 |
 |
|
    |
||
Trek Notes - SloveniaSlovenian Alpine Trails
Slovenian Alpine TrailsSituated between Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia, the small but diverse country of Slovenia is a walker’s paradise with breathtaking scenery, open colourful meadows, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and towering peaks. Alpine trails take you into the very heart of the mountains. This diverse and contrasting week in Slovenia offers some excellent hikes as well as a visit to the beautiful old towns of Skofja Lka and Kropa and the picturesque and colourful capital of Slovenia - Ljubljana. Bled, with its medieval castle overlooking the emerald green lake, was a summer retreat for past European royalty and still enchants everyone with its natural beauty. Included · 3 Days walking in the Triglav National Park · Stunning Lake Bohinj and the frescoed Church of St John the Baptist · 2 days walking in the Karavanke Mountain Range and the Hidden Vrata Valley · Visit the medieval iron-forging village of Kropa and the protected cultural walled town of Skofja Loka · Visit to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana TRANSFERS DAY 2: Baron’s Tunnels (1311m) 5 hours From Ljubelj (1058m) we make our way around the mountain of Begunjscica, where we can enjoy stunning views of the of St Ana valley below. We walk through the mysterious Barons Tunnels (150m) built through the mountain, with an abundance of wild flowers, only to be found in this area. Walking on natural mountain trails we can see the Julian Alps in the distance while, towering closer is Mt Stol (2236m) the highest mountain in the Karavanke Rang. We finish at the base of the Mt Begunjscica at Grad Kamen, a 16th Century ruined castle. DAY 3: Vrata Valley 5 hours (1015m) Meaning door, Vrata valley is indeed that, the doorway to Mt Triglav. At the end of the valley lies the north face of Trigalv, 1100m of pure limestone. From Mojstrana (844m), a traditional village at the start of the valley, we make our way gently up the valley, passing interesting botanical and historical feature’s, including Slap Pericnik, a 80m overhanging waterfall, where we walk behind it. As we follow the river we approach our first view of Triglav and the surrounding peaks. As we pass through the open meadows we arrive at the north face of Triglav, where we enjoy a typical lunch in the valley mountain hut before our hike back to Mojstrana. DAY 4: Lake Bled - A delightful town, with its medieval castle and small island of St Maria in the centre of the lake, Bled is a great place to spend the day at leisure. Wooden pletna boats are available to gently row you across to the island with its picturesque church. Bled’s castle, with its museum and spectacular location, offers one of the most stunning views of the lake and its surrounding mountains. A great option for the afternoon would be the leisurely walk to the beautiful Vintgar Gorge, where wooden walkways lead you along the crystal clear Radovna River passed rapids, whirlpools and waterfalls. DAYS 5, 6 & 7: Triglav National Park 5-6 hours per day hut based walking Based in the Dom na Komni mountain hut (1515m) for two nights, with wonderful views over Lake Bohinj and the Bohinjska valley, we walk in and around the Triglav National Park. This high-saddled area not only offers magnificent views of the high contoured valleys and surrounding peaks but also gives us an insight into the nature and flora of the Park. We have a selection of easy hiking trails from our hut that will take us to glacial mountain lakes, each a different colour and shape, shepherds huts, flowered meadows, magnificent viewpoints and historical sites. This area was involved in WW1 and remains of camps and settlements can be seen along the trails. Ernest Hemingway was here during this period and penned his book “Farewell to Arms” based on the amazing beauty surrounding him. DAY 8: Kropa, Radovljica and Ljubljana Located a short drive from Bled is the hidden village of Kropa. Situated at the base of Herova valley and surrounded by the Jelovica forest, this delightful village has an interesting history in iron forging. As we explore the alleys and visit the museums it is easy to feel that we have stepped back in time, as some of the ironmongers are still hard at work. Moving on we visit one of Slovenia’s oldest settlement, Radovljica where have time to explore the walled towns, 16th century buildings and museum. Our afternoon is spent in Ljubjana, the capital of Slovenia, which is a colourful with open fruit and vegetable markets around its cathedral. Pavement cafes alongside the river give a relaxed and open feel to the city; the castle dominates the city and offers a good view of the surrounding area. Its mixture of architecture, blending old with new and the beautiful bridges across the river gives Ljubljana a warm cosmopolitan feel. We then transfer back to Bled. DAY 9: (Sunday) Our tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to Ljubljana airport. Important General Information Tour Style |
||
|