It’s been a loopy 12 months and a fair crazier season, mountain climbing and climbing within the lovely Slovenian mountains. We’ve hit that dusty, muddy and even snowy path numerous occasions and have seen something from the large elusive ibexes, mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets, to the cutest playful marmots. We’ve sweated collectively on steep slopes, tried to flee huge thunderstorms, dipped into the freezing chilly Soča river, loved uncovered climbs, and listened to enjoyable music on our rides to the mountains. These brief moments collectively really linked us into distinctive friendships.
It’s not simple to choose my private favourite mountain excursions of 2024, particularly since grading can’t be primarily based solely on the paths and great thing about the views, but additionally on fairly coincidental elements just like the climate, hut life, sparks inside the teams, meals and different well-being elements. All in all, of all unimaginable hikes and climbs we’ve shared, listed below are Exploring Slovenia’s 5 greatest mountain journeys of 2024!
Discover Slovenia on our Weblog: Mountain climbing in a flower paradise: Golica and its daffodilsTwelve hikes within the Soča ValleyFairytale loop hike above Srednji VrhBest mountain hikes in Slovenia in summer time 2023Best mountain hikes of 2024
1. The Karavanke Alps Traverse
You’d be shocked by how deeply this 5-day trek that we did again in July touched me. The trek itself was good. On the primary day we hiked as much as Mt. Stol, wowed on the most spectacular sundown proper on the highest peak of the Karavanke Alps whereas actually hugging a bunch of nosy sheep. Over the following two days we adopted the scenic ridge of the Karavanke Alps, lush tall delicately smelling flowers, for greater than thirty kilometers. On the way in which we stopped to pet grazing animals, loved a scrumptious lunch at a pleasant shepherds’ farm and spent one other evening in a cute mountain hut, the place a cheerful hut keeper entertained the friends by enjoying the accordion. Within the afternoon of the third day we descended to a small alpine city the place we loved good meals and two snug nights. In the course of the day, we tackled a daring through ferrata excessive up within the mountains and completed off the 5-day trek with one more insanely lovely hike within the Karavanke Alps.
But, I’d walked these trails many occasions earlier than however by no means have I loved them a lot. The July group was simply plain superb!
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest guided multi-day treks:The Karavanke Alps TraverseFrom Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek7 Triglav Lakes TrekSoča Valley and the Alps
2. Bovški Gamsovec Climb
With years of labor as a mountain information I’ve seen approach higher climate situations within the Bovški Gamsovec space, an extremely picturesque a part of the Julian Alps, but even rain and fog can’t disappoint right here. Wildlife, mind-blowing views, an awesome climb, a cute hut and emerald inexperienced alpine lakes, Bovški Gamsovec really has all of it. As soon as I’ve described it because the land of the alpine ibex, and fortuitously over time the rising recognition of the Slovenian mountains nonetheless hasn’t overwhelmed this place as a lot as to push the awe-inspiring long-horned animals away from their rocky territory beneath the huge partitions of Bovški Gamsovec.
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest summer time excessive mountain hikes:Dreamy lakeview JerebicaTriglav viewpoint hikeStunning Julian Alps hikeStol, the very best of Karavanke
We headed there for 2 days in early September. As we sweated our approach up an agonizingly steep path in gentle rain, our group-proclaimed wildlife spotter Damjana stored pointing at ibexes which didn’t appear to be bothered by our presence. We should’ve seen no less than 9 by the point we walked into the hut and the thick fog swallowed the mountainous world outdoors. As soon as within the hut, we spent the remainder of the day enjoying playing cards, fixing puzzles, sharing daring mountain climbing tales and joking with different hikers whereas peeping by means of the window at what appeared unattainable climate. To anybody’s shock, hut life might be fairly amazingly cozy!
The subsequent morning introduced a flip within the climate and everybody got here out to absorb views of the encircling mountains and Križ lakes at a vibrant dawn. Even a flock of sheep appeared cheerful as they adopted us, signalling they might recognize the apple I occurred to have. By all means, probably the most persistent one bought it.
After breakfast we headed out to climb the height of Bovški Gamsovec with Damjana relentlessly recognizing new and new ibexes. As much as the purpose that nobody else within the group cared anymore. As all the time, the climb to the two,392-meter peak was unimaginable and, most of all, we discovered ourselves utterly mesmerized by the theatrical views of Mt. Triglav and its 3-km-long and a kilometer excessive North Face, which appeared only a stone’s throw away.
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest summer time mid mountain hikes:Fairytale hike in Karavanke7 Triglav Lakes TrekKrn Lakes above Soča ValleyFlower Hike on Golica
3. The Kočevje space and the Koča Studeno Cottage
There aren’t any huge mountains within the Kočevje space, solely hills and forests so far as the attention can see. Each path feels distant, the forests greener than anyplace you’d walked earlier than and also you’re extra prone to be greeted by a wild animal than a human being. Anticipating momentous encounters as the world boasts the biggest variety of brown bears in Slovenia, I hiked with my loyal companion – bear spray, however ended up seeing no bears however two giant pink deer, numerous common deer and a chamois.
