The Ultimate Outdoor Lover’s Guide to Slovenia

Looking for an off-the-beaten path European adventure? Slovenia has entered the chat. Slovenia appears to be in it’s early days of being discovered as an outdoor travel destination, so now is the time to add this gem to the top of your bucketlist! For such a small country, Slovenia packs a big punch and is full of breathtaking mountain vistas, stunning glacial rivers, and plenty of Type 2 fun. Most people I’ve talked to that have visited Slovenia have only done so in passing, but I highly recommend spending at least a week in this outdoor-lovers paradise. We were lucky enough to spend 12 days on our Croatia and Slovenia honeymoon, but here’s what I would recommend if you only have a week in Slovenia and want to optimize your time outdoors.

7 day Slovenia travel itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ljubljana and drive to the Logar Valley

Day 2: Explore the Logar Valley

Day 3: Visit Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

Day 4: Begin your hut-to-hut trek through Triglav National Park

Day 5: Hut-to-hut trek through Triglav National Park

Day 6: Hut-to-hut trek through Triglav National Park

Day 7: Finish your hut-to-hut trek through Triglav National Park

When to visit Slovenia

To take advantage of the plethora of outdoor activities Slovenia has to offer, I’d recommend visit from mid-May through October. We visited in early June before peak tourist season and enjoyed a relatively crowd-free experience, apart from our day in Bled. However, an early summer visit did mean that we had to reroute a portion of our hut-to-hut trip through the Julian Alps due to excessive snow cover on the trail. For clear trails, I’d recommend waiting until later June or July, or even visiting in September or October for fewer crowds and a chance to take in Slovenia’s stunning fall colors.

Getting around Slovenia

Slovenia has an impressive public transit system that will allow you to access most of it’s major cities. We we found it to be safe and reliable and were able to access the majority of our destinations by bus, apart from the Logar Valley, which is only accessible by car.

Ljubljana

Ljubljana holds a quaint, quiet charm that sets it apart from most bustling European capitals. After arriving from Croatia, we spent several hours walking the cobblestone streets and pristine Ljubljanica River that runs through the city. Apart from a handful of gelato stops and picking up our rental car, we didn’t spend much time in the city. For those more interested in urban experiences, it may be worth a full day or overnight, but we preferred to spend our time in the mountains.

Logar Valley

More secluded than the neighboring Julian Alps, Slovenia’s Logar Valley (Logarska dolina) is home to the the stunning Kamnik-Savinja Alps and one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Europe. Whether you’re looking to relax in the beauty of the surrounding mountains or get your heart racing with some aggressive hikes and via ferrata, the Logar Valley has something for Type 1 and Type 2 fun lovers alike. Visitors to Slovenia often stick to Ljubljana and Bled, but we highly recommend you consider adding time to your itinerary to make it to the Logar Valley – you won’t regret it!

Getting to the Logar Valley

More remote and less trafficked than Bled or Triglav National Park, we had to rented a car to access the Logar Valley. From Ljubljana, where we picked up our rental, the drive to the Logar Valley was 1.5 hours.

Where to stay in the Logar Valley

Where we stayed:

• Turistična kmetija Perk (midrange): Tucked into the hills of the Logar Valley, this tourist farm offered stunning views and local hospitality, complete with homemade breakfast and dinners. It’s a short drive from the heart of the valley, but worth the detour for the tourism farm experience and mountain views.

• Hiša Ojstrica (midrange): We loved our stay in the Logar Valley so much that we decided to stay an extra night in the heart of the valley. We spent a lazy afternoon here drinking Lasko (our favorite Slovenian beer) and playing cards, soaking in the magnificent views of the valley

Worth the splurge:

• Hotel Plesnik (luxury): Located in the heart of the Logar Valley, this family-run boutique hotel offers a incredible views and a suite of spa and wellness offerings. If you have the budget, it appears to be well-worth the splurge!

Logar Valley day hikes

Easy

Slap Rinka: For an easy, family-friendly visit to one of Slovenia’s highest freestanding waterfalls, drive to the end of the single road that runs through the Logar Valley, where you’ll find a parking area. The waterfall is a short, 10 minute hike from the parking lot. It’s worth a stop at Orlovo Gnezdo, a treehouse-esque snack shack overlooking the waterfall. To extend your hike, continue on to the Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju mountain hut.

