Walking in Slovenia’s Julian Alps

Walking in Slovenia’s Julian Alps

We first discovered Slovenia’s Julian Alps on a weeks Spring break in May / June 2011.  Since then we have spent a further 5 weeks getting to know the area in some depth.

Lake Bohinj

The Julian Alps are believed to be named after Julius Caesar and are the highest mountains in Slovenia with at Triglav 2864m the highest summit. The Slovene people are rightly proud of their mountaineering heritage and the national flag has Triglav represented on it. There is a “saying” in Slovenia that you are only a true Slovene if you have climbed Triglav.

As an alpine nation, its mountains are not as high as those in neighbouring countries but they are equally spectacular. There is an extensive network of mountain huts throughout its mountains making it quite possible to stay for longer periods high up without having to keep descending to a valley base each evening.

Martagon Lilly

Our first trip was in the spring of 2011.  Too early to access the high paths and summits because the high mountains were full of snow. We were able to walk to the summer pastures on the low alps where the cows were being taken up to from the villages and the wild spring flowers were very impressive. We were surprised at the warm weather, though the proximity to the Mediterranean generally gives a warmer and more stable climate than the western alps.

The second trip we made was for two weeks in August 2011.  The paths and mountains were now mostly clear of snow and we were able to explore the extensive network of paths and huts in the high mountains. Especially memorable was seeing both Edelweiss and the rare, endemic, Zoiss Bellflower.

We returned again for two weeks in 2013, this time leading walking holidays for Mountain House Holidays. We led two, week long holidays and were able to take our clients to the summit of Triglav. We became true Slovenes!

In September, 2014 we had the privilege to return once more leading a hut to hut walking holiday for Mountain House Holidays. Memorable on this trip was the accordion playing that we experienced at all of the huts we stayed at.

Pogacnikov Dom

Zoiss Bellflower

Situated less than an hours drive from Ljubiana Airport, the Julian Alps are very accessible. There are flights from both London Stanstead and Luton airports. We have found car hire quite cheap though there are taxi’s and mini-bus taxi’s available. By booking them in advance these also work out quite cheaply.

If you are planning to visit in springtime, there are lots of flowers out in late May and early June. An ideal base would be around Lake Bohinj. There are plenty of hotels, guest houses and hostels here to suit all. Hostel 13 in Studor offers good clean basic self catering accommodation. Hotel Starre offers good hotel accommodation.

Edleweiss

For summer hut to hut trips you need a start and end point. The Aljazev Dom at the head of the valley above the village of Mojstrana has a massive “wow” factor that it overlooks the mighty north face of Triglav. This is one of the few huts that has showers and you can get a taxi or drive to within about 400m of the hut. We have also left bags here with our clean travelling clothes to return to on several occasions.

If you want a guided itinerary, Mountain House Holidays will help you sort out a suitable itinerary and provide you with a qualified International Mountain Leader who has knowledge of these beautiful mountains.

Mike and Jane from Mountain House Holidays are always willing to advise you to plan your walking holiday in Slovenia.

Chamois

A Journey through the High Julian Alps

This September we were joined by 8 intrepid explorers, to once again venture into the beautiful and dramatic mountains of the Julian Alps of Slovenia.


 Our journey began in the northwest corner of the country, under the north face of Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain. We promised the group a stunning view, however we arrived in the dark, and the next morning dawned cool, with cloud swirling around the summits, so this would have to await our return.



During the following days, we climbed to high mountain huts, teetered around some improbable paths, relaxed by mountain lakes, watched Marmots, Ibex and eagles and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality offered by hut guardians.








Walking in the Julian Alps provides some amazing contrasts; one day we would be following a path constructed as military roads during the first world war, the next climbing over a high summit protected by iron pitons, then dropping down through beech forest to a beautiful high summer pasture, to drink mountain tea and sample home made cheese.



A successful ascent of Triglav was the highlight of the first week, but sadly not to be repeated, as snow and ice meant our second weeks itinerary had to be changed. However that stunning view of Triglav's north face did not disappoint, and offered inspiration for another trip next year.

