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Only twenty minutes from the lively center of Ljubljana, there is a sense of contented isolation. Rising abruptly from the flatlands of the Ljubljana Marshes, rolling forested hills reach heights of up to 1,107 meters (Mt. Krim) and stretch as far as the eye can see from east to west, and seemingly endlessly toward the south.

The beautiful beech and spruce forests of the Krim Hills–Menišija naturally continue into the forests of the Notranjska region, Bloke, Velike Lašče, and Ribnica, eventually merging with the vast forests of Kočevje—infamous for large predators such as the brown bear, wolf, and lynx (see more about Kočevje in the Best Mountain Tours of 2024 Outdoor Blog). This ecological corridor allows wildlife to move freely, and locals who live just twenty minutes from Ljubljana will tell you: while hiking in Ljubljana’s tranquil southern Krim Hills, you can track bears, wolves, and lynx—and if you’re (un)lucky, even encounter one.

The first snow of 2026 has fallen across Slovenia, creating some truly stunning scenery.

An especially thick blanket of snow covered the south and southeast of the country, with the areas around Osilnica and Idrija receiving the most — around 40 cm. Fresh snowfall, combined with strong and persistent winter winds and temperatures well below freezing (the lowest recorded was –21.1 °C in Nova vas na Blokah), transformed these regions into a true winter wonderland. Trees were coated in frost and snow, and the pristine white landscapes were sculpted into gentle wave-like shapes.

Here’s a selection of snowy snaps from the Idrija area and Mt. Snežnik.

The adventure is long finished by now, yet I’m still enchanted — completely head over heels. Zgornje Jezersko, at 890 m, an alpine village in the heart of the beautiful Jezersko municipality in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, inspires with its magic, authentic culture, friendly people, good food, and fairytale-like charm. The water-rich valley, where horses and sheep roam verdant meadows, creeps into vertical walls of high, rocky peaks, while gentle, low-lying green peaks line the length of the valley.

All you need is two days in Jezersko and you’ll fall in love for life. Stay any longer, and it’s likely you won’t want to leave again.

When I walk the lively streets of Ljubljana, with people cheering over mulled wine, celebrating the upcoming New Year and the small festivities that tend to fill this time of year, I feel like I don’t belong. And I don’t even want to belong. I miss the mountains—the paths that always lead to other paths, an endless maze of beauty that ignites passion and feeds the soul. The mighty rock walls, the greenest forests, and the endless shapes and curves of nature are where my heart truly warms.

I love winter. I love everything about it. The light snowflakes filling the whole sky and the world turning calm and beautiful. However, when March rolls around, bringing the first warmer days and delicate little flowers, it’s next to impossible to go back to the cold. More likely than not you’ll see me exploring flower-speckled hills and forests than snowy mountains. And when larger parts of hills turn purple from the blooming heather, you can count me in!

It seems that winter has its own ways on Mt. Snežnik, Slovenia’s highest non-alpine peak at 1,796 m. Only 28 km from the sea, it receives a comparable amount of precipitation as the Alps, which in combination with strong winds sometimes results in incredible snow sculptures – dwarf pine trees and spruces carved into a finest art display. At first glance, the landscape encapsulated in the clutches of the snow resembles Lapland, yet just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find its beautiful beech forest, for what the 793,9 ha Snežnik-Ždrolce primeval forests got included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. The tall beeches, whose branches become bare of leaves in winter, turn completely white and look delicately gentle set against the blue skies. A truly dreamy winter hike.

Those would be a few of the many reasons why Snežnik might just be the best winter hike in Slovenia.

“If the point at which you immerse yourself in the river is the present, I thought, then the past is the water that has flowed past you, that which has gone downstream and where there is nothing left for you; whereas the future is the water that comes down from above, bringing dangers and surprises. The past is in the valley, the future in the mountains. Whatever destiny may be, it resides in the mountains that tower over us.” Paolo Cognetti, The Eight Mountains

We enjoyed countless mountain adventures together this past year, the same as in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and the years before that. I’ve written about our Best mountain tours of 2024, yet the list of memorable mountain tours that we had is much longer and thus my heart is filled with fond memories. Therefore, a big Thank You All for trusting us as your go-to mountain trekking and climbing Slovenian agency in 2024! 

What may have set us apart in the valley became meaningless up in the pristine raw mountains. I even dare to assume that we all strived for the same goals as we humbly approached the daring peaks together, hanging from steep walls above looming cliffs, staring dreamily at the glittering mountains as the sun sank behind them, and hiked lightly along wonderfully remote paths to the unknown. The mountains connected us and what seemed big in the valley, may it have been burdens or victories, got lost somewhere on the trail. We simply WERE and that was enough.

It has truly been a privilege sharing those moments with you! You have enriched my life and, hopefully, me and other guides of Exploring Slovenia managed to touch yours as well.

Here are a few highlights of the mountain paths that we shared in 2024. Enjoy!

The moment when everything calms down and goes into a state of perfect harmony. You don’t hear the traffic or the people shouting or the whirring of a washing machine. You only hear yourself and the subtle sounds of nature, and it feels liberating. A golden fall sun filters through the tall trees and glitters on the rushing river, and you find yourself in an embrace of high mountains. With soaring mountains and braided rivers, the Soča Valley epitomizes Slovenia’s pristine side. Here is a list of hikes in the Soča Valley’s Triglav National Park that you absolutely shouldn’t miss if you love hiking in pristine nature.

It’s been a crazy year and an even crazier season, hiking and climbing in the beautiful Slovenian mountains. We’ve hit that dusty, muddy and even snowy trail countless times and have seen anything from the big elusive ibexes, mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets, to the cutest playful marmots. We’ve sweated together on steep slopes, tried to escape big thunderstorms, dipped into the freezing cold Soča river, enjoyed exposed climbs, and listened to relaxing music on our rides to the mountains. Those short moments together truly connected us into unique friendships.

It’s not easy to pick my personal favorite mountain tours of 2024, especially since grading cannot be based solely on the trails and beauty of the views, but also on quite coincidental factors like the weather, hut life, sparks within the groups, food and other well-being factors. All in all, of all incredible hikes and climbs we’ve shared, here are Exploring Slovenia’s five best mountain trips of 2024!

Set in one of Slovenia’s most beautiful locations, on a large alpine plateau called Velika Planina, these comfortable cabins run by Alpine Resorts are only a short hike away from the nearest parking lot or chair lift, and the area offers various hiking options. 

As the sun was announcing a new day, coming out shyly from behind the mountains, the old shepherds’ settlement of 64 enchanting oval wooden huts lit up in the most vibrant colors. First, the sun stroked the topmost huts, each inside a cute wooden fence where the cows used to rest after grazing. Then slowly the whole settlement lit up and the first purple spring flowers playfully brightened the freshly green meadows. A glimpse of heaven, I thought.