.

www.extremeireland.ie

SLOVENIA ADVENTURE Type : Mixed Adventure | Lake Bled | Ljubljana | Lake Bohinj Duration : 6 Days

The Julian Alps -

Tour Type : Mixed Adventure Group Size : 6 Max Accommodation : Wooden Chalets Grade : Moderate / Hard

Departure Date 2017 : 22nd August

Tour Highlights Tour Essentials • Climb Mt – 2500m Accommodation : 2 nights in Mountain Huts • Explore Slovenia’s amazing capital, Ljubljana 3 nights in Guesthouses • Visit the stunning Lake Bled Included Meals : 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners • Stay in a mountain hut in the Julian Alps Start Point : Venice End Point : Venice • Visit a Medieval Castle Transport : Minibus – 6 max • Visit the wonderful city of Venice Inclusions : Listed in notes Exclusions: Listed on notes Details

Climb the highest mountain and the pre-eminent symbol of the Slovene Nation - Mt. Triglav. Ascend over 2,500 m on this unique adventure and stand above the clouds. You will also enjoy exploring the capital city Ljubljana and experience the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the striking Lake Bled, a body of water with the deepest blues with a castle nestled in the centre. Extreme Ireland has been organising holidays to Slovenia for the last 6 years, and they are one of the most successful and enjoyable international adventure tours that we offer. Grab your Map hiking boots and join us on what is sure to be an adventure with a whole bunch of craic!

What's Included ?

• 6 full days of pure adventure • Fully guided by an experienced Irish guide • 5 Nights accommodation • 5 breakfasts • 5 Lunches • 5 Evening Meals Lake Bled • All Internal Transport • Visit a Medieval Castle in Ljubljana • Kayak on Lake Bohinj

What’s Not Included ?

• Travel insurance • Flights • Drinks

Hiking in the Julian Alps

Suggested Flights - ( not included )

Out : Aug 22nd - Aer Lingus - Dublin To Venice - EI422 - 07:20am

Back : Aug 27th - Ryan Air - Venice to Dublin - FR9451 - 17:15pm Mt Triglav

1 Arrive in the city of Venice DAY

Depart Dublin to Venice, and then transfer to Bled, a beautiful lake town in the Julian Alps. We will have dinner that evening and discuss the following day's adventure. Bled is a beautiful little village with one of Slovenia's most beautiful lakes and an amazing little church in the middle of the lake with its castle looking down over the lake.

2 Accent Mt Triglav DAY

We will begin our ascent of Mount Triglav and most likely, that night we will stay in the Triglavski hut. In 2010, we ventured up a different route where we stayed in the Dolic Hut and we found this to be very satisfying for a number of reasons. In 2015, we will decide the route up a few weeks prior to the walk depending on weather predictions, etc. You will get a great welcome here, wholesome dinner and a great sleep. Expect this day to last anything up to 6 and a half hours, depending on the group. Expect to see Alpine meadows on the way up. The trail is well defined and from the forest trail, it will then break open into one of the most majestic mountain vista you are likely to see in your life. The mountains are predominately limestone in nature so the sunlight really makes them look almost marble like during the day. You will not get to see the three headed monster(Triglav), until later in the afternoon. The walk itself is moderate but does steepen up closer to the hut. You will be sleeping in Triglavski Dom, which is under the face of the summit. You can actually see the ridge leading to the summit from where you

sleep.

3 Summit Mt Triglav DAY

Summit day. This morning, we will take our time and check our gear before tackling the summit. We will be ascending using some Via Ferratta on the way up to the ridge that leads you to the summit. We will spend the morning around the summit before traversing to the other side of the mountain to the Dolic Dom. We may spend the night here or return lower to the Vodnokov Dom through a beautiful glaciated valley with good possibilities to see the elusive edelweiss flower. We will be above the tree line from the day before so the landscape almost represents a lunar landscape but look out for some of the flowers that do grow at this altitude. There is an unusual thing on the summit made of metal that everybody gets their picture taken at. The view from up here has to be witnessed to believe. We make our way gradually down the other side of the mountain eventually reaching the Dolic Dom where we may be staying the night which looks down the Vrata valley.

4 Hike Down Mt Triglav - Kayak Lake Bohinj DAY

We will walk off the mountain and make our way to the scenic village of Lake Bohinj, where we will kayak on the lake and spend the day recuperating after a wonderful few days on the mountain. This is an amazing way to finish off your time in this region. If you like swimming, you will not find a better or more pristine lake to swim in. Today is a relaxing day and will be a lot warmer than when we were high up on the mountain. Let your senses rejuvanate enjoy the glacial water as we spend the afternoon relaxing. We will take kayaks out in the afternoon and just explore the little coves around the lake. Dinner and a glass of wine that evening close by.

5 Visit the Capital Ljubljana DAY

We will spend the morning at the lake again before driving to the capital city, Ljubljana, where we will meander through the old city and take a visit to the medieval castle overlooking the city. Feel free to take your time today and enjoy your last day in Slovenia. We will not get here until the afternoon and we have the following morning here as well so we will visit the Castle on this afternoon. You might want to try a local

delicacy which is horse meat while we have dinner in the old part of the city.

