HIGHLIGHTS of SLOVENIA Walking from Two Centres in the Julian Alps

TOUR CODE: 29000 G R A D E : D + A N D C 2 LEADER 2 GRADES

JULY - AUGUST 2016

Jun 17 - Jul 01 Jul 01 - Jul 15 Jul 15 - Jul 29 Aug 05 - Aug 19

Two Week Duration

HIGHLIGHTS OF SLOVENIA Walking from two centres in the Julian Alps

HOLI DAY INFORMATION

TOUR DESCRIPTION

This information is in addition to our General Information Booklet, which is enclosed.

Slovenia, situated in the heart of Europe and bordered by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, has much to offer walkers and nature lovers. Having declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and after some difficult years during the 1990s, the country has bounced back to become a popular tourist destination. Despite this new found status, the country remains unchanged and unaffected by the huge crowds of tourists such as those that descend on the French and Austrian Alps. The region we will explore is that of the Julian Alps, a beautiful alpine area with stunning scenery and populated by friendly locals.

At the Eastern end of the range, the Alps spill over into northern Slovenia and here, in the Julian Alps, some first class hiking can be enjoyed. This new holiday allows every opportunity to see the best that this area has to offer. Our two centres for this holiday are located in the north west, not very far from mountain passes that lead into Italy and Austria.

Our first centre is Bohinj, a delightful mountain village in an enviable location; next to the picturesque Lake Bohinj and overlooked by Triglav (2864m), the highest mountain in Slovenia. Our time here will be spent walking in the landscapes around this peak amongst beautiful foothills, deep valleys and gorges, waterfalls and lakes.

Our second centre is Kranjska Gora, beautifully situated in the Sava Dolinka Valley. A popular ski resort in winter, this mountain village is ideally placed for all levels of walking and has some fantastic higher level walking in the summer months. There are alpine forests, open meadows and lush green valleys, most of which are accessible by well maintained and signed paths – some even lead to mountain huts. We can take the occasional lunch at a hut and sit back to enjoy the views.

ITINERARY

Day: Overnight Daily itinerary: Meals: accommodation:

1: Bohinj Travel to Slovenia and transfer by road to Bohinj. D 2: B,D 3: B,D 4: Bohinj Walking from Bohinj. B,D 5: B,D 6: B,D 7: B,D 8: Kranjska Gora Travel by road to Kranjska Gora. B,D 9: B,D 10: B,D 11: Kranjska Gora Walking from Kranjska Gora. B,D 12: B,D 13: B,D 14: B,D 15: Return flight to the U.K B

D (Dinner) B (Breakfast)

2x WALKS, 2x LEADERS, 2x GRADES

On ‘2x Walks, 2x Leaders, 2x Grades’ departures, where we provide two tour leaders and offer a choice of easier or harder walks each day, we hope to be able to accommodate your choice of walk. However safety considerations do govern the sizes of groups in each walking grade; the minimum number of participants for a guided walk at a given grade and the maximum group size will be as indicated in our brochures. On most departures we are able to accommodate most clients’ first choice of walk most of the time, however some flexibility and co-operation may be required. In unusual circumstances where a disproportionately high number of clients wish to walk at one grade, for safety reasons, we may not be able to provide you with your choice of walk each day. Although we will endeavour to accommodate as many clients’ choices as possible, it may be necessary for you to switch between higher and lower grade walks during the holiday. Any decision regarding group sizes and the participants in the day’s walking programme rests with our tour leader(s).

HOLIDAY GRADE & WALKING PROGRAMME

This holiday is graded D+ & C.

A good head for heights is essential for walking in this area. This is mountainous country with some classic mountain tracks.

Each evening, the leader will discuss the programme for the following day with you. Should you not wish to join the party, please let the leader know.

Please note: There will be some free time – details will be confirmed locally by your tour leader.

An example of some of the walks we may include in our programme (dependant on weather conditions and the ability of the group) are as follows:

Bohinj D+ grade walks

~ Cliffs of Krma. A great walk with very impressive views and interesting rock formations. The first part of the walk is fairly strenuous (steep climb to Zlata Voda) but most of the rest is on good easy paths (except a short very steep scree slope) to the top of Mrežce. Ascent/Descent 600m; 7 miles; 4 hours ~ Rudnica Circuit “Valleys and Villages”. A pleasant and easy walk through rural scenery with good views all the way between Brod and Stara Fužina Ascent/Descent 200m; 10.5 miles; 6 hours

Bohinj C grade walks

~ Visevnik & Cliffs of Krma. A high level mountain walk through spectacular scenery including the Triglav group. Generally above the forest the going is fairly rough and rocky with some easy scrambling and moderate exposure in places. Views are stunning! There are two opportunities to take short cuts. Ascent/Descent 900m; 7 miles; 5.5 hours

~ Vogel. A short but tough walk which may take some clients by surprise (exposed passage, scree slope). Stunning views but needs clear weather (no point in doing if low cloud base). Ascent/Descent 950m; 6 miles; 6 ¾ hours

