Hiking Best of Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut
Guided, small group | 3 days, 2 nights | 
| July to September
Best of Julian Alps hut-to-hut, Guided hiking trip
3-day hut-to-hut trekking along the highest Slovenian peaks and alpine valleys
This Julian Alps hike is a 3-day hut-to-hut hiking adventure through the heart of the Julian Alps. The tour will take you to the most spectacular places and exceptionally beautiful mountains of the Slovenian Alps. We recommend this tour to casual yet fit hikers who are looking for a fun and exciting experience deep in the wilderness.
This circular hike starts and ends at the fabulous Lake Bohinj. Along the way you will explore lovely alpine pastures with traditional alpine architecture, climb to some of the highest peaks, meet local shepherds and get to know your fellow hikers.
You will sleep in traditional mountain huts and enjoy Slovenian mountain food, and perhaps even experience the tradition of becoming a true Slovenian by climbing the summit of Mt. Triglav – an optional extra for anyone who would like to challenge themselves even more.
Price per person
345 €
Your adventure
Incredibly fun and attainable tour for every hiker
Enjoy the Seven Triglav Lakes Valley and hike towering peaks
Meet the locals and enjoy great Slovenian mountain cuisine
Day 1
Hiking to the summits of the Julian Alps
The day will start with the guide getting everyone on board in Ljubljana, Bled and finally Bohinj and driving to the trailhead in the Triglav National Park.
Initially, the forest path will take you through wild forests to charming alpine pastures. Here you’ll enjoy the silence as well as appreciate the chance for a real conversation with your hiking companions.
Further on, the gravel trail leads over mountain passes with great views over alpine valleys enclosed by high mountain walls, from which sharp summits pierce the sky.
After a late lunch at the mountain hut, you’ll finish the day or can extend it for an additional one hour to a nearby summit to soak up the majestic late afternoon views.
If you have a passion for hiking, you’ll surely want to climb Mt Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. If so, you’ll keep hiking for an additional 2 hours, with a 500-metre elevation gain, to the mountain hut just below Triglav summit, where you’ll overnight.
Hiking: 9 km / elevation +900 m, -250 m/ approx. 6 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: mountain hut with shared rooms 1/4, 1/6, and 1/10, shared bathroom
Meals included: dinner
Initially, the forest path will take you through wild forests to charming alpine pastures. Here you’ll enjoy the silence as well as appreciate the chance for a real conversation with your hiking companions.
Further on, the gravel trail leads over mountain passes with great views over alpine valleys enclosed by high mountain walls, from which sharp summits pierce the sky.
After a late lunch at the mountain hut, you’ll finish the day or can extend it for an additional one hour to a nearby summit to soak up the majestic late afternoon views.
If you have a passion for hiking, you’ll surely want to climb Mt Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. If so, you’ll keep hiking for an additional 2 hours, with a 500-metre elevation gain, to the mountain hut just below Triglav summit, where you’ll overnight.
Hiking: 9 km / elevation +900 m, -250 m/ approx. 6 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: mountain hut with shared rooms 1/4, 1/6, and 1/10, shared bathroom
Meals included: dinner
Day 2
Trekking through the valley of the Triglav Lakes
Welcome to the most challenging day of this trip.
The hiking group will hike along the glacial valley towards the Dolic saddle. A few hours later you’ll meet the Triglav hikers there and then hike on together to the Hribarice mountain plateau, where you’re almost face-to-face with Mt. Triglav. In fact, this is the best view of Slovenia’s highest mountain, so feel free to have a break and just enjoy it. However, if you’re on your happy feet today, you can climb the fantastic Mt. Kanjavec just above Hribarice Plateau, which will add an extra hour and 250 metres of elevation to the tour. Thus keep in mind that later you’ll descend to the Valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes along a rough gravel path, where you’ll appreciate having a firm step.
As the valley passes by, you’ll learn about the geological history of this incredible landscape. By the time you reach the mountain hut, you’ll have seen the most beautiful Triglav Lake, Kidney Lake, and perhaps even have found some fossils in the rocks. Afterwards, you will spend the night in a comfortable hut at Double Lake.