6 Transfer to Venice and return to Dublin DAY

Unfortunately your adventure ends here but you will still have time to explore the old city before we have to leave. It is roughly a 3 hours drive hour to get to our airport with a coffee on the way. Tour Information

Price : €699

Departure Dates 2016 : 22nd August

Duration: 6 Days

Departure Time: 07:20am

Departure Location: Dublin Airport

Single Supplement: €35 per night

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation: Your accommodation is included in the price of the tour each night. Off the mountain you will be staying in quality guest accommodation. The standard in Slovenia is a high quality chalet guesthouse with each room having an en suite. We see the tour accommodation as a very important part of the overall tour experience. The hosts are welcoming and very friendly who give our customers a homely feeling on their arrival. Also you will be saying two nights in mountain huts which is quiet the experience.

Meals: Each morning you will get a full breakfast with continental options to set you up for the day ahead. Lunches and evening meals are also included. You will have a traditional meal each evening. Depending on the day your lunch will be served in the guesthouse or as a packed lunch during activities. Our tour meals are another important part of the tour experience and we always encourage our customers to try local and traditional food on tour.

Your Guide : Keith McDonnell

For the last six years the very experienced Keith McDonnell has been guiding our annual Slovenian adventure. Keith has many international adventurers under his belt including a traverse of South Georgia and he has climbed to the summit Mount Blanc and Aconcagua in to name a few. Keith also holds an international mountain leader licence, so you’ll be in very safe hands.

Fact File

Irish Embassy in Slovenia : Embassy Of Ireland Poljanski nasip 6 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia

Slovenian Embassy Ireland : Slovenia Embassy Representing Ireland 10 Little College Street London Sw1P 3SH

Area : 20,273 km2

Population : 2,061,085 (2014 estimate)

Capital : Ljubjana

Language : Slovene

Passports / Visas : Virtually everyone entering Slovenia must have a valid passport, although citizens of the EU as well as need only produce their national identity card on arrival for stays of up to 30 days. It’s a good idea to carry your passport or other identification at all times.

Vaccination & Health : While Slovenia does not require any vaccination of international travellers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that all travellers be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, regardless of their destination. Since most vaccines don’t produce immunity until at least two weeks after they’re given, visit a physician or clinic at least six weeks before departure.

Hospitals / Pharmacies : Medical care in Slovenia corresponds to European standards and is good. Every large town or city has a zdravstveni dom (health centre) or klinični center (clinic) that operates from 7am to at least 7pm. Treatment at a public outpatient clinic costs little or nothing; doctors working privately will charge much more. Very roughly, a consultation in a Slovenian doctor’s surgery costs from €20. Pharmacies are usually open from 7am to 8pm, and at least one in each community is open round the clock. A sign on the door of any lekarna (pharmacy) will help you find the nearest 24-hour one.

Water : 0.7%

Climate : Northeast, continental climate type with greatest difference between winter and summer temperatures prevails. Coastal region, sub-Mediterranean climate. Severe Alpine climate is present high mountain regions. There is a strong interaction between these three climatic systems across most of the country

Fact File continued

Geography : It is largely a mountainous republic and almost half of the land is forested, with hilly plains spread across the central and eastern regions. Mount Triglav, the highest peak, rises to 9,393 ft (2,864 m).

Culture / Customs : The majority of Slovenes are Roman Catholics, although there is also a small percentage of Muslims and Jews..

Tipping : Tipping is not usual thing in Slovenia. Most of Slovenians do not Tip. If they do, they only round-up the price, to pay round number (€9,90 paid as €10, nothing more). Only People who is travelling a lot and who appreciate the services do tip. So if you will expect from your waiter to return every cent, it won't be any strange to him.

Time ( +/- GMT ) : GMT +2

Electricity : Mains electricity in Slovenia is a 230 Volts 50 Hz system. Slovenia uses the Euro plug (CEE 7/16). This is the plug used in most other European countries.

Telephone : +386

Currency : Euro

Exchange : 1 Euros = 0.82 pound

Credit Cards : Visa, MasterCard/Eurocard and American Express credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, shops, car-rental firms, petrol stations and travel agencies. Diner’s Club is also accepted but less frequently. Visa cardholders can get cash advances from any Abanka branch, Eurocard/MasterCard holders from a Nova Ljubljanska Banka or SKB Banka. American Express clients can get an advance from the main office of Atlas Express (01-430 77 20; Kolodvorska ulica 16; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri) in Ljubljana, but the amount is usually limited to US$600 in travellers cheques for Green Card holders and US$1200 for Gold Card holders. American Express customers who want to report a lost or stolen card or travellers cheques should also call here They can both replace cards (although you must know the account number) and make refunds for lost or stolen American Express travellers cheques.

Do's & Don'ts : DON'T put your elbows on the table, but do rest your wrists on the edge.

DON'T leave the money on the table after paying a bill at a restaurant. Make sure it goes directly to the server.

