SLOVENIA | Slovenia: Waterfalls and Gorges
A relaxed itinerary in a country jam-packed with natural treasures.
Trip Highlights:
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Visits to Slovenia's most spectacular and tallest waterfalls.
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Visit Bled, a historic village on a stunning lake.
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A more relaxed hiking itinerary with luggage access every night.
This Going Easy Slovenia hiking tour is a gentler version of our 8 day Slovenia Triglav Circuit and features three nights in the village of Ukanc and two nights each in the villages of Bled and Kranjska Gora. The hiking schedule is more relaxed with extra time for sightseeing and general enjoyment of Slovenia’s infinite treasures. You’ll also have luggage access during every night of the tour since there are no hut overnights during this going easy version.
Begin your tour in Ukanc, a small settlement on the shores of Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest glacial lake. Hike to Slap Savica, one of the most famous and impressive waterfalls in Slovenia and hike to a traditional alpine hut called Kosijev Dom. Have lunch at the hut as you gaze across the waters of Lake Bohinj and the snow-capped Triglav (9,396 feet/2,864 meters), the highest mountain in the Julian Alps.
Transfer to Bled on day four, a fairytale hamlet set in a sparkling glacial lake of the same name. Hike the Vintgar Gorge, and snap photos of Slovenia’s tallest waterfall, the Šum. Spend your second day in Bled circumnavigating the lake with postcard perfect views of the 1,000 year old Bled Castle perched high on a rocky cliff and Bled Island. Bled Island is famous for its Church of the Assumption, a Baroque church containing fresco fragments from the fourteenth century and a gold altar. The foundation of the church also contains remains of a pre-Romanesque chapel, the only such remains in Slovenia.
Finish your Slovenia hiking tour in the famous ski village of Kranjska Gora, nestled in the Sava Dolinka Valley at the doorstep of the Triglav National Park. Just outside of town, the mountain peaks Vitranc (5,351 feet/1,631 meters), Razor (8,533 feet/2,601 meters) and Prisojnik (8,356 feet/2,547 meters) rise abruptly and provide the most perfect mountain backdrop. You’ll spend two days in Kranjska Gora hiking to stunning waterfalls and climbing above tree line for magical views of the surrounding peaks.
Trip Itinerary
Choose from our standard itinerary or customize the trek by adding or subtracting days. We are happy to offer harder or gentler hikes where possible.
Travel independently to Ukanc. There is regular bus service from Kranj or Ljubljana. Kranj is 10 minutes from airport and Ljubljana City Center is 20 minutes. Ukanc is a small settlement on the shore of Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest glacial lake. Hemmed in by the lower Bohinj mountains, rising to 2000 meters, and surrounded by beautiful mountains and meadows, Lake Bohinnj is a perfect starting point for many day hikes. Vogel ski center is accessible by a cable car that is a short walk away from your charming inn and offers majestic 360 degree views.
Walk out of your inn and begin your hike to the Slap Savica, the most famous and impressive waterfall in Slovenia. The Savica waterfall is fed by Triglav’s seven lakes. On the way, stop at a World War One military cemetery which lies on the gentle slope below the lower station of the Vogel cable car, above the road that leads towards the Savica Waterfall. Return to your isolated and tranquil inn in Ukanc.
Today’s outing begins with a boat ride across Lake Bohinj to the little village of Stara Fuzina. This walk follows a deep, magical river gorge to Slap na Vojah waterfall before circling back on a charming carriage road dotted with small, charming summer cottages and flowering meadows. Mountain views abound. Lunch can be enjoyed at Koca na Vojah located near the waterfall. Enjoy a lovely walk back to the hotel or return by boat to Ukanc.
Our driver will transfer you to Bled, a historic village situated on a sparkling glacial lake of the same name. Bled is a fairytale hamlet, cherished for its emerald waters, an island chapel and a clifftop castle overlooking the town. Drop your bags at your hotel, and hike the Vintgar Gorge, a rock chasm replete with thrashing white water, calm pools and rock galleries. The highlight of this hike is a 1600 meter-long wooden walkway that crisscrosses the foaming Radovna River. The path ends where the Radovna tumbles out of the gorge and over the Šum waterfall, the highest river fall (rapid) in Slovenia. Return to Bled and your comfortable hotel.
Treat yourself to all the memorable sights of Lake Bled. Walking straight out of your hotel, you’ll circumnavigate the lake, snapping photos of the 1000 year-old Bled Castle, Bled Island, with it’s Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church, and the traditional flat bottom boats that ferry visitors to the island and back. Grab a Kremna rezina , a delicious cream-filled pastry that is a specialty of Bled, before ascending Bled’s local mountain. Snap photos of cute little hamlets and the frosted mountain peaks of the Julian Alps. Return to your Bled hotel.
Our driver will transfer you to Kranjska Gora. Enjoy a gentle walk up the Tamar Valley. En route you will pass the source of the Sava River, the most famous in Slovenia. The Tamar is bordered by unusually vertical peaks that tower above in an improbable way. Enjoy lunch at the Tamar Dom before returning to Kranjska Gora. Overnight in a wonderful three star family run hotel in a quiet section of the town.
Hike out of Kranjska Gora to Pec, a high point on a ridge where the borders of Italy, Austria and Slovenia meet. Hike on farm roads through ancient villages which give way to gorgeous single track that takes us above timberline and to out highpoint. Descend to the magical village of Ratice. This hike can be shortened. Return to Kranjska Gora hotel.
Awake to a delicious breakfast then depart. Kranjska Gora to Kranj or Ljubljana – up to two hours by bus. *Please contact the office for a quote on a private taxi transfer.
