Destination Guide Slovenia Hiker Nature’S Paradise
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Hik e Na ture’s Paradise SLOVENIA DESTINATION GUIDE SLOVENIA HIKER NATURE’S PARADISE Don’t underestimate the tiny and port of Piran. Whichever path you take, you’ll peaceful country of Slovenia. Sitting snug discover why Slovenia has a reputation as a in the heart of Europe between Italy, real foodie destination. Austria, Croatia and Hungary, it delivers a diverse offering that is sure to exceed the The experience doesn’t stop after you leave expectations of any visitor. The influence the trail—immerse yourself in the lively cafe of its neighbours is evident in the food, and music culture in Ljubljana and seek out culture and architecture, and makes it a reviving experience at one of one of many a truly special destination. wellness spas in the region. Hiking is big in Slovenia, and its hiking trails So grab your hiking boots as we invite you meander through a fairy-tale land of natural to discover an unspoilt wonderland of beauty. From the spectacular snow-capped astounding scenery that will leave you with peaks of the Julian Alps and gobsmackingly no doubt that this is truly a superb hiking beautiful emerald rivers and lakes, to rolling destination. vineyards and coastal paths along the Adriatic Sea, Slovenia is a true hikers’ paradise. We’d love to help you plan your journey. It’s what we do best! We have selected the best sections of the Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trails, and combined them with some lovely cross-country paths to showcase Slovenia. Traverse trails surrounded by stunning limestone peaks, discover remnants of WWI military positions, hear traditional stories from local beekeepers, and take in majestic views of pristine wilderness. Hike up to delightfully rustic mountain lodges, where you’ll receive a warm welcome and home-cooked meal from your hosts. Inga & Leanne Or choose a trail that meanders around Slovenia Destination Experts vineyards and orchards, through medieval [email protected] hilltop villages and sample air-dried finely Phone: (03) 5976 3763 shaved ham with a good glass of local vino, before heading to the Venetian-style seaside Copyright © February 2020 by RAW Travel PAGE 2 Call RAW Travel 1300 208 245 PAGE 3 HIKING IN SLOVENIA – QUICK LOOK Hike through some of nature’s most magical landscapes; postcard-perfect lakes, turquoise rivers, lush forests, rolling vineyards and pretty Alpine meadows that don’t pose altitude issues. AUSTRIA Explore UNESCO-listed cave systems, whimsical castles and charming towns. Savour fresh produce from the farm and sea. Vršič Pass • Starting point: Ljubljana Lake Bled • Best time to go: April to October Soča River Triglav National Park • Difficulty : Vineyards, Karst & Coast is Lake Bohinj SLOVENIA moderate to challenging (4-6) and Highlights and Julian Alps & Coast are challenging to ITALY strenuous (6-7)* Ljubljana • Duration: 7, 8 and 10 day itineraries Goriska Brda • Total distance: 88/98/152km • Daily distances: 13-26km Škocjan Caves Stanjel • High point: 1900m • Highlights : Slovenian cuisine, caves, lakes and towns *All our trips are graded from 1 (introductory) to 10 (tough). Grading systems are always Piran arbitrary. However, having an indication of the grade may help you choose between our walks. See Trip Gradings for more information. CROATIA Disclaimer The information in this Destination Guide has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However, it is subject to change and does not form part of the contract between the client and RAW Travel. Contact Us RAW Travel Office We can be contacted Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on +61 3 5976 3763. If there is a genuine emergency outside of these hours, call +61 (0) 478 649 848. PAGE 4 Call RAW Travel 1300 208 245 PAGE 5 SECTION 1: INSPIRATION PAGE 9 SECTION 2: TRAVEL ESSENTIALS PAGE 19 SECTION 3: ON THE TRAIL PAGE 31 SECTION 4: RAW TRAVEL PAGE 37 PAGE 6 Call RAW Travel 1300 208 245 SECTION 1: INSPIRATION Why you’ll love walking in Slovenia 10 Route description 10 About the trails 11 Flora and fauna 11 Why experience Slovenia with RAW Travel? 13 Why people choose us 13 Is this the right trip for me? 14 What’s it like underfoot? 15 Self-guided walking 15 RAW Travel Insights 15 Books to read before you go 17 Responsible travel 17 Extending your trip 17 PAGE 8 Call RAW Travel 1300 208 245 PAGE 9 SECTION 1: INSPIRATION SLOVENIA Vineyards and the Coast trip grading 4–5 FLORA AND FAUNA (Moderate to Challenging) WHY YOU’LL LOVE WALKING IN SLOVENIA Keep an eye out for the many varieties of If you are seeking a less challenging option 3 : Be enchanted by scenes out of in their appearance since the Middle Ages, orchids in Slovenia in spring, or during the Scenery than our Alps itineraries, our 7-day Vineyards, fairy-tale stories. Imagine emerald-blue Roman times or the communist era. summer in the mountains. Spring brings Karst and Coast route takes you from lakes edged by lush forest overlooked by hellebores, snowdrops and primrose out as 3 WWI history: Learn about the hardship Ljubljana through wine country and the a medieval castle and snow-dusted peaks well. The forests of Slovenia are made up of endured by Russian POWs, and the mighty Karst Plateau, towards the Adriatic Coast. (without altitude issues!)