Slovenia Hidden Gems: Off the Beaten Path Adventures (original) (raw)

Some would say that the entire country of Slovenia is a hidden gem. However, this country’s popularity is steadily growing and I’d wager that it will soon emerge as a top destination in Europe.

Most trips to Slovenia will combine Ljubljana with Lake Bled.However, Slovenia has so much more to offer than its charming capital and its postcard-perfect lake.

In the last years, we’ve visited Slovenia again and again to go hut-to-hut hiking and road-tripping.

We’re in love with the Slovenian Alps and the secret places they hold. If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia and want to venture off the beaten path, use this post to guide you. And, bring your hiking boots.

Solčava panoramic road farmstead, Slovenia

1. Kamnik-Savinja Alps

Logar Valley, Slovenia

You’ve probably heard of the Julian Alps. But, have you heard of Kamnik-Savinja Alps?

This impressive mountain range is located in Northern Slovenia and makes up the southernmost part of the Southern Limestone Alps.

For the best views of the range, head to Logar Valley and Zgornje Jezersko. From Logar Valley, we recommend hiking to the Kamnik Saddle and Ledinksi Vrh.

You can also hike across the Kamnik-Savinja Alps like we did.

2. Zgornje Jezersko

Tourist Farm Senkova Domacija, Jezersko, Slovenia

Zgornje Jezersko is a small Slovenian village, located very close to the Austrian border.

It’s one of the gateways into the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. So, if you fancy a peaceful alpine holiday full of jaw-dropping views, this is it.

From this small settlement, you can walk to the serene Planšarsko jezero and into the splendid Ravenska kočna valley. The valley is also the trailhead to Češka Koča mountain hut.

Where to Stay in Zgornje Jezersko

Budget | Cvet gora – Camping, Glamping and Accommodations offers traditional rooms in their guesthouse as well as glamping cabins with shared bathroom facilities.

Midrange | Tourist farm Šenkova domačija is a picturesque farm with comfortable rooms, delicious farm-to-table food, and the most idyllic setting.

5-star Luxury | Boutique hotel Vila Planinka is a chic alpine hotel with sumptuous rooms, an award-winning restaurant, cozy communal areas, and a sauna. Breakfast is included in the rate. Dinner is a 4-7 course dining experience (vegan tasting menus available), highlighting local recipes lovingly prepared with ingredients of Slovenian origin. Ask the resident sommelier for Slovenian wine recommendations.

Look for accommodation in Zgornje Jezersko.

3. Solčava Panoramic Road

Klemenšek Tourist Farm, Solcava Panoramic Road, Slovenia

The Solčava panoramic road is a scenic road in Northern Slovenia’s Solčava region. This 37-km route can be entered from Logar Valley, Zgornje Sleme, the village of Solčava, or the Pavličevo sedlo Austrian border crossing.

This region is characterized by high-elevation farmsteads, rolling pastures, and the Kamnik Savinja Alps.

As you drive the route, you’ll have opportunities to dine in local farms and take in the views of happily situated homesteads set against the dramatic Kamnik Alps. Solčava is the definition of pastoral romanticism.

Where to Stay in the Solčava Region

Budget | Turistična kmetija Čerček is a farm stay happily situated on the bank of the Savinja River in Solčava. 2 nights minimum stay. Breakfast is available (extra charge).

Budget-Midrange | Farm Stay “Alpine Dreams” is a farm stay situated on the Solčava panoramic road, overlooking Logar Valley and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Some rooms have shared bathrooms. 2 nights minimum stay. Breakfast is available (extra charge).

Midrange | Surrounded by open pastures and apple trees, Lenar Farm in Logar Valley is the perfect base for exploring Solčava. With its heavenly alpine views and welcoming atmosphere, It was very difficult to leave – almost impossible!

Midrange | Natur Bajta offers two one-bedroom apartments in Solčava, housed in a renovated barn. Natural wood and black fixtures dominate, lending the place a rustic yet stylish look. 2 nights minimum stay.