Highest Mountains; an international experience!

We have had the opportunity to climb three of Europe's highest mountains this summer; Mulhacen, highest in mainland Spain, Ben Nevis in Scotland and most recently Triglav in Slovenia. All are popular and attract visitors from all over the world - we met eg. Norwegians, Poles, Austrians and Danes on Mulhacen, Russians, Germans, and French on Ben Nevis and Israeli, Americans and Dutch on Triglav.




Climbing your countries highest mountain is always an achievement, and for some almost an obligation - in Slovenia to be a true Slovene you must climb this challenging summit at least once in your life.
It is great to have the opportunity to share these these moments with others, and with our clients.

Walking in Slovenia's Julian Alps

Walking in Slovenia’s Julian Alps

Mountain House Holidays will be running guided hut to hut walking holidays in Slovenia’s Julian Alps in 2013. Here is an account of our two visits to research the trip.

Monument to the Partizans of WW2 under Triglav's North Face

 Driving from Ljubljana Airport towards Bohinj, which was to be our base, I remember commenting on how green the countryside was and how clean this country appeared. That was on our first trip in May.  We were fortunate to return for a longer stay in August and I got the same impression. Slovenia is a beautiful mountainous country.  Slovene’s are very proud of their mountains, Triglav the country’s highest mountain (2864m) even appears on the national flag and every Slovene is expected to climb Triglav at least once during their life!

Lake Bohinj and the Monument to Zloterog

The base for our first trip was Stara Fuzina near the shore of Lake Bohinj.  It was from here in 1778 that three local men set out and made the first ascent of Triglav.  In May when we made our first visit there was still too much snow to walk the high peaks safely but the high pastures were clear and full of the most spectacular spring flowers.  Indeed there was a flower festival happening attracting many visitors on guided walks into the alpine meadows.  This would be a great time to visit, before it got too hot for some late spring warmth. The only down side of visiting in May was that many of the huts were not yet open, during the season they provide a good service in food and drinks.

The paths are very well marked with red and white markers and all major junctions are marked with signposts giving place names and the time it will take to get there.

Triglav from the south East

When we visited again in August, it was very much hotter with valley temperatures up to 30 degrees during the day.  On this trip though we planned to spend most of the time up in the high mountains which was much cooler like a British summer!  At night and early in the morning it did get cold requiring jackets, hats and gloves.

Edelweiss

We toured around the Triglav area staying in some of the numerous huts that provide clean though basic hostel accommodation. The paths we walked were limestone with amazing Karst features.  Often with steep rocky steps, sometimes with wires and metal steps to help.  Ibex were common and although this was late summer there were still many stunning plants including Edelweiss and the rare Zois Bellflower (a plant where bees have to drill into the flower to get at the nectar).

Pri Jezeru Hut and Alpine Pasture

Historically the area is fascinating too. A country that has been ruled by other nations from Roman times until recent independence with the dismantling of Yugoslavia. There are three aspects of their history that I found particularly interesting: the sites of fortifications and other remnants of the 1^st world war high in the mountains; examples of forms of cooperative farming dating to the early 1800’s which when the communists took power in the 1940’s were held up as models of good practice allowing these alpine cooperatives to continue; and the history of Slovene mountaineering which is remarkable. There are museums to visit that highlight all three of these subjects.

Zois Bellflower

The walking in this area is as good as any in the central alps and Slovene culture is geared up to support walkers with a great network of signed paths and alpine huts.  The most difficult aspect is how to get there as flights are limited and the only low cost airline flying there from the U.K. is Easyjet flying from Stanstead. Once in Slovenia, public transport is good though if you are planning a hut to hut tour consider getting a taxi to and from your start and finish points.

Mountain House Holidays will be running Hut to Hut walking tours of the Triglav area in September 2013.  These 7 night full board, fully guided holidays will cost £850.  The price includes all transport, accommodation and food and the services of a fully qualified International Mountain Leader.

Mike and Jane from Mountain House Holidays are fully qualified International Mountain Leaders.  If you or you group would like a Walking Holiday in Slovenia organised at other dates, please contact us to discuss your ideas.