DO shake hands upon meeting someone. Handshakes should be firm and hearty.

DON'T try to kiss during a greeting. It might be seen as being intrusive.

DO arrive on time.

DO dress conservatively.

DO remove your shoes upon entering a home.

DON'T consider Slovenia as part of "Eastern Europe." Slovenians relate more to the West due to their geography and history. DO feel free to bring up the former communist regime. Most people have no problems talking about it and Slovenians were often very fond of Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia. DO try to learn a few basic Slovenian words to impress those around you!

FAQ

How big is the group ? The group size often varies, but can be anything between 4 to 16 people

Which airlines fly to/from Slovenia ? Ljubljana is well served and you can get flights but we finf that KLM are the best operators. The flights from Dublin will fly to Venice, Italy and there is a transfer to Slovenia. You can find a varied selection of airline companies on www.ebookers.ie . Major European carriers also service Ljubljana, although this will require a stopover in their hub.

What is the currency in Slovenia? The currency of Slovenia is the Euro. A beer in the City will cost you approximately 2.20 Euros and coffee about 1.40 Euros. ATMs are available in most larger towns. Credit Cards and Travellers Cheques are not widely accepted in Slovenia, although you should take as a back-up in case of emergencies.

How much luggage can I bring? This depends on your air ticket but please bear in mind you will have to carry your kit. We will be able to leave some kit at the start and the huts are well serviced so you can go lightly.

What will the accommodation be like ? The accommodation will be a combination of guest houses and mountain refuges (Doms) and mid range hotels. Always comfortable, clean and friendly!

Will my valuables be safe? Best to leave your flashy stuff at home and use common sense when using cash and cameras!

Who will be leading the group? Extreme Ireland will provide mountain leaders with an IML depending on the size of the group.

How fit do I need to be? The trekking on this adventure is fine if you are reasonably fit! You will only have to carry a day sac with essentials. On this trek there are some via ferrata sections.

Do I need to tip? Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized as a reward for good quality service in this region. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. Accordingly, you should allow approx. €20 for tipping. It is normal to tip your Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive. Clearly this is up to you and in no way should you feel obliged.

What do I need to bring with me? Breathable light-weight waterproof gear (Gore-Tex, sympatex, etc.)

fleece/wool pullovers, wind-stopper jacket, gloves, small backpack with rain coverage, cap sun block (we recommend http://www.p20.co.uk) mosquito repellent, head torch, hiking poles, water bottle, sunglasses. Its worth considering shorts and long trousers as the days hot and the evening's cool.

What will the accommodation be like ?Accommodation will be in mid range hotels in the city. Hostels, mountain huts (doms) and farmhouses in the mountains and rural areas will be basic but very comfortable and clean. At busier times in the mountain huts it can be worth taking some ear plugs for the expected snorer!

Do we need to take our own sleeping bags & mats ?There is no need though as all bedding is of good quality in the accommodation. It's always worth considering a fleece, silk or cotton sleeping bag liner. I always carry one for the extra warmth and a travel pillow as I always sleep with loads of pillows at home! Gear List ( suggested )

Travelling Gear  Snowshoes can be rented  Trekking poles or ski poles can be rented  Day pack  First-aid kit  Water bottle  Headlamp

Food • Snacks can be bought

Head -to-Toe Clothing  Liner hat  Fleece ski hat  Sunglasses  Heavyweight long thermal top (merino wool)  Heavyweight long thermal pants (merino wool)  Fleece top  Base layer vest  Waterproof/breathable shell jacket  Liner gloves  Insulating gloves or mittens  Waterproof/breathable pants  Liner socks  Wool socks (wear one and bring at least one extra pair)  Gaiters  Boots

Clothes to be avoided • Cotton • Jeans • High heel shoes • Miniskirts & dresses • Please bring your own personal hygiene items.

Expedition sleeping bags will be provided for camping Travel Insurance

Your tour with Extreme Ireland Adventures does not include travel insurance. In-light of this, we would suggest that you get covered before you embark on your Irish adventure. Choosing an insurance company is entirely up to you, however if you need a suggestion, we would direct you to World Nomads who specialise in adventure travel. www.worldnomads.com

Booking Your Tour

10% Deposit With any of our multi-day tours we can secure your place with a small deposit of 10%. The remainder of the balance can be paid up to two weeks before departure. Once we have a deposit, you name is added to the tour rooming list and the logistics for your tour is started. You can do this through our website www.extremeireland.ie , just click the 10% deposit box in the booking form. Otherwise you can pay in full online or call us on 00353-1-4100700 / email; [email protected]

Your Tour Advisor

Stephen Power Adventure Travel Specialist

Stephen has been with Extreme Ireland Adventures since the beginning. Having travelled a large part of the globe solo, he still holds Ireland as among the most beautiful countries in the world. Stephen will be delighted to answer any questions, queries or indeed assist you in booking any of our tours. You can contact him by phone or e-mail below;

E-mail : [email protected] Phone : 00353-1-4100700 Mobile : 00353-87-2891268 Web: www.extremeireland.ie