• Distance to the Rinka Waterfall: 1.1 miles RT (1.77 km)
• Elevation Gain: 688 feet (210 m)
• Time: 20-30 min RT

Moderate

Koča na Klemenča jami mountain hut: This short, but steep hike can be accessed Dom Planincev parking lot and will take you to a breathtaking mountainside hut, where you can stop for a meal. We spent hours here drinking coffee and playing cards as we soaked in the view. While we weren’t overly drawn to Slovenian cuisine, this hut did offer a delicious barley stew. Having sampled many barley stews from various huts throughout Slovenia, we can confidently say that this was among the best. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can continue onwards to Strelovec, a ridgeline that divides the Logar Valley and the adjacent valley of Robanov Kot. According to the trail signs, the journey onwards to Strelovec is another 2 hours.

• Distance to Koča na Klemenča jami: 2.3 miles RT (3.7 km)
• Elevation Gain: 1,256 ft (383 meters)
• Time: 2 hours RT

Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju mountain hut: Sadly the original hut that we hiked to burned down mere months after we visited, but they are in the process of rebuilding, so make sure to check for status updates on their website. However, there is a makeshift stand selling drinks as the hut is rebuilt. From the parking lot at the end of the road that runs the Logar Valley, follow the signs to the hut past the Rinka waterfall.

• Distance to the Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju mountain hut: 2.25 miles RT (3.6 km)
• Elevation Gain: 1,275 ft (389 m)
• Time: 2.5 hr RT

Velika Planina: An hour’s drive from the Logar Valley, this moderate hike through old shepherd’s villages was well worth the detour and could be a great addition to the drive to and from the Logar Valley. There are a handful of trails along the countryside, so it’s worth downloading the map from AllTrails and following the driving directions. It’s also worth a stop at Domžalski dom mountain hut for snacks and a beer (there’s a clear hike-to-beer theme here…).

• Distance: 5.6 miles RT (9 km)
• Elevation gain: 1,505 ft (459 m)
• Time: 3 hrs RT

Hard

There are a host of more aggressive hikes that extend beyond the mountain huts listed above. While we didn’t have a chance to try them all, some breathtaking treks include the hike to the Kamnik Saddle Lodge or more aggressive mountaineering objectives, like Turska Gora. We made the mistake of overestimating our climbing abilities and setting out on a day hike in an attempt to reach bivac pod skuto, a stunning architectural phenomenon of a hut that I’d seen on images of online. The trail took us past Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju mountain hut and up a steep couloir of scree that required via ferrata skills a bit too advanced for my first ferrata attempt. Turns out that hut is more easily accessed from the opposite side of the mountain… Needless to say, we did not make it to the mystical hut as we turned around prior to the saddle below Turska Gora. All that to say, if you venture into the high alpine in Slovenia, check the weather, ask local hut owners or fellow hikers about trail conditions, and always be prepared with a mountaineering helmet and via ferrata kit.

Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

Hot take – I thought Lake Bled was overrated. Perhaps it was the stark contrast of the solitude of the Logar Valley to the mass crowds pouring out of tourist buses in Bled, but it felt quite jarring. It’s definitely worth a day trip to take in the iconic Bled Castle in the middle of the lake, but I’d recommend visiting for the day and overnighting in neighboring Bohinj, home to another quieter, but equally gorgeous lake and the launching point for your hut-to-hut trek through the Julian Alps in Triglav National Park.

Things to do in Bled

• Hike Mala Osojnica: For the best aerial view of Lake Bled, take the 1.1 mile trail up to Mala Osojnica. The trail starts on the west side of the lake (GPS Coordinates: at the Mala Osojnica trailhead.
• Visit the Vintgar Gorge: If you have more than a few hours in Bled, it’s worth a quick visit to the nearby Vintgar Gorge, a lush and stunning gorge located on the eastern edge of Triglav National Park. Entry to the gorge is 10 euros and tickets can be booked online. The gorge is a 30 minute bike ride or 3 hour walk from Bled. It is also accessible by a bus that departs from the main bus terminal in Bled. You’ll want to book to the Podham stop, a short walk from the entrance to the gorge.

Getting to Lake Bohinj from Bled

Bohinj is a 40 minute bus ride away from Bled. The bus leaves every hour from the main bus terminal in Bled. For the most up-to-date details on the schedule, check the bus timetable. 

