During this trek, an IFMGA-licensed guide will lead you up to the summit and provide all necessary via ferrata equipment.

Additional benefits of booking this trek include pick-ups and drop-offs from Ljubljana, Bled, and Bohinj, guaranteed departure dates on Mondays between July and September, and a more interesting circular route which includes Seven Lakes Valley.

Veliko Špičje & Seven Lakes Valley

This 2-day circuit hike in the Julian Alps combines the thrilling Veliko Špičje summit and Špičje ridge with the Seven Lakes Valley. This is an extremely challenging hike for fit and surefooted hikers.

Learn More: Špičje Ridge Trail

Hiking Trails: Waymarks and Signage

Slovenia Trail Sign

Trail Signs and the Knafelc waymark

Generally, trails are well-kept and well-marked.

Trails are marked with Knafelc markers and red lines, which indicate direction. Sometimes these waymarks are badly fading, which is only problematic in high karst environments, where there’s no obvious footpath.

We use Maps.me offline maps app, when we’re unsure of the trail direction. Make sure to download the Slovenia map before you start your hike.

How good is the signage? It depends what you’re used to. The signage is pretty good. It’s not as clear as it is in Austria, but it’s far better than signage in the Balkan states.

Compared to Austria, there are far less metal trail signs indicating destination and time needed. Instead, directions are lettered and painted in red on stones and boulders.

Also, trails are not color-coded according to difficulty.

Mountain Hut Reservations

Planinski dom pri Krnskih jezerih Double Room, Julian Alps, Slovenia

Planinski dom pri Krnskih jezerih Double Room

When to Make Overnight Reservations for Mountain Huts

We recommend making reservations 3 weeks – 2 months in advance. You can also make reservations at shorter notice, if your dates are flexible and you don’t mind sleeping in large dormitory rooms.

If you need to cancel your reservation, inform the hut as early as possible.

How to Make Overnight Reservations for Mountain Huts

PZS Slovenian mountain hut page

PZS mountain hut page with contact info and link to online booking

There is no uniform system for booking huts in Slovenia. You must contact each hut individually with your arrival date, name, and room preference (if applicable).

We always try to email huts first. If we don’t get a response in 1 week, we usually follow-up with a phone call.

The Alpine Association of Slovenia website (PZS) is where you’ll find every mountain hut’s contact information (email and phone numbers).

This year, we’re seeing more and more huts on the Alpsonline reservation platform. If a hut can be booked online, the PZS hut page links directly to the Alpsonline booking page. Look for the blue button with the following text: “Rezervacija ležišč.”

Slovenian Hut Alpsonline Booking Platform

Alpsonline Reservation Platform

Note: Some huts may ask you to re-confirm your booking several days before arrival.

Check-in Process and Payment

  1. Check-in before 5 p.m.
  2. Present your passport and alpine club membership card (if you have one).
  3. Inform staff that you have a sleeping bag liner.
  4. Decide whether you want half board (breakfast and dinner).
  5. Ask for a shower token.
  6. Pay for your stay.
  7. Take off your shoes, before entering the sleeping quarters.

What Time Can You Check-In?

Karst Pavement, Julian Alps, Slovenia

Veliko Špičje Hike

It depends on the hut.

Some huts are very casual. The staff will let you check-in anytime after noon, and they’ll show you to your room/mattress right away.

However, other huts are more rigid and have strict check-in times (e.g. 3 pm). Recently, we stayed in Vodnikov Dom, and they didn’t let anyone access the rooms until 6 pm (which is frankly absurd).

Officially, your overnight reservation is valid until 5 pm. If you think you’ll be arriving later, you should communicate your approximate arrival time to the hut in advance.

Check-in Documents

When you check-in, you should present the following:

Passport. Not all huts will accept a driver’s license as a form of ID.

Alpine Club Membership Card (if you have on). This will save you a lot of money on your overnight stay. You can learn more about Alpine Clubs in Tips for Hiking in the European Alps.

We’ve never had to show proof of our reservation (e.g. Alpsonline document/email confirmation).

Sleeping Bag Liner

Slovenian mountain huts provide basic bedding (sheets/comforter/pillow), but this bedding isn’t washed regularly. For hygienic purposes, a sleeping bag liner is mandatory.

