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The flight had been delayed for 3 hours but the transport was waiting and Hotel Tripic stayed up to welcome us and had left a meal in our room. The owner ...
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Most of our walking takes place in the north of Slovenia in the Julian Alps. This range forms part of the Southern Alps which extend into Austria. The spectacular mountains in this area are predominately limestone, and their jagged forms produce stunning vistas wherever you look. The area is softened by beautiful, tranquil lakes in the valley bottoms and amongst the rocky crags. Two of the largest lakes, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, feature on our 7-night walking holiday.
The beauty of Lake Bled attracts world-wide visitors. It is a natural mineral spa lake with its medieval castle, island with church and the surrounding Alps as a stunning back drop. Nearby is Lake Bohinj, a lake set amongst the higher mountains of the Julian Alps in the Triglav National Park. The valley floors are full of picturesque villages whose inhabitants still rely on farming and its agricultural products for their income. The Slovenes are deeply proud of their way of life, and undoubtedly you will be tempted by their food which offers a host of national dishes many influenced by the cuisine of neighbouring countries. Slovenia also produces excellent wine.
There is walking in Slovenia to challenge the most demanding of walkers as well as those who require more gentle routes. The limestone peaks give many opportunities for ridge walking with stunning vistas of local peaks and lakes. You can walk to the top of Mount Vogel (1922m) with its commanding views all the way to Italy and Austria. Helpfully, some of these high walks can be assisted by the use of a cable car.
Experience routes through the mountains built by soldiers in the First World War as supply routes for Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies fighting in the area. Explore mountain paths through Alpine meadows. Take mountain routes over rocky paths; discover deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls where for most of the year, you may be the only visitor.
There are also several routes linking beautiful, unspoilt villages either on the valley floor or on the mountain slopes. They often follow fast-flowing mountain rivers which will make their way to the Danube and the Black Sea. There is plenty here to satisfy all grades of walker.
You stay at:
Hotel Tripic, Bohinj Bistrica (breakfast and evening meals included)
OR
Hotel Jezero, Ribčev Laz (breakfast and evening meals included)
Walks Around Lake Bled
Between two rivers to Talež 15 KM/ 9.5 MI/ 5 HRS
This circular route from Bled will give you an ideal introduction to the area around the town. It includes a stroll through attractive meadows, visits two of the largest rivers in the area and then takes you up to a koča (hut), from where you have extensive views of the surrounding mountains and countryside.
The Lake Bled Circuit 6 KM/ 4 MI/ 1.5 HRS
Lake Bled is very beautiful and a walk round should not be missed. Mostly it is combined with our Osojnica walk, which gives the classic overview of Lake Bled, the combination giving a good introduction to the Bled area. The circuit could include a swim at the castle bathing area. Another option would be to catch a boat at the far end and visit the island of Otok. Visitors staying at Bohinj would no doubt wish also to spend some time in the tourist resort of Bled itself, making this a truly leisurely day. On the other hand, you could also combine with the walk towards Babji Zob, thereby making a much longer day.
Above Lake Bled on Osojnica 3 KM/ 2 MI/ 1.5 HRS
The most famous views of Lake Bled are from up here. The walk is very short but is steep and rough in parts; at one or two points it is briefly and slightly vertiginous. The walk starts and ends at the far end of Lake Bled so it makes sense to combine it with the Lake Bled Circuit.
Vintgar Gorge 13 KM/ 8 MI/ 3.5 HRS
Vintgar Gorge is a must-see spectacle. Vintgar Gorge is about 1.5km long and over 90m deep, with rapids, green pools and rock faces, and a surprising number of trout. The path is mostly narrow, with walkways skilfully constructed out over the river from the rockfaces and several bridges. Progress can be slow because of the quantity of sightseers, but this matters not because Vintgar should be savoured slowly.
Below Babji Zob, the Old Hag's Tooth 11 KM/ 7 MI/ 3.5 HRS
Babji Zob is a striking perpendicular rock standing out at the end of the limestone Jelovica hills, south of Bled, and is said to resemble an old woman's tooth. (The tooth is still there, but the old hag is long gone!! You will have to use your imagination!). Our walk explores the delightful countryside and villages on its slopes, and in the Sava Bohinjka valley.
Walks Around Lake Bohinj
Around the lower Bohinj Valley 17KM/ 11 MI/ 5 HRS
On the north side are excellent views of the valley and attractive alpine meadows. On the south side of the valley the route goes through relatively unwalked countryside and generally shows off the attractive Bohinj farmland, mixed woodlands and villages.
Savica Waterfall 8 KM/ 5 MI/ 2.5 HRS
A steady climb from the lake on a clear track to the parking area and restaurants is followed by a short section from the pay kiosk up 580 (!) steps to the waterfall. Our return route takes a quiet, pleasant cross-country route, but alternatives are offered. All variants of this walk can be combined with the Lake Bohinj circuit.
The Mostnica River and Gorge 16 KM/ 10 MI/ 4.5 HRS
This is a low-level walk which follows a wonderfully sculptured narrow limestone gorge with green pools and rapids before entering a lovely alpine pasture full of wildflowers. There is a shady waterfall at the far end of the walk and two cafes along the way to refresh a tired walker. The walk is either side of the gorge to maximise what can be seen. A small fee is payable for walking along the gorge.
The rocky slopes of Vogel 12 KM/ 7.5 MI/ 5 HRS OR 8KM/ 5 MI/ 3.5 HRS
This is a mountain walk with good paths. Vertigo sufferers should avoid the walk from point 1615m up to Vogel but could enjoy the lower option which does not involve scrambling. Either walk has extensive views of the Julian Alps and the Bohinj valley with those opting for the summit of Vogel also enjoying vistas to the south.
The wooded heights of Pršivec 15 KM/ 9.5 MI/ 6.5 HRS
North of Lake Bohinj is a high, wooded area rising to the peak of Pršivec, dotted with several small planinas or open pastures. One or two brief parts are exposed, so those easily prone to vertigo should give it a miss, but for those who undertake it, this route should provide a good, 'away from it all' feeling. If you have enough time you may wish to sample one of the mountain inns.
Walks Around Triglav National Park
Vrata valley and Peričnik waterfalls 17 KM/ 11 MI/ 4.5 HRS
This side valley walk, climbs from the main Sava Dolinka valley to the foot of Triglav, it is mostly easy going with the notable exception of the steep climb to the waterfalls. This is well worth the effort because you can experience the waterfalls from close range.
Pokljuka's forests and the ridge to Debela Peč 16 KM/ 10 MI/ 6.5 HRS
High above the remote Pokljuka Forest lies the attractive alpine Planina (pasture) Lipanca with its profusion of wildflowers, below the summit of Debela Peč. The path is well waymarked, steep in places, but well worth the effort for the outstanding views.
Hotel Tripic, Bohinj Bistrica (breakfast and evening meals included) OR Hotel Jezero, Ribčev Laz (breakfast and evening meals included)
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
The flight had been delayed for 3 hours but the transport was waiting and Hotel Tripic stayed up to welcome us and had left a meal in our room. The owner and staff were always helpful and friendly. The room was clean and comfortable. The routes for the 6 walks we did were usually clear except the one to Vogel. We then moved to Hotel Cubo in Ljubljana which was really excellent. The staff again were pleasant and helpful, the room wonderful and breakfasts were particularly special!
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided walking holiday includes:
Single-centre accommodation in and hotels
All breakfasts and evening meals
Comprehensive route directions provided prior to departure
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking
Departures
Meals
All breakfasts and evening meals
Other details
As we offer a range of walking options, transfers to the start of walks are not included; a mixture of taxis and local buses can be used (payable locally).
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.
