Set in one among Slovenia’s most lovely places, on a big alpine plateau known as Velika Planina, these comfy cabins run by Alpine Resorts are solely a brief hike away from the closest car parking zone or chair elevate, and the world provides varied mountaineering choices.
Because the solar was asserting a brand new day, popping out shyly from behind the mountains, the previous shepherds’ settlement of 64 enchanting oval picket huts lit up in essentially the most vibrant colours. First, the solar stroked the topmost huts, every inside a cute picket fence the place the cows used to relaxation after grazing. Then slowly the entire settlement lit up and the primary purple spring flowers playfully brightened the freshly inexperienced meadows. A glimpse of heaven, I assumed.
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My son and I arrived the day earlier than along with our canine, and had already settled in our mountain house on Velika Planina. We had parked within the highest car parking zone known as Mačkin Kot and introduced alongside a rational quantity of 3-day-worth of issues on our backs.
Beaming with happiness whatever the weight on his shoulders, my son pedalled his bike up with dedication. His concept was to check out his new bike on an 9-km bike path loop on Velika Planina and luxuriate in some jaunty downhill rides, whereas my concept was to hike and discover for 3 days. Evenings have been reserved for principally hanging out on the couch studying or taking part in playing cards by the hearth. My type of vacation.
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Sundown at Velika Planina
After unpacking and settling down within the cabin, comfortably outfitted with a number of bedrooms, a kitchen, eating room with a fire, lavatory and sauna, we set off in direction of the Domžalski Dom hut. We ordered the hearty Slovenian mountain dessert known as štruklji and sat down on a small perch behind the hut trying on the previous shepherds’ settlement with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
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The annual show of crocuses, which Velika Planina is known for, had began early this yr because of unusually excessive temperatures in March and was already dying off, displaying off solely patches of gorgeous purple flowers right here and there. Should you handle to plan your go to effectively, you may be rewarded with breathtaking views of actually carpets of crocuses as the entire planina turns purple.
Nevertheless, Velika Planina is an astounding place with a protracted and attention-grabbing historical past and shows breathtaking nature whatever the season. Locals, in spite of everything, have been utilizing these highland pastures and their nutritious grass for 1000’s of years. Archeological proof on Velika Planina reveals indicators of people, most likely herdsmen, as early because the prehistoric occasions!
As we basked within the heat early night solar up on the hill, which solid superb gentle on the wavy pastures and the playground of pointy peaks within the again, the shepherds’ settlement alternatively slowly sank into shade.
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Dawn at Velika Planina
The subsequent morning the alarm set off sending an electrical shock by means of my physique and the keen enthusiasm began sipping away quick with each buzz. “Arghhhh, no!” After ten minutes of relentless buzzing it lastly dawned on me that I used to be going to overlook the dawn if I continued to obey my laziness. In all equity, getting up early on trip is a nightmare, but as quickly as I began operating in direction of the shepherds’ settlement with the sky displaying off the primary strains of pink, I felt splendidly overwhelmed and blessed to have the ability to get up in a surprising place like Velika Planina.
I nested myself in a comfortable spot between the previous huts and took a second to understand the dreamy setting. The world round me was slowly awakening because the daybreak solid its first rays, stroking every thing with heat orange gentle. The chapel of snowy Mary, which even these days holds plenty each Sunday, illuminated first, perched on a small hill, and the remainder adopted, all bathing within the altering dawn colours.
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Biking on Velika Planina
After 5 minutes of relaxation and an enormous breakfast, my son and I set off to check out Velika Planina as a biking vacation spot. Nicely, at the least my son did, I, alternatively, was busy maneuvering our nosy canine between the crowds who got here as much as see the final of the crocuses (tip for the clever: significantly, keep away from visiting Velika Planina on the flowering weekends!). We took a large gravel path that began from our cabin, handed Velika Planina’s shepherds’ settlement, continued to Mala Planina after which turned left at Planina Dovje Raven to cross the meadows again as much as the shepherds’ settlement and at last reached our cabin. The two-hour loop was an honest 9km, and 250m of ascent and descent.
Hike to Mt. Konj
These of you who love the style of excessive mountains will agree with me on this one. Okay, Mt. Konj is just one,803m however after two full days of inexperienced pastures, it felt good to really feel the rock once more, which this peak completely did have. It additionally revealed a very shut view of the excessive peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, which crown each postcard from Velika Planina. Along with the neighboring Mt. Rženik it’s additionally the best level you’ll be able to hike from Velika Planina.
After breakfast and testing we stepped exterior right into a windy and cloudy day to begin the 4.5-hour and 10-km loop hike with 770m of ascent and 930m of descent. We handed fairytale crocus-speckled meadows, snugly hidden away from the mainstream Velika Planina, forests with tall and wholesome fur timber, three pastures cute as a button, and at last reached the highest of Konj. We may’ve simply hiked one other half-hour to the neighboring Rženik as effectively, however nestling down on the 360-degree panoramic peak felt a lot extra applicable.
Wanting on the dreamy highest peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, I assumed again to our mini vacation on Velika Planina and agreed that every thing about our keep there was excellent. You wager we’ll be again!
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