Make sure to inform the staff that you have a sleeping bag liner with you. Guests who do not bring a sleeping bag liner must purchase disposable sheets, which creates a lot of waste. Note: you are not allowed to sleep in a sleeping bag in the huts.

Recommended Silk-Cotton Blend Liner (what we own): Sea to Summit Silk-Cotton Blend Travel and Sleeping Bag Liner

Recommended Silk Sleeping Bag Liner: 100% Mulberry Silk Ultra lightweight (150 g)

Recommended Cotton Sleeping Bag Liner: Cocoon Cotton TravelSheet

Half Board or À La Carte

The staff will ask you if you want half board (breakfast and dinner). If you say yes, you’ll pay for your overnight stay and half board right away. If you say no, you’ll just pay for your overnight stay and you can purchase breakfast and dinner on an à la carte basis.

Kati and I always opt for à la carte in Slovenian Huts. Unlike huts in Austria and Italy, half board doesn’t equate to a 3-course dinner and a generous breakfast buffet.

In Slovenia, half board is usually a 1-course dinner (stew or pasta dish of your choice) and a meager breakfast (sliced bread, marmalade and other spreads, and 1 egg).

Also, when you order half board at some huts, coffee is not included. Tea, or a white coffee is included, and you have to pay extra for real coffee.

By ordering à la carte, you have the most flexibility and you can eat exactly what you want.

Shower

Some huts have showers. These showers are usually token-operated and cost around 3 or 4 EUR for a 3 min hot shower.

When you check-in, you can inquire about their shower facilities. We recommend purchasing the shower tokens right away and showering earlier rather than later. Sometimes the hot water will run out, and you’ll end up paying for a cold shower.

Payment

You will pay for your stay upon arrival (not in the evening like in Austrian huts). Some huts accept credit cards, but not all. We recommend always bringing sufficient cash.

It’s extremely rare for mountain huts in Slovenia to ask for a deposit in advance.

How Much Does it Cost to Stay Overnight in a Slovenian Mountain Hut?

The price will vary depending on the category of hut you’re staying in and the type of room you’re sleeping in. We wrote about that in detail in our guide to Slovenia mountain huts. Huts at higher elevations will be more expensive than huts at lower elevations.

Your overnight stay may cost as little as 9 EUR per person (dormitory with alpine club membership) and as much as 28.50 EUR per person (double room with no alpine club membership).

In addition to your overnight stay and any food/drinks you consume, you also have to pay a tourist tax (~2 EUR per person).

Checking-Out

There’s no formal process for checking-out. However, it’s commonplace that you need to vacate your room by 8 or 9 am.

Food and Drinks

Hut food, Slovenia

Ričet and Makaronovo meso

All managed huts in Slovenia sell warm food and a variety of beverages. The food can quickly get monotonous, as some Slovenian huts only serve 2-3 dishes per day and those dishes are usually the same in each hut.

The cost of food and drinks will sharply increase the higher you go, as high-elevation huts can only be serviced by helicopters. The more accessible the hut, the cheaper the food.

Vegetarian soups and stews usually cost 4.50 – 7 EUR. If you add sausage to a stew, it’ll cost 6.50 – 9 EUR. Goulash costs 7 EUR – 11 EUR. A slice of apple strudel will cost around 3.50 EUR. Pasta with bolognese sauce will cost 7 – 9 EUR.

Trigliva Lakes Hut Menu, Slovenia

Trigliva Lakes Hut Menu

Soups & Stews

Zelenjavna Juha – vegetable soup

Gobova Juha – mushroom soup

Jota – thick stew made with sour cabbage (Sauerkraut), potatoes and beans.

Jota s klobaso – cabbage stew with sausage.

Jota s mesom – cabbage stew with meat.

Ričet – barley stew made with beans.

Ričet s klobaso – barley stew with sausage.

Ričet s mesom – barley stew with meat.

Pasulj – bean stew

Golaž – goulash

Savory Dishes

Kranjska klobasa – Carniolan sausage, a sausage made with pork meat and bacon and spiced with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Ajdovi Žganci – buckwheat spoon bread, or buckwheat porridge, served with pork cracklings.

Makaronovo meso – macaroni with minced meat/bolognese sauce

Štruklji

Štruklji is a dough roll (or dumpling) made with various fillings. It can be served savory, or sweet. For the best blueberry Štruklji, hike to Kofce mountain hut.