Where to stay in Lake Bohinj

Given it’s location on Lake Bohinj, many of the lodging options in the area require a 5 night minimum stay, including the apartment where we stayed when we visited. Below are some lodging options without minimum night stay requirements and within walking distance to the trailhead in Stara Fužina on Lake Bohinj.

• Apartments Pri Urhu (mid-range): A modest, but comfortable apartment located within walking distance to the trailhead for your hut-to-hut trek.
• Apartments Vila Jelka (mid-range): Suitable for a larger group, this 3 BR apartment offers a the comfort you’ll want before spending the night in the mountain huts. This apartment is also located close to the trailhead.

Hut-to-hut hiking through Triglav National Park

Planning your trip

The first step will be determining how many days you’d like to trek and which huts to stay at along the way. I’ll outline a four-night trek below, but I’d recommend purchasing a map of Triglav National Park to help plot your journey and a tool like CalTopo. Once you determine your route and which huts you’d like to visit, you can reserve your spots using the Alpine Association of Slovenia website. I’d recommend booking your huts at least several months in advance (or 6 months, if you’re a type-A travel planner like me). Don’t be deceived by the seemingly short distances between huts – the terrain and elevation gain will humble you quickly. Plus, if the hike takes shorter than anticipated, you’ll have more time to enjoy a cold beer and make new friends at the hut.

Pro tip: If you’re going to stay more than a few nights in the hut system, apply to join the Alpine Association of Slovenia prior to your arrival in country. This will save you 20-40% on lodging costs at the huts and also includes search and rescue insurance. Be sure to sign up prior to your departure as they mail your card to either your place of residence or wherever you are staying when you first arrive in country. There are varying levels of membership, so choose which plan makes the most sense for your trip.

Hut accommodations

The mountain huts in Triglav National Park offered comfortable, but modest lodging. You have a choice to book either a dorm room bed or a private room, depending on your budget and how close you want to sleep to a bunch of sweaty strangers. Some huts offer showers for a fee and most will be very short and cold. Internet is also offered at some for a fee. Huts typically offer meals and beverages, which I’d highly recommend taking advantage of. Meals can be a great opportunity to meet fellow travelers from around the world, which was one of the main highlights of our experience.

A note on fitness and trail conditions

The hikes I’ve recommended in the Logar Valley and through Triglav National Park require a solid level of fitness and hiking experience. Many of the trails are rugged and cover steep, rocky, and uneven terrain. When we visited, Matt and I had just wrapped up training for a half Ironman and we still struggled, so I recommend logging some quality time on trails before your trip. Some of the hiking also includes sections of via ferrata, which can be frightening for those scared of heights. Slovenia had some of the hardest, most aggressive hiking we’ve encountered and, compared to ratings on American trails, we found the intensity to be understated when looking at local blogs.

Day 1: Stara Fužina to koča pri triglavskih jezerih (Triglav Lakes Hut)

• Distance: 7.3 miles (11.8 km)
• Elevation Gain: 4,330 ft (1,320 m)
• Time: 5h30min
• Difficulty: Hard

You’ll begin your trek from Parkirišče Stara Fužina, right outside of the town of Stara Fužina on the western side of Lake Bohinj. The first hour or so the ascent is steep and wooded until you reach Kosijev dom na Vogarju hut and the adjacent paragliding launching point from which you are rewarded with a phenomenal view of Lake Bohinj. Continue up the marked path through lush meadows and subalpine forests, meandering your way through sheperd’s huts until you reach Štapce pass before beginning the descent into the Seven Lakes Valley and the Triglav Lakes hut. I’ll be honest, this day was grueling and the first half through the steep wooded section at the beginning made me seriously reconsider what we were getting ourselves into. The views continued to improve as the day went on and by the time we arrived at the hut it felt like we were in a different world.