I settled in an outdated rustic cottage known as Koča Studeno, which occurred to be situated in a forest a number of kilometers from an asphalt highway however gave out vibes of really being in the course of nowhere. It type of was. The primary home (additionally being the one neighboring home) was a number of kilometers away, the remainder was pure wilderness. It was good. I spent my mornings and evenings in a daisy-speckled meadow chilling outdoors the cottage, studying, consuming or simply respiratory within the recent air. The cottage proprietor, a candy man who has been following his passions of turning their outdated household home right into a heat rustic homestay, welcomed us with creamy native yoghurt, deer salami, bread and dessert; a welcome aid initially of our four-day journey within the Kočevje space.
Day-after-day I let myself go utterly wild mountain climbing alongside unknown trails that ended at attractive viewpoints, exploring the Unesco protected pristine forest Krokar and the cliffs of Loška Stena, lakes, caves, and roaming the aromatic forests of the Kočevje space the place wild garlic blossomed in abundance. Heck, I even entered a tiny espresso store, the place a bunch of native males already bantered over a morning beer, and joined them for a drink and chat. Juice for me although. With everybody pleasant and the character so lush and vibrant, I’d by no means felt extra accepted in a brand new place than proper there.
If I got here to the Kočevje space feeling a bit misplaced after ending a 6-year relationship the month prior, this extraordinary place helped me efficiently rebalance my very core, and I discovered myself bursting with optimistic life vitality as soon as once more as I used to be leaving it 4 days later.
Learn extra on Weblog:Finest mountain excursions of 2024Fairytale loop hike above Srednji VrhWhere to hike round within the Soča ValleySafe winter trails that can blow your thoughts
4. From Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek
Occurring an journey, you want difficulties and challenges. The perfect hikes come hand in hand with a sure diploma of exhaustion and dehydration, and if that’s not an choice, it could hardly be known as an journey. Ascending greater than 2,000 meters over forested and scenic mountains, passing alpine meadows and lakes, whereas the path even climbs over a rocky 2,244-meter peak, the primary two days of this breathtaking 3-day trek might be fairly bold, and, in response to what I used to imagine, not going for the much less match hikers. By having added two simpler options to the mountain a part of the trek this 12 months, I’m comfortable to say I used to be mistaken. It does stay a sizeable journey for the much less ready hikers, but not an unattainable one.
This summer time, we managed to efficiently end fairly a number of treks From Bohinj to the Soča Valley with hikers of varied ranges of health; anybody from marathon runners, match mountain hikers, to averagely match metropolis dwellers. Furthermore, we additionally had a tremendous trek with a person who described himself as “not match”. Together with his wit and touring expertise he turned out to be an awesome addition to the in any other case very match group and managed to get pleasure from a much less strenuous model of the mountain trek however then merged with the remainder of the group for the final day within the Soča Valley.
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest guided day hikes:Beautiful Julian AlpsFairytale hike in KaravankeGoli Vrh above JezerskoFlower hike on Golica
5. Seven Triglav Lakes Trek
Beginning in a forest bursting with life, the place we had the privilege to take heed to the pink stag roaring to name for a mate, and ending in distant rocky mountains, the range of the path is what distinguishes the Triglav Lakes Trek from some other trek. The trek traverses the outstanding Triglav Lakes Valley, which extends eight kilometers from the 1,294-m elevation above Lake Bohinj, the place the primary lake lies hidden in a verdant forest, all the way in which to the 1,933-m elevation with the very best lake, Jezero pod Vršacem, snuggly planted beneath distant towering mountains. Over three days mountain climbing one passes alpine meadows, outdated shepherds’ cottages, and beautiful lakes, whereas seeing the vegetation change from lush inexperienced to decrease pines and finally to sporadic patches of grass and flowers adorning the rugged mountains at 2,000 meters.
Our September group skilled one thing distinctive. After an extended scorching summer time, once we eagerly dipped ourselves into (unappealingly) chilly rivers and lakes simply to maintain cool, the climate turned in a single day and the mountains acquired the primary snowfall of the season. Not only a sprinkle however a properly thick blanket that caught round for weeks.
It occurred that we hiked to the primary hut on the Double Triglav Lakes in gloomy drizzly climate after which awoke the following morning to see the mountains all white. The hike to our second hut at 2,070 m was considerably attention-grabbing within the snow and fog, and after a few decks of playing cards within the hut the thick fog began to interrupt aside with home windows of blue skies displaying up. They are saying that the most effective climate comes after days of awful ones, and so it did. The sundown that day was pure magic and the following day sunny and not using a cloud in sight. What a deal with to be in such a spectacular place just like the Triglav Lakes Valley for the primary snow and proper because the solar got here out!
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest lakeview mountain hikes:Krn Lakes above Soča Valley7 Triglav Lakes TreksDreamy lakeview Jerebica
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