Štruklji Sirovi – cheese filling

Štruklji Borovničevi – blueberry filling

Desserts

Jabolčni zavitek – apple strudel

Palačinke čokolada – crepes with chocolate

Palačinke marmelada – crepes with jam

Nonalcoholic Drinks

Fanta, Coca Cola

Jabolčni sok – apple juice

Water – still or sparkling

Alcoholic Drinks

Pivovarna Laško – Beer

Union – Beer

Union Radler – grapefruit juice and beer

Vino – wine, available by the glass ( ,1 L) or by the liter.

Borovničke – blueberry Liqueur

Hot Drinks

Čaj – Tea

Kava – Coffee. Most huts serve Turkish-style coffee. Only a few huts have espresso machines.

Kava z mlekom – Coffee with milk

Kakav – Cacao

Where Do I Order Food and Drinks?

Slovenian mountain huts are always self-service. Usually, you’ll order inside directly at the counter. Some huts may have an outdoor window.

Is the Water Safe to Drink?

It depends on the hut. Some huts have drinking water, directly from the tap or outdoor fountain. Other mountain huts do not have potable water. If they don’t, you can always purchase bottled water.

Can I Bring My Own Food?

You can. However, you should prepare and eat your food outside. If you use the hut tables, they have the right to charge you a “setting fee.”

Hut Hiking in Slovenia Frequently Asked Questions

These are questions we frequently receive. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below.

Julian Alps Hut to Hut Hiking, Slovenia

Julian Alps

Can I Bring My Dog?

No. Dogs aren’t allowed inside mountain huts in Slovenia.

Do You Feel Safe Hiking in Slovenia as a LGBTQ Woman?

Absolutely. Slovenia is very safe. We’ve visited several times and we’ve never had a negative experience.

Can I Meet People in the Huts?

Yes, you certainly can. We’ve met many interesting people in the mountain huts.

A lot of people ask us if they can meet people in the huts to hike with. I’m assuming that’s a common question for solo hikers who have experience hiking the Camino routes.

While it’s possible, it’s unlikely. Unlike a Camino route, you won’t necessarily be hiking at the same speed or even the same trail/direction as other hikers. Furthermore, hiking in the Slovenian Alps isn’t an inherently social, or casual endeavor. It’s a serious undertaking with real risks.

In a high alpine environment, no one wants to assume responsibility for someone they’ve never hiked with.

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Slovenia Trip Planning Essentials

Use our Slovenia Travel Guide to plan an unforgettable trip.

When to Visit Slovenia

Summer and Fall Seasons. The best time to travel to Slovenia is between May and October.

The best time to hike in the Slovenian Alps is between June and October. For hut-to-hut hiking, we recommend planning your trek between early July and mid-September.

Winter Season. For skiing and winter activities, the best time to visit Slovenia is between mid/late December and March.

Car Rental

It’s possible to visit Slovenia without a car if you want to concentrate your time in Ljubljana, Lake Bled, and Lake Bohinj.

When we visited without a car, we planned two linear hut to hut hikes.

Unless you’re trekking, we recommend renting a car, because many places are simply not accessible with transit. For example, there are no buses to Logar Valley, Vrata Valley, the Košuta mountain pastures, and the Debela Pec trailhead.

Check out our itineraries for road trip inspiration:

Use the intuitive Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.

Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.

Check car rental rates here.

Where to Stay

We’ve summarized our favorite destinations and accommodations in Best Paces to Stay in Slovenia, including Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, Logar Valley, Kranjka Gora, and Kobarid.

Top Things to Do

Slovenia Packing List

Guidebooks

Hiking Gear

Outdoor Photography Gear

Slovenia Hiking Guides

Slovenia is heaven on earth for hikers. We recommend allocating sufficient time to discover both the Julian Alps and the Kamnik Savinja Alps.

In Best Hikes in Slovenia, we’ve summarized the most thrilling day hikes and multi-day hikes across the Slovenian Alps, ranked by difficulty.

If you’re interested in hut-to-hut hiking, read our guide to Slovenian Mountain Huts and Hut-to-Hut Hiking in Slovenia.

Hut to Hut Hiking in Slovenia

Moon & Honey Travel is an independent blog created by two passionate hikers. We are able to provide free content to you, because of ads and affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Happy travels and happy trails, Sabrina and Kati