Overview
The Julian Alps are the most easterly extension of the great Alpine Range, stretching from North-East Italy into Slovenia through the Triglav National Park. The jagged limestone peaks offer some of Europe’s best scenery and walking, with Mount Triglav (the highest in Slovenia) at the centre of the range, and the glacial lakes Bohinj and Bled far below.
Our Summits of the Julian Alps self guided walking holiday will take you on a picturesque mountain tour, guiding you through the high alpine area and its many natural attractions, including lakes Bled & Bohinj. The tour covers the central region of the Triglav National park. This moderate walking tour is suitable for fit and experienced walkers and is a must for photographers. It requires some experience of walking at high mountain levels and narrow trails.
- Walk through the heart of Triglav National Park
- Optional hike to the highest Slovenian peak, Triglav (2,864 m)
- Stay in alpine mountain cabins and 3-star hotels
- Postcard views of the Bled lake and the mountains from your Bled hotel
- See the seven Triglav lakes
- Take a refreshing swim in Lake Bohinj
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Lake Bled
Arrive at Ljubljana Airport and take either a public or a private transfer to your hotel at Lake Bled. Meet our representative, who will brief you on the walks and give you the maps and the documentation needed for your trip. Walk around the beautiful glacial Lake Bled, one of the most picturesque locations in the world, with its unique island church sitting proudly in the lake, and the castle perched high upon a cliff standing guard over the town.
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Bled (Triglav or similar)
- Walking for the day: none/walk around the lake
Day 2: Bled – Pokljuka High Plateau | 14km
After a short car transfer, start your walk in the verdant woodlands of the Pokljuka high plateau (1280m), a starting point of many hiking trails in the Julian Alps. The warming-up hike will lead you over mountain pastures and through dense fir forests 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 the biathlon centre of Pokljuka where you stay for the night.
- Accommodation: 3-star Biathlon Sports Centre Hotel or similar
- Walking for the day: 14km, 6h, ↑710m ↓640m
Day 3: Pokljuka – Planika Hut | 12km
After breakfast, you will go to the heart of Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps. The trail slowly ascends to Vodnikov Dom hut, where lunch and some rest can be taken. Today’s destination is Planika hut, right underneath Mt. Triglav – the highest Slovene mountain (2,864m). Planika hut is an ideal starting point for a climb to Mt. Triglav, mind that additional nights need to be booked there to accomplish this extra climb (the climb is partly a “via Ferrata”, some alpine experience and a helmet are recommended).
Note: Today, your main luggage gets collected at Pokljuka hotel and is safely stored in our local office in Bled until you reach Bohinj at the end of the walk on day 6. You will not have access to it until then, so make sure you have everything you need in your backpack – mountain hut accommodation on the next three nights!
- Accommodation: Planika Hut
- Walking for the day: 12km, 7h, ↑1,140m ↓110m
Day 4: Planika Hut – Triglav Lakes Hut | 11km
After a hearty breakfast, you will start your walk across the Hribarice pass (2,358m) in the direction of the Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih hut. On your way to the hut, you can stop and admire the beauty of one of Triglav Park’s seven lakes, Zeleno Jezero (Green Lake), whose name is derived from the high algae content painting the lake a gorgeous lush green. As you continue on you will enjoy the beautiful view into the rest of the Dolina Triglavskih Jezer (The Valley of the Triglav Lakes).
- Accommodation: Triglav Lakes Hut
- Walking for the day: 11km, 6h, ↑230m ↓910m
Day 5: Triglav Lakes Hut – Komna Hut | 8km
Walking in the western direction, you will reach Black Lake – the lowest-lying lake in the Triglav Lakes Valley. It is named for its location in a basin in the middle of the forest, which stretches right to the edge of the Komarča rock face. It is the warmest of the Triglav Lakes. Ending your day at Komna hut, you will also enjoy a great view of Bohinj Lake (the last mountain hut accommodation).
- Accommodation: Komna Hut
- Walking for the day: 8km, 3h, ↑130m ↓300m
Day 6: Komna Hut – Ribcev Laz/Bohinj Lake | 16km
After breakfast, a relaxing descent follows down an old military road that brings you to Savica Waterfall, one of the most famous waterfalls in Slovenia. An alpine Karst spring flows to the top of the waterfall and then cascades 78 metres and subsequently feeds the mighty Lake Bohinj. Walking along the northern shore of Bohinj Lake will bring you to Ribcev Laz village where you can warm up with delicious homemade honey brandy and schnapps in the local taverns. In the summer months, one can enjoy a swim in the crystal clear water of Bohinj Lake. Alternatively, you can ascend Mt. Vogel with a gondola lift.
- Accommodation: Kristal Family Hotel or a similar 3/4-star hotel
- Walking for the day: 16km, 5 to 6h, ↑60m ↓1,050m
Day 7: Ribcev Laz circular walk | 14km
Time to rest or enjoy at the lake or walk to the upper Bohinj valley. Through idyllic villages, climb to the Rudnica hill, which dominates the valley and offers a farewell view of the Julian Alps and the area you walked in on the previous days.
- Accommodation: Kristal Family Hotel or a similar 3/4-star hotel
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5h, ↑480m ↓480m
Day 8: Departure
Return home or individual stay extension.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in 3 or 4-star hotels (4 nights in private en-suite rooms) and in mountain huts in dormitories with shared facilities (3 nights). We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide to you the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. In towns, each hotel has its own restaurant where you can taste international or Slovenian meals, and you can also try Slovenian cuisine in local restaurants. Each hiking day passes by several mountain huts with restaurant facilities where you can get water and lunch. In the huts, you can order simple but tasty local food for dinner.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for experienced hikers. The average walking distance is 12km per day while total elevation gain is 3,000m and the average daily elevation gain is 600m (read more about difficulty grades).
You will walk on hiking trails, some of them in the Alpine zone, with mostly rocky terrain. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This tour can be organised between early July and early September. The itinerary contains routes that are closed to the public during winter and spring. The best month for hiking is August. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season – so please indicate desired starting date when booking.
Climate is mostly of a mountain and alpine character, cold and moist influenced by high altitudes. Snow cover in valleys and peaks persists from 180 to 250 days of a year. Windy weather is typical, and during summer afternoon storms are usual. The average temperature in July is 15C.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Recommended arrival and departure airport: Ljubljana
By train or bus
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation for 4 nights in hand-picked 3 or 4-star hotels (private en-suite) and 3 nights in mountain cabins (dormitories, shared facilities)
- Linen in mountain huts (no need to bring a sleeping bag or a liner)
- 7 breakfasts
- Welcome meeting with our local representative
- Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked (sent digitally; printed documents available at extra cost)
- GPS tracks
- Main luggage transport on Days 2 and 7* (one piece, max 20kg per person)
- All internal ground transfers as listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
*On Day 3, your main luggage gets collected at Pokljuka hotel and is safely stored in our local office in Bled until you reach Bohinj at the end of the high mountain walk on day 6. You will not have access to it until then, so make sure you have everything you need in your backpack – mountain hut accommodation on the next three nights.
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room. It is available only for hotel overnights on Days 1, 2, 6, 7 (not for the mountain cabins where accommodation is in dormitories)
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared
- Private airport transfers
- Guided climb of Mount Triglav with IFGMA licensed guide and extra night at Planika Hut (after Day 3)
- Extra nights in Bled and Bohinj
Gallery