Everyone who has arranged to climb the summit of Mount Triglav will meet their IFMGA mountain guide early in the morning at the hut. From there, you’ll hike across the karst plateau and climb the exposed via-ferrata on the ridge of this three-headed mountain. It’ll take you over the summit of Mali (little) Triglav to the top of Slovenia, which Slovenians must climb to be considered a true Slovenian. After experiencing the tradition of becoming one of us, you’ll rejoin the rest of the group, say goodbye to your IFMGA mountain guide and continue with your hiking guide.
Hiking: 12 km / elevation +700 m, -750 m / approx. 7 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: mountain hut with shared rooms 1/4, 1/6, and 1/10, shared bathroom
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
The hiking group will hike along the glacial valley towards the Dolic saddle. A few hours later you’ll meet the Triglav hikers there and then hike on together to the Hribarice mountain plateau, where you’re almost face-to-face with Mt. Triglav. In fact, this is the best view of Slovenia’s highest mountain, so feel free to have a break and just enjoy it. However, if you’re on your happy feet today, you can climb the fantastic Mt. Kanjavec just above Hribarice Plateau, which will add an extra hour and 250 metres of elevation to the tour. Thus keep in mind that later you’ll descend to the Valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes along a rough gravel path, where you’ll appreciate having a firm step.
As the valley passes by, you’ll learn about the geological history of this incredible landscape. By the time you reach the mountain hut, you’ll have seen the most beautiful Triglav Lake, Kidney Lake, and perhaps even have found some fossils in the rocks. Afterwards, you will spend the night in a comfortable hut at Double Lake.
Everyone who has arranged to climb the summit of Mount Triglav will meet their IFMGA mountain guide early in the morning at the hut. From there, you’ll hike across the karst plateau and climb the exposed via-ferrata on the ridge of this three-headed mountain. It’ll take you over the summit of Mali (little) Triglav to the top of Slovenia, which Slovenians must climb to be considered a true Slovenian. After experiencing the tradition of becoming one of us, you’ll rejoin the rest of the group, say goodbye to your IFMGA mountain guide and continue with your hiking guide.
Hiking: 12 km / elevation +700 m, -750 m / approx. 7 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: mountain hut with shared rooms 1/4, 1/6, and 1/10, shared bathroom
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Day 3
Hiking the alpine pastures above Bohinj
Today you will leave the highest peaks behind and enter the land of alpine pastures. But first, you’ll hike to an amazing lookout point. On the top, you’ll enjoy incredible views across the Valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes and even the mountains above Lake Bohinj.
As soon as you’re back on the saddle, well-trodden trails will take you along the shepherds’ highlands, where alpine dairy farming is still alive. Thus you might be able to try some fresh homemade dairy products before reaching the van.
After a short stop and a refreshing swim at Lake Bohinj, your guide will take you back to Bled or Ljubljana. Expect to be there around 6.00PM.
Hiking: 8 km / elevation +200 m, -800 m / approx. 4 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: /
Meals included: breakfast
As soon as you’re back on the saddle, well-trodden trails will take you along the shepherds’ highlands, where alpine dairy farming is still alive. Thus you might be able to try some fresh homemade dairy products before reaching the van.
After a short stop and a refreshing swim at Lake Bohinj, your guide will take you back to Bled or Ljubljana. Expect to be there around 6.00PM.
Hiking: 8 km / elevation +200 m, -800 m / approx. 4 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: /
Meals included: breakfast
Make this adventure yours
345 € per person
every Monday from July to September or go private
Inclusions
3 guided days with licensed English speaking hiking guide.
2 nights with half board in a mountain hut. Private rooms with 2-4 beds per room. Shared bathrooms.
Transfer from Ljubljana, Bled or Bohinj to the start of the hike.
Transfer from the end of the hike to Bohinj, Bled or Ljubljana.
Optional
Guided hike to Mt. Triglav: 360 € per trip with 1-4 hikers
Exclusions
Arriving to and from Ljubljana, Bled or Bohinj.
Drinks.
Meals not specified in the Inclusions.
Travel insurance.
Guide gratuities and personal expenses.
Other services not specified in the Inclusions.
Need to make some changes?
Katja Rogelj
Slotrips trip designer & guide
A passionate mountain biker and ski mountaineer powered by the force of nature, with a ready smile and easy laugh, I am wildly enthusiastic about my life and work. Running on an adventurous heartbeat I could find the kick-off to the great outdoors only through studying physical education. Thus I soon turned from a junior mountaineer and hiker to a skiing teacher and canyoning instructor and guide in Slovenia, New Zealand, Corsica (France) and Spain. Many moves around the Slovenian Alps later, you will even find me in the office sharing my passion with you, getting to know you and loving every minute of it!
“Our 3-day hike exceeded all of my expectations! It was well planned, along a challenging trail with spectacular scenery. Along the way we passed through alpine pastures and even got to same cheeses that were made right on the mountainside. We stayed in mountain huts both nights, where we were comfortable and well fed. Our guide was interesting and always made sure we were safe. Miha was easy to communicate with over email, always responding to messages quickly. I appreciated that we were picked up and dropped off at our hotel. And the price of the trip was very affordable. I would love to do this hike again and would recommend it to everyone!”
Lenny from USA
How difficult is the hiking?
Expect to walk 5-7 hours per day, with 10-15 km (6-10 miles) in distance and up to 1000 m (3300 ft) of elevation gain on the hardest day. It might not sound much, but so far no one has ever said that is was too easy. Therefore be in reasonable shape and have some hiking experience to fully enjoy this tour.
What are the trails like?
The trails are uneven, sometimes rocky and narrow. Moreover, you will need to overcome several steep sections on the uphill as well as the downhill sections. On some days you will hike partly in the shade of a forest, on others above the treeline, but mostly without any shelter along the way.
What is the weather usually like?
Weather can change a lot. On the highest peaks it can snow even in summer (although it is not very common). If the weather is nice it can be very hot. Even above 30 deg C (90 deg F), which is a must for sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat (for shade)! If the weather is bad and windy, you will need really warm clothes. Be prepared for temperatures as low as 0 deg C or 32 deg F. This does not mean you have to bring a thick down jacket and thermal pants, but just keep in mind that it can get cold and unpleasant.
We also recommend having a thin (lightweight) layer to cover your arms, legs and the back of your neck to prevent sunburns.
Check our recommended packing list.
What if the weather is too bad to do the three-day hike?
We reserve the right to cancel the trip if we think the weather is not appropriate to run the tour safely. We will know this 2 days before the start date. It happens approximately once per year that we have to cancel the hiking trip. In this case, you get a full refund.
How big are the groups?
Maximum 8 hikers and 1 guide.
What are the mountain huts like?
The huts in the Slovenian Alps are quite basic, but they offer everything a hiker needs: food, drinks and accommodation. Most of the huts are accessible only by helicopter (no roads). Thus food supply is limited. Therefore expect simple menus of mountain food like different stews (vegetable or with meat), pasta and sausages. They also sell chocolate, soft drinks, water, beer etc. The usual breakfast would be eggs, ham, cheese, butter, jam…
The huts we use on this hiking tour have normal flush toilets, running (drinking) water and sometimes even hot showers.
Expect to share a room, toilets, bathrooms or washrooms. Rooms are from 4 to 12 beds.
Do I need a sleeping bag?
Not necessarily. The huts provide blankets and one-time-use paper sheets. However, we highly recommend bringing a lightweight cotton sleeping liner (travel sheet), since your sleep will be more comfortable and we try to avoid making unnecessary waste and help preserve some trees.
Can I swim in the Triglav lakes?
No! The lakes are fairly small, especially during the summer drought. The water in and outflow is super small and the water barely changes. The lakes’ micro-ecosystem is very fragile and we must not endanger it with our sweat, sunscreen etc. Moreover, it is considered an offence by the Triglav National Park organisation.
Do the mountain huts provide vegetarian/vegan meals?
The food in mountain huts is quite basic. There are options for vegans and vegetarians, but the selection is very limited. If you have any special dietary restrictions or needs, we recommend bringing your own snacks and treats.
Is luggage transfer between the mountain huts possible?
No. You will need to carry your belongings throughout the entire hiking tour. We recommend storing your main luggage at your accommodation in Bled or Ljubljana.
Why us?
With us you will save hours, nights, and days planning your trip. You will discover amazing locations, enjoy the best family activities in Slovenia and have carefree holidays. Because we care! Read about us & check our reviews.