Day 2: Koča pri triglavskih jezerih (Triglav Lakes Hut) to Triglavski dom na Kredarici (Triglav Lodge)

• Distance: 7.3 miles (11.7 km)
• Elevation Gain: 4,000 ft (1,200 m)
• Time: 6h
• Difficulty: Moderate, with several exposed sections

Day 2 of the trek takes you beyond the Seven Lakes Valley and over high-alpine mountain passes towards the base of Mount Triglav. You’ll encounter more uneven terrain, traversing scree fields and occasional snow patches depending on when you visit. While the elevation gain on this day is still significant, the path is much more rolling than the uphill slog on day 1. As you approach the Triglav Lodge, you’ll face an exposed section with loose cables, but doesn’t require via ferrata equipment. While day 2 does not include any technical climbing, it’s helpful to have a mountaineering helmet while traversing sections of loose rock. Be sure to enjoy an afternoon of beer and socializing at the Triglav Lodge, where food is flown in via helicopter. Soak in the beauty of the sunset over the Julian Alps and go to bed early in preparation for a big day tomorrow.

Day 3: Summit Mount Triglav and hike from Triglavski dom na Kredarici (Triglav Lodge) to Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom

Part 1 – Summiting Mount Triglav: Arguably the most exciting day of the trek – summit day! Mount Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia, sitting at 9,395 ft (2,864 m) and summiting its peak is a right of passage for most Slovenians. After our via feratta experience in the Logar Valley, I was quite anxious about another ferrata experience. I was reassured by fellow hikers in the hut that the climb was not as extreme as I was anticipating and they were right. While the climb did feature some scrambling and steep drop-offs, it wasn’t as technical as I had feared. I did choose to use my ferratta equipment for all of the cable sections, but in retrospect it probably wasn’t entirely necessary. That said, the cables are there for a reason, so if you’re feeling anxious, definitely use them! The climb was intense, but manageable. If you’re afraid of heights, I’d recommend sitting out the summit experience, primarily because the nerves can cause less secure footing. We were lucky to have clear weather and were rewarded with spectacular views of the Julian Alps at the summit. We chose to leave our backpacks at the Triglav Lodge and summited with just a daypack with water and snacks before returning to the Lodge to pickup our overnight backpacks and continuing the trek.

• Distance (from Triglav Lodge to summit): 1.4 miles RT (2.2 km)
• Elevation gain: 1,145 ft (349 m)
• Time: 2-3 hours RT
• Difficulty: Difficult due to exposed climbing

Part 2 – Triglavski dom na Kredaric to Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom

We learned the hard way that trying to hike all the way out after summiting Triglav was a bit much (okay maybe more than a bit). When we arrived at the Triglav Lodge, we realized that our original itinerary would have taken us down an overly ambitious feratta section covered in ice – hard pass! So we rerouted in an attempt to take an alternate, less sketchy route to our hut that took us out the valley towards the town of Mojstrano. This itinerary breaks up that descent into two days, but still involves quite the descent (sorry knees). Once you return from your summit of Triglav, return on the trail that you arrived on the previous day and follow signs to Dom Planika pod Triglavom, the hut located south of Triglav. From this hut, follow the signs towards Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom, where you’ll spend the night. Some hikers also choose to climb Triglav from this hut, so you’ll be able to celebrate your successful summit with other travelers.

• Distance from Triglav Lodge to Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom
• Elevation gain/loss: 711 ft gain (217 m), 1,817 ft loss (554 m)
• Time: 1.5-2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4 – Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom to Aljažev dom v Vratih

While an absolutely stunning day and arguably the most beautiful day of the trek, the descent out of Triglav National Park does not take it easy on the knees! You’ll start your day by descending a rugged scree field that lies below Koča na Doliču pod Triglavom. You’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Julian Alps that tower over the town of Trenta. Meander your way down the well established trail, following the signs towards the Luknja pass. From the pass, you’ll make your final descent through this stunning glacial valley towards your final hut of the trip, Aljažev dom v Vratih. Enjoy the views and when you arrive, celebrate your journey with a Lasko (beer) or two.

• Distance: 5.2 miles (8.4 km)
• Elevation gain/loss: 1,788 ft gain (545 m), 5,590 ft loss (1704 m)
• Time: 5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate (mainly rough on the knees!)

Leaving Triglav National Park

During the summer months, there is a bus from Kranjska Gora that travels up the Vrata Valley to Aljažev dom v Vratih. Catch the bus back towards the town of Mojstrana, where you can continue on to the neighboring ski resort town of Kranjska Gora or make your way back to Ljuljana for your flight home. If you’re looking to extend your trip, consider making a detour to the town of Bovec in the Soča Valley for a chance to soak in the glacial blue water of the Soča Valley via kayak or white water rafting.

Happy trails!

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