Luxury | Hotel Pesnik is the one and only hotel in Logar Valley. It boasts an on-site restaurant, a wellness area, and outdoor natural pool. Breakfast is included in the rate. Stay here for the views and the comfort.

Look for accommodation in Logar Valley.

4. Koseč Korita

Koseč Korita gorge trail, Kobarid, Slovenia

Koseška korita is a secret gorge located firmly off the tourist track in Koseč. Koseč is a small hamlet above Drežnica in the Municipality of Kobarid.

A signed trail leading from the chapel of St. Just will take you to the bottom of the gorge. You’ll pass several waterfalls as you descend.

The loop trail continues across the gorge, over a bridge, and back up to the hamlet. The entire Koseška korita circuit trail is 3 km and takes 1.5 – 2 hours to complete.

Where to Stay around Koseč

Midrange | We recommend staying in Tourist Farm Kranjc, which is a 2-minute walk to the gorge trailhead. It’s also located directly on the long-distance Alpe Adria Trail and at the foot of Mount Krn. Apart from the outstanding location, Tourist Farm Kranjc spoils guests with sumptuous homecooked dinners and a breakfast buffet to die for.

Adults-Only Chalets | Perched high above Kobarid and Soča Valley, the one-of-a-kind Nebesa Chalets are four modern 1-bedroom chalets with floor-to-ceiling windows, kitchenettes, and private bathrooms. The room rate includes breakfast and use of the spa facilities (Finnish, Aromatherapy, and Chromotherapy saunas) and fitness room. Extra perks: free bike rental, meal delivery from partner restaurant Hiša Polonka (when possible), and a friendly resident Bernese mountain dog.

More accommodations | Premium Hostel Kobarid (budget), Apartments Pri nas (budget), and ecoHouse FURLAN – Apartment PINJA (midrange)

Look for accommodation in Kobarid.

5. Pokljuka Plateau

Pokljuka Plateau, Triglav National Park, Slovenia

Pokljuka is a forested karst plateau located in the Julian Alps, between Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled.

The region is characterized by small farming settlements, rolling pastures, and spruce forests.

From Pokljuka, you can hike up to several notable peaks including Debela Peč and Viševnik, and even Mount Triglav.

You can also walk, or bike to several picturesque alpine pastures like Planina Zajamniki and **Planina Uskovnica. If you’re seeking a remote off-the-beaten-path destination in Slovenia, with access to popular areas, Pokljuka is perfect.

Where to Stay in Pokljkuka

Midrange | Hotel Center Pokljuka is located at Rudno Polje on the Pokljuka Plateau, which is the starting point for the hikes to Viševnik and Mount Triglav. This is a practical base if you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking. The hotel has an on-site restaurant and breakfast is included in the room rate.

Midrange | Hotel Pokljuka is located in Goreljek on Pokljuka Plateau, surrounded by spruce forest. The 39 rooms of Hotel Pokljuka are modern, clean, and comfortable. Breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel’s à la carte restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Midrange | Zalin planinski raj is a 2-bedroom cabin in Goreljek on Pokljuka Plateau. 2 nights minimum stay.

Look for accommodation in Pokljuka.

6. Lake Bohinj Viewpoint

Kosijev dom na Vogarj Lookout point - Slovenia Hidden Gems

This almost secret vantage point of Lake Bohinj is a 3-minute walk from the mountain hut Kosijev dom na Vogarj (1054 m) on Planina Vogar.

You can hike from Stara Fužina to Planina Vogar in 1:30 hours.

To find the trail, walk or drive in the direction of Planina Blato. You’ll come to a paid parking lot and toll station. Park here.

From this parking lot and toll station, walk up the road for about 10 minutes and look for a trail leading off to the left. It’s a 500 meter ascent to Planina Vogar.

Secret Places to Stay in Lake Bohinj

Midrange | The recently renovated Residence Novak Bohinj offers stylish one-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens in an idyllic area of Stara Fužina. Guests love the idyllic surroundings and mountain views, the proximity to Lake Bohinj, and the kind hosts. There’s a minimum stay requirement of 2-3 nights.