Kranjska Gora D+ grade walks

~ Srednji Vrh and Martuljuk Falls. A great walk with wonderful panoramic views of the Spik massif across the valley. There is the option to extend the Martuljuk falls and the idyllic meadows at Brunarica pri Ingotu. Ascent/Descent 500m; 12 miles; 6 ½ hours

~ Slap Pericnik and Triglav North Wall. A wonderful walk into the heart of the Triglav massif. Plenty of interest along the way: the delightful mint green Bistrica river, the splendid waterfall at Peričnik, the impressive overhangs of the “galerije” path and the colossal North Wall of Triglav. Ascent 550m/Descent 250m; 12 miles; 7 ½ hours

Kranjska Gora C grade walks

~ Three Countries. A lower level walk thorugh forest, villages, meadows and a Karawanken viewpoint into Austria. Visit the 3 countries Tromeja Peace Memorial. Ascent/Descent 1000m ; 10.5 miles; 5 ½ hours

~Čiprnik. A short walk making use of the local chairlift. Easy walking along a forested ridge and mild scrambling to an excellent viewpoint on Čiprnik. This is followed by a challenging descent to the Planica valley. Ascent 300m/Descent 1000m ; 8 miles; 5 hours

PERSONAL EXPENDITURE

Travel costs in conjunction with the programme of walks may vary depending on the size of our party and weather conditions, please allow approximately £50-£60 per person per week. Any local excursions taken will be at additional cost. Please note that the estimation of local costs relating to this holiday is based on currency exchange rates valid in September 2015. Any fluctuations in exchange rates may impact on this estimation of local costs. Please check with your bank or foreign currency provider prior to your holiday to enable you to plan your spending.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

 Flights: or London Stansted to Ljubljana and return with Easyjet.

 Baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent approximately 10 days prior to departure.

 Travel in Slovenia will be by road.

 Travel between the airport and hotels and between each centre is by road. All these transfers take approximately 1½ hrs.

If you are joining or leaving the party in Slovenia it is assumed that you will meet the party at the Hotel Jezero at Bohinj and leave the party at the Ramada Hotel & Suites at Kranjska Gora. If this is not your plan please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure.

PASSPORTS & VISAS

Please refer to Section 2 of the enclosed General Information Booklet.

It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you - it will help in the event of an emergency. See section 1 of our General Information Booklet for further details.

Please note that passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency in Slovenia is the euro. Please refer to Section 2 of our General Information Booklet for details.

There is a bank in Bohinj and in Kranjska Gora. Both hotels accept most major credit cards but do not have currency exchange facilities and they are not able to exchange travellers’ cheques.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

We stay in twin and single bedded rooms with private facilities at the following hotels. The electricity supply is 220V AC. Room facilities include free wi-fi, tv, minibar, safe and hairdryer.

Hotel Jezero**** Ramada Hotel and Suites**** Ribcev Laz 51 Borovska 93 4265 Bohinjsko Jezero 4280 Kranjska Gora Slovenia Slovenia

Tel: 00386 4 572 91 00 Tel: 00 386 4 588 44 00 Web: www.hotel-jezero.si Web: www.ramada.com

Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge. Breakfasts and dinners will be taken at the hotels. Lunches are not included.

RESORT INFORMATION

Resort facilities at our centres include all or most of the following:

 Post office  Supermarket  Bank (with ATM)  Tourist office .

CLIMATE, CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

We should enjoy warm weather, but as there is always the possibility of rain and cold spells, we advise you to take a waterproof jacket and fleece, as well as lighter summer clothes.

There are many websites that you can look at to get an idea of the climate of the area you are visiting including: http://www.myweather2.com/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/

For all parties, gloves, a warm hat and several warm light layers will help cope with cold at higher altitudes. We also recommend you take a small rucksack, lightweight bottle for drinking water, picnic knife, small first aid kit, insect repellent, some polythene bags and lunchbox. You may also wish to take swimwear and a towel. As there may be occasional snow crossings, gaiters and a telescopic walking pole may be useful.

Note: Ticks can be a problem, particularly in the Bohinj area. We recommend wearing long trousers to minimise any risk and please ensure that you regularly check skin after where live stock is kept.

Walking boots with moulded rubber soles and ankle support are essential on this holiday as the countryside is rough, stony and sometimes steep. It is essential to wear the correct footwear, as any injury caused by insufficient ankle support can spoil the enjoyment of your holiday.

We recommend that you wear your walking boots or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the walking programme.

MAPS & SUGGESTED READING

Further information can be found on the last page of our General Information Booklet.

Maps and books of Slovenia may be obtained before departure from specialist mapsellers such as: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn Worcs WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 www.themapshop.co.uk [email protected]

Maps of the area are also available locally.

Many local libraries stock a good selection of travel guides/books which may offer you more information on Slovenia. If you are in London, you may find a visit to the Slovenian State Tourist Office useful. The address is:

 Slovenian Tourist Office – London:

10 Little College Street, London SW1P 3SH Tel: 0870 225 5305 E-mail: [email protected] www.slovenia.info

PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE AND BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN.