Hiking Slovenia, Feel the Alps

First, you’ll visit the most popular must-see place in Slovenia, Lake Bled. It’s just as beautiful in real life as it looks in photos. So to give you a chance to take the perfect photo, we’ll hike to a popular viewpoint and photo spot of the lake, island church, and clifftop castle with the Karavanke Alps in the backdrop.

Slovenia is considered the heart and soul of beekeeping in Europe, and we stop at a family farm to learn about the long practice of apiculture. One of the apiaries here is 90 years old. Our hosts teach us about the life of bees and how honey is produced and extracted. Slovenia is renowned for the quality of its honey, which we will taste in different forms, including pollen, honey liqueur, homemade gingerbread, and potica, a traditional Slovenian nut roll pastry. Our encounter with country life continues as we join a local family for dinner at their home. Our hotel in the forest outside Bled provides a memorable experience, too, offering a completely zero-waste experience.

Lake Bohinj is the crown jewel in the Julian Alps, and it's never far from view today as we explore Triglav National Park. We ride a cable car to the top of the Vogel ski area to access a hiking wonderland, with grand views of the snow-crusted peaks and sparkling lake far below. Ascending the ski slopes on a final chairlift through a dwarf pine forest, we reach a panoramic plateau from which we can hike to the summits of Mount Vogel and Mount Sija—or simply enjoy the vista of the alpine meadows at the top of the lift before returning by cable car to the valley below.

This afternoon, stop for an artisan cheese tasting in a nearby village famous for its cheese production, which dates to the 13th century. The first cheeses were made by mountain farmers who grazed their cattle in summer on the lush slopes above Lake Bohinj.

If you thought Slovenia couldn’t get any prettier, wait until you descend to the other side of the pass, the Soca Valley. This is the most biodiverse place in the country with emerald waters, dense forests, and the biggest variety of outdoor adventures in Slovenia. The perky little town of Bovec is its center, as well as the country’s outdoor adventure capital. Our place for the next two nights.

Today you’ll hike a part of the Soca Trail, taking in the most beautiful section along the 138km-long Soca River. You’ll absolutely love its verdant green landscape.

All around you, water will sparkle in the sunshine and you’ll have lots of chances to swim in turquoise ponds along the way. The lionhearted can jump into the Great Soca Gorge, the biggest canyon on the emerald river. The 750m-long canyon is also home to the marble trout fish, which is endemic to Slovenia. You’ll find the fish mysterious, chilling in the freezing cold water. Yet they swim really well, as should you because, on the first jump in, you’ll want to rush out as never before. Stay in a little longer to become cold-blooded too.

After reaching the Great Soca Gorge late afternoon, you can return to Bled or Ljubljana with your guide or spend a few extra days in Bovec, our outdoor sports capital, for world-class outdoor adventures, such as rafting on the Soca, canyoning, kayaking, zip-lining, and more.

Today brings many different options. Given the elevation difference, you can choose a relatively short hike to Mt Mangart, the third-highest peak in Slovenia and the highest in the Soca Valley. If you think climbing Mangart is too much, the guides will recommend an easy hike with jaw-dropping views at the top of Mangart's saddle. After the descent, the group will get together over a delicious local lunch.

In the afternoon you’ll still have enough time for some outdoor adventures, have a massage, or explore the town on your own. As there is a good variety of restaurants, inns, and bars, you’ll easily find options to pamper your taste buds.

The Gorizia Hills is a hilly microregion in western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. It lies on the right bank of the Soča river, north of the Italian town of Gorizia, after which it is named.

The starting point for most of the walking trails around Brda is at Dobrovo Castle, resurrected from ruin into the fine specimen of renaissance architecture we see today with sweeping views over the local Co-op and surrounding hills. Goriška Brda is the northernmost part of Slovenia where the olive tree still thrives. We’ll stop for an inspirational olive oil tasting at a local farm.

Discover endless wine hills, dotted with small villages and cute hilltop churches. Our path on the Cherry Blossom Trails today is the Gradnik Trail, a short hike up and past Medana and returning to the castle. Experience hiking along fruit orchards, olive groves and idyllic backroads at a leisurely pace. Enjoy locally produced food and taste the best Slovenian wines. Feel as luxurious as in Tuscany, but with more authenticity. It’s your relaxed holiday with as much fun, social contact and scenic stops as you please, to make the most of the local culture and heritage.

After breakfast, this unforgettable hiking tour ends. Your memories of Slovenia, however, will remain in your hearts for a long time. It was a pleasure having you!