Midrange | Set in a quiet location ringed by forest, the top-rated Bohinj Apartments Goldhorn Kingdom (Apartmaji Kraljestvo Zlatoroga) is a 3-star apartment complex (1-2 bedrooms). Each unit has a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher. Extra perk: daily housekeeping.

Luxury | Chalet Apartments ALPIK offers cozy 1-3 bedroom apartments with well-appointed kitchens in a fairy-tale-like location in Ukanc.

Look for accommodation in Stara Fužina.

7. Planina v Lazu

Planina v Lazu High Alpine Pasture, Julian Alps

Planina v Lazu is a high alpine pasture in Triglav National Park. When we arrived at the ridge overlooking Lazu mountain pasture, we were speechless. It was like walking into a fairy tale village.

Cradled by the Julian Alps, over a dozen herdsmen huts are scattered across the alpine pasture. In early June, all the herdsmen huts were closed. However, come summer, these huts open up and become cheese-making sites.

Laz is accessible by foot from Planina Blato, high above Stara Fuzina. There’s a toll fee to drive up to Blato.

8. Tourist Farm Stoglej in Luče

Tourist Farm Stoglej in Luče, Slovenia

Stoglej is a tourist farm, hidden above Luče in Northern Slovenia. Guests who stay here are treated to the most heart-warming traditional Slovenian food. With very few exceptions, everything that is served is homegrown and homemade.

Make sure to opt for half board, so you can savor both breakfast and dinner at this farm. If you don’t stay overnight, you can still eat here. However, you have to contact the farm at least 24-48 hours in advance.

Book your stay at Tourist Farm Stoglej.

9. Kofce Mountain Hut

Štruklji Borovničevi, Dom Na Kofcah, Kofce Mountain Hut, Karawanks

Kofce is a mountain pasture below the Košuta ridge in the Karawanks of Slovenia. On the planina, you’ll find Planinski Dom Na Kofcah, which is famous for its Štruklji.

Štruklji is a traditional Slovenian dough roll (or dumpling) made with various fillings. We ate their blueberry-filled Štruklji Borovničevi and it was divine!

We’ve eaten Štruklji all over Slovenia, and nothing comes close to the one we had here.

Learn More: Hiking to Kofce Mountain hut for Štruklji

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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 late 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.

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.

How to Explore Slovenia

Small Group Guided Hiking Tours

If you’re a solo traveler, or friend group who would love to explore Slovenia’s hiking trails with a knowledgeable and licensed mountain guide, consider booking one of these small group hiking tours.

All of these tours are designed by Slotrips, a trustworthy local tour operator that crafts meaningful and memorable itineraries.

Best Walks in Slovenia is an 8-day hiking tour (day hikes only) with fixed and guaranteed departure dates between late May and late September.

Discover the Slovenian Alps is an 8-day hiking tour, which combines a 3-day hut-to-hut hike in Triglav National Park with moderate day hikes.

Best of the Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut is a 3-day hut-to-hut hike in the heart of the Julian Alps. This guided tour departs every Monday from July to September. Hikers have the option to add on Mount Triglav summit with an IFMGA licensed mountain guide.

Self-Guided Hiking, Biking, and Rafting Tours

If you love hiking independently, but want a professional to handle the logistics of bookings, transfers, and luggage storage (when applicable), then we recommend booking a self-guided trip like Mountains and Lakes Hut-to-Hut, or Crossing the Julian Alps.

During shoulder-season (May and October), you can hike, bike, and raft along the 4-day Alpe Adria Trail Adventure, 9-day Mountains to Sea route, or 8-day Best of Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trail.

Road Trip

Though public transit is very good in Slovenia, some destinations like Logar Valley are not accessible with transit.

If you want to explore more off-the-beaten-path and remote areas of Slovenia, we recommend renting a car.

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.

Top Things to Do

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.

Slovenia Hidden Gems

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