Best of Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut

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-meter 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 (4-12 beds), shared bathroom
Meals included: dinner

Day 2: Trekking Through the Valley of Seven 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 group who decided to climb the summit of Triglav 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 meters 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. Afterward, 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 (4-12 beds), 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 6.00 PM.

Hiking: 8 km / elevation +200 m, -800 m / approx. 4 hours Elevation profile.
Overnight: /
Meals included: breakfast

Inclusions

• 3 guided days with a licensed English-speaking hiking guide.
• 2 nights with dinner and breakfast 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.
• Organization, 24-hour holiday service & support.

Exclusions

• Arriving to and from Ljubljana, Bled, or Bohinj.
• Drinks.
• Meals not specified in the Inclusions.
• Travel insurance.
• Guide gratuities.
• Personal expenses.
• Other services not specified in the Inclusions.

Optional

• Guided hike to Mt. Triglav: 190 € per hiker.

Activity Level 3 – MODERATE-DIFFICULT 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 it was too easy. Therefore you must be in good shape and have some hiking experience to fully enjoy this tour.

If you are doing the Triglav summit, you have to be in really good shape and be used to hiking/scrambling or rocks, gravel, scree.

What are the trails like?

The trails are uneven, sometimes rocky, narrow, and with loose gravel. Moreover, you will need to overcome several steep sections on the uphills as well as on the downhills. 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.

Our Best of Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut hiking tour can only be done when the mountain huts in the central Julian Alps are open. They usually open in the last week of June and remain open until late September. The first half of July and September generally see few fellow hikers. August is the peak month and the trails & huts are busy. The temperatures in September start decreasing, especially when the sun sets.

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 and 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. Check our recommended packing list.

We also recommend having a thin (lightweight) layer to cover your arms, legs, and the back of your neck to prevent sunburns.

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 spend two nights in typical Slovenian mountain huts.

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, so 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.

Aljaz Zupan
Slotrips guide

A passion born in mountain summer camps nurtured through adolescence and enhanced by different courses brought me to the point of making my hobby a profession. With like-minded friends, I had spent many fun days and starry nights tramping the mountains. Therefore I love spending every day in nature, where I eagerly share my knowledge about Slovenia. So if you wish to experience a fun hike, taste some amazing food, perhaps just spend a few days outdoors, or enjoy a debate over a beer, you can count on me! When I’m not in the mountains, you will find me working on various non-profit projects, or maybe sleeping…

Meet the team

“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

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How big are the groups?

Our shared group departures are limited to 8 hikers + 1 guide. Please contact us for bigger private groups.

What to bring for this walking tour?

Check our recommended packing list.