—that’s Slovenia. beech, spruce, larch, and dwarf pine, and battles and struggles between Austro- This itinerary kicks off with a steep hike up you can find stands of thermophilous hop 3 Cuisine: Slovenes have a strong focus Hungarian and Italian soldiers during WWI Mount Nanos for spectacular views over the hornbeam and dwarf ash growing in the on using organic, locally-grown produce as you explore open-air museums and walk Vipava Valley, but the following days are less Julian Alps. and blend cooking styles of their through old military zones. strenuous with undulating terrain rather than neighbouring countries to create familiar steep ascents and descents. You will visit 3 Reflection and self-discovery: Live more The karst region is home to the Lipizzaner, a yet unique dishes. the impressive Škocjan Cave system before mindfully and enjoy the simple rituals of Slovenian indiginous breed of horse, which arriving in the alluring coastal town of Piran. 3 Historic town: Wind back the clock of time daily walking. Adopt the enviable lifestyle of has the unique trait of foals being born black Here, be charmed by the red-roofed Venetian- in villages and towns seemingly unchanged the Slovenes. and turning white as they grow. The caves in style architecture that overlooks the sparkling this area are home to the amphibius human Adriatic Sea. fish (proteus). Soča trout live in the fresh water of the Soča River. ABOUT THE TRAILS Our itineraries that traverse the Julian Alps are If you’re hiking in the Alps, look out for Alpine ROUTE DESCRIPTION We have combined some of Slovenia’s best challenging and while there are some easy flat Ibex, which were almost extinct in Slovenia but Hiking is a favourite pastime for Slovenes hiking trails to create three unique itineraries. or gently undulating sections, there are many are now growing in numbers. Similarly, brown and the more popular trails are frequented Some of these trails are stand-alone day hikes demanding sections with strenuous, steep bear populations are increasing, but most live by other hikers, but you will find yourself through the Vipava Valley and Karst Plateau, hills. If you are uncomfortable with heights or in the Kocevje old-growth forest, where we do enjoying the solitude of some lesser known but others include sections of the following paths that run close to the edge, please chat not have itineraries. Slovenia has been labelled trails offering the chance for some peaceful long-distance hikes: with our Destination Experts to find the right the “heart and soul of beekeeping” in Europe, meditative walking. Generally the routes are itinerary for you. Please also note that there with some 10,000 bee keepers. The Carniolan well signed but there will be times you need to Alpe-Adria Trail: a 750km long, multi-country are some long steep descents that can be honey bee breed originates in Slovenia. pay attention to your map and walk notes. hiking trail that starts at the foot of the hard on knees. Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, Heading into the Alps trip grading 6–7 travels through Slovenia and ends near Trieste See our European Alps Destination (Challenging to Strenuous) in Italy, on the Adriatic Coast. It was created Guide [link] for more information on hiking in partnership between several organisations Our Alps itineraries offer spectacular Alpine in Alpine areas. and mountain scenery without having to hike from each of the three countries with the desire to design a route that showcased T at altitude. The Julian Alps is where much of ou r du Mon t Bla nc | s Alps incredible and diverse scenery, culture and Italian ites | Swis | Slov our hiking route is focused. Choose from an Dolom enia 8-day guided or 10-day self-guided itinerary. cuisine. We focus on the best of the Slovenian EUROPEAN ALPS sections, travelling from the heart of the Julian Both start in the delightful city of Ljubljana DESTINATION GUIDE before heading into the heart of the Julian Alps, through the photogenic Soča Valley to Alps to hike some of the highlights of the the beautiful wine region that borders Italy. Alpe-Adria Trail, a multi-country 750km-long trail. You will walk past turquoise-coloured Juliana Trail: a 270km circuit route that winds lakes and rivers, through lush valleys and its way through the valleys and meadows of the Alpine meadows, tranquil forests, and up Julian Alps beneath the majestic alpine peaks a striking mountain peaks.