FAMILY WALKING · SELF-GUIDED

Family Alpe-Adria Trail Hike

Enjoyable Alpine Hiking Experience With Kids

Best Point-to-Point Family Hiking Trip in Slovenia

JULIAN ALPS · KRANJSKA GORA · VRSIC PASS · SOCA VALLEY

Experience the most picturesque stages of the Alpe Adria Trail and the Soca Trail, with dense forests of Triglav National Park, sweeping glacial valleys, alpine meadows and turquoise waters. Discover breathtaking vistas of the Slovenian, Austrian and Italian Julian Alps. Explore the Soca Valley’s natural treasures and cultural heritage with World War I sites. Taste the wildflowers and fresh local food. Play in crystal clear waters and reconnect on the grassy banks of the Soca River.

Prefer a guided Alpe-Adria trip? Check this one!

A happy family on a mountain ridge with a footpath over a scree slope and Mt. Mala Mojstrovka in the background in Julian Alps in Slovenia

Day 1: Explore Kranjska Gora

Reach Kranjska Gora*, a small ski town lurking beneath the mighty Julian Alps, which will summon your family’s adventurous spirit.

Check-in at your hotel in the town center and explore the lovely surroundings: rent bikes and bike to Planica (the famous nordic center), do summer tobogganing on the ski slope, hike the beautiful valleys, visit some of the waterfalls in the region or simply relax by Lake Jasna and observe the mountains you will cross in the following days.

Overnight: 3* hotel in Kranjska Gora

*Let us know if you need a transfer to the start of the hike.

 

Day 2: Hike from Kranjska Gora to the Vrsic Pass

Start your point-to-point hike directly from Kranjska Gora. Park your car, pack some food for the hike and head along the nicely maintained trails towards the Vrsic Mountain Pass. At first, you follow a beautiful valley, surrounded by some of the highest Slovenian peaks. Soon you start ascending along nicely marked and technically easy trails, optionally add a side trip to a wonderful viewpoint and finally reach a cosy mountain hut underneath the mighty Mt. Prisojnik. Get ready for some tasty home-cooked Slovenian alpine food.

Hiking: 10 km / elevation gain +660 m / approx. 4-5 hours
Overnight: mountain hut (private rooms if available) with shared bathrooms

 

Day 3: Walk in the heart of the Julian Alps

This day offers some flexibility and you can choose between two hiking options on this day.
You can hike up an old military road and explore the remains of the frontline, built by Russian prisoners in World War One. The gently ascending road over the Vrsic Pass serves as one of the nicest lookouts in mountainous Slovenia, with beautiful flowery meadows, where you can even befriend a lamb. From the top of the pass, the trail starts descending into the Soca Valley.

Or you can opt for a morning climb to the lovely summit of Slemenova Spica, enjoy the easy trails through the pine trees and take in one of the most scenic views of the white limestone walls all around you.
Upon returning back to Vrsic Pass and if having enough hiking for the day, you can catch a local bus for a short ride in order to skip the descent into the Soca Valley.

Hiking: 7 km / elevation +160 m, -780 m / approx. 4-5 hours
Overnight: mountain hut (private rooms if available) with shared bathrooms

 

Day 4: Hike along the Soca river

The gently undulating trail leads along the Trenta Valley, next to the Soca river, across suspension footbridges over beautifully carved gorges with deep aquamarine pools and endemic marble trout fish.

On the way you’ll find many grassy clearings and beaches by the river for a little family picnic, to dip your feet in, or even enjoy a refreshing swim in the turquoise water. Keep an eye out for colourful birds, small lizards, dragonflies and chances to jump in the river where you can soak up some sun.
Today’s stage is relatively easy and you’ll have plenty of time to play and hang by the beautiful river.

Get a late afternoon transfer to the nearby town of Bovec, the adventure capital of Slovenia.

Hiking: 13 km / elevation +180 m, -520 m / approx. 4-5 hours
Overnight: 3* hotel in Bovec

 

Day 5: Walk through the Bovec basin

You can spend the entire day exploring beautiful waterfalls, viewpoints, landmarks and historic places by several shorter walks or combine them into a single loop. It starts in the town’s main square and offers great views, visits to WWI forts, amazing spots by the river and pure tranquillity in the great outdoors of the Soca valley.

Hiking: 13 km / elevation +380 m, -380 m / approx. 3-5 hours
Overnight: 3* hotel in Bovec

 

Day 6: White water adventures

Bovec is Slovenia’s outdoor mecca. You can do all sorts of fun and adventurous activities. One of the most popular is rafting on the Soca river, one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers, and it is on every traveller’s adventure bucket list. The activity on grade 2-3 rapids is suitable for all ages and skill levels, thus you’ll embark on a rafting trip with swimming, lots of fun, and even games on the river within alpine nature.

Your rafting guides will take you from your hotel to the start of the trip and back around lunchtime, hand out the gear, share the instructions and navigate the tour the smallest and the tallest family member will love equally.

Rafting: ~8 km / ~3 hours (1.5 hours rafting on the river)

You can also opt for canyoneering, zip-line, adventure park, kayaking, river tubing, mountain biking and more.

We’ll arrange a transfer back to Kranjska Gora or your car in the early afternoon.

Inclusions

Exclusions

  • Arriving to and from Kranjska Gora.
  • Drinks, lunches & dinners.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Other services not specified in the Inclusions.

Optional

  • Luggage transfer between accommodations: 140 € per booking.
  • Rafting on Soca river: 65 € per person.

Activity Level 2 – EASY to MODERATE walking

Expect to walk about 4-5 hours per day within 8-13 km (5-8 miles) of distance and up to 600 m (2000 ft) elevation gain. Please do make prior walks of similar distances and elevation gains on rocky terrain, to be in a reasonable shape to fully enjoy the trip rather than to suffer it through. If you find the walk to hard, you always have an escape option by taking a taxi or bus to your next accommodation.

 

What are the trails like?

The trails are uneven, sometimes rocky and narrow, with gravel, grass, roots and forest soil. You can expect to walk some short, steep, sometimes slippery uphill and downhill sections along mostly forest shaded trails. However, be prepared for sun exposure too.

Our Alpe Adria Trail Hike family trip can be done anytime between May and October. There can still be some snow on Vrsic pass in May. October serves with amazing fall colors. July & August are the hottest (best for swimming) and busiest months.

What is the weather usually like?

In summer (from June to early September) the weather is usually hot, with temperatures around 25-30 deg C (75-90 deg F). In peak season (August) you can expect a heatwave with temperatures likely exceeding 35 deg C (95 deg F) as well as a significant temperature drop in the mountains on a cloudy, windy, or rainy day.

Of course, don’t forget your swimsuit and a small towel! Lakes and rivers are calling for a refreshing swim!

Essential read: our Best time to hike in Slovenia blog post.

You will stay in very different and unique accommodations: mountain hut, hay-barn, campsite, and a centrally located * hotel in Bovec.

What is the mountain hut like?

The mountain hut is a cosy family-run place with 3 rooms in total. You will have your own room (2 bunk beds) and share the bathrooms with others. Expect some great and filling mountain food as well.

What is the hay-barn like?

Check the photos. The hay barn is located on an organic farm near the Soca river, where great local breakfast is served and bathrooms are shared.  You will get a cotton bed liner over the hay ‘mattress’, a comfortable pillow, and a blanket.

Let us know if you prefer a different accommodation. 

What is the campsite like?

The campsite is one of the loveliest on the best location by the Soca river with different overnight options, depending on the availability. Small wooden houses for 2 people or a bigger family room are at disposal. All with a private room, proper mattresses, and bedding, yet shared bathrooms. Breakfast is provided. Camp’s highlights are the stunning green meadows and nearby river pools.

Miha Gantar
Slotrips founder, trip designer & guide

Miha Gantar, Slotrips' founder, trip designer & guide

I was born in Slovenia’s lovely capital city of Ljubljana but had set the avid hiker and biker in me aside for a while to study civil engineering in Germany. It was there where I met my wife, my cute Spanish girl. Together we traveled the world and finally settled in my homeland, Slovenia in 2007. Since then I have been (re)discovering the hiking trails, biking backroads, hidden natural treasures, and best dining spots all over the country. I am in love with Slovenia’s landscape, diversity, and cultural variety and will proudly show you my “backyard”.

Meet the team

“Our expectations were exceeded, for sure.

All accommodation, logistics etc were perfect. The range of scenery was really overwhelming and I really hope to return someday! Triglav National Park seems like a magical place that demands more time to explore. Thanks so much to you and your team for all the organization etc, it was a great trip and we would not hesitate to recommend it to others”

Ruth Collins
from Ireland

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Children’s ages

This trip is appropriate for kids from 6 years on, with plenty of play and downtime, as well as engage with the river. The kids need to be good and keen walkers. Please advise us if someone can’s swim. The trip can be modified into a multi-active and exciting adventure for fit teenagers too. 

Can I add more adventures?

Yes, you can choose from rock climbing, canyoning, horse-back riding, kayaking, paragliding, via-ferrata climb, and more. Let us know to arrange the adventure. 

Price

540 € per person

Photos by Slotrips, Boris Pretnar and Tomo Jesenicnik (STO)

Need to make some changes to the itinerary?

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Price: 540 €
An elevation profile of 3 day Alpe-Adria trail, between Tonkina koca and Kekec Homestead
An elevation profile of 3 day Alpe-Adria trail, between Kranjska Gora and Tonkina koca
An elevation profile of 3 day Alpe-Adria trail, between Kekec Homestead and the town